Chapter 69: Those who bring about their own downfall cannot survive
Following a cacophony of "crackling and clanging"…
The attacks from the magical treasures against the formation were directly repelled.
The light screen of the formation merely rippled, clearly showing no significant effect.
However, a massive "boom" soon followed.
A wave surged upon the light screen of the formation, spreading outward, and at that moment, the entire light screen of the formation also fluctuated slightly.
Their attack, it turned out, was even stronger than that of the two Demonic Beasts.
It was the Flawless Sword that had closely followed in the attack.
With his Flawless Sword being repelled, the previously confident Red-Robed Cultivator was momentarily stunned.
He was very familiar with his Flying Sword. As for its offensive power, no other magic artifact could compare to it, yet it couldn't even break through the defensive array.
This was something he found hard to believe.
Of course, had he witnessed the scene of the Demonic Beasts besieging the formation earlier, he probably wouldn't have thought this way.
But…
This attack made Lin Jing's heart skip a beat as well.
Because their attack caused the Array Plate to tremble, and the Spirit Stones atop the Array Plate suddenly diminished in spiritual power.
Indeed…
The Cultivators were smarter than the Demonic Beasts, knowing how to utilize the combined strength of everyone to attack.
If such attacks were to continue five or six more times, the Medium Grade Spirit Stones within would likely need immediate replacement.
The Red -Robed Cultivator frowned, staring at the formation. He refused to believe it would hold and was determined to attack once more.
After pondering for a moment, the Red-Robed Cultivator spoke up: "Don't know if everybody saw that, but the formation just reacted."
"If everyone puts in more effort and attacks again, we will definitely break through that formation."
No sooner had he finished speaking than someone immediately echoed:
"Good, let's try once more. Although his formation is strong, it surely can't withstand our consecutive attacks."
"Alright."
"I can't believe that so many of us can't break a single formation."
The crowd expressed their agreement.
Soon, they were ready, with various kinds of magic artifacts rising above their heads.
"Everyone, don't hold back. Give it your all, and this time, let's aim to break their formation in one go," the Red-Robed man instructed the crowd.
As soon as he spoke, the light from the magic artifacts above everyone's heads grew brighter, clearly increasing the output of spiritual power.
Seeing this, Lin Jing also became more cautious.
Seizing the interval while they were preparing, Lin Jing promptly replaced the old with five new Medium Grade Spirit Stones.
With the new Spirit Stones swapped in, the formation's light began to shine even more brightly.
However, at this moment, the crowd was only focused on the Red-Robed Cultivator, and no one noticed Lin Jing's actions.
"Attack."
At the command of the Red-Robed Cultivator…
The people promptly maneuvered their magic artifacts, launching an assault on the formation; a barrage of "booms" filled the ears, this attack visibly stronger than the previous one.
Especially the final blow struck by the Red-Robed Cultivator with the Flawless Sword, the "boom" resounded far and wide.
And yet, atop the light screen of the defensive array, only a larger ripple spread out.
The crowd was dumbfounded, staring blankly at the defensive array.
Such a powerful attack, yet the formation was unscathed. What kind of formation was this? It was incredibly robust.
The expressions on everyone's faces were varied and exceedingly vivid.
However, while this round of attacks had not broken the formation, it had attracted something even more deadly.
"Screech…"
A cry from a Demonic Beast echoed from afar, apparently a great distance away as the sound was somewhat faint, yet it was heard by everyone.
Upon hearing it, the Red-Robed Cultivator looked up in the direction of the sound.
But he saw nothing.
"What kind of Demonic Beast's call is this?"
Someone immediately asked, evidently none of the group had ever seen a Black Kite.
The Red -Robed Cultivator frowned and said:
"By the sound of it, it should be a Demonic Beast, quickly heading this way."
"We must hurry."
Lin Jing and his companions, of course, had also heard this all-too-familiar cry.
Having felt stifled for half a day, Yan Xiong was now immensely relieved.
"These little brats, better start running. If you don't escape now, you'll lose your lives."
"Hahaha…"
"What did you say?" the man in black roared angrily.
"You just wait…"
"Once we've broken your damn formation, I'll make sure you regret it."
After glancing at Yan Xiong, the man in black turned hurriedly to the red-robed man:
"Big brother, what do we do now?
"Ascend."
"We'll attack the formation from the top; it should be relatively weaker there."
"Everyone, my big brother has spoken. Let's all ascend and attack the formation from above."
Then, they saw the whole group rise into the air, including the red-robed cultivator.
The few people within the formation were immediately dumbfounded. The Black Kite was about to arrive, and yet this group dared to ascend?
Truly, the ignorant are fearless…
Yan Xiong had already warned them, but not only did they not believe him, they insisted on breaking the formation.
"You reap what you sow, and it serves you right…"
Lin Jing couldn't help but sigh, quietly waiting for the arrival of the Black Kite.
As for a warning, that was out of the question…
"Screech…"
The sound that now came was already very clear.
Upon hearing it, the red-robed cultivator's face instantly turned pale, then he didn't care what the others thought, quickly retracted his flying sword, and descended from the sky.
The man in black was baffled.
"Big brother, why did you come down?"
"You guys keep attacking the formation, I'll be back shortly."
Before his words even finished, the red-robed cultivator had taken out two Body Shaping Talismans and stuck them on himself, then sprinted away at full speed.
Watching the red-robed cultivator's departing figure, everyone was still confused.
The man in black didn't think much, turned around, and was just about to instruct everyone to attack the formation.
That's when he saw a small black dot appear behind them, coming at an extremely fast speed.
It quickly charged into the midst of the people.
Then came a scream.
"Ahh…"
A cultivator in the air suddenly let out a scream and then plummeted from the sky.
Then came the second scream…
The third scream…
The fourth scream…
Some didn't even have time to utter a sound before they lost consciousness and fell from the sky.
Only then did the rest of the people react.
They saw a shadow, fast as lightning, darting among them, and every time it passed through a person's body, a giant hole appeared in that person's chest. And then, that person would plummet straight down from the air.
"It's the Black Kite! !!"
"We've been deceived; he used us as bait…"
Someone recognized the shadow and cried out in terror and anger, but it was already too late.
The next moment, that shadow passed through him, leaving a massive hole in his chest.
He plummeted to the ground just like the others, stiff as a board.
However, his shout served as a warning for the others.
Upon hearing the name of the Black Kite, people clearly knew something and hurriedly tried to reach the ground.
But it was already too late. By the time they landed, only a few were left.
Why would the Black Kite let them go?
No sooner had these people landed than the Black Kite chased and killed them one by one.
None escaped.
And, the last to die was none other than the man in black.
The man in black, facing death, raged furiously toward the direction where the red-robed cultivator had fled.
"You won't die a good death…"
However, no sooner had he spoken those words than he died beneath the beak of the Black Kite.
As he died, his eyes were still filled with bitterness, intently fixing on the direction the red-robed cultivator had escaped.
They remained open even in death..
Chapter 70: Wei Zhengqing Awakens
After this group of people died, the Black Kite immediately left.
This time, it didn't attack the formation by Lin Jing and the others, presumably knowing that with its ability, it couldn't break through this formation.
So, it didn't waste its energy.
"That Red-Robed Cultivator looked so respectable, but I didn't expect him to be so shameless."
After the Black Kite left, Yan Xiong was the first to speak.
"Indeed."
"So, at this time, we can't trust anyone."
However, the one most affected by this was Luo Luo, who had witnessed everything with her own eyes.
Luo Luo looked up at Ning Yue and asked, "Mother, why is that man so bad, abandoning his companions and running away without caring?" Obviously, Luo Luo, at her age, couldn't understand this at all.
Ning Yue stroked Luo Luo's head and said:
"Luo Luo, remember, you must not harbor the intention to harm others, but you cannot do without the caution to defend against them."
"Oh…"
Luo Luo's eyes still held a hint of confusion, clearly, it was still too early for her to understand this phrase.
Following that, the surroundings quieted down once again.
Looking at Wei Zhengqing, he was still recovering.
The crisis had passed, and nobody disturbed him.
However.
The silence didn't last long before it was broken.
About fifteen minutes later, a red figure came flying on a sword.
It was none other than the Red-Robed Cultivator who had just fled.
The Red -Robed Cultivator arrived in front of the formation, retracted his Flying Sword, and descended from the air.
"Bad person…"
Upon seeing this man, Luo Luo pointed at the Red-Robed Cultivator and said.
The Red -Robed Cultivator chuckled dismissively:
"Hehe…"
"Aren't you bad people as well?"
"If you had let us in, would there be so many troubles now?"
"Little girl, you should get your facts straight before you speak."
The words of the man in black left Luo Luo speechless, uncertain of how to retort.
"If I had let you in, I'm afraid our fate would not have been much better than theirs by now," Lin Jing said cooly, pointing at the corpses on the ground.
"They came all this way with you, and you sold them out; do you still expect to proclaim your integrity?
The Red -Robed Cultivator, after hearing Lin Jing's words, did not refute.
"I too wanted to stay alive…"
'Without their help in blocking the Black Kite, I probably wouldn't have survived. I'm very grateful to them for the sacrifices they made for me."
Having said this, he began rummaging through the corpses, searching for their Storage Bags and even seizing their Magic Artifacts.
Soon, the corpses in the distance had been completely looted by him.
Only a few near the edge of the formation remained.
After collecting from other corpses, the Red -Robed Cultivator came to the corpse of the man in black, closed his eyes with his hand and said:
"Don't blame big brother, big brother also wanted to stay alive."
After speaking, he put the man in black's Storage Bag and Magic Artifact into his own Storage Bag.
Having done all this, the Red-Robed Cultivator looked up at the people inside the formation and said:
"Do you really think I can't do anything to you just because you're hiding in this formation?"
"Heh heh, let's see how long you can hide now."
After speaking, he took out a porcelain bottle and shook it a couple of times at them.
"Have you heard of Beast Attracting Grass? Just by pouring this bottle of Beast Attracting Grass liquid here, demonic beasts will surround this place in less than fifteen minutes."
"Then, let's see how long you can hold out."
Lin Jing stared at the porcelain bottle, frowning,
He had certainly heard of Beast Attracting Grass.
It was used specifically to attract demonic beasts, and just a few drops of the liquid could send demonic beasts into a frenzy. If he really poured out the liquid here,
Then as he said, all nearby demonic beasts would converge on this spot.
At that time, with so many demonic beasts attacking, even if he had plenty of Spirit Stones on him, he probably wouldn't last long.
"Of course…"
The Red -Robed Cultivator changed tack and continued:
"If you open the formation and let me in, I won't use this Beast Attracting Grass juice."
"And once I'm inside, you needn't worry about me causing trouble."
"After all, I'm just trying to survive. You can rest assured that once inside the formation, I will be absolutely behaved."
Having said that, the Red-Robed Cultivator held the porcelain bottle and looked at Lin Jing, waiting for his response.
Lin Jing did not panic; he calmly looked at the Red-Robed Cultivator and said:
"I guess you wouldn't dare."
Do you really have no fear of death?" The Red-Robed Cultivator's face was a mask of anger, "Then don't blame me for not being polite."
After speaking, he had a Teleportation Talisman in his hand, and then he prepared to open the bottle.
At this moment, a voice sounded:
"I also guess you wouldn't dare."
"Using the Beast Attracting Grass to draw Demonic Beasts here, I'm afraid you would be the first to die. Do you really think that with a Teleportation Talisman, you could escape the pursuit of the Black Kite?"
The Red -Robed Cultivator was taken aback, and the hand poised to open the bottle stopped where it was.
Now, he was somewhat hesitant.
Actually, he was not certain that using the Teleportation Talisman would get him out of the Black Kite's sensory range.
When Lin Jing heard this voice, joy appeared on his face, and he turned to look.
Wei Zhengqing was walking towards Lin Jing's side.
At this point, Wei Zhengqing showed no signs of the weakness he had at the beginning. He appeared calm and composed, with an air of strength in his every move.
"Brother Wei, you're… all better?" Lin Jing asked with a look of joy.
"Mhm…'
Wei Zhengqing nodded, then came to stand beside Lin Jing, patting his shoulder and said:
"I really owe you one. Leave him to me now."
"Foundation Establishment Stage…"
The Red -Robed Cultivator frowned. The reason he had been so arrogant was that Lin Jing and the other two were in the Qi Refinement Realm, and they couldn't pose a threat to him.
He had seen Wei Zhengqing before, but since he observed that Wei Zhengqing's energy was unstable, likely from being injured and meditating, he didn't pay much attention.
However, he couldn't understand why that man had recovered so quickly.
How much time passed? And he was already out of harm's way.
The Red -Robed Cultivator furrowed his brow in thought, but couldn't solve the puzzle.
In his wildest dreams, he probably couldn't imagine that Wei Zhengqing had taken a Pure Body Restoration Pill.
Wei Zhengqing looked at the Red-Robed Cultivator and said to Lin Jing:
"With him around, there could be trouble we don't need."
"Brother Lin, open the formation. I will take care of him."
"Brother Wei, are you sure?" Lin Jing looked at Wei Zhengqing, doubtful.
He understood Wei Zhengqing's character, and he wouldn't say such a thing if he wasn't sure.
However, Lin Jing still couldn't quite believe it and quickly reminded him:
"His cultivation seems to be a bit higher than yours, and moreover, he has a Magic Artifact that is extremely formidable. He might not be easy to handle." "I know," Wei Zhengqing nodded.
"Although I was healing just now, fearing an accident, I was paying close attention to the outside. I'm still very clear about everything that has happened."
"This man's cultivation is slightly higher than mine, at the second layer of Foundation Establishment, but he is definitely not my opponent." "Brother Lin, don't worry. That guy is certainly no match for old Wei."
"Plus, old Wei's Magic Artifact is no worse than his."
Yan Xiong said with a grin.
Lin Junjie looked at Wei Zhengqing, whose eyes were resolute, nodding at Lin Jing to assure him.
"Alright," Lin Jing replied.
"Courting death…"
Seeing that Wei Zhengqing did not take him seriously, the Red-Robed Cultivator said furiously.
But, he also felt a sneaky joy inside. He hadn't expected that the formation that he couldn't open no matter what would be willingly exited by others.
He was very confident in his Flawless Sword, believing that no matter who came out, he would be able to kill them.
Of course, it would be best to capture them and then force them to open the formation…
However, for now, he couldn't let that show and had to continue feigning anger:
"Since that's the case, I'll fulfill your wish.."
Chapter 71: The Golden Core Strikes
Meanwhile, Wei Zhengqing showed no reaction as he drew a crimson Magic Artifact longsword from his Storage Bag and held it in his hand.
Lin Jing then controlled the Array Plate, and on the light screen of the Formation in front, an opening the size of a person appeared.
After that, with a "whoosh," Wei Zhengqing disappeared into the Formation, charging towards the Red-Robed Cultivator outside.
The Red -Robed Cultivator's heart leaped with joy, not expecting them to actually dare to rush out from the Formation.
He then sneered coldly, forming a hand gesture, and retreated.
As Wei Zhengqing rushed towards the Red-Robed Cultivator, he suddenly turned, unexpectedly raising his arm and blocking ahead with his sword.
"Clang"
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
Turned out the Red-Robed Cultivator had been maneuvering the Flawless Sword to launch a sneak attack on Wei Zhengqing.
Previously, the power of this Flawless Sword seemed considerable, yet it was easily caught by Wei Zhengqing.
This indicated that Wei Zhengqing's strength was far from ordinary.
Seeing this, the Red-Robed Cultivator did not linger, instead he continued retreating backward, persistently using the Flawless Sword to attempt sneak attacks on Wei Zhengqing.
And Wei Zhengqing, as if he could predict the attacks in advance, managed to block each sneak attack.
Thus, the two of them, one advancing and the other retreating, gradually moved away.
It was only when the two figures were out of sight that Lin Jing came back to his senses.
He looked towards Yan Xiong and asked, "Old Yan, is Brother Wei really okay?"
Old Yan cracked a big smile and replied,
"Don't worry, Brother Lin, Old Wei is no simple character. He killed a Cultivator at the first level of Foundation Establishment when he was at the peak of Qi Refinement."
"You mustn't underestimate him."
"That powerful!" Lin Jing exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course, Old Wei's Cultivation Technique is different from ours, he's best at assault and killing techniques," said Yan Xiong cheerfully.
"That's good to know."
It wasn't long before Wei Zhengqing returned.
He was covered in blood, holding that crimson longsword, walking towards them.
By now, there were no Demonic Beasts around, nor were there other people, so Lin Jing deactivated the Defensive Array.
"Brother Wei…"
"How are you? Are you injured?" Lin Jing stepped forward and asked.
"Rest assured, except for his Magic Artifact being somewhat formidable, that man was no match for me."
"Brother Lin, catch this."
After speaking, Wei Zhengqing threw something transparent over. If it wasn't for Wei Zhengqing's reminder and the specks of blood on it, Lin Jing might have completely overlooked it.
Lin Jing caught it and found that it was the Red-Robed Cultivator's Flawless Sword. This sword was completely transparent, resembling the transparent glass of a bygone era, and it felt like cold metal to the touch, although he didn't know what material it was made of.
"Brother Wei, what is the meaning of this?" Lin Jing looked towards Wei Zhengqing with puzzlement.
"Brother Lin, this is for you."
"I see you've been without a Magic Artifact, so I'm giving this Flying Sword to you. I think it suits you well."
"Brother Wei, this is your spoils of battle, and moreover, this Flawless Sword is an exceptional Magic Artifact, extremely precious. How could I accept it? Please take it back," Lin Jing said as he offered the Flawless Sword back to Wei Zhengqing.
"Brother Lin, please accept it; consider it as compensation for that Pure Body Restoration Pill of yours."
"That's right, Brother Lin, just take it. Old Wei is not in need of exceptional Magic Artifacts; the one in his hand is an exceptional Magic Artifact too," Yan Xiong interjected.
Lin Jing couldn't help but laugh and cry,
"This exceptional Magic Artifact is way more valuable than a Pure Body
Restoration Pill, worth at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones."
"Brother Lin, there's no need for further words. If it weren't for Brother Lin's Formation protecting us, we might have died at the paws of Demonic Beasts long ago."
"Alright then…"
Seeing Wei Zhengqing was insistent, he didn't say any more and instead accepted the Flawless Sword.
Then, Yan Xiong spoke,
"Elder Wei, what do you think…"
"What should we do next, stay here or go somewhere else?"
Wei Zhengqing furrowed his brows in thought for a moment before speaking.
"I believe we should stay here for the time being. There are no Demonic Beasts here now, so it's relatively safe. Other places might not be as safe." After saying that, Wei Zhengqing thought for a while longer and then said,
"We could go to the Inner Fang Market and wait for its grand formation to activate."
Lin Jing, however, shook his head and said,
"Brother Wei, Elder Yan…'
"There's no use counting on those people in the Inner Fang Market anymore. If they wanted to open the defensive formation, they most likely would have done so already."
"I heard from Elder Yu before that the formation was activated because the Golden Core Cultivators who went deep into the Night Mist Mountain Range demanded it."
"The reason was that they feared Demonic Beasts might attack while they were away and that beasts or outer sect Cultivators might enter the Fang Market and harm their properties within the Inner Fang Market, so they activated the grand formation of the Inner Fang Market."
"Now that this situation has truly arisen, they certainly won't open it."
Wei Zhengqing frowned; this was the first time he had heard about this.
"Since that's the case, let's just stay here and not go anywhere."
"Alright…"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile, the chaos caused by the Demonic Beasts continued.
Lin Jing and his group stayed in this place that was still relatively safe for the moment.
Every now and then, a roar from some beast or the scream of a Human Cultivator could be heard in the distance.
Clearly, the danger was still ongoing.
About half an hour later, two elders flew in from outside the Fang Market.
Lin Jing and the others looked up to see the two elders.
One of them, Lin Jing actually recognized.
It was the manager whom Lin Jing had met when he first visited the Fang Market, at the management office of the Inner Fang Market.
The other elder with white whiskers, however, was unfamiliar to Lin Jing.
The two stood in the air, their brows locked in worry as they looked down upon the ground left in tatters after the Demonic Beasts' rampage.
At that moment…
A group of Cultivators being chased by Demonic Beasts arrived here.
Upon seeing the two elders, sensing their powerful aura, the group of Cultivators ran swiftly towards them.
"Elders, save us…"
The Cultivators being pursued by the Demonic Beasts quickly called out to the two elders for help.
Up in the air, the manager of the Inner Fang Market said to the elder with white whiskers,
"Old Bai, how about you take care of it?"
"Sure…"
The white-whiskered elder nodded, then flew towards the group of Cultivators.
Suddenly, a beam of white light shot out from the sleeve of the white-whiskered elder towards the group of Demonic Beasts at breakneck speed.
The white light entered among the beasts like a wild lightning bolt, darting through the herd, swiftly slashing as it went,
And the cries of the Demonic Beasts were unceasing, one after another in rapid succession.
In no time, the ground was a mess, with the Demonic Beasts sliced and scattered everywhere.
This white-whiskered elder was indeed a Golden Core Cultivator.
The surviving Cultivators, overjoyed, hurried to offer their respects to the white-whiskered elder.
"Thank you, elder."
However, the white-whiskered elder paid them no attention and flew directly towards the distant roars of beasts.
It seemed he was preparing to take action and clear out all the Demonic Beasts.
"With a Golden Core Immortal stepping in, we're finally saved." Many people sighed with relief, their hearts finally put at ease..
Chapter 72: Departure
Subsequently, as Golden Core Cultivators arrived, some hidden cultivators also made their appearance.
At that moment, several figures flew in from the distance, their bodies emitting powerful auras, clearly all at the Golden Core Stage.
Seeing this, Wei Zhengqing spoke:
"Brother Lin, the Golden Core Cultivators of Fang Market have come. We can retract the Defensive Array now."
Lin Jing nodded, withdrew the Defensive Array, and put the Array Plate into his Storage Bag.
The group of Golden Core Cultivators flew directly to the person in charge of the Inner Fang Market and stopped in front of him.
Afterwards, they seemed to discuss something, and then those Golden Core Cultivators dispersed.
Heading in different directions of Fang Market, it appeared they were preparing to eliminate the Demonic Beasts that had entered the market. "These Golden Core Immortals are finally taking action. We are saved."
"Yes…"
"Thank heavens, someone has finally come to rescue us."
Many people, watching those Golden Core Cultivators in the sky, were moved to tears, expressing their relief.
Among these Golden Core Cultivators, Lin Jing spotted a familiar figure.
It was none other than the Wu Cai Immortal they had encountered during the Flame Poison Centipede incident.
Previously, when asking Elder Yu about formations, Elder Yu had casually mentioned him, and that was how Lin Jing knew that the Wu Cai Immortal was also part of the team investigating the ca use of the beast tide.
Upon seeing him, Lin Jing understood that these Golden Core Cultivators were the ones who had gone to investigate in the Night Mist Mountain Range.
They had returned after completing their reconnaissance.
After these Golden Core Cultivators departed, some time passed before the defensive formation of the Inner Fang Market was finally activated.
Clearly, the Golden Core Cultivators had eradicated all the Demonic Beasts that infiltrated the market.
That night, good news spread from the Inner Fang Market.
The beast tide had been defeated, and there would not be any Demonic Beasts attacking Fang Market in the short term.
In the following days, reconstruction of the market ensued.
Due to the calamity of the beast tide, the population of the Outer Fang Market had diminished further, especially in the region where Lin Jing and others resided.
Later, Manager Jiang also paid a visit.
Lin Jing inquired about the beast tide incident with Manager Jiang.
After Manager Jiang's explanation, Lin Jing finally understood the full story behind the incident.
Ordinarily, the defensive great formation would have been sufficient to keep the beast tide at bay, supplemented by the protection of the Guard Team. But unexpectedly, some of the Demonic Beasts feigned death this time.
The Guard Team was deceived due to their carelessness, which led to a lapse in defense and the subsequent breach of the great formation, allowing Demonic Beasts to storm into Fang Market and cause the tragedy.
The breach occurred precisely in the direction where Lin Jing and others were located, whereas the other directions remained unscathed.
As he recounted the events, Lin Jing thought of the Black Kite, an expert in
deception. Previously, it had tricked many people, with even Yan Xiong nearly falling for its trick.
"Fang Market is becoming less and less safe. If possible, it's better to reside in the Inner Fang Market. It's somewhat safer there."
At the end, Manager Jiang also expressed his sentiments.
Those words deeply resonated with Lin Jing.
"It seems I need to seek out Elder Yu once again."
In the last few days, Wei Zhengqing had also been busy, communicating with others and discussing arrangements for departure.
After the ordeal with the beast tide, many people felt that Fang Market was too dangerous, and numerous individuals sought to flee to safer places.
However, with the current unusual situation, the roads leading outside were perilous, and some saw a business opportunity in guiding people to safety.
One day, news came that Wei Zhengqing, through a previous acquaintance, had arranged passage with a group led by another Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and they were set to leave the day after tomorrow. Upon receiving the news, everyone was overjoyed.
In the end…
The day before their departure, they gathered together once more.
During the meal, Wei Zhengqing deliberately suggested that Lin Jing accompany them as they left, but Lin Jing refused.
The next day, as the group departed, Lin Jing watched them leave the Fang Market.
Watching them gradually fade into the distance, Luo Luo energetically waved her tiny hand, and Lin Jing suddenly felt hollow and uneasy.
As they receded farther and farther away, Lin Jing remained standing in the same spot…
The next day, Lin Jing visited Yuebaolou and met with Elder Yu.
"Kid, you've finally come."
"I heard that the Defensive Array of the outer Fang Market was broken from your side, with such danger, how did you escape?" As soon as they met, Elder Yu asked Lin Jing.
Lin Jing bowed to Elder Yu and said,
"Elder Yu, thank you for the Array Plate. Without it, I would have likely died under the jaws of Demonic Beasts."
After speaking, Lin Jing handed the Array Plate back to Elder Yu.
'Elder Yu, now that the danger is over, please take back the Array Plate for now."
Elder Yu took the Array Plate and said to Lin Jing,
"Although the beast tide has receded, the Golden Core Cultivators who went to explore the Night Mist Mountain Range say that it's not completely over."
"They found a valley filled with demonic aura deep in the Night Mist Mountain
Range, where many Golden Core Stage and even Nascent Soul Stage Demonic
Beasts are sleeping."
"This matter has exceeded their abilities, and they didn't dare act rashly, so they returned first and decided to ask the Qingyuan Sword Sect to intervene."
"So, the outer Fang Market is still not safe."
After finishing, Elder Yu looked at Lin Jing and said,
"To avoid such an incident happening again, I plan to move you to the Inner Fang Market first. We can talk about the Supreme Elixir later. What do you think?"
"Elder Yu, I have another matter to discuss with you."
Lin Jing spoke and pulled out a porcelain bottle from his Storage Bag.
"I've already concocted the Supreme Elixir."
"You concocted a Supreme Elixir?" Elder Yu exclaimed in surprise. "Let me see it."
"Alright."
Lin Jing passed the porcelain bottle to Elder Yu.
Elder Yu took the bottle, opened the stopper, poured the Elixir Medicine into his hand, and then observed it closely.
After a long while…
Elder Yu burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha…"
"I knew it; you kid, your talent is really something else."
"From the first time you came here to now, it's been just over a year, and you've been able to concoct Supreme Elixir Medicine."
"Indeed, I knew it, my judgment couldn't possibly be wrong."
"In that case…"
"Now that you've concocted the Supreme Elixir, I'll take you to meet someone."
"As long as he agrees, you can become an Offering Pill Master of Yuebaolou, move into the Inner Fang Market, and won't have to live in fear in the outer
Fang Market anymore."
"Thank you, Elder Yu," said Lin Jing.
"Come, follow me…"
After that, Elder Yu led the way, and Lin Jing followed behind him.
Thus, Lin Jing followed Elder Yu to the top floor of Yuebaolou. This was where the administrators of Yuebaolou were located, but at that moment, it was obscured by a Formation, making it impossible to see inside.
Elder Yu, with Lin Jing beside him, stood at the entrance and called out, "Elder Bai… the person I mentioned to you last time, I've brought him.."
Chapter 73: Assessment
As the voice faded, a burst of light appeared, and the formation in front of them parted to both sides, creating a gap large enough for one person to pass through.
Elder Yu walked inside and gestured for Lin Jing to follow.
Lin Jing nodded and then followed closely behind Elder Yu.
Upon entering, Lin Jing found the room to be very modest, with simple decorations.
However, the spiritual energy was extremely rich, so rich that it surprised Lin Jing.
The spiritual energy here was even more abundant than in his System Space, truly befitting a place where a steward of Yuebaolou resided.
They went around the screen at the entrance and entered the room.
Inside the room, Lin Jing saw an old man with white beard seated in meditation; upon their arrival, he opened his eyes and looked at them.
Lin Jing recognized him; wasn't this the Golden Core Cultivator who was with the manager of the Inner Fang Market that day?
"This is Elder Bai, who manages Yuebaolou in Nanshan Market,"
Elder Yu said to Lin Jing.
"Junior Lin Jing pays respects to Elder Bai," Lin Jing greeted Elder Bai with a bow.
Elder Bai nodded, sized up Lin Jing, then turned to Elder Yu and said,
"You've brought him here now, why? Has he really produced a supreme elixir?"
"Yes," Elder Yu replied, handing over the porcelain bottle containing the elixir medicine.
Elder Bai took the bottle, opened the cork, then poured out the elixir and after a thorough examination, nodded and said, "Hmm, this is indeed a supreme elixir."
"But…"
Elder Bai's tone changed as he continued,
"This one pill doesn't prove much, although you, Elder Yu, claimed his talent is astonishing, I haven't seen him perform alchemy with my own eyes."
"Moreover, becoming a Pill Master offering priest for Yuebaolou isn't something that can be achieved with just one supreme elixir."
"Elder Bai, didn't you say last time…"
Elder Yu immediately tried to interject, but Elder Bai raised his hand to stop him.
"Elder Yu, you're too anxious…"
"I know you're eager to see talent not go to waste, to see someone with such a gift for the Alchemy Dao not be buried in obscurity."
"But one must guard against others…"
"What if he were to deceive you with just one supreme elixir? Do you know how many people are desperate to enter the Inner Fang Market?"
"Therefore, I need to assess this person myself."
"But…"
Elder Yu still wanted to say something, but Lin Jing interrupted him. "Elder Yu, no need for further words."
Elder Yu turned his head to look at Lin Jing, who nodded to him in acknowledgment.
Lin Jing then bowed to Elder Bai and said, "Elder Bai, I am willing to undergo the assessment."
"Good,"
Elder Bai nodded, and continued,
"It's too late today."
"How about this, come to the alchemy room tomorrow, and you will concoct on the spot. Elder Yu and I will judge, how is that?"
"That's fine," Lin Jing nodded in agreement.
Elder Bai thought for a moment and then added, "I haven't decided on the specific content of the assessment, I will let you know tomorrow after I've thought it through."
"I will follow Elder Bai's arrangements," Lin Jing said with a bow.
Elder Bai nodded, and then said to Elder Yu, "Alright, you two go back for now, tomorrow just bring him directly to the alchemy room."
After leaving Elder Bails room, Elder Yu expressed his apologies to Lin Jing,
"Initially, I had already discussed the matter with Elder Bai, but to my surprise, he added another assessment."
"Elder Yu, you shouldn't blame yourself. It's only normal for me to undergo an assessment if I wish to become a pill master offering priest for Yuebaolou, isn't
"Besides, Elder Yu, you haven't seen me perform alchemy with your own eyes yet, now there is a good opportunity for you to see. If there is anything I'm doing wrong, please offer your guidance," Lin Jing said.
After listening to Lin Jing's words, Elder Yu was relieved, especially by the last sentence, which comforted him. Elder Yu kept nodding and said,
"Well said, well said…
After finishing, he reminded Lin Jing, "For tomorrow's examination, Elder Bai might ask you to make a superior elixir for the assessment. Are you confident?"
Lin Jing thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry, Elder Yu. As for supreme elixirs, that might be a bit difficult to say, but there should be no problem with superior elixirs. "
This time, the use of the System Space would definitely be prohibited, which meant the success rate bonus from the System Space would no longer apply.
However, he was now a Second-Grade Alchemist. Making a first Rank elixir was still very easy for him. Even without the system's enhancement, making a supreme elixir should also not be much of an issue.
But even so, Lin Jing dared not to be too full of himself.
After all, alchemy was never one hundred percent certain; who knew what accidents might occur?
Afterward, having chatted with Elder Yu for a while longer, Lin Jing then left.
Early the next day, Lin Jing arrived at Yuebaolou.
And Elder Yu had already been waiting there for a long time.
"Let's go, we'll head to the alchemy room now," Elder Yu said upon seeing Lin Jing's arrival.
"Okay," Lin Jing nodded, then followed behind Elder Yu.
The two left Yuebaolou from the back, crossed the street, and walked a distance until they came to a quiet courtyard and stopped.
Elder Yu pointed to the small courtyard in front of them and said, "This is Yuebaolou's alchemy room."
"Elder Yu, why is the alchemy room built here? I saw there was a courtyard behind Yuebaolou, why not there?" Elder Yu sighed and replied,
"Alas…
"There used to be an alchemy room there, but later an Offering Priest, who is a pill master, had an accident while doing alchemy, which caused a furnace to explode."
"The explosion from that event was quite powerful. It broke through the alchemy room's defensive array and affected Yuebaolou, causing significant casualties. "
"Therefore, since then, the alchemy room has been moved here."
Lin Jing looked around and found that this place was indeed very quiet, and the surrounding courtyards seemed to be uninhabited.
It was unclear if this was done specifically to prevent unforeseen incidents.
Pushing open the courtyard door and walking in, Lin Jing found the space inside was not small; there was a large square in the courtyard, and behind the square was an alchemy room.
"Does no one come here usually?" Lin Jing asked, curious.
"Of course…" Elder Yu began to answer.
"Those Offering Priest pill masters aren't here; most of them do alchemy in their own homes, and few come here to practice alchemy."
"This place is usually only used in special circumstances, or during alchemy competitions between the offering priests."
"Oh… I see." Lin Jing suddenly understood.
Next, Lin Jing and Elder Yu waited there, expecting Elder Bail s arrival.
They didn't have to wait long before Elder Bai arrived.
"Elder Bai." Lin Jing bowed in greeting.
Elder Bai nodded in response and then said,
"For today's assessment, I'm not planning on making it difficult for you. I'll give you three chances, and you only need to successfully make one batch."
"As for the final outcome, it will be decided after Elder Yu and I have inspected and consulted on it."
"Yes, Elder Bai," Lin Jing replied.
"Alright then, let's go inside." Having said that, Elder Bai led the way to the alchemy room.
Lin Jing and Elder Yu followed behind him.
Upon arriving at the alchemy room, Elder Bai took out three sets of materials for the Energy Gathering Pill and handed them to Lin Jing.
Then he told him,
"Alright, you can begin now." "Okay," Lin Jing nodded..
Chapter 74: Huang Qingling
Next, Lin Jing moved to the center of the alchemy room.
Then, from his Storage Bag, he took out the Fire Meteor Four-Pattern Furnace.
Knowing there was an assessment today, Lin Jing had taken the Fire Meteor Four-Pattern Furnace out of the System Space in advance and placed it inside the Storage Bag.
Elder Bai was taken aback by the sight of the Fire Meteor Four-Pattern
Furnace, and then he turned his head to look at Elder Yu beside him and said,
"Isn't that your Fire Meteor Four-Pattern Furnace?"
"You gave him that pill furnace?"
Elder Yu nodded and said,
"Yes!"
"Didn't I just get a new pill furnace last time? Since I don't need this one anymore, keeping it would be a waste, so it's better to give it to him."
"You… really are…"
Elder Bai shook his head and didn't say anything more.
As for his old colleague who had followed him for many years, he was at a loss for words.
After setting up the Fire Meteor Four-Pattern Furnace, Lin Jing first processed the alchemy ingredients, then took a deep breath to calm his emotions.
It was his first time doing alchemy with an audience; it was impossible not to be nervous.
Once he had calmed down, Lin Jing followed the alchemy procedure he always used, step by step…
Not until he had placed all the ingredients into the furnace and started sealing it for alchemy…
By this time, Lin Jing had completely immersed himself, as if he could not feel the presence of others at all, his mind fully focused on the pill furnace.
He carefully controlled the flames, while his Divine Sense observed the activities inside the furnace.
"Watching his handling of the ingredients earlier, he seemed very skillful; looks like he has done it many times…"
Elder Bai whispered, watching Lin Jing.
"Hmm… indeed…"
Elder Yu nodded in response.
For Elder Yu, this was no surprise, as Lin Jing often visited Yuebaolou and he had witnessed his growth all along.
A quarter of an hour…
Two auarters of an hour…
Lin Jing remained fully focused and careful in controlling the flames.
Soon, half an hour passed, and it was now a critical moment for the Elixir Medicine to solidify. Lin Jing cautiously extended his Divine Sense, observing the situation within the furnace.
At that moment…
"Bang"
The door of the alchemy room was fiercely slammed open, making a loud noise.
The working Lin Jing was also distracted by this noise, his Divine Sense faltered and directly touched the Elixir Medicine that was condensing inside the furnace.
At this crucial moment, the Elixir Medicine should not have been disturbed.
This disturbance was a recipe for disaster…
"Bang"
Another loud sound came, this time from inside the furnace.
Lin Jing had caused the furnace to explode…
Following that…
"Screech…'
A sharp cry sounded, and a dark figure suddenly rushed towards Lin Jing.
Elder Bai and Elder Yu had been too engrossed in watching and, since they were in Yuebaolou's own alchemy room, had let their guard down.
The loud noise brought them back to their senses.
Seeing the dark figure charging at Lin Jing, both men's faces changed dramatically.
Lin Jing felt the same.
"Black Kite!!!"
Upon recognizing the dark figure, Lin Jing's face went pale, and he involuntarily exclaimed.
However, due to the earlier explosion, he was dizzy and slow to react, so he could only watch helplessly as the Black Kite pounced towards him.
Elder Bai reacted the fastest. Seeing that he couldn't stop the Black Kite at this point, he waved his hand, sending a gust of wind that knocked the Black Kite to the ground.
His other hand flashed with white light, ready to cast a spell.
"Little Sparrow…"
A crisp call came through.
After hearing the call, the Black Kite rolled up from the ground and quickly flew out, eventually landing on the shoulder of a young girl standing at the door of the alchemy room.
Elder Bai saw this and immediately stopped his spellcraft, and the white light on his hand vanished.
Then, he and Elder Yu turned to look outside the door, to where the beautiful girl stood.
Upon seeing her, Elder Bai suddenly showed a helpless expression on his face.
"Why have you come here?"
Elder Bai was the first to speak.
"I came looking for you!"
The girl replied, her voice as pleasant as a silver bell.
Everything that had just happened was too abrupt, and Lin Jing hadn't even had time to react, still in a daze, when he heard an extremely pleasing voice.
Lin Jing, puzzled, looked up.
He saw standing at the doorway of the alchemy room, a stunning girl around eighteen or nineteen, with eyes like shining stars, a youthful face with a baby's innocence, and long black hair flowing straight down.
She even had a hint of arrogant temperament about her, suggesting that her family background was likely extraordinary.
And she was even slightly more beautiful than Ning Yue.
Lin Jing just watched her, until a moment later, when the girl walked forward, Only then did Lin Jing come to his senses.
He quickly diverted his gaze and sat cross-legged on the ground, beginning to meditate and recover.
The recent incident had caused his Divine Sense to be shaken, causing him some injury.
The girl walked up to Elder Bai and stopped, pointing at Lin Jing, she asked:
"Who is this?"
Elder Bai spoke with resignation, "Qing Ling, could you not give me a heads-up before you come to find me next time?"
He then explained:
"Didn't Elder Yu tell me before that he had encountered an alchemy prodigy?" "This is the one."
"Just now, we were assessing his alchemy level, but you suddenly showed up and startled him, causing the furnace to explode."
"It was a critical moment for forming the elixir, and with the fuss your Black
Kite made, he must have got injured."
The girl named Qing Ling's face turned slightly red, and she said apologetically:
"Old Man Bai, maybe there's no need for an assessment."
It seemed that Elder Bai also felt helpless towards the girl. He sighed and said:
"Let's see how it goes first, if his injuries are serious we will skip the assessment and consider it as him having passed."
After saying this, he looked again at the Black Kite on the girl's shoulder, questioning:
"What's wrong with it today? This is the first time it has attacked anyone since it was tamed."
"I'm not sure either."
The girl turned her head to look at the Black Kite on her shoulder, which was fixating on Lin Jing.
Both of them saw that the Black Kite really seemed to hold some grudge against Lin Jing.
Although the Black Kite had been tamed, because its realm was too low, it couldn't communicate with humans.
It seemed that they would have to wait until Lin Jing's injuries had healed before they could ask him.
Lin Jing had only suffered from the shock to his Divine Sense due to the explosion of the elixir, and his body was mostly unharmed, so he quickly regulated himself and recovered.
A quarter hour later, Lin Jing slowly recovered consciousness and looked at the few people in front of him.
"How do you feel?"
Seeing Lin Jing awake, Elder Yu quickly approached, asking with concern.
Lin Jing looked at Elder Yu, concern apparent in his eyes, and responded:
"Don't worry, Elder Yu, it's just a bit of Divine Sense shock, nothing serious."
"I have already regulated it."
At that moment,
Elder Bai and the girl named Qing Ling also came forward.
Elder Bai glanced at Lin Jing, then turned his head to look once again at the
Black Kite in the girl's arms, still glaring at Lin Jing, and asked with curiosity:
"Do you have a feud with this Black Kite? Why does it attack the moment it sees you?"
Lin Jing also looked toward the girl's arms, where the Black Kite was intently staring at him, as if ready to attack at any moment.
But fortunately, the girl held it tightly, preventing it from leaving her embrace.
Lin Jing carefully observed for a while, then asked Elder Bai:
"Elder Bai, is this Black Kite the one that invaded Fang Market a few days ago?"
Chapter 75: Assessment Passed
Elder Bai nodded and said,
"Indeed, it's that one. A few days ago, when I was clearing the Demonic Beasts that invaded the Fang Market, I found this Black Kite."
"Seeing how intelligent it was, completely unlike other Demonic Beasts, I couldn't bear to kill it. Instead, I thought of a way to tame it and give it to my niece as a pet."
Lin Jing gave a wry smile and said, "So that's how it is…"
"That explains it."
Elder Bai asked with curiosity, "What, do you know this Black Kite?"
"Elder Bai, it's like this. In the outer Fang Market, this Black Kite once attacked me."
"However, it was blocked by the Formation that Elder Yu lent me. I suppose it's because it suffered a loss at my hands and felt unwilling to let it stand."
"So it was like that."
Upon hearing this, everyone suddenly understood.
"Indeed, the Black Kite has a strong vindictive nature, it's not strange that it would act this way."
After saying this, Elder Bai began to impart lessons to the girl:
"Qing Ling, you must discipline this Black Kite well in the future, don't let it attack others again."
"Understood, Old Man Bai…" the girl named Qing Ling pouted and responded.
At this moment, Lin Jing was also looking at the girl in amazement, she had actually called Elder Bai 'Old Man Bail directly. "Right, Elder Bai just mentioned that she's his niece." Thinking this, Lin Jing felt relieved.
Elder Yu noticed Lin Jing's reaction and explained,
"This is Elder Bai's niece, Huang Qingling."
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Qing Ling," greeted Lin Jing to Huang Qingling. "What's your name?" Huang Qingling asked Lin Jing, her bright eyes twinkling.
"Lin Jing," Lin Jing answered.
"Lin Jing…"
"Alright, I'll remember you. If someone bullies you later on, just come to me," said Huang Qingling, looking at Lin Jing.
Lin Jing:
Lin Jing was speechless, at a loss for how to respond.
As for Elder Bai and Elder Yu, they seemed to be already used to it.
After a moment, Elder Bai spoke again,
"Lin boy, how are you feeling? Do you still want to continue with the assessment? If you feel it's not going well, we can stop the assessment."
"Of course, even if we stop the assessment, I will consider you to have passed, as I'm also responsible for this unexpected incident."
Lin Jing shook his head and said,
"Elder Bai, there's no need…"
"I am unharmed and can continue with the assessment."
"Are you sure?" Elder Bai asked skeptically.
"Even if I pass without the assessment, it's not certain whether I would pass if we continue. You have to think this through!"
Elder Bai was like an old fox, gently persuading, as if he wanted Lin Jing to give up the assessment.
But Lin Jing was very clear that this was likely a test. Everyone knew that his injuries were minor and not serious.
If he really chose to give up the assessment, then he might truly miss the chance of entering the Inner Fang Market.
Moreover, even if not for himself, to not disappoint Elder Yu's expectations, he could not give up on the assessment like this.
With these thoughts, Lin Jing nodded and said, "Yes, I have made up my mind."
"Good,"
Elder Bai, twiddling with the beard that hung in front of his chest, then said,
"Then let's continue with the assessment."
"We should step back a bit, so as not to disturb him."
After speaking, the three of them retreated, stopping only when they were near the door.
Lin Jing took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
Next, he began by dumping out the remnants of the failed alchemy, and then took out the prepared materials.
Just like before, from processing the materials to finally sealing the Pill Furnace…
Throughout the process, he remained completely calm.
This time, perhaps with the experience of being watched for the first time, he wasn't as flustered.
He carefully controlled the flame while observing the reaction inside the pill furnace with his Divine Sense.
A quarter of an hour, half an hour, three-quarters of an hour…
Time slowly passed…
The medicinal liquid inside the furnace began to condense, forming elixir medicine, at this stage it was more crucial than ever not to be distracted; Lin Jing carefully increased the flame, which sped up the condensation of the liquid…
Before long, a fragrance wafted out from the pill furnace,
At this point, the elixir was refined.
"I smell it, this alchemy session has definitely produced a supreme elixir."
As an alchemist of the third rank, Elder Yu had an abundance of experience, and even before the elixir was out of the furnace, he was the first to speak up with assurance.
Lin Jing already had a fine sheen of sweat on his forehead by now.
Of course, this wasn't all due to exertion; there was also some nervousness involved, after all, this was an assessment.
Lin Jing was very clear that this elixir had been successfully created, and, just as Elder Yu said, it was a supreme one.
After waiting a while for the furnace to cool down, Lin Jing opened the lid and took out five Energy Gathering Pills.
This batch contained one supreme-grade, one superior-grade, two medium-grade, and one low-grade pill.
After extracting the elixir medicines, Lin Jing went directly in front of the three individuals and presented the elixirs to Elder Bai and Elder Yu.
"Elder Bai, Elder Yu, please inspect them."
The two of them took the elixirs, and at this moment, Elder Yu was exceedingly excited, even more than if he had refined a supreme elixir himself.
He didn't say it, but he felt incredibly proud, especially in front of Elder Bai.
Elder Bai looked at the supreme elixir for a moment and then nodded. At that moment, Elder Yu, with eyes narrowed in a smile, asked,
"Elder Bai, what do you think? Is there more to assess?"
Elder Bai gave Elder Yu a look, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly before he responded,
"Hmm… No need, this one elixir is sufficient."
"Next, you take him to handle all the necessary paperwork, and then find him a courtyard."
"From now on, he will be a pill master, serving as an offering priest for our
Yuebaolou."
"Thank you, Elder Bai."
Elder Bai waved a hand, no need to thank me, you passed the assessment on your own merit.
At this moment, Huang Qingling suddenly said,
"Old Man Bai, there's an empty courtyard next to mine. Why not let him live next to me?"
Elder Bai nodded, "That's fine, just make sure not to disturb him often, he is an offering priest after all, and will have alchemy duties in the future."
"Rest assured, Old Man Bai," Huang Qingling said.
Afterward, Elder Bai left.
Elder Yu then told Huang Qingling, "Qing Ling, I'm going to take this young man Lin to handle the offering priest credentialing. We'll take our leave now."
Huang Qingling nodded, "Elder Yu, I'll be off then. Bring him by my place in the afternoon, and we'll go look at the courtyard together."
With that, Huang Qingling also left.
Once Huang Qingling was gone, Elder Yu spoke up, "Young man Lin, let's go too, there is still much to do."
"Alright," Lin Jing responded.
Afterward, the two of them returned to Yuebaolou, and along the way, Elder Yu shared some information about Huang Qingling with Lin Jing.
It turned out that Huang Qingling was a genius with a Dual Attribute Spirit Root, possessing both wind and fire attributes.
Having a Dual Attribute Spirit Root, one of which was an Exotic Spirit Root, her cultivation talent was incredibly profound.
No wonder Elder Bai was so doting on her.
"But, aren't such geniuses usually taken in to cultivate by top-notch sects?
How come she is here?"
When Lin Jing asked Elder Yu, he also expressed ignorance, only knowing that Huang Qingling arrived here three years ago and had been here ever since.
In that time, there was never any talk of her family matters.
"Perhaps, everyone has their own untold hardships…"
Elder Yu commented at last.
"Yeah, perhaps that's it," Lin Jing agreed with a nod and asked no further..
Chapter 76: Moving to a New Home
Having returned to Yuebaolou, Elder Yu first took Lin Jing to get his Offering Pill Master's Identity Token and introduced him to several managers of Yuebaolou.
After that, he went with Lin Jing to the administration office of the Inner Fang Market and exchanged his Outer Fang Market Identity Token for one from the Inner Fang Market.
In the afternoon, under Elder Yu's lead, they arrived at the residence of Huang Qingling.
They first greeted Huang Qingling and then together went to the courtyard she had mentioned.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, they were enveloped by dense spiritual power, which made Lin Jing feel very comfortable. The spiritual energy here, although not as strong as at Elder Bai's place, was comparable to the courtyard where Manager Li had lived back when they were at the Qingyuan Sword Sect.
The three of them continued further in and the space suddenly opened up; it turned out to be a compound with two sections.
And within this compound, there was even a small garden.
Although the garden wasn't very big, it had everything including artificial hills, fish ponds, and even a pavilion under a willow tree fluttering in the wind, standing there at the front of the artificial hill.
Now, in the midst of summer, it would probably be quite delightful to take a rest in that pavilion if one grew tired from alchemy.
This courtyard was much better than the one in the Outer Fang Market where he had lived before. Elder Yu introduced with a beaming smile,
"How is it? Not bad, right?"
"This is the treatment for an Offering Pill Master. As long as you become an Offering Pill Master for Yuebaolou, everyone gets a set of courtyards like this."
"Hmm…" Lin Jing nodded. "This place is indeed nice."
Elder Yu continued,
"Moreover, living here, you don't have to pay any fees, as long as you complete the alchemy tasks assigned each month on time."
"Of course, even if you successfully complete the assigned alchemy tasks, you will still receive a Spirit Stone reward." "You don't have to worry about that at all. "
After hearing this, Lin Jing asked Elder Yu, "Elder Yu, how many alchemy tasks are there each month?"
Elder Yu pondered for a moment before replying,
"For you, if nothing unexpected happens, it should be 150 pills each month."
"Of course, if you exceed that, you can also sell them to the building, and they will buy them at the market price."
"150 pills, hmm… that's not too many…" Lin Jing thought to himself,
"The tasks distributed by the Fang Market before were 150 pills, and I completed them in half a month. After I finish the 150 pills, I can continue to make Second Rank elixir medicines." "However…"
Elder Yu continued with a change of tone,
"These 150 pills do come with some requirements; they must be at least of Medium Grade, and there is also a demand for Supreme Elixirs. Normally, out of these 150 pills, at least 10 must be Supreme Elixirs."
"Of course, you are a special case. Elder Bai said he will personally arrange your
casKS.
"Also, if you fail to complete the alchemy tasks three times in a row, it is very likely that your status as an Offering Pill Master will be revoked."
"You must remember this."
"I understand, Elder Yu," Lin Jing nodded in response.
"For now, that's about it; there's nothing else. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me directly."
"Okay…" Lin Jing nodded in agreement.
Afterwards, the three of them toured the room, and Lin Jing was very satisfied with what he saw.
After leaving the house, they followed a gravel path around the building to the back, where to his surprise, there was an alchemy room behind the house. Elder Yu pointed to the alchemy room and said,
"This alchemy room is equipped with sound -proofing and a Defensive Array, so you can just carry out your alchemy here in the future." "In addition, there's also a dedicated kitchen here."
After saying this, Elder Yu, smiling, said to Lin Jing,
"I heard from that little girl Luo Luo that you are good at cooking, so in your spare time, you can also cook some dishes for yourself."
As Elder Yu finished speaking, Huang Qingling's eyes lit up, looking at Elder Yu, she asked,
"Really?"
Then she turned her head, looking at Lin Jing with a skeptical face. Elder Yu spread his hands helplessly and said,
"I've only heard about it myself, old man here has never tasted it."
After finishing, he smacked his lips.
Lin Jing couldn't help but laugh and cry, he hadn't expected that an offhand remark by Luo Luo would still be remembered by Elder Yu until now.
"Elder Yu, how about this, I was in a hurry today and didn't have time to prepare. "
"Come over tomorrow, and I'll cook a table full of dishes for you to try, how about that?"
After saying that, Lin Jing leaned closer to Elder Yu and whispered:
"I'll also prepare a few pots of your favorite Qinghua Drunkenness by then."
Elder Yu immediately beamed with joy:
"Good…"
"Can I come along too?" Huang Qingling looked at them with expectant eyes. "Of course, Daoist Qing Ling, if you don't mind, you can join us at the time."
Lin Jing said with a smile, looking at Huang Qingling.
"Great, then it's settled."
Huang Qingling was very happy, and then, as if suddenly remembering something, abruptly turned her head and looked at the two:
"Do I need to bring any ingredients when I come?"
Lin Jing smiled slightly: "You don't need to bring anything, just come with an empty stomach."
"Mhm mhm…"
Huang Qingling nodded vigorously as if pecking at grains of rice.
Afterwards, they finished touring the yard, and since Elder Yu had to return to Yuebaolou, he left first.
As for Lin Jing, now that he had settled on the yard, he needed to move all his personal belongings over.
The two said goodbye to Huang Qingling and then left.
On the road, the two walked at a leisurely pace, with Elder Yu telling Lin Jing many things about Yuebaolou.
It wasn't until they arrived in front of Yuebaolou that the two parted ways.
After parting ways with Elder Yu, Lin Jing went straight back to his small courtyard in the Outer Fang Market. He busied himself for a while, finally getting all his personal items organized and packed into his Storage Bag.
Then he looked up again.
The room, which had been somewhat crowded, now seemed much more spacious.
This was the second time he had moved since he had crossed over.
However, this move was different from the first one.
This time, it was a step in a positive direction, which comforted Lin Jing a lot.
After stepping outside the house and looking at the courtyards on each side, Lin Jing's spirits fell again.
Seated on a stone stool under the tree in the yard, he glanced around, and couldn't help but feel nostalgic as he looked at the familiar scenes…
Although his stay here wasn't long, it was full of memories.
The friends he had made here had all left, and their yards had been returned to the Fang Market.
"I wonder how they are doing now…"
Lin Jing couldn't help but think of Wei Zhengqing, Ning Yue, Yan Xiong, and finally Luo Luo…
He had no idea when they would meet again.
Especially for that little girl Luo Luo, with no Spiritual Root, it seemed she could only live a normal life, get married, have children, and then just spend her life that way.
Perhaps, that was the best ending for her…
At that moment, a warm, ruddy light shone on Lin Jing's face.
Lin Jing looked up to see that it was already dusk, the setting sun casting its slanted glow…
The entire sky was dyed a deep red by the sunset, appearing so beautiful…
Just like that time, the first time he had brought Luo Luo back here…
Then, Lin Jing stood up, walked out of the courtyard, and reached out to close the door. As the door was about to shut, he took one last look inside.
And after that…
With a "clank", the door shut firmly.
Lin Jing then turned and walked towards the outside of the alley, the setting sun stretching his shadow long…
One person, one shadow, gradually fading into the distance….
Chapter 77: Terminate the Lease
Upon returning to the small courtyard in the Inner Fang Market, Lin Jing took out his personal belongings and arranged them, one by one.
By the time he finished, it was already Hai Time.
On his first day here, Lin Jing did not rush to practice alchemy or cultivation.
Instead, he took out the Flawless Sword that Wei Zhengqing had given him from his Storage Bag.
Lin Jing himself had thought about buying a magic flying sword, but these high-level magic artifacts were all quite expensive.
And he didn't care for the lower-level ones, so he had put the thought aside.
Having the Flawless Sword perfectly filled the gap of not owning a magic artifact.
Moreover, it was an exceptional magic flying sword that could even see him through to the Golden Core Stage.
However, because Lin Jing's current cultivation level was too low, refining the flying sword would likely take some time.
So, Lin Jing decided that his immediate task was to refine the flying sword first, so that not only could he add a method of attack, but he could also enjoy the sensation of soaring through the skies and tunneling through the earth.
Lin Jing had always kept this small wish in mind.
Thinking of this, Lin Jing no longer hesitated and began the refining process.
Early the next morning, Lin Jing left the house and walked towards the Outer Fang Market.
Now that he no longer lived in the courtyard of the Outer Fang Market, he still needed to inform Manager Jiang there.
Upon arriving at the management office of the Outer Fang Market, Lin Jing met with Manager Jiang.
"Manager Jiang," Lin Jing greeted Manager Jiang. Manager Jiang looked at Lin Jing and asked with curiosity,
"Oh, if it isn't Lin Daoyou, may I know what brings you here?"
After all, this was the first time Lin Jing had sought him out, and he couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"Manager Jiang, I've decided not to stay in my small courtyard anymore, and I came to tell you," Lin Jing said.
"Lin Daoyou, are you also planning to leave the Fang Market and go to another cultivation city?"
In these past few days, many people had been wanting to leave this place for other cultivation cities, which Manager Jiang was well aware of.
He assumed that Lin Jing probably feared another attack by the Demonic Beasts and, therefore, planned to leave Nanshan Market.
"You misunderstand, Manager Jiang. I simply plan to move elsewhere and no longer wish to live here," Lin Jing clarified.
After hearing this, Manager Jiang couldn't help but sigh,
"Sigh…"
"Lin Daoyou, indeed, due to the beast tide, the market has been increasing various fees, pushing many people to their financial limits."
"I suppose you, Lin Daoyou, must also be running low on Spirit Stones, which is why you've decided to leave the market."
"However, other than the market, there are no safer places right now." Finishing his thought, Manager Jiang leaned in a bit closer and said,
"I've heard there are rumors inside the market that some Sects in the vicinity are recruiting. Could it be that you, Lin Daoyou, plan to go there?"
"You must be careful, Lin Daoyou. These Sects might only be looking to recruit cultivators to help resist the beast tide."
"Joining them might not be any safer than a position in the market's Guard
Team. "
After listening to Manager Jiang's words, Lin Jing knew he had misunderstood and quickly explained,
"Manager Jiang, you've got it wrong."
"Actually, I'm not going to another place; I am preparing to move to the Inner
Fang Market."
"The Inner Fang Market?"
Manager Jiang stepped back in surprise.
Then, he looked at Lin Jing skeptically.
"Lin Daoyou, don't joke around. The Inner Fang Market isn't so easy to get into,"
"Especially now, when so many people want to move there. Without someone to introduce them, even with Spirit Stones, they can't get in."
Lin Jing continued to explain,
"Not to hide from you, Manager Jiang, but I'm now an Offering Priest Alchemist for Yuebaolou, so…"
"An Offering Priest Alchemist for Yuebaolou?!?" Manager Jiang was even more shocked.
Following this, Lin Jing took out the Pill Master Token of Yuebaolou and handed it over to Steward Jiang.
Steward Jiang received it with his hand, looked at it for a long time, before finally returning the token to Lin Jing and remarked sincerely,
"I didn't expect that Lin Daoyou would become a Second-Grade Alchemist so quickly."
Lin Jing merely smiled and did not elaborate further.
"Congratulations to Lin Daoyou."
When the Fang Market issued tasks previously, Steward Jiang clearly knew Lin Jing was only a First-Grade Alchemist. As the saying goes, "Thirty years river east, thirty years river west."
But how much time had passed?
He had already become a Second-Grade Alchemist and even an Offering Priest of Yuebaolou.
Looking at Lin Jing, Steward Jiang couldn't help but sigh again.
"Lin Daoyou, since you've already moved into the Inner Fang Market, naturally, we can help you cancel the lease for your residence in the Outer Fang Market."
"Please wait a moment, I will handle it for you right away."
After saying this, Steward Jiang greeted a young cultivator from the management office.
Then the two of them began to get busy.
Lin Jing couldn't help but wonder,
"For the lease cancellation, isn't it enough to just inform Steward Jiang?"
Although he was puzzled, Lin Jing did not show it on the surface but quietly waited.
In a short while, Steward Jiang completed the process and came over.
"Lin Daoyou, we've calculated it, and there is a surplus from the rent you previously paid. Now we will refund it to you together."
As he spoke, he took out some Spirit Stones and handed them to Lin Jing.
"Steward Jiang, this…"
Lin Jing hesitated. He had only come to talk to Steward Jiang about the house, yet there were Spirit Stones being returned.
Previously, Ning Yue and Wei Zhengqing had only mentioned it to Steward Jiang, and that was enough. They didn't get any refund of Spirit Stones.
"Lin Daoyou, this is the excess rent you had paid in advance. Now that you've moved to the Inner Fang Market and no longer dwell here, it is naturally superfluous." "Take it."
"Alright…"
After pondering for a moment, Lin Jing accepted the Spirit Stones.
Then, after a brief chat, Lin Jing bid his farewell and left.
As soon as Lin Jing had left, the young cultivator who was there earlier came over to Steward Jiang.
"Steward Jiang, who is he, and why did you go to such lengths to assist him, even returning those Spirit Stones to him…"
"Before, wasn't it…"
The young cultivator wanted to continue speaking but stopped abruptly when he caught Steward Jiang's meaningful glance and immediately held his tongue.
Steward Jiang, watching Lin Jing's departing figure, said,
"Don't underestimate him; he is now an Offering Priest of Yuebaolou."
"Also, be more careful with your words in the future. If something shouldn't be said, then don't speak recklessly…"
The young cultivator quickly bowed his head and said, "Steward Jiang, I'll remember that."
Then, looking at the retreating figure of Lin Jing, his face showed envy.
"An Offering Priest of Yuebaolou. If only I could have made his acquaintance earlier."
After leaving the management office of the Outer Fang Market, Lin Jing returned to the Inner Fang Market.
He first took a tour inside the market, purchasing some food ingredients, and then made a trip to Yuebaolou to find Elder Yu.
Elder Yu informed him that he would come over after he was done in the evening.
Returning from Yuebaolou, Lin Jing went straight back to his courtyard.
As there was still plenty of time and no rush to prepare for the banquet, Lin Jing took out the Flawless Sword from his Storage Bag and continued to refine it..
Chapter 78: Gathering
It wasn't until the afternoon that a series of knocks on the door echoed.
Lin Jing awoke and then walked out to open the courtyard door.
Standing at the door was none other than Huang Qingling, and of course, the Black Kite perched on her shoulder.
The Black Kite still glared at Lin Jing with hostility, but it didn't launch any attack.
Lin Jing was at a loss for words, clearly being the victim himself, yet targeted by the Black Kite as if it were the one aggrieved.
"Lin Jing, I've come early, you don't mind, do you?"
As she spoke, Huang Qingling walked into the courtyard.
"You jest, Qing Ling," Lin Jing replied.
"Take a seat for a bit, I'll go prepare the ingredients. By the time Elder Yu returns tonight, it should be just about ready."
"Alright," replied Huang Qingling, who didn't seem to mind as she directly sat down in the pavilion in the courtyard and began playing with the Black Kite.
Lin Jing just smiled and left her be.
Although he hadn't cooked in a while, the skill seemed to be etched into his brain, leaving a deep impression.
By evening, smoke rose from the kitchen as Lin Jing bustled about on his own.
Soon, the aroma wafted out, and Huang Qingling, drawn by the scent, kept glancing toward the kitchen, losing any interest in playing.
Only when it got dark and the meal was fully prepared did Elder Yu finally arrive, just after Huang Qingling had set the table.
"Elder Yu…"
"Hurry over, we've been waiting for you."
Lin Jing opened the courtyard door to welcome Elder Yu inside.
"I've just finished dealing with matters at Yuebaolou and hurried over this
"I had planned to invite Elder Bai too, but he was occupied with something
"Did I keep you waiting long?" Elder Yu asked the two.
"Not at all, the meal was just finished. You've arrived at the perfect time," Lin Jing said with a smile.
"Old Man Yu, come quickly, I can hardly wait any longer."
"Forget Old Man Bai; if he were here, none of us would feel at ease."
Having said that, Huang Qingling looked at the dishes on the table, already salivating.
The smell of the food had roused her appetite while Lin Jing was cooking.
Now that the dishes were on the table, she was eager to start eating; only the wait for Elder Yu had prevented her from beginning.
"Good… good… good…"
Elder Yu said, walking over with Lin Jing.
After all three were seated, Lin Jing spoke first:
"Come, try this and see how it tastes?"
Both of them reached out with their chopsticks, each picking up a slice of meat and putting it into their mouths.
"MmnF"
Huang Qingling's eyes lit up, and she quickly reached for another dish.
"This one's good too…"
Elder Yu, in contrast, was much more elegant.
"Hmm… indeed, it's good."
"Didn't expect you had this trick up your sleeve, Lin," he commented.
"Excellent, excellent…"
With her mouth full of food, Huang Qingling muttered:
"Indeed, I think it can even compete with the chefs of Drunken Immortal
Pavilion."
"No way, I must come every day for you to cook for me."
"That probably won't do; he still has alchemy to do," Elder Yu interjected quickly.
Rolling her eyes, Huang Qingling spoke up:
"How about I talk to Elder Bai and have him reduce Lin Jing's tasks a bit?"
"Fellow Daoist Qing Ling, as an Offering Priest and Pill Master for Yuebaolou, that wouldn't be quite right," Lin Jing said.
"How about this instead? I'll take time each month to cook for you a few times, how does that sound?"
"Oh yes, yes…," Huang Qingling immediately clapped her hands in approval.
Meanwhile, the Black Kite stared intently at the slowly eating Huang Qingling, fidgeting restlessly.
"What's the matter, you want to eat too?" Huang Qingling turned her head and asked.
The Black Kite nodded repeatedly.
Clearly, it understood Huang Qingling's words.
"But the dish was made by Lin Jing, so we definitely have to ask him. You were so fierce to him before, what if you apologized to him?"
Both Lin Jing and Elder Yu were curious, watching the effortless communication between the person and the eagle.
However, the Black Kite didn't seem convinced and glared at Lin Jing before turning its back on him.
Still, it kept glancing back at the table laden with delicacies, especially at the roasted chicken in the middle that was exuding a delicious fragrance. Lin Jing couldn't help feeling a bit awkward as he touched his nose.
"Let it eat," Elder Yu finally spoke, breaking the tension.
"Alright, Elder Yu…" Huang Qingling said cheerily.
She then picked up the roasted chicken from the table and tore off a large piece.
"Little Sparrow, come…"
Ignoring the Black Kite's feelings, Huang Qingling took a large piece of meat and stuffed it into the Black Kite's mouth, causing it to flap its wings constantly and roll its eyes until it finally caught its breath after a long while.
Seeing this, Lin Jing couldn't help but smirk.
"Elder Yu…"
Then, Lin Jing brought out the Qinghua Drunk he had prepared earlier.
Elder Yu chuckled with laughter.
"Ha ha… you really know me. How can there be no wine at the dinner table?"
Lin Jing opened the wine pot, and the aroma of the wine filled the air. Elder Yu took a deep breath and said with emotion:
"Fragrant…"
"Really fragrant…"
Lin Jing poured a cup for Elder Yu and himself. Just then, Huang Qingling decided she didn't want to be left out.
"I want some, too…"
"Elder Yu, you've been sneaking drinks from me. I've seen it all." "With Old Man Bai not here, I want to have a taste as well."
"Elder Yu…?" Lin Jing looked at Elder Yu, seeking his opinion.
"Since Qing Ling wants to drink, let her have a cup to taste," Elder Yu nodded.
"Alright..
After saying that, Lin Jing took out a cup and poured one for Huang Qingling as well.
"Here's to you, Elder Yu…"
"I'd like to toast to you, for taking care of me all this time."
Saying this, Lin Jing raised his cup towards Elder Yu, then drained it in one gulp.
Seeing this, Huang Qingling also took her cup and mimicked Lin Jing, about to pour it into her mouth.
Shortly after…
"Cough… cough cough..
'What is this? It doesn't taste good at all."
Huang Qingling scrunched up her face and spat the wine out of her mouth.
"Hiss… ha…"
"Why is it even a bit spicy…"
Huang Qingling quickly took a few bites of food to suppress the spicy sensation in her mouth.
"Ha ha ha…" Elder Yu burst out laughing. "Now you know why I didn't let you drink…'
"Elder Yu, is this what you drink all the time…?"
"Yes, what do you think? Want to drink more?" asked Elder Yu with a nod.
"I'd rather not, I'm never drinking this again…" Huang Qingling shook her head like a rattle drum.
At that moment, the Black Kite had already finished the large piece of meat and looked at Huang Qingling with a puzzled expression, then glanced at the cup that still had half a cup of wine left.
Then, it hopped off Huang Qingling's shoulder, bent down, and started to sip from the cup.
But soon…
The Black Kite fluttered its wings and flew out the door, going straight to the fishpond to plunge its head into the water.
Then, it glared at Lin Jing angrily.
Lin Jing felt quite innocent; after all, he poured the wine but the eagle drank it on its own initiative—he hadn't done anything.
Next, the Black Kite transformed into a streak of black light and shot out….
Chapter 79: End of the Beast Tide
Before the three could react, it snatched the remaining half of the roast chicken and flew up into the air.
Not only that, but it even circled above Lin Jing's head to flaunt its prize before flying out and settling on a rockery to enjoy its treat to the fullest.
"This…" Lin Jing was speechless.
"Little Sparrow…" Huang Qingling called to the Black Kite.
"Screech…"
The Black Kite responded with a sound, then continued to peck at its food.
"Let it be…"
"If it likes to eat, let it eat," Elder Yu said, attempting to mediate.
After that, the three stopped paying it any attention, and they began to eat and drink.
After three rounds of drinks, the three had almost finished eating.
At this moment, Elder Yu spoke to Lin Jing,
"Your tasks have been arranged, personally by Elder Bai."
"For the first three months, you need to produce 150 elixir medicines each month."
"Moreover, from the elixir medicines produced during the first three months, the minimum requirement is 5 supreme pills and 30 superior elixir medicines per month. "
"After three months, the least number to hand over each month is 200, with at least 10 being supreme elixirs and no fewer than 50 being superior."
Of course, you will receive 300 portions of alchemy ingredients every month; these 300 portions should be enough for you.
"The reason for assigning you so much is to hone your skills quickly, so you can advance to a Second-Grade Alchemist as soon as possible." Having said this, Elder Yu asked, "How does that sound, any concerns?"
"No problem," Lin Jing replied.
Thereafter, the trio continued until late into the night.
Only then did the feast come to an end.
Lin Jing saw the two out, and after tidying up everything, he began to rest and meditate.
In the following days, Lin Jing's life seemed to quiet down, and during this time, the Demonic Beasts surge also seemed to vanish, no longer making an appearance.
A few days later, the final outcome of the Demonic Beasts surge was revealed.
As it turned out, the Qingyuan Sword Sect had dispatched two Nascent Soul Elders to investigate the valley filled with demonic energy a month earlier.
Within that valley, they discovered a Secret Realm.
Originally there was a Formation concealing the entrance to the Secret Realm
but there was a breach in the Formation and a large amount of demonic energy was spilling out.
This demonic energy was terrifying; even a faint touch would result in human cultivators being eroded by demonic energy, eventually leading to madness and death.
Even those Nascent Soul Elders didn't dare to linger too long in the valley filled with demonic energy.
The concentration of demonic energy inside the Secret Realm was so horrendous that even the Magical Treasures they used for exploration were contaminated and rendered unusable.
Facing this situation, they could no longer continue their investigation.
To prevent the Demonic Beasts from continuing to wreak havoc, the two Nascent Soul Elders from the Qingyuan Sword Sect took the opportunity to lure away the Demonic Beasts surrounding the entrance of the Secret Realm and re-sealed the realm.
Because…
This demonic energy was harmful to human cultivators, but for Demonic Beasts, it was akin to a great tonic, even capable of awakening intelligence in them, assisting their cultivation to become demons.
The triggering of the beast surge was a sign of these Demonic Beasts developing intelligence, albeit at a low level, acting mostly on instinct.
It was similar to the Black Kite, Little Sparrow.
But those as clever as Little Sparrow were extremely rare.
After the sealing, Qingyuan Sword Sect conveyed a message.
They claimed the seal would only last ten years, and within those ten years, no one in Fang Market should approach the valley,
Meanwhile, they would find a permanent solution within those ten years.
And with that…
The troublesome beast surge was temporarily resolved.
In a blink, two months passed.
That day, after Lin Jing finished making elixir medicines, he prepared to take his crafted elixir medicines to Yuebaolou.
As he was leaving home, he happened to meet Huang Qingling.
Lin Jing took the lead in greeting and asked:
"Qing Ling, are you going to see Elder Bai?"
Huang Qingling nodded, then turned to ask Lin Jing:
"Yes, Lin Jing, are you also heading to Yuebaolou?"
Over the past month, unable to withstand Huang Qingling's persistence, Lin Jing made her several delicious meals again.
As a result, the two of them became quite familiar with each other.
Even the Black Kite 'Little Sparrow,' which had always been hostile towards Lin Jing, had its animosity towards him lessen significantly under the temptation of Lin Jing's cooking.
Now, seeing Lin Jing, Little Sparrow always hung its head, not daring to look up.
Huang Qingling also noticed the anomaly and asked:
"What's wrong with Little Sparrow? These days, why does it seem so well-behaved whenever it sees you?"
"Could it be that you did something to it?"
After speaking, Huang Qingling looked at Lin Jing with a face full of suspicion.
Lin Jing curled his lips, quite speechless about Huang Qingling's suggestion, and couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"What's that supposed to mean? What could I possibly do to a Black Kite?"
"That's a strange thing to say…"
However, Lin Jing did know the reason for the Black Kite's behavior.
It was because…
This fellow, often sneaking around at night, would slip into his own kitchen.
Yet, he rarely cooked.
So every time, it would leave with its head drooping.
The Black Kite was extremely fast, usually difficult to detect, and Lin Jing could only notice it thanks to the system alerts.
Lin Jing looked at the Little Sparrow on Huang Qingling's shoulder and smiled as he said:
"Perhaps this little one is just shy!"
The Black Kite, upon hearing this, suddenly raised its head and glared at Lin
Jing with its small eyes, as if to express its dissatisfaction.
"Chirp…"
It called out to Lin Jing, seemingly to show its displeasure.
Huang Qingling looked at Little Sparrow, her face filled with exasperation.
That didn't look like a shy creature at all.
And then…
They didn't continue dwelling on the matter, as the two of them walked together towards Yuebaolou.
Upon arriving at Yuebaolou, Lin Jing first handed over the Elixir Medicine to Elder Yu.
This was the first time, and he didn't hand over too much, just following the most basic requirements, he submitted five Supreme Elixirs, and for the rest, he also only submitted Elixir Medicines that met the basic requirements.
Afterwards, he left Elder Yu's place to collect the Alchemy Ingredients needed for the next month.
Lin Jing made his way through Yuebaolou to the backyard.
This backyard was not open to the public. It was bustling with people, all of whom belonged to Yuebaolou, including its managers, Attendants, and even various Offering Priests.
On his way to collect Alchemy Ingredients, he encountered two people.
Lin Jing recognized one of them, who was also an Offering Priest and a Pill Master, seemingly with the surname Wang, but he wasn't too clear about his exact name.
That person strutted with his head high, as if he didn't see Lin Jing at all.
The other person, slightly shorter, was someone Lin Jing had never seen before, probably a newcomer.
The slightly shorter Offering Priest saw Lin Jing and quickly stepped forward, bowing and saying:
"Fellow Daoist, may I ask if you are also an Offering Pill Master?"
Lin Jing was taken aback, for he was only a First-Grade Alchemist.
Therefore, these Offering Pill Masters would not interact with him at all.
Even if they happened to encounter each other, most would do as the Wang-surname Cultivator did, passing by with their heads raised, without speaking a word to Lin Jing.
At best, if they crossed paths, they would simply nod at each other, considering that a greeting.
However, Lin Jing was fine with this; he just focused on refining his own pills and usually didn't interact with others.
Yet here was a person who took the initiative to greet him, which was indeed
quite unusual..