Four days later, Lin Xuankong was beside the table outside the wooden building. He had just finished his first bowl of Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup for the day and let out a burp. His nose filled with the scent of ginseng, reishi, and other medicinal materials…
Lin Xuankong sniffed. This overwhelming medicinal scent is the smell of extravagance!
A few days ago, he had bought over a dozen sets of medicinal ingredients in one go. Now he drank three bowls of Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup every day, all to accumulate a large amount of Qi Blood so he could easily activate the Twin Vine Demon Pearl in the future!
There was no way I could have been this extravagant before dealing with Wang Po and Xuu Zhongxiong. Three bowls a day cost over eight taels of silver, nearly his entire income from selling flatcakes for a year! Having money lets you be this unrestrained!
Sensing the ever-increasing Qi Blood within his Life Plate and thinking about the longer activation time of the Demon Pearl, a sense of satisfaction gradually rose in his heart.
Setting down the herbal bowl, he pondered over the events of the past few days.
The battle between the Black Tiger Gang and the Yin Talisman Sect had long ended. That night, both sides suffered heavy casualties, and it wasn't until the Great Marsh Prefecture officials' mediation that they ceased fighting.
The territories were re-divided. Lucrative areas like Lishui Street, Qingshui Street, West Third Street, and Shuinan Street now belonged to the Black Tiger Gang. Poorer areas such as Wutong Village, Cow and Horse Street, Yangchang Street, and Mule Street were assigned to the Yin Talisman Sect. The handover was complete!
Wutong Village being assigned to the Yin Talisman Sect was good news for Lin Xuankong. At least he wouldn't encounter any Black Tiger Gang scoundrels when going out.
However, according to the news brought by Little Hu, Boss Zhang Wu did not die in the battle. Not only did Zhang Wu survive the battle, but he also broke through a bottleneck that had hindered him for two years. After being stuck at the Late Stage of the First Layer for two years, Zhang Wu had finally advanced to Perfection. It was estimated he would soon break through to the Early Stage of the Second Layer!
Because of his battle achievements and breakthrough, Zhang Wu had leaped from a Leader to the Deputy Steward of the Black Tiger Gang Great Marsh Hall!
Thinking of this, Lin Xuankong glanced at his own Life Plate.
[Realm: Transcendence First Layer Perfection]
[Transcendent Qi Blood: 688/100,000]
[Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Initial Glimpse 79/80]
Zhang Wu was stuck at the Late Stage of the First Layer for two years before breaking through the bottleneck to reach Perfection. It took me only four days to advance from the Late Stage of the First Layer to Perfection. I estimate that by this morning, I can break through to the Early Stage of the Second Layer… It's hard to imagine what kind of bottleneck Zhang Wu encountered. Stuck somewhere unable to progress? Stuck somewhere unable to break through? Why have I never encountered such a bottleneck?
Forget it, bottleneck or not, as long as I focus on cultivation for a few more days and my strength far surpasses Zhang Wu's, I won't need to worry about this so-called Deputy Steward of the Black Tiger Gang. By then, Zhang Wu will have to worry about his own safety!
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
The sound of knocking on the door rang out, and Little Hu's voice followed, "Elder Lin, it's me!"
Lin Xuankong opened the door and welcomed Little Hu in. "What's up? Any new news today?"
Little Hu excitedly replied, "Of course there's new news! It's already spreading outside. People are saying that the reason the Black Tiger Gang and the Yin Talisman Sect fought so fiercely a few days ago—to the point of spilling brains—is because a very powerful Conical Hat Strange Guest killed Wang Po and Xuu Zhongxiong! Now everyone on the streets is talking about how powerful this Conical Hat Strange Guest is. Some say that on that night, the wealthy merchants and gentry of the Four Streets and Thirty Lanes were so scared they wet their pants! Some say that the Conical Hat Strange Guest waved their hand, causing a rain of stones that collapsed half of the Guangju Pavilion! And others quietly speculate that the Conical Hat Strange Guest isn't even afraid of the Twin Vine Demon Pearl, suggesting they must be a truly terrifying Martial Cultivator of the Transcendence Third or Fourth Layer! Hahaha, the rumors are wild!"
Lin Xuankong fell silent. It's a bit embarrassing to hear people boast about me right to my face!
Little Hu continued, "And there's another thing. It's said that the Black Tiger Gang and the Spirit Snake Gang obtained exclusive rights to transport and sell various medicinal materials under the Great Marsh Government's jurisdiction! Supposedly, aside from Martial Cultivators from the Black Tiger Gang, Spirit Snake Gang, Guo Family, and Feng Family, it's becoming difficult for others to buy cultivation materials!"
Lin Xuankong frowned. The Black Tiger Gang controls the medicinal materials of Great Marsh Prefecture?
"Is this information true?" he asked Little Hu.
Little Hu nodded. "When I was coming over, I ran into some Yin Talisman Sect Daoists discussing it. Those Daoists from the Yin Talisman Sect seemed very indignant, so it must be true!"
Lin Xuankong frowned deeply. Luckily, he had bought plenty of materials for the Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup in advance. If he used them sparingly, they could last another ten days or so. If Little Hu's news was true, this would be a significant blow to the Yin Talisman Sect. For a Loose Cultivator like him, it was like suffering collateral damage!
If those scoundrels from the Black Tiger Gang act this way, it will be troublesome for me to accumulate large amounts of Qi Blood and cultivate smoothly!
Lin Xuankong pondered for a moment but found no immediate solution. So he frowned and said, "Alright, let's put that aside. I heard the Yin Talisman Sect is recruiting disciples?"
Little Hu became interested when he heard Lin mention the recruitment, and he smiled. "The Great Marsh Hall of the Yin Talisman Sect suffered many casualties, so they are specifically recruiting disciples under sixteen years of age. It was said that youths with good physiques could join immediately without paying any silver. This was the only sect in Great Marsh Prefecture that didn't charge silver for entry—a truly groundbreaking event! Many of us from Wutong Village, including myself, have signed up. In five days, we'll go to the Yin Talisman Sect's Cow and Horse Street Hall for the physical test!"
Lin Xuankong nodded and took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his pocket. "Here are ten taels of silver. Eat and drink well these few days, and you'll perform better in the test!"
Little Hu stared at the shiny ten taels of silver in surprise, then quickly shook his head. "Elder Lin, I… I can't take this much silver!"
Little Hu is the person I'm closest to, aside from my wife. Since he wants to join the Yin Talisman Sect, I definitely have to help him!
Lin Xuankong frowned and said, "Take it quickly. You can pay me back when you have money in the future!"
"Elder Lin!" Li Xiaohu stood stunned for a moment, then silently accepted the silver, his eyes gradually becoming moist. He used his dirty sleeve to wipe his eyes. "Elder Lin, if I have money in the future, I will definitely repay you three thousand taels, thirty thousand taels!"
"Really? Then I'll lend you ten more taels!"
Little Hu burst out laughing, but his eyes were full of determination.
「After Little Hu left,」
Lin Xuankong walked towards the backyard, thinking to himself: The Yin Talisman Sect is widely recruiting disciples, with extremely strict conditions: one must be under sixteen! Although there is such a restriction, if I were to display my Transcendence Realm strength, I could definitely join the Yin Talisman Sect easily and get the opportunity to train in the Yin Talisman Thunder! However, this matter doesn't need to be rushed. The Spiritual Crane Finger, which wins with speed, is no less lethal than the Yin Talisman Thunder of the Yin Talisman Sect! The most crucial part is that the mystical and marvelous life-extending effect of the Pine Crane Longevity Technique is something the Yin Talisman Thunder and the Black Tiger Shattering Golden Claw of Martial Dao cannot possess! As for the medicinal herbs... After finishing today's cultivation, I'll go out and see. If the news is true, then I'll have to think of other ways!
At this thought, Lin Xuankong no longer let his mind wander. He moved his body into the Cangsong Posture and began to cultivate.
His Cangsong Posture was now extremely proficient. His movements were identical to the stance the Young Lady had once demonstrated, without the slightest error!
Nearly an hour later, Lin Xuankong, who was meditating and circulating his Qi Blood, suddenly felt his Heart Spirit stir. He clearly sensed the Pine Qi Blood within his body becoming increasingly refined. This highly refined Qi Blood circulated along his arms and hands, completing his Metamorphosis from Perfection of the First Layer to the Early Stage of the Second Layer...
After nearly two incense sticks of time, Lin Xuankong suddenly opened his eyes and looked at his arms. He saw that the skin on his arms and hands had formed a layer of grayish-white old skin and flakes, like a snake shedding its skin!
He raised his hand and gently brushed it. A large amount of old skin flakes fell off, revealing much smoother new skin underneath. The new skin was rosy and full, radiating a youthful glow. This was true for his arms, elbows, and the backs of his hands!
When Lin Xuankong brushed off all the old skin flakes, he found that the wrinkled, withered, and aged skin on his arms and palms now resembled that of a man in his thirties. Though not as delicate as the skin of a young woman like Lii Xiaolan, it was full and smooth, showing no signs of old age, as if he had been completely reborn and rejuvenated!
In his joy, Lin Xuankong leaped up, landed next to a large bluestone, activated his Qi Blood, and pointed with a finger.
With a light 'CHISS,' his finger easily pierced the bluestone. After withdrawing it, the new hole in the stone was smooth and bright, without a single crack around it!
This display of power, concentrated to an incredible degree, was indistinguishable from the casual gesture the Young Lady had made back then!
Lin Xuankong: Remaining Lifespan twelve years and three days
Life Plate: [Vigorous in Old Age]
Life Plate's First Talent: [Old and Wise] Age 59, Cultivation Speed increased fiftyfold
Realm: Transcendence Second Layer Early Stage
Transcendent Qi Blood: 686/100,000
Cultivation Techniques: [Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Integration 1/7,500]
[Stone-Throwing Skill: 12/12]
The four large characters of [Vigorous in Old Age] flashed faintly, and the [Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Integration] updated to 1/150.
Lin Xuankong's eyes were full of joy. The Pine Skill advancing to the Realm of Integration had surprisingly added more than nine years to his Lifespan, far exceeding the five or eight years he had initially estimated!
As long as I continue to cultivate, the next realm might add more than ten years, and the realm after that... to what extent will my Lifespan increase?
He looked down at his full palm skin.
The most marvelous part is, the Pine Qi Blood of the Pine Crane Longevity Technique not only extends life but can also rejuvenate my skin, turning it from wrinkled to youthful and full! And this is just the specialized Metamorphosis of the arms at the First Layer of Transcendence! If I reach Perfection of the Second Layer, or Perfection of the Third Layer, how could I not return to my youth! This is really an unexpected joy from cultivating the Pine Crane Longevity Technique. Compared to the Yin Talisman Thunder of the Yin Talisman Sect or the Black Tiger Shattering Golden Claw of the Black Tiger Gang, the Pine Crane Longevity Technique taught by the Young Lady is countless times more miraculous!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but recall the Young Lady who loved to eat chive pastries and sneak up behind people. He took out the folded peony handkerchief from his chest, stroked the stitches, and stood in a daze for a long time.
Since the Young Lady left, he had kept this peony handkerchief in his bosom and never used it again!
Tomorrow, I hope the Young Lady returns safely!
Lin Xuankong sighed, put the peony handkerchief back into his chest, and turned to walk into the wooden building!
Behind him, the dozen or so new buds on the Old Willow Tree had already grown branches and leaves after more than a month, becoming lush and vibrant!
At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him...