Although he appeared to be practicing the ordinary Pine Forest Swordsmanship, or the Flaless Swordsmanship, in reality, his speed and strength in Pine Forest Swordsmanship were already several tis stronger than the average disciple, and his mastery of the Flaless Swordsmanship had surpassed the original limits. With the amplification of attributes, he had reached the level of the Four Spirits Chongyang Sword.
He had sparred with Brother Huangshan, and with the increased power and speed of his Flaless Swordsmanship, he could already contend with the complete first two layers of the Four Spirits Chongyang Sword. Furthermore, his cultivation was also slowly improving. Occasionally, he would go out to deal with the resentful spirits of demons that intruded on Lefu’s territory, and with Lin Xin’s formidable hidden strength, they were easily handled. The speed and lethality of the Man-Eating Flower, once amplified by attribute points, had greatly increased. Lin Xin guessed that it could even hold its own against an expert at the Innate Ninth Layer. Plus, with his other hidden strengths as support, even soone at the Great Perfection of the Ninth Layer would likely not match him in actual combat. With such strength, he was more than capable of presiding over the relatively safe Lefu territory.
Life also gradually entered a peaceful and tranquil state.
In this peaceful life, several months passed in the blink of an eye.
***************
Spirit Heart Villa
Lin Xin stood opposite Brother Huangshan in the bamboo forest, both holding swords in one hand.
Bamboo leaves fell, slowly gliding past both sides of them.
Brother Huangshan suddenly raised his sword, and a white Sword Qi burst forth from the tip of his blade, as he instantly seed to be enveloped in a layer of white light.
"Four Spirits!"
He roared, and four white birds shot out sharply from his sword blade—these were birds ford from Sword Qi, lethal upon contact.
The birds raced toward Lin Xin from four directions, showing no rcy.
Clang!
In an instant, Lin Xin drew his sword and thrust forward, seemingly creating four overlapping Sword Shadows that precisely struck the four Sword Qi birds.
Puff, puff, puff... After three sounds of dispersion, Lin Xin’s Inner Qi faltered, and he took a step backward. He had failed to hit the last bird.
With a thud, a Spiritual Light Shield appeared around him. The mbrane of light and the Sword Qi bird collided fiercely before slowly canceling each other out and disappearing.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother, I offer my felicitations!" Lin Xin sheathed his sword and smiled. "Having just entered the realm of manifesting Sword Intent, you’ll surely reach Qi Refinent soon!"
"It’s still too early. I’ve just reached the Ninth Layer," Brother Huangshan said with a smile, unable to hide his joy. "There are Five Realms of Sword Intent, and I’ve only just set foot in the threshold."
"Who knows how many people are stuck at this barrier, unable to find the path to Qi Refinent. Senior Brother, you’ve cultivated diligently for many years and have co to understand in advance. Isn’t that worth congratulating now that you’ve truly entered the gateway of Sword Cultivators?" Lin Xin shook his head.
"I am ashad to admit that as the chief of the Formation Hall, I was supposed to enter Qi Cultivation through a Formation Magical Artifact, yet unexpectedly, the way of the Sword Dao led first," Brother Huangshan said, shaking his head with a smile. "That’s why, upon breaking through, I ca to consult with Junior Brother on the Formation Path."
"To consult would be an overstatent; it’s rely an exchange of knowledge." Lin Xin had the Skill Manifestation trick up his sleeve; once successful, even if by chance, he could learn the intricacies by repeatedly using the skill, thus making any learning process doubly effective.
Therefore, his foundational knowledge in the Formation Path had advanced by leaps and bounds during this quiet period in the manor. He had not only thoroughly understood all the formations he had transcribed but also had a faint ability to modify them on his own.
"It’s a pity that your cultivation is still low, or else this chief position should rightly be yours," Brother Huangshan sighed as he sheathed his sword.
"Senior Brother is being too modest." Lin Xin smiled. "In the way of Magic Artifact Sacrificial Refinent, I’ve also just started, and I haven’t even touched the edge of the First Realm for higher realms of refinent."
"With Magic Artifacts, the main path involves communicating and integrating with them. In the end, they can transform into an External Incarnation Realm, becoming a part of yourself. Our sect’s Blood Essence Technique is actually just a tool for assistance. The key is to create a Magic Artifact that is strong and compatible with oneself, through which you can circulate Elental Energy and improve yourself. For a dual-practitioner of life and magic, a single Magic Artifact is sufficient; as it continuously advances, it will drive the rise of one’s own cultivation. What you need to do now is to choose a Magic Artifact to cultivate in tandem with your life, imbue it with your Innate Qi, and make it part of yourself," Brother Huangshan explained.
"I see... No wonder I always felt that cultivation can only rely on my own hard work. The progress has been too slow," Lin Xin suddenly realized.
"Doesn’t that an you can disregard talent? As long as the Magic Artifact advances, right?" he asked again.
"The Innate Qi you integrate is the essence of your talent... The more and purer the refinent, the greater the effect on the Magic Artifact. Naturally, the faster it improves, and the more Elental Energy it absorbs and feeds back to the owner. Once you reach the Qi Refinent stage, you won’t need to extract Elental Energy from food but can directly refine Essence Qi from the Magic Artifact," Brother Huangshan elaborated.
Lin Xin nodded in understanding.
Brother Huangshan continued.
"Talent determines the speed and quality of refining Innate Qi. The Magic Artifact rely provides you with the raw Essence Qi and Elental Energy, but ultimately, you must convert it yourself. Talent is just about the speed of conversion. Because you need all Five Elents, when choosing a Magic Artifact for dual cultivation, you must find one that complents the Attributes you lack."
"Have you tested the Attributes of your Innate Qi?"
Lin Xin imdiately shook his head.
"I haven’t, actually."
"Here, take this." Brother Huangshan tossed a sphere that looked like a glass bead.
Lin Xin caught it accurately and examined it.
"A Spirit Testing Bead, huh."
"Yes, I brought it especially for you from Elder Yu," Brother Huangshan smiled. "Well, back to my issue. I went to the Outer Regions earlier this year, and I almost didn’t make it back alive. Your Luminous Talisman Sword was incredibly useful; it had ordinary might, but when combined, it was quite effective, and the intense light was powerful! It had a substantial effect on restraining so creatures from the Outer Regions! If not for your Talisman Sword, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to return."
"If it was helpful to Senior Brother, that’s good. In a while, I will also return to the Sect to formally begin my training. Then..."
"Villa Master, Villa Master!!!" Suddenly, a guard ca running from the bamboo forest in the distance.
"What’s the matter that you’re in such a hurry?" Lin Xin was interrupted and was slightly displeased.
"It’s the lady!" The servant’s face was full of joy, "Today, the lady went to the city for a visit and stopped by Ansheng Hall on the way, asking the female pharmacist there for a check-up, and unexpectedly, she is...!"
Lin Xin was montarily stunned.
"She is what?" He quickly walked up to the servant.
"Clarify yourself, what is it?!" He was becoming anxious as well.
"It’s just that... the lady is... the lady is pregnant!!" The servant, startled by his urgency, promptly raised his voice in response.
"Pregnant? Congratulations, my worthy brother!" The man in yellow also genuinely smiled, "Coupled with your promotion to official disciple at the sa ti, this is truly a double blessing!"
Lin Xin was also stunned, feeling an indescribable complexity in his heart. It had been many years since he had co to this world, and now he was going to have his own bloodline.
Just thinking that a part of his bloodline was about to take root and sprout in this vast land, in this world, and beco a part of this place,
he felt an even greater sense of solidity in his heart.
"Where is the lady now? Hurry and take to her!" He eagerly grabbed the servant by the arm.
"She’s resting... in the room..." The servant, scared, spoke sowhat incoherently.
Without waiting for him to finish, Lin Xin already saw Lin Xinyuan with a group of won who were long-term residents of the manor, along with his mother, Zhao Yu Niang, cheerfully heading their way.
"Xiner, Lingling is pregnant! I’ve had several doctors confirm it, and they all agree that she indeed has joyous news!" Zhao Yu Niang’s face bead with irrepressible joy.
Only then did Lin Xin’s heart fully settle, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curve upwards.
"Hurry, hurry! Mother, quickly take to see Lingling!"
The group, including the man in yellow, swiftly passed through the bamboo forest to the back courtyard of the manor. The man in yellow stayed on the outside with Lin Zhiwen and the other n of the manor, all waiting. When they saw him coming, they showed smiles and opened a path.
Only Lin Xin rushed in, pushing open the bedroom door, to see Xiao Lingling lying on the bed, tenderly caressing her abdon.
"Lingling..." He hurried forward and sat down next to Xiao Lingling.
"Xin ge..." Xiao Lingling, with a trace of happiness, leaned against Lin Xin’s shoulder. "I’m finally, finally going to have a child for you..."
Lin Xin gently held her in his embrace, his emotions more complex than ever before.
All of a sudden, he thought of An Ying, wondering how she was doing in the Plum Blossom Sect.
"Take good care of yourself, your health isn’t the best, so don’t do anything for now. Rest well, and if you crave anything, just tell the servants. Whatever you want, I’ll bring it all to you," Lin Xin responded tenderly.
Xiao Lingling smiled with a hint of happiness.
"I don’t want anything... just having you beside is enough..."
Lin Xin’s heart ward, and he could only hold her closer.
"I will, I will always be with you..."
Unconsciously, this was the first ti he truly felt that he was a part of this world... No longer did he feel the slight detachnt he had before.
*******************
After Xiao Lingling beca pregnant, Lin Xin hurried back to the sect to see Granny Yu and was formally accepted as her disciple, bypassing the requirent of Qi Cultivation to beco an official disciple.
The ceremony for official disciples was attended only by a few Foundation Establishnt Elders and Qi Cultivation disciples, as this was not a traditional promotion but rely a one-sided acceptance of a disciple. Therefore, it wasn’t widely celebrated.
After consulting Granny Yu about lots of accumulated Formation Path questions, Lin Xin couldn’t wait to rush back to Spirit Heart Villa to accompany Xiao Lingling.
As spring gave way to autumn, and ten months of pregnancy passed quickly, another year went by.
Before the onset of winter, Xiao Lingling finally gave birth to a child, a qilin boy, coinciding with Lin Xin’s cultivation progress to the Sixth Layer of the Return to Origin technique.
The manor was overjoyed, with lanterns and festoons everywhere, as various powers continuously sent their congratulations. Brothers from his sect sent gifts, and even Granny Yu ca to personally see the little one, fully manifesting the significant place Lin Xin held in her heart.
Lin Xin personally asked Granny Yu to bestow a na upon his son.
Who would have known that perhaps because of her high hopes for him in the Formation Hall, Granny Yu simply nad him Lin Zhen. With ’Lin’ as the surna and ’Zhen’ as the given na.
However, soon after the great joy, not long after the child was a month old, the situation took a turn for the worse. The hidden injuries from Xiao Lingling’s childbirth began to manifest, and she fell ill, bedridden. Every so often, she would cough up blood uncontrollably, her condition deteriorating. (To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please go to m.qidian to read.)
Reviews
All reviews (0)