Chapter 434: Earning Merit and Heart Essence Nectar
"Life and Death Reincarnation Pill?"
Upon hearing Lin Langtian's request, Bo Xuan paused, a hint of confusion crossing his face. "How do you know the Dark Hall possesses the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill?"
Lin Langtian's face lit up. He had come to the right place.
"To be honest, Elder Bo, the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill is so rare that even Yuan Gate doesn't have it; otherwise, I wouldn't have come all the way to the Northern Xuan Domain. Among the great powers of the continent, I knew that if any would have such a rare pill, the Dark Hall would be one of them, so I came to try my luck," Lin Langtian explained with a smile.
"Hmm, it seems you do know quite a bit about the Dark Hall, though I suspect Qing Tan may have played a role in bringing you here," Bo Xuan said with a faint smile.
Lin Langtian chuckled. Indeed, if Qing Tan didn't hold such a respected position in the Dark Hall, he likely would not have been able to meet its master. After all, while he might be a rising star in the Eastern Xuan Domain, Bo Xuan was the sovereign of the Northern Xuan Domain, and their statuses were worlds apart.
Seeing Lin Langtian's request, Qing Tan pursed her lips, then stood up, poured Bo Xuan a fresh cup of tea, and said with a sweet smile, "Master, Brother Langtian just helped me out a lot. If there's an extra Life and Death Reincarnation Pill in the Hall, please lend it to him."
Lin Langtian bowed again toward Bo Xuan. "In three years, I'll repay the Dark Hall with two Life and Death Reincarnation Pills."
To return one with two, along with Qing Tan's influence, Lin Langtian figured Bo Xuan would not refuse. After all, he had just done a favor for Bo Xuan's faction, and Bo Xuan didn't seem the stingy type.
Bo Xuan pondered briefly before replying, "At the festival, you defeated Mo Ming and returned Qing Tan's Shadow Guardian role to my faction, which indeed puts us in your debt. Ordinarily, I would have no reason to refuse your request. After all, the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill is not that rare. However…"
Here, Bo Xuan paused, and Lin Langtian felt a twinge of worry. Was there an obstacle?
"However, some time ago, the Council of Elders began strictly controlling all pills, including the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill. Common pills are no issue, but for anything rare, even I must consult them first. The Life and Death Reincarnation Pill is currently under Elder Luo's authority, and he holds it in high regard. Without solid grounds, even I cannot simply take it from him. You see, while I may be the Hall Master, I don't rule unopposed within the Dark Hall."
At this, Bo Xuan's expression darkened, clearly discontent with the Council of Elders.
Hearing this, Lin Langtian's own mood fell. He knew Bo Xuan's words were sincere; in the future, when Qing Tan was set to inherit the Dark Hall, the Council of Elders would openly rebel, proving their deep desire for power. The larger the organization, the more constraints it faced, and the Council of Elders was beyond even Bo Xuan's full control. Any aggressive confrontation might push them into open conflict, risking a deadly internal struggle.
"Master, surely as Hall Master you can still command a single Life and Death Reincarnation Pill?" Qing Tan asked, frowning.
"Oh, it's not that I lack options," Bo Xuan replied, with a cold smile. "In the Dark Hall, I am indeed the supreme authority. The Council may have its own agenda, but they cannot outright oppose me. Otherwise, I wouldn't hesitate to send them to the Dark Tribunal!"
"I knew Master would have a way," Qing Tan said with a smile.
Turning to Lin Langtian, Bo Xuan continued, "There are two ways for you to obtain the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill. The first option: I will soon enter seclusion to attempt a breakthrough into the Reincarnation Realm. If I succeed, my authority will be absolute, and I could demand the pill from the Council as I see fit. But Reincarnation is a dangerous step. I can't guarantee success, and the process could be lengthy."
At this, Lin Langtian recalled from the original story that Bo Xuan's attempt to reach the Reincarnation Realm ended in failure, leading to his downfall and paving the way for Qing Tan's ascension. If things proceeded as he expected, Bo Xuan's breakthrough attempt would likely fail, rendering this option impractical.
"Elder Bo, I have urgent need of the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill and cannot wait that long. May I ask about the second option?"
Bo Xuan, unaware of Lin Langtian's foreknowledge, nodded and replied, "The second option is to earn it."
"Earn it?" Lin Langtian and Qing Tan exchanged puzzled glances.
"Yes, if you don't have a justifiable reason, it's difficult for me to request the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill from the Council. But if you perform some meritorious service, I could demand the pill as a reward. With that reason, they would be unable to refuse me," Bo Xuan explained with a smile.
"Claim it as a reward, huh…" Lin Langtian nodded. With Bo Xuan wielding legitimate grounds, the Council, though opposed to his faction, wouldn't dare oppose him directly.
"Since I need to earn it, how exactly can I do that? Surely the merit required to justify a Life and Death Reincarnation Pill must be significant," Qing Tan mused thoughtfully.
"Don't worry. I already have an assignment in mind for you," Bo Xuan replied. "Recently, a faction called the Fire Cloud Sect in the Southern River Territory has defied the Dark Hall's authority. They killed the Hall's Southern River Division Master and rallied nearby sects in open rebellion. It's an issue for the Dark Tribunal to handle."
He glanced at Qing Tan and continued, "Since you've joined the Dark Tribunal and Lin Langtian is your Shadow Guardian, I'll assign you both to the Third Battalion of the Seventh Regiment. As long as you kill a few prominent enemies in battle, I can request the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill as a reward for your service."
"Join the Dark Tribunal and earn merit by quelling the rebellion…" Lin Langtian murmured to himself.
He knew the Dark Hall controlled the Northern Xuan Domain, but such a vast region naturally contained factions that resisted its rule. The Dark Tribunal's role was to subdue these defiant groups. In the original story, Qing Tan honed her skills in the Tribunal, a path that required her to undergo brutal trials.
"Master, how powerful is this Fire Cloud Sect?" Qing Tan asked seriously. She understood that a rebellion was no trivial matter, and she wanted to be prepared.
"A minor second-rate faction. The sect's leader is a Lesser Death Xuan Realm expert. Beyond that, they have a few Sheng Xuan Realm cultivators, but they are of no concern. The commander of the Tribunal's Third Battalion in the Seventh Regiment is a seasoned warrior who has followed me for over a decade. He has mastered the Lesser Death Xuan Realm, with enough skill to withstand even Greater Death Xuan Realm opponents. Under his leadership, there should be no unexpected dangers," Bo Xuan assured her.
"Fire Cloud Sect, a second-rate faction in the Lesser Death Xuan Realm…" Lin Langtian nodded. Though Fire Cloud Sect might dominate its territory in the Eastern Xuan Domain, to the Dark Hall, it was inconsequential. However, it did present a perfect opportunity for Lin Langtian and Qing Tan to prove their value.
Moreover, Lin Langtian was impressed by the strength of the Tribunal's forces. Even a battalion commander was at the peak of the Lesser Death Xuan Realm, while Yuan Gate's elders of that level rarely left seclusion. No wonder the Dark Tribunal inspired fear throughout the Northern Xuan Domain; the Tribunal was the Hall Master's most potent weapon, surpassing even the Council's dark forces.
"Very well. I will accompany Qing Tan to the Southern River Territory, eliminate Fire Cloud Sect, and suppress their rebellion!" Lin Langtian declared, bowing respectfully to Bo Xuan.
Bo Xuan nodded approvingly, adding, "One more thing: as Qing Tan's Shadow Guardian, your main duty is to protect her. However, only intervene when her life is at risk; otherwise, this trial's purpose would be lost."
"Understood, Elder Bo," Lin Langtian replied with a smile, patting his chest. "Qing Tan is my sister, and I won't let her face any real danger. I'll handle any formidable foes."
Touched by his words, Qing Tan's heart filled with warmth. "I won't be a burden to you, Brother Langtian," she said, clenching her fists. One day, she hoped to stand strong for both of her brothers, Lin Langtian and Lin Dong.
Bo Xuan, pleased with their close bond and Lin Langtian's prowess, nodded with satisfaction. To him, Lin Langtian was the ideal candidate for Qing Tan's Shadow Guardian, far surpassing Chen Kui. As the possessor of the Space Ancestral Symbol, Lin Langtian could even whisk Qing Tan away in times of extreme danger.
"The Third Battalion will be fully assembled in five days. Until then, the two of you may stay here to prepare." Bo Xuan paused, as if recalling something. With a wave of his sleeve, two drops of vibrant green liquid appeared before Lin Langtian and Qing Tan.
Lin Langtian's eyes widened as he sensed the immense life force emanating from the liquid. This vitality surpassed even that of the Sheng Xuan Spirit Fruit.
"Could this be… Heart Essence Nectar?" he asked, surprised.
Heart Essence Nectar was an extremely rare natural treasure, even more precious than the Sheng Xuan Spirit Fruit. For a Sheng Xuan Realm cultivator, it was akin to a divine elixir, containing life essence so potent that even those in the peak Sheng Xuan Realm would covet it.
Bo Xuan smiled, nodding. "Indeed, this is Heart Essence Nectar. While I can't presently secure the Life and Death Reincarnation Pill, this drop of Heart Essence Nectar will serve as a reward for your victory over Mo Ming. With it, you may be able to advance to the Greater Sheng Xuan Realm, making you even more valuable in the coming campaign."
"Advancing to the Greater Sheng Xuan Realm…" Lin Langtian's heart raced with excitement as he thanked Bo Xuan. Carefully, he stored the Heart Essence Nectar. Having only recently reached the Lesser Sheng Xuan Realm, he was now closer to advancing again—a rare pace indeed.
Lin Langtian glanced at the second drop of nectar without a hint of greed, knowing it was intended for Qing Tan, likely as a favor from Bo Xuan.
Bo Xuan turned to Qing Tan. "You've experienced some fluctuation in your Nine Yuan Nirvana Realm strength since returning from the Eastern Xuan Domain. With this Heart Essence Nectar, you should attempt to advance into the Sheng Xuan Realm."
Qing Tan expressed her gratitude and happily accepted the nectar.
Watching Bo Xuan's efforts to strengthen Qing Tan for the Dark Tribunal's brutal environment, Lin Langtian felt admiration for her good fortune in having such a mentor.
After receiving their Heart Essence Nectar, Lin Langtian and Qing Tan took their leave to prepare for their secluded training.
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