Lin Yun opened the first box. Inside, resting on a bed of fine silk, was a single, flawless pill radiating a faint, pure essence. She blinked, her expression turning to awe as she sensed the spiritual purity.
Lin Xiao opened the second, his expression froze. The pill within was identical in purity and grade. He immediately knew that these were resources of an extremely high rank, far exceeding anything the Lin Clan currently possessed.
He fixed a suspicious, scrutinizing gaze on his son. "What kind of pill is this, Yi'er? The spiritual essence is terrifyingly pure. Where did you acquire such a treasure?"
Lin Yun glanced at Lin Yi, her curiosity now mirroring her husband's concern.
Lin Yi simply maintained his quiet, composed smile. "They are Fifth-Grade Marrow Cleansing Pills," he replied, keeping the truth of the Origin grade Yin and Yang essence sealed inside these pills. "They will cleanse your marrow, wash your meridians of past impurities, and perfectly prepare your foundation for the next stages of cultivation. They will also improve your lifespans and youthfulness."
After speaking, he gave a slight, knowing nod. "I must leave now. I have another matter to attend to before I return to Yan City. Please do not delay in consuming them or they will lose their energy and will expire."
Without waiting for Lin Xiao and Lin Yun to respond, or for the storm of questions that was forming on his father's lips, Lin Yi turned and walked out, his steps silent and controlled, leaving the two of them staring at the legendary pills in stunned, bewildered silence.
'Thankfully, they aren't strict or they will forcefully ask too many questions… Anyway, this is the best way to avoid a questioning session from parents. Just run away and stay at distance for a while.'
Lin Yi thought to himself, sighing in his heart and then he noticed something… the faint, unique Yin energy signature that always emanated from his younger sister. He hurriedly followed it and walked out of the main residence and toward a small, secluded lawn bordering a cluster of ancient trees.
His footsteps halted looking at the figure in front of him in the lawn,
Sitting cross-legged on the lush grass was Qing Tan. She was no longer the small, frail girl he had left behind; she was slender and refined, her features blossoming into delicate beauty, though her demeanor was still one of simple, playful innocence.
Resting his head on her lap was Huo, the Flame Python Lion beast that had become the Lin Family's guardian. The massive beast, now quite large, was lazily dozing in the sun, its fiery mane occasionally flickering.
Qing Tan was lightly tracing patterns on the beast's head, humming a soft tune. The innate, chilling energy of her Terminus Devil Body subtly controlled the beast's intense Yang fire, a testament to her growing, albeit chaotic, control of this negative energy.
The moment Lin Yi's figure stepped into the sunlight, a profound, internal spiritual tremor shook Qing Tan's consciousness. She instantly looked up, her bright, liquid eyes widening with pure, unadulterated happiness.
"Big Brother Yi!" she exclaimed, the musical quality of her voice ringing with joy.
She shot to her feet, leaving the massive Huo Yan in a confused heap, and ran toward him. Lin Yi met her halfway, and she threw her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly, burying her face in his charcoal robe.
Lin Yi smiled, a rare, genuine warmth softening his gray eyes. He patted her head gently, feeling the immense, yet chaotic, Yin energy pulsing beneath her skin.
"You've grown, Qingtan," he praised. He then released a faint mental probe to gauge her Yuan Power foundation. "And your cultivation has not been neglected. To reach the Peak of the Earthly Yuan Realm in just a year… that is phenomenal progress. You have truly harnessed your physique."
Qing Tan pulled back slightly, her face radiant with happiness at his praise. "Thank you, Big Brother Yi! I worked hard with the pills you left, and the training techniques!"
But her expression soon faltered, a slight hesitation entering her demeanor. She fiddled with the edge of her skirt and spoke, her voice dropping to a small, worried whisper.
"Big Brother… I'm stuck. I can't absorb the Yang energy needed for the breakthrough. I feel like my body… it just rejects it entirely. Elder Mu said the next Heavenly Yuan Realm requires a Yang-based core promotion. I don't know what to do."
Lin Yi nodded gently, his gaze calm and reassuring. "I know, little Tan. I foresaw this issue. Your Terminus Devil Body is too pure, too singular in its Yin nature. Attempting to force a Yang-based Heavenly Core would only shatter your meridians."
He smiled, a flicker of confident certainty in his eyes. "Do not worry. I will help you condense a perfectly stable, Yin-based Heavenly Core. This core will entirely nullify the requirement for Yang energy promotion. Moreover, when you finally break through to the Yuan Dan Realm, this core will instantly transform into a Pure Yin Yuan Dan, and every subsequent major breakthrough will only require resources based on the ultimate Yin essence."
Qing Tan's eyes widened, her pupils brightening with astonishment and hope. The thought of bypassing her greatest obstacle filled her with dizzying excitement. "You can really do that, Big Brother? When? How?" she asked earnestly, her small hands clutching the lapels of his robe.
Lin Yi simply laughed softly, a low, pleasant sound. He raised his hand. In the center of his palm, a tiny, glacier-blue orb of crystalline light materialized… a single Pure Yin Holy Bead, radiating an essence so chilling and pure that it seemed to absorb all the warmth from the air.
Qing Tan's gaze instantly locked onto the bead. Her eyes became unnaturally bright, and her body trembled. She felt an uncontrollable, visceral craving… as if her entire being, every cell of her Terminus Devil Physique, was screaming at her to devour this object, as if it was the ultimate, perfect treasure for her existence.
"It is simple," Lin Yi said, his voice calm despite the immense power of the bead. "Just absorb this Yin Holy Bead. Its spiritual essence will automatically restructure your nascent core and propel you perfectly into the Heavenly Yuan Realm."
Qing Tan gulped, her throat suddenly dry. The craving was overwhelming. She snatched the bead from his palm, her hands surprisingly firm, and held it tightly. Her gaze was already fixed on the secluded corner of the courtyard.
"Thank you, Big Brother!" she whispered, a flash of determined urgency in her eyes. Without another word, and without daring to look back, she spun around and sprinted toward her private room, her mind consumed by the need to immediately absorb the perfect resource.
"Heh, looks like the inability to absorb Yang energy puts too much pressure on this girl's mind." Lin Yi smiled playfully looking at her hurried back, then shook his head as he walked toward his personal room in the courtyard.
…