Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes: I Possess the Heavenly Book of Merit

Fifth level of Qi Refining.

Although it was only a breakthrough in a small realm, for a rogue cultivator like him, every advancement in a small realm was hard-won.

Without sects providing pills or families offering resources, they had to rely entirely on their own efforts to accumulate wealth, making each step difficult.

This time, it was all thanks to that cup of green bamboo tea.

Yu Yan stood up and stretched his limbs.

After the breakthrough, he felt completely different. His senses were much sharper than before; he could even hear noises outside through the window. He walked to the window and looked out.

It was already getting dark.

I don't know how much time has passed.

But it will definitely take no less than a day.

Previously, when he was cultivating, he would always feel a strange gaze sweeping over him. If it weren't for that purple-gold token, he might have already been captured by the patrol team and sent back to the lower three levels.

The bamboo grove appeared even more secluded in the night, the moonlight casting a soft silver glow on the bamboo leaves. Occasionally, red-tailed koi carp in the pond would leap out of the water, splashing up a string of water droplets that shimmered in the moonlight.

The scenery is picturesque.

But Yu Yan had no time to lament about anything here.

Not far from this house, a dim light shone from the window of a small building.

The light shone on the window paper, and a figure could be vaguely seen sitting by the window, seemingly reading a book, or perhaps deep in thought.

Lin Shi.

It seems they moved here on purpose.

What exactly is this person trying to do?

He's treating them to good food and drinks; he's definitely trying to get them to do things for him.

As Yu Yan was thinking, he suddenly heard footsteps outside the door.

The footsteps approached from afar and stopped at his door.

Immediately afterwards, there was a knock on the door.

"Old Yu?"

It was Zhou Yan's voice.

Yu Yan walked over, opened the door, and was slightly taken aback by the image of his friend in front of him.

Zhou Yan stood at the door, his legs swaying, his eyes bloodshot, and dark circles making it hard for him to open them.

"Looks like you've been having a good time these days."

Hearing Yu Yan's teasing, Zhou Yan smiled awkwardly, but then he couldn't catch his breath and started coughing violently.

He quickly shut his mouth and regulated his breathing, and it took him a while to recover.

"I can't refuse such kindness, I can't refuse such kindness."

"I will never do this again next time. I must be able to withstand the test."

As he spoke, he couldn't help but lick his lips.

"I never expected that the gameplay on the upper three levels would be so different from that on the lower three levels."

"In the illusion, you can create according to your own preferences, and even decide the location of your encounters and the storyline..."

"The people on the top three floors really know how to have fun."

Are you saying you've been living in a fantasy world all this time, just imagining things?

Yu Yan remained silent and patted him on the shoulder.

"You're really something."

Zhou Yan reluctantly came back to her senses, finally noticed something, looked him up and down, and her eyes immediately lit up.

"Old Yu, you've broken through?"

Yu Yan nodded.

Zhou Yan's face immediately lit up with joy. He laboriously raised his hand and gently patted his shoulder:

"Good! Good! Then you must be at least at the eighth level of Qi Refining, right? Counting my seventh level, even those of us at the lower three levels can speak with our heads held high!"

Yu Yan smiled but didn't reply.

You should give up this habit of yours that always drains you dry first.

Because of his previous perception, Zhou Yan had always thought that Yu Yan was a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining. Now, seeing the spiritual energy surging around him, he knew that Yu Yan had broken through, but he did not know Yu Yan's true realm.

Yu Yan didn't want to say more for the time being.

The topic of manifesting divine consciousness in the mid-stage of Qi Refining is too high-profile; it's better to keep it hidden for now.

Moreover, in the current situation, there is not much difference between the eighth level of Qi Refining and the fifth level of Qi Refining.

The lower three floors may be different, but the problem now is that this is not the lower three floors, but a small courtyard in the woods.

Any guard or servant you randomly pick out is at the late stage of Qi Refining.

They can't escape.

He looked at Zhou Yan and asked, "Brother Zhou, what brings you here?"

Zhou Yan gestured behind him with his chin: "Young Master Lin sent someone to invite us, saying he's prepared a banquet to welcome us. Let's go, don't keep them waiting."

Yu Yan frowned slightly.

Dinner?

What is Lin Shi trying to do?

Is the intention to extract information from them, or is there another motive?

He didn't ask any more questions, just nodded and followed Zhou Yan outside.

The guards at the gate remained standing there. When they saw the two of them come out, they did not stop them, but simply followed silently behind them.

While it was called an escort, the real meaning was self-evident.

"Speaking of which, how long was I in seclusion this time?"

Yu Yan walked beside Zhou Yan and began to inquire about the current situation.

"About half a month, but we've both been in the room the whole time, so I don't have any news to tell you. I haven't seen Young Master Lin Jiu either."

Honestly, what use are you? You're completely unreliable.

"Forget it, I wasn't counting on him anyway. Those five thousand spirit stones weren't so easy to get after all. I'll just have to rely on myself."

At this dinner party, Lin Shi will probably reveal his true intentions. Let's see what he's really up to.

The two walked through the bamboo forest, crossed the pond, and arrived at a brightly lit pavilion.

Two maids stood in front of the building. When they saw the two approaching, they bowed in unison.

"Distinguished guests, the young master is waiting inside."

Zhou Yan nodded and strode into the pavilion.

Yu Yan followed behind him and stepped over the threshold.

The interior was even more magnificent. Soft carpets covered the floors, valuable calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls, and exquisite bonsai were placed in the corners.

A faint fragrance filled the air; it was unclear whether it was sandalwood or something else.

In the center of the hall, there was a round table.

The round table was laden with dishes: spiritual vegetables, spiritual fruits, spiritual meat, spiritual fish... a dazzling array, their aromas filling the air. Three chairs were placed beside the table, one of which was already occupied.

Lin Shi.

He was still wearing that light blue robe, still squinting his eyes, and still wearing that perfectly timed smile.

Seeing the two enter, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"Fellow Daoists, you've worked hard. Please have a seat."

Zhou Yan smiled and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, then sat down in the chair.

Yu Yan also sat down in another chair, but his gaze subtly swept across the entire hall.

Besides the three of them, several maids stood in the corner of the hall, ready to serve them at any moment. Two guards stood motionless at the door.

High security.

Lin Shi seemed to notice his gaze and explained with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Yu, please don't mind. The fourth floor has been a bit unsettled lately for various reasons, and I'm just doing this for safety's sake. After all, you two are my honored guests, and if anything were to happen to you, I would be in a difficult position."

"It's difficult. If it's so difficult, it's best not to do it at all. Wouldn't it be better to just send us both back?"

Thinking this to himself, Yu Yan nodded outwardly but said nothing.

Why specifically mention that the fourth floor is not peaceful?

Is it because it's related to Lin Jiu?

Otherwise, why would Lin Shi have emphasized it?

Lin Shi clapped his hands, and naturally a maid came forward to pour wine for the two of them.

Yu Yan didn't make a move, waiting for Lin Shi to get to the point.

Zhou Yan looked exhausted, but seeing the maid's pretty face, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

The so-called lustful ghost is nothing more than this.

Half a month has passed, and this guy's desires seem to be getting stronger and stronger.