Chapter 972

Whoosh!

After leaving Hou Lao Guai's residence, Lin Feng flew for a period of time and then landed on another mountain peak.

Gazing forward, not far ahead lay a wooden manor surrounded by a wooden fence; inside, a wooden house stood conspicuously at the center of the courtyard.

Judging by the multitude of colorful flowers planted around the manor, its owner is probably a woman.

I didn't expect that woman to be so girly.

Looking at the rainbow-like flowers, Lin Feng shook his head, then lightly tapped his feet a few times on the ground, and his figure swiftly appeared at the courtyard gate.

Come in.

However, the instant his figure appeared at the small courtyard gate, a gentle, water-like female voice drifted from the wooden house into Lin Feng's ears.

Moreover, the person inside the wooden house could sense his presence, which Lin Feng found unsurprising.

After all, since coming here, he had never deliberately hidden his presence.

Creak~

As Lin Feng opened the manor's wooden door, the door of the wooden house ahead was also opened almost at the same time.

Next, Zhao Ran inside the room straightened her clothes and then walked out toward the courtyard.

Upon hearing the movement, Lin Feng immediately turned his gaze forward.

Then he saw Zhao Ran lightly tap her toes, and her figure instantly appeared before him.

However, perhaps because Zhao Ran had just bathed, she was now simply wearing a dress, and as she arrived she also brought a strong floral scent.

And this floral scent was exactly the same as the flowers around the courtyard.

"What are you doing, sis? It's been a while—do you miss me?"

Seeing Lin Feng arrive, Zhao Ran's lips curved into a smile; she leaned against the courtyard gate, extended a fair little hand, hooked his chin, and spoke with a smiling tone.

"Zhao Sister, stop teasing—I'm a married man."

Facing her teasing, Lin Feng helplessly rolled his eyes, then took her hand and moved it away.

Immediately, a faint light flashed from the spatial ring on his finger, and a jade bottle appeared out of thin air, hovering in midair.

"The medicinal pill inside should be able to help Senior Zhao Yuan break through to the Heavenly Realm Soul."

While speaking, Lin Feng grabbed the jade bottle with his other hand, opened Zhao Ran's palm, and placed it in her hand.

"Something to enhance the soul?"

Upon hearing the words "Heavenly Realm Soul," Zhao Ran's beautiful eyes widened instantly, and her tone carried a hint of astonishment.

Immediately, she eagerly withdrew her hand, pulled the stopper from the jade bottle, and poured out the pill inside.

At the same time, she swiftly executed a seal to suppress the pill in her hand, preventing it from transforming.

And as the pill appeared, instantly a rich, pale yellow medicinal fragrance rapidly spread.

However, Zhao Ran, being an eighth-rank peak alchemist, did not pay attention to these.

After all, based on her experience, a casual glance could tell that the pill's grade was merely eighth-rank, eighth-color.

Such a pill, while precious in the outside world, was still not enough to make Zhao Ran show astonishment.

But beneath this medicinal fragrance lay hidden traces of a strange qi that left her extremely astonished.

Because at the moment this qi appeared, Zhao Ran felt her soul suddenly emit an intense longing signal.

In her heart, a voice told her that if she could consume this pill.

Then her soul power might immediately break through the soul realm barrier and step into the Heavenly Realm!

However, after suppressing that emotion in her heart, Zhao Ran's attention was wholly focused on this pill.

"Your pill is interesting; it seems to have many benefits for the soul."

Her delicate nose twitched; after sniffing the pill's fragrance, she immediately placed a hand on her round chin and spoke intriguingly.

Upon hearing that, Lin Feng immediately chuckled: "This pill is a kind of lost ancient medicinal pill that can nourish and stabilize the soul; it also offers some benefits for Senior Zhao Yuan's breakthrough to the Heavenly Realm Soul."

Continuing, he said: "Moreover, I have refined and integrated the remnant soul of a Dou Sheng expert who is a ninth-rank precious pill alchemist into it; that should be enough for Senior Zhao Yuan to break through to the Heavenly Realm."

"A ninth-rank precious pill alchemist grandmaster?!"

Before his words even finished, Zhao Ran's whole body was struck as if by lightning; Lin Feng couldn't help but cover his ears at her sharp voice.

"Senior, we're all on the same side—don't use sound wave attacks."

Facing her shriek, Lin Feng helplessly said while covering his ears.

However, Zhao Ran paid no heed to his words and focused on studying the pill in her hand.

After a long while, she finally lifted her face filled with incredulous expression, inhaled a breath of cold air, and said: "Indeed, there is a trace of creation's power in this; Lin Feng, you truly refined and integrated the soul of a Heavenly Realm Soul expert into this pill!"

"Didn't I already say that earlier?"

Upon hearing that, Lin Feng shrugged his shoulders and then said helplessly.

Seeing that, Zhao Ran then put the pill back into the jade bottle and sealed it.

After placing it into her own spatial ring, she immediately stepped forward and curiously asked: "Where did you obtain the remnant soul of that ninth-rank precious pill alchemist?"

"Haha, I say I killed and refined it—do you believe me?"

Seeing her curious appearance, Lin Feng laughed loudly and joked.

Upon hearing that, Zhao Ran immediately gave him an eye roll and said irritably: "If you could kill one in front of me to show, I'd immediately become your lifelong venting device—available on call, moving on the bed by itself, and even earning money for you to spend!"

"Cough cough, Zhao Sister, you really dare say anything."

Facing her formidable words, Lin Feng directly admitted defeat.

Then he lightly rubbed his spatial ring, took out a warm, jade-like humanoid white bone, and changed the topic: "Zhao Sister, not only was the previous pill taken from a Dou Sheng expert's body, this skeleton also comes from the same source as that remnant soul; in life, he was a Dou Sheng expert and a ninth-rank precious pill alchemist."

Moreover, I also obtained some blood drawn from a ninth-rank magic beast's body. For the materials to revive Senior Zhao Yuan, I have gathered plenty; the rest is up to you.

While speaking, Lin Feng also shook the Creation Saint's bone in his hand.

"This this is a Dou Sheng skeleton!"

Looking at the white bone in the former's hand, Zhao Ran's beautiful pupils suddenly shrank, and her expression became surprised again.

Although this corpse had already turned into white bone, without a trace of flesh.

But through the faint, barely perceptible aura on the white bone, she could still tell that this is a Dou Saint skeleton!

And upon hearing that Lin Feng had also collected the blood of a ninth-rank magical beast, at this moment she didn't know how to describe her feelings.

A ninth-rank magical beast, comparable to a human Dou Saint-level expert, she had never seen such a level of magical beast from birth until now.

But the former, however, easily collected its blood. Lin Feng's speed in gathering the materials to revive his brother is truly far beyond their expectations.

Originally she thought Lin Feng would need to fuss for a year and a half, or even two or three years, before possibly gathering the materials.

But as it turned out, she hadn't expected that in just over two months, the former had directly gathered the materials.

Such speed, even she didn't know what to say.

After all, she and her brother currently haven't prepared anything at all.

Whereas the other party, on the other hand, easily gathered all the materials.

Thinking of this, Zhao Ran's pupils shifted slightly, then she extended her jade arm and pulled Lin Feng into an embrace.

And Lin Feng, suddenly enveloped by softness and rich floral fragrance, instantly showed a bewildered expression, not knowing what the former was up to again.

However, soon Zhao Ran gazed at Lin Feng with a "pitiful" look and voiced her need.

"Lin Feng, you see Sister is now so poor, I have nothing on me; why don't you help me out and also take care of the medicinal pill needed to revive my brother?"

At this moment, the expression on Zhao Ran's pretty young woman's face would likely make most men capable of fulfilling it flush with blood and then directly slap their chests in agreement.

However, for Lin Feng, who is quite familiar with the former's character, he naturally would not fall for her beauty trap.

Upon hearing that the other party wanted to freeload the medicinal pill, he directly refused: "No, I still have a whole family to support; this is something you, Zhao Sister, should handle yourself."

After saying that, Lin Feng flicked his storage ring, took out a palm-sized space jade slip from inside, and placed it into Zhao Ran's tender hand.

At the same time, he explained: "This is the space jade slip of the woman I mentioned earlier who possesses the Azure Snake Triple Flower Pupils; her name is Qing Lin. Later, when Zhao Yuan senior wishes to obtain the essence blood of the Half-Saint Nine Netherworld Earth Python, he can crush it to summon her. As for me, I still have things to do, so I'll leave first."

As soon as his words ended, the former took advantage of her lack of preparation, ran out of her embrace, then slipped away, preparing to flee.

After all, if he stayed longer, a moment's carelessness could see him being eaten to the bone by this beautiful woman Zhao Ran.

"Sigh, I'm not a man-eating magical beast; why are you running?"

Seeing Lin Feng about to run, Zhao Ran hastily secured the jade slip, then grabbed his arm, not letting the former leave.

"My Zhao Sister, what are you doing? I still have things to do."

Looking at his arm being seized, Lin Feng had no choice but to temporarily give up the idea of fleeing, gazing helplessly at the former.

However, this time Zhao Ran put away her previous smile and seriously looked at Lin Feng, saying: "Lin Feng, do you have a suitable pill recipe for the revival secret art, of grade eight-eight or higher? That seventh-grade Bone-Fusing Blood Pill is truly too low, and during this time I have only managed to hear of a single volume of an eighth-grade six-color pill recipe."

"If I were to search slowly, I could indeed find a higher-grade recipe, but seeing that you have already prepared the other materials, I just want to quickly gather everything to revive my brother."

After saying that, she also worried the former might misunderstand, so she immediately added: "Don't worry, I won't take your recipe for free; I'll go gather information on Half-Saint rank serpentine magical beasts shortly."

"When my brother brings that little girl named Qing Lin to the beast domain to control magical beasts, I will give him the information I've gathered, so he can bring Qing Lin to control several more Half-Saint magical beasts."

While speaking, Zhao Ran's gaze toward Lin Feng also carried a hint of pleading.

Her brother's lifespan is only a few years left; if the former cannot break through to Dou Saint for a day, she cannot sleep well that day!

After all, no matter how you say it, originally her parents and two brothers now only have Zhao Yuan, the eldest brother, still alive.

Now, she truly does not want to lose her brother again.

"Um."

Upon hearing the former's proposed trade, Lin Feng instantly fell into hesitation.

Because among the recipes he holds, those that could satisfy the former's need amount to at most two volumes.

Moreover, these two volumes of recipes are both the top-tier eight-grade nine-color recipes passed down by Elder Chuli and the Medicine Emperor within the long river of time.

As for the conditions Zhao Ran offered, although extremely tempting and making his heart stir.

But such a grade of recipe can also be called a rare treasure.

Even Lin Feng himself similarly does not really want to trade it away.

"If you still feel it's not enough, my Zhao family truly cannot produce anything else that would move your heart; if really impossible, then add me as well!"

And Zhao Ran, seeing this situation, her mindset seemed to directly explode; as soon as her words fell, she grabbed the front of her skirt with both hands and gave a hard tug before Lin Feng could react.

"Rip!"

Accompanied by a ripping sound of fabric, Zhao Ran's one-piece short skirt split in half and fell down.

At the same time, a perfectly beautiful tender jade body, together with the two most sensitive spots of a woman, appeared completely uncovered before Lin Feng's eyes.

"Holy shit, Zhao Sister, it's broad daylight!"

Seeing the former's body, as soft and white as an eighteen-year-old maiden's, Lin Feng exclaimed, then quickly took off his outer robe and draped it over Zhao Ran's protruding-front, curving-back jade body.

Fortunately, Lin Feng's outer robe is rather long, and Zhao Ran is a bit shorter than him.

Thus, when the robe was draped over her, it instantly fell to her jade feet, completely covering the exposed spring light.

And after ensuring she wouldn't be exposed, Lin Feng let out a big sigh of relief, then intended to bring Zhao Ran back into the wooden house.

After all, they are currently outside the house.

Although this place usually sees very few people, one cannot guarantee that nobody will come!

However, just as Lin Feng was about to bring Zhao Ran, who had draped his outer robe, back inside, she instead stood firm in place with a determined expression, unwilling to budge an inch.

And in her eyes, there was even a hint of sadness.

"Alright, Zhao Sister, I agree; I am willing to trade."

Facing the former's determined expression, Lin Feng helplessly sighed, then a faint light flashed, and a scroll suddenly appeared before him.

Then he picked up the scroll with one hand, stuffed it into Zhao Ran's hand, and introduced: "Zhao Sister, this is a volume titled the Rebirth Soul Returning Pill recipe; it is considered a superior grade to the Bone-Fusing Blood Pill, and ranks at the peak of eight-grade, which should meet your requirements."

"Hmph, I knew you had this."

Upon seeing that scroll of recipe, Zhao Ran's pretty face instantly shifted from previous sorrow to a blooming smile.

Your face-changing speed is the fastest among all the women I have ever seen.

As for the former's face-changing speed, which could be likened to Sichuan opera's face-changing, Lin Feng couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Afterward, he exerted a little force, pushing Zhao Ran toward the inside of the wooden house.

When Lin Feng stepped into the wooden house, he immediately felt a floral fragrance, a bit richer than that on Zhao Ran's body, rush over and straight into his nostrils.

However, he now has no leisure to pay attention to these.

After entering the wooden house, Lin Feng hurriedly closed the wooden door, then complained: "Every time I see you, I get exploited once. If this continues, I won't dare to come see you. Moreover, you, a prestigious eighth-grade peak alchemist, also have a brother who is an advanced half-Saint powerhouse—is this really necessary?"

Hearing the former's complaint, a hint of bitterness flashed across Zhao Ran's beautiful face.

Immediately afterward, she raised her head to look at Lin Feng and explained: "Don't look at how our Zhao family appears glamorous on the surface; in fact, our family's interior has long been empty. To be honest, we could even be considered a disgrace among the Zhongzhou Five Clans."

Zhongzhou Five Clans?

As for this power he had never heard of before, Lin Feng murmured it softly, and a spark of interest arose in his heart.

Seeing his expression, Zhao Ran tightened her grip on her coat and then forced a smile.

Pointing to the center of the wooden house's hall, she smiled and said: "Judging by your appearance, you still don't know this information; sit down and let's chat slowly."

Having said that, Zhao Ran lifted her fair jade leg and walked toward the wooden table.

Seeing this, Lin Feng also didn't rush to leave; he followed behind her and sat down at the wooden table.

After all, this information might help him learn more about these powers, thereby assisting him in the future.

As for Zhao Ran, who had also sat down, after her robe covered the base of her jade leg, she raised her head to look at Lin Feng and explained: "The Zhongzhou Five Clans, simply put, are five families. And these five families can be said to be the strongest group of families on the Zhongzhou Continent, aside from the Ancient Seven Clans."

These five great families are respectively the Fu, Du Gu, Ouyang, Zhao, and Tian clans. These families have a different business direction from those secular powers such as the One Hall, One Tower, Two Sects, Three Valleys, and Four Directions Pavilion, so their reputation in Zhongzhou is not as great as those powers.

Perhaps out of worry that Lin Feng might look down on the five great clans due to their low fame, Zhao Ran immediately put on a solemn expression and said: "However, you must not despise the Zhongzhou Five Clans just because their fame is not as great as those secular powers' fame; these five great clans have been passed down for over seven thousand years, and their experts can be said to surpass the vast majority of experts!"

Hearing that, Lin Feng immediately nodded to indicate his understanding.

After all, the fact that Zhao Ran can mention those families shows their strength is unlikely to be weak.

After admonishing the former, Zhao Ran continued: "As for the Zhao among the five clans, there is no doubt that it is my family; the strongest is my brother, an advanced half-Saint powerhouse. As for the Tian family, they have three half-Saint powerhouses, two of whom are intermediate half-Saints and one is an advanced half-Saint not weaker than my brother."

As for the remaining Fu, Ouyang, and Du Gu three great clans, their ranks even contain a true Dou Saint existence. Therefore, their strength far surpasses that of my Zhao and Tian clans.

Upon reaching this point, the former's tone changed, carrying a hint of sorrow as she said: "However, due to an event that occurred on the Zhongzhou Continent over a thousand years ago, the once extremely prosperous Fu clan has directly ceased to exist, disappearing into the river of time. And our Zhao family, too, has gradually declined to its present state because of this."

When speaking of her family's decline, Zhao Ran's beautiful eyes uncontrollably welled up with a hint of hatred.

If time were rewound over a thousand years, wouldn't that be the era in which Xiao Xuan lived?

Upon thinking this, Lin Feng secretly speculated: "Looking at Zhao Ran's expression, her family's decline seems to have been caused by something. Could it be that the rise and fall of the Zhao family is related to the demise of the Fu clan and to Xiao Xuan back then?"