Cultivating immortality begins with discerning the secrets of heaven.

Lin Yun and his companion were terrified and dared not enter the wild forest to investigate.

They immediately chose to ride horses and take a detour, fleeing to a more distant place without stopping for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, a soft laugh came from the forest: "Zhao Chengshun, your plan has failed. You wanted to lure these two little guys into the forest so I could kill them and expose their families."

"Unfortunately, they were both very clever and didn't fall for your trick."

"Now, hand over the 'Insect Control Manual,' and tell me where Tuoba Ye's cave is, and I might let you die a quick death."

The moment the words fell, a powerful spiritual pressure swept out from the mountains and forests.

"Ling Xuanji, give up on that idea. Even if I destroy my own consciousness, I will never let you succeed."

The voice that had just pleaded for help from Lin Yun and the other person became even more mournful and painful, filled with a strong sense of resentment and malice.

"Then let's take our time. I want to see how long you can hold out."

In the mountains and forests, a young cultivator dressed in dark black robes activated a small magic array, constantly tormenting the miserable cultivator trapped within it.

The crimson flames burned continuously within the formation, but they failed to kill the cultivator.

"You're quite patient, it's a pity I haven't mastered the Soul Searching and Refining Technique yet, otherwise I could have given you a quick death."

"Fortunately, there's plenty of time. You can experience firsthand what it means to suffer excruciating pain."

...

Lin Yun and his companion galloped wildly on their horses, raising a long trail of dust behind them.

They had clearly heard the commotion in the forest just now; that powerful pressure was definitely something only a Foundation Establishment cultivator could exude.

"Brother Lin Yun, you're so smart. If we had listened to that person who cried for help, we would all be dead." Lin Yang's face was deathly pale; he had just narrowly escaped death.

Lin Yun's expression was not much better. At first, he thought that the person might be a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining.

  

Who would have thought that it would involve Foundation Establishment cultivators? If we rashly get involved, we really wouldn't have enough lives.

"Stop talking, let's run! Once the horses are exhausted, we'll abandon them and fly away. We're not far from the family now." Lin Yun kept whipping his horse, wishing it could sprout wings and fly away.

They only breathed a sigh of relief after running a considerable distance and confirming that no one was chasing them.

"Luckily, that... senior wasn't interested in us, otherwise, with the speed of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, we wouldn't have been able to escape even if we had wings," Lin Yang said, panting.

Lin Yun felt a little relieved, and only then did he dare to recall the conversation between the two people in the forest.

"Zhao Chengshun and Ling Xuanji, it seems that the conflict between these two is caused by some kind of inheritance."

He memorized these two names and planned to use the Book of Insight to investigate them.

Fortunately, he hadn't yet used the Book of Insight to look up information today.

The earth's vein fire in the Cangxuan Domain is flourishing, and metal and wood elements are sprouting, making it ideal for alchemy and weapon crafting.

[In the northern region of Cangxuan, the western spirit herb garden of Medicine King Valley was robbed, with several thousand-year-old spirit herbs and a large number of hundred-year-old spirit herbs missing.]

[In the Wind-breathing Sea, Xiaosui Island was attacked by sea beasts. The island's protective formation collapsed, and a large number of cultivators and mortals perished in the beasts' jaws.]

In the Great Wilderness Domain, the young master of the Ghost King Sect, in order to create a second Ghost Slave, instigated a war between two mortal dynasties, absorbing countless souls in the process.

[The Foundation Establishment Pills of the Taiyuan Sect have been distributed to all the main peaks and were quickly redeemed.]

In Qingshui Town, wealthy merchant Ma Hongxin has taken a concubine.

Zhao Chengshun stubbornly refused to tell Ling Xuanji that Tuoba Ye's cave was behind the Feiliujian Waterfall, intending to destroy his own consciousness rather than let the other party succeed.

"Feiliujian... I've never even heard of it. It shouldn't be in Xiangnanling."

"Those two Foundation Establishment cultivators probably weren't from Xiangnanling either; they were likely chased all the way here from another region."

Lin Yun muttered to himself, now that he knew the name of Feiliujian, he could try to find out more about it later.

...

"We've arrived. We're finally back in Huangzhushan."

As the bamboo-covered mountain came into view in the distance, Lin Yang showed a relieved expression.

I almost died on the way here, and I was on edge the whole time. Now I can finally relax.

Lin Yun also sighed, finally returning to his family safely.

Upon returning to Huangzhushan, Lin Yun immediately went to visit his good-for-nothing father.

"Hahaha, good lad, you've actually reached the third level of Qi Refining. Looks like you'll catch up with your old man soon." Lin Yuanshan laughed with satisfaction.

Hearing this, Lin Yun's lips twitched slightly, and he said, "Old Deng, did you even read the letter I sent back to the family? I mentioned this matter in a letter a few months ago."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yuanshan's smile froze, and he waved his hand, saying, "Alas, I'm getting old, and my memory is failing me. I didn't remember such a small thing."

Lin Yun was speechless, wondering how he had ended up with such an old man.

"Alright, alright, go to the main mountain and see your second uncle and your grandfather."

"I have to go till the land later, I don't have time to chat with you."

And so, Lin Yun ascended the main mountain. The spiritual energy here was much richer than that of Fire Cloud Valley, and the vegetation was lush, making it very suitable for cultivating wood-based techniques.

Unfortunately, he can't stay on the mountain for long now; he can only go up the mountain under the pretext of visiting his second uncle and grandfather.

He first went to see his grandfather, who was in a very good mood lately.

He then had two sons with spiritual roots; one was useless, and the other refused to marry, thus continuing the family line.

The situation has improved now. The good-for-nothing son has a grandson who is ambitious. Although he is not very talented, he is down-to-earth and has recently made a contribution to the family.

The son who refused to get married finally came to his senses.

"Not bad, not bad. It seems you've learned some real skills from Mo Chen."

"After you graduate next year, you'll return to your family to refine weapons. The mining rights for the purple-patterned copper mine that your family is seeking should be granted within the next two years. You'll be very busy then."

"As for the weapon-refining assessment at the Ascension Conference three years from now, it doesn't matter if you fail. Wait another ten years, and I, your grandfather, will swallow my pride and say a few words to the Bo family to secure a family recommendation for you to join the Taiyuan Sect."

Lin Jing's smile erased all her wrinkles, making her look several years younger.

Hearing this, Lin Yun felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

"Thank you, Grandpa! I will do my best at the next Ascension Ceremony and try my best to make sure you don't have to ask other elders in the family for help."

Upon hearing this, Lin Jing burst into laughter and took out a crimson spirit fruit from his storage bag.

"Take this quickly, consider it a belated seventeenth birthday gift from Grandpa."

Red jade fruit!

This is the fruit of the Crimson Spirit Tree, which only bears fruit once every ten years after it matures. The resulting spiritual fruit contains rich essence, and consuming it can strengthen the body and replenish qi and blood.

This single fruit, about the size of a fist, has the medicinal power equivalent to a 30-year-old herb with the same vital energy and blood-nourishing properties.

"How can this be? Grandpa, please take it back." Lin Yun shook his head vigorously, repeatedly declining.

Lin Jing, however, insisted on putting it in his hand: "Take it. Grandpa is old and doesn't want to build a foundation. Why waste such nourishing spiritual fruits?"

"You've cultivated a body-refining technique, which desperately needs the support of such resources, so don't refuse."

Lin Yun was deeply moved and honestly accepted the Crimson Jade Fruit.

With this result, the time to establish the third internal Qi and Blood Stance can be shortened considerably, without having to endure such a long and arduous process.

"Thank you, Grandpa!"

...