Chapter 961: with translation of chapter title

"Four or five percent chance, huh? This time I'll go crazy. Lin Feng, as long as you bring me the Dou Saint's bone and the high‑level Half Saint‑grade Tai Xu ancient dragon essence blood, the box is yours. As for the resurrection later, if it succeeds you'll be a lifelong friend of my Zhao family; if it fails, we won't blame you!"

He pondered for a moment, then Zhao Yuan clasped the hands he had placed on the table, his voice trembling slightly yet unusually firm.

He knew that if he didn't give it his all now, with only a few years of life left, he would never find a better way to break through to Dou Saint.

"Alright, I'll soon help you gather those materials. As for the rest, you'll have to think it over yourself. Regarding the beast essence blood, we can't hope for Dou Saint‑grade blood, but if possible we'll try to obtain some high‑level Half Saint‑grade. After all, if we only get mid‑level Half Saint beast blood, the success rate of breaking through to Dou Saint could drop by at least ten to twenty percent."

Seeing the elder agree, Lin Feng let out a sigh of relief and added a reminder.

And his words were not meant to intimidate Zhao Yuan; although he has not yet reached the Half Saint Realm, the elder's past failures show that the barrier from Half Saint to Dou Saint is hardly easy to breach.

Moreover, he has no idea whether a person can use this secret resurrection technique twice.

Therefore, he can only treat it as a one‑time opportunity.

"High‑level Half Saint beast blood? That's far from easy!"

Hearing the reminder, Zhao Yuan gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

Although he is also in the high Half Saint Realm, hunting a beast of equal level is a difficulty many times greater than that faced by low‑rank cultivators hunting same‑level beasts.

After all, when one's strength is still weak, if you truly can't defeat a same‑level beast, you can try to acquire higher‑level techniques to boost your power, or simply call friends and overwhelm the foe with sheer numbers.

But at his level, even though he possesses the top‑tier Heavenly Step Technique.

Unfortunately, beasts of this grade have intelligence no less than humans and can also practice techniques and combat skills.

Moreover, the techniques those beasts wield are no worse than theirs.

The most frustrating thing is that Half Saint‑level cultivators are extremely rare throughout the Central Continent.

Even if he seeks help from others, the price would make his heart bleed.

Not to mention that Half Saint‑level beasts are generally backed by immensely powerful forces.

"Alas, your secret technique truly makes one love and hate it; it gives me hope for a breakthrough, yet its harsh conditions make one grind teeth in frustration."

After a long silence, Zhao Yuan finally put away the black‑and‑white box, picked up the nearby staff, and stood up with a wry smile.

Hearing this, Zhao Ran beside the elder wore a similarly bitter expression on her pretty face.

Previously, to help her brother break through, the family had already poured out almost everything.

Now, Lin Feng's secret technique gives them a glimmer of hope, but that hope comes at a very steep price.

Thinking of this, she sighed, "I finally understand why there are so few Dou Saint masters on the Dou Qi Continent. Breaking the barrier from Half Saint to Dou Saint is just far too difficult!"

"There's no way around it; the difficulty of leaping from Half Saint to Dou Saint is immense. Unless one naturally reaches the breakthrough, any method will inevitably demand a high price."

In response to the two's complaints, Lin Feng helplessly spread his hands.

After all, given Zhao Yuan's current situation, aside from this secret technique, he could only think of breaking through with a Nine‑grade Treasure Pill.

But he truly can't produce a pill of that grade!

Speaking of Nine‑grade Treasure Pills, Lin Feng suddenly recalled the Dou Saint ruin he learned about from the information left by Dan Yi Tian.

From the various prior clues, it can be foreseen that the ruin's owner was likely an alchemist of considerable level.

"I wonder if there are any Nine‑grade Treasure Pills inside."

Thinking of that Dou Saint ruin, Lin Feng couldn't help but blurt out this sentence in his mind.

After all, that Dou Saint master's soul power had reached the Great Perfection of the Celestial Realm in life, and even among the ancient races, perhaps no more than twenty individuals could match that soul power.

From this perspective, the owner's former strength far surpassed that of a Creation Saint.

Consequently, the ruin might indeed contain Nine‑grade Treasure Pills!

However, since he is still unsure whether the Dou Saint ruin holds Nine‑grade Treasure Pills, he did not bring up the matter much in earlier negotiations.

After all, if he promised to fetch Nine‑grade Treasure Pills and the ruin has none, it would be embarrassing.

"It seems that once the current matters are settled, it'll be time to explore that ruin."

Lin Feng brushed his forehead, where the bone‑spirit cold fire he had sealed lay, and sighed inwardly.

After all, inside there still exists an anomalous fire.

If he can obtain that golden anomalous fire and combine it with the bone‑spirit cold fire taken from Han Shanshan, absorbing both should cause his power to expand dramatically.

By then, among his peers, even Gu Xun'er might not be his match!

"By the way, Lin Feng, didn't you just say that if my brother's soul power advances to the Celestial Realm, the chance of successfully breaking through to Dou Saint would increase? Could you help my brother elevate his soul power to the Celestial Realm?"

At that moment, Zhao Ran recalled Lin Feng's earlier suggestion for boosting her brother's Dou Saint breakthrough chance and suddenly spoke, her lips parting lightly.

After speaking, she paused briefly, recalled the last item in the family treasury, and continued: "Of course we won't let you work for free. I see among your wives there is one with wind affinity; in a moment I'll retrieve a wind‑type Heavenly Step Technique from the family storehouse for you. And once my brother is revived, within our capabilities, feel free to ask for anything."

"Uh…"

Hearing this, Lin Feng helplessly spread his hands and replied, "Senior, I'm afraid that will disappoint you; I've already obtained a wind‑type Heavenly Step Technique for her, so we're not lacking that item."

Upon hearing that the wind‑type Heavenly Step Technique was not lacking, Zhao Ran's pretty face instantly fell into disappointment.

After all, the Zhao family is not affluent now, even somewhat impoverished.

Since the other side doesn't need the Heavenly Step Technique, she has nothing good to offer at the moment.

Even Zhao Yuan beside them showed a flash of disappointment.

After all, if his soul power could rise to the Celestial Realm, the success rate of breaking the Half Saint barrier would undoubtedly increase significantly.

However, after Zhao Ran mentioned her wife, Lin Feng thought for a moment and then recalled his own junior maid, Qing Lin.

After a brief pause, he smiled faintly and said, "Senior Zhao Yuan, I might have a way to obtain your beast essence blood, and once it's done, I'll gladly help you raise your soul power to the Celestial Realm."

"Oh, what method?"

Hearing that the elder could solve the beast‑blood issue and also help him break his soul power to the Celestial Realm sparked a flicker of interest in Zhao Yuan's murky eyes.

Of course, he knows there's no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

Since the other party now offers to help him break his soul power, it will inevitably require him to contribute effort in certain areas.

Seeing his interest, Lin Feng stopped withholding information, looked at Zhao Ran and asked, "Zhao Sister, do you still have that lady in blue who was with me before?"

"I remember."

Seeing the former's gaze come over, Zhao Ran slightly nodded, then said in puzzlement: "However, although that woman's talent is rare in the world, she is ultimately only an initial-stage Dou Zun and cannot help us much, right?"

"Hehe, that woman possesses an extremely rare physique, the Azure Snake Triple-Flower Pupil, which can restrain most snake-type magic beasts. And as I know, among the Nine Netherworld Earth Abyss Pythons there are advanced Half-Saint level strong beings."

Regarding the former's question, Lin Feng also quickly gave an answer.

"The Azure Snake Triple-Flower Pupil that can control all snake-type magic beasts?!"

Upon hearing these five words, the Zhao siblings' expressions suddenly changed, their voices becoming sharp and also extremely shocked.

Even Zhao Yuan, who is usually steady, could not hold back at this moment; his cloudy eyes widened a bit.

"As long as the senior brings her out for training for a period, absorbs some level Beast, raises his own strength, and with your help, senior, it is not impossible to control an advanced Half-Saint Nine Netherworld Earth Abyss Python strong being. By then, the problem of magic beast essence blood will be readily solved."

Lin Feng gazed at the two people whose faces were filled with shock, and slowly revealed his plan.

And after the former spoke his plan, inside the wooden house, it instantly became quiet to the point where everyone's breathing could be heard clearly.

"Your plan is really bold!"

After a long silence, Zhao Yuan's emotional voice slowly sounded in the wooden house.

Immediately after, he firmly nodded and said: "This matter, I, the old man, agree; let's do as you say. After all, I've thought it over and couldn't find a better way. No matter how you say it, once this succeeds, it's a win-win."

"Hehe, then let's say that."

Seeing the former agree, Lin Feng immediately smiled and said.

Hum~

Just then, Lin Feng felt the space jade slip he gave Feng'er suddenly shatter.

Immediately after, in his perception, the specific location of that space jade slip's breakage appeared.

"Two seniors, my wife has something to find me, so I'll take my leave first. Later, after I prepare the thing to enhance soul power, I'll come find you again."

Upon sensing Feng'er pinch and break the jade slip he gave her, Lin Feng immediately set aside other matters, clasped his hands to the Zhao siblings, and proposed to leave.

After all, he currently doesn't know what Feng'er wants from him; if she encounters danger, every second he delays here adds to his wife's peril.

Upon hearing that, Zhao Ran, who had reacted, immediately nodded and said with a charming smile: "Since your wife is looking for you, go quickly; don't let her wait anxiously. As for those materials, once we gather them, we'll come find you."

"Then this junior will take his leave."

As his words fell, waves began to ripple in the space around Lin Feng; immediately, he eagerly dove into it and left this place.

"Brother, do you know what's going on with this little guy? How can a five-star Dou Zun have spatial control stronger than my nine-turn Dou Zun?"

Gazing at the spot where Lin Feng disappeared, Zhao Ran looked puzzled at her older brother and asked.

Regarding this, she had already felt very strange before, but couldn't find the cause.

"I think his ability is extremely similar to the spatial aptitude of the Grand Void Ancient Dragon; plus, he seems to have a considerable connection with the Grand Void Ancient Dragon clan, so there might be some involvement here."

Hearing his sister's doubt, Zhao Yuan slowly explained his speculation.

After speaking, he lightly stepped forward to the window, gazing at the distant gently flowing river and the towering verdant peaks beyond it, murmuring: "Hopefully here we can successfully break through to the Dou Saint Realm; only then will we have the strength to slay that beast, take its head, and comfort our parents' spirits in heaven."

Creak~

Hearing the former's words, Zhao Ran not far behind him clenched her fair hands, her chin slightly sinking.

"Back then I was blind as well, only then would I believe the sweet words of that heartless bastard; ultimately it led to the second brother being murdered, the family inheritance seized, our parents suffered blows, left incapacitated, and finally... dying with hatred; if I get the chance, I will cut him into a thousand pieces!"

After a long silence, Zhao Ran's tender red lips finally trembled as she uttered these words.

Now, she had long lost the ease she felt when chatting with Lin Feng; her tone was filled with bone-chilling killing intent!