Chapter 102: Rivals Come Knocking

In the main hall, Zhao Hao drank tea, his face showing signs of exhaustion.

"Didn't you plan to seek a heavenly opportunity with Ding Xunshou and the others? Why didn't you go in the end?"

"You know?" Zhao Hao asked curiously.

Li Lin nodded.

Zhao Hao said helplessly, "I originally wanted to go, but an urgent matter arose later, so I had to withdraw."

"What matter?"

"A private family affair; it's inconvenient to discuss."

Li Lin took a sip of tea and said, "I spoke out of turn."

"Don't say that." Zhao Hao waved his hand and said, "I came this time to ask for your help."

"What happened?"

"I want to obtain a few more Vitality Pills."

Li Lin was stunned for a moment and said, "These pills are very hard to get."

"I know." Zhao Hao gave a bitter smile.

Although he had heard that major sects also had something similar to Vitality Pills, they would not sell them, and non-core disciples could not use them.

Zhao Hao continued, "So this time I brought something to trade with you."

A secret manual was placed on the table.

Li Lin did not take it.

"It's really difficult," Li Lin said.

Zhao Hao pressed his lips together, put away the manual, and sighed, "Then I'll take my leave."

Watching the other person leave, Li Lin also sighed softly.

As for the Life-Breathing Pill, he did not want to expose it too much.

It must absolutely not reach a situation where it is available whenever someone asks.

After Zhao Hao left, Li Lin began to study 'Array Techniques'.

He found three stones, carved the three characters of the Gou Lou Cave Mansion on them respectively, and then pasted them onto the 'Cloud Wall' in his home.

It was the screen visible at a glance upon opening the door.

He then infused Yin Qi into the three characters and discovered that the screen... remained exactly the same.

Then he sighed helplessly.

Just because you can unlock a phone's screen saver using the nine-grid method doesn't mean you can manufacture a phone.

Li Lin was now in exactly that situation.

He had mastered the basic usage techniques of arrays but had not learned the core manufacturing technology.

One could only say, truly worthy of an immortal's art; it is simply extraordinary and extremely difficult to learn.

This further strengthened his resolve to build a 'foundation'.

Cultivate the Nourishing Yin Mental Art, eat the Blood Rice.

First, pile up the 'basic attributes' and worry about the rest later.

Several days passed this way, and Su Huafang knocked on the door to find Li Lin: "Young Master Zhao has encountered trouble in Jincheng."

"What happened?"

"He sent a pigeon message to the County Magistrate requesting leave; the words were few, so the specific situation isn't entirely clear, but it can be confirmed he was injured by someone."

Li Lin nodded: "Let's go see him."

"Yes, Patrol Commander Bai Liwei will also be going."

In the entire Yulin County, the four of them had the most friendly relationship.

Su Huafang also bought a large amount of protective barrier powder from Ding Yingqiu.

Soon, the three of them set off on horseback.

With the protective barrier powder, the three of them did not fear the Wild Abominations at night.

It was just that this method was quite expensive.

One bottle consumed would cost around a hundred taels of silver.

This was precisely why, despite the existence of protective barrier powder which was extremely useful against Abominations, it had not spread widely; the cost was too high.

After four days of hurried travel, the three of them arrived in Jincheng once again.

They soon reached Zhao Hao's home.

Zhao Hao's home was a medium-sized residence with three courtyards.

There were not many servants in the residence either.

The three of them sat in the main hall for a while before seeing Zhao Hao, dressed in white sleeping robes, walk out.

Seeing the three of them, he clearly showed joy.

"Three of you, why have you come?"

"We heard you were injured; how could we not come?"

Zhao Hao laughed.

At that very moment, the steward entered from outside and said, "Young Master, Miss An has arrived."

Hearing this news, Zhao Hao was overjoyed: "Quickly invite her in."

Not long after, a young woman dressed in purple combat attire walked in.

"Xiao Yan, how do you have time to come today!"

This young woman was quite good-looking; she looked at Su Huafang and Bai Liwei with displeasure, while her gaze lingered on Li Lin's face for three breaths before shifting away.

"Can't I come? Didn't you promise to get me some pills that increase cultivation speed? Why haven't I seen a trace of them yet?"

Zhao Hao smiled bitterly: "Little Yan, those pills aren't that easy to obtain."

"I don't care. Give me three more days. If you still can't get them, I won't speak to you anymore."

With that, the young girl left.

Li Lin and the other two looked at Zhao Hao with strange eyes.

Zhao Hao said helplessly: "Don't look at me like that. Every family has its own difficult scriptures."

Su Huafang was already taking Zhao Hao's pulse. He waved his hand: "I'm not interested in your family's conflicts. I just want to ask how you got this injury. Your meridians were almost broken by someone."

Zhao Hao immediately put on a look of not wanting to speak.

Bai Liwei smiled: "If you don't say it, it's fine. We can go outside and ask; we'll figure it out."

Zhao Hao sighed and told them what had happened.

It turned out that a few days ago, the woman called 'Little Yan' suddenly demanded something from Zhao Hao that could increase cultivation speed, meaning something to accelerate the gathering of Yuan Qi.

Such things do exist and can be refined by certain sects in the Jianghu, but they remain extremely, extremely precious.

Zhao Hao admitted he couldn't get them.

Little Yan wouldn't let it go, nearly lying on the floor and throwing a tantrum.

Helpless, Zhao Hao could only think of a way to solve this matter.

He looked for Li Lin without success, then went to the Tianyi Gate.

The Tianyi Gate did have them, but there was a rule: one must defeat their True Disciples.

Win, and you get the pills; lose, and you leave behind a secret manual.

Then Zhao Hao went to challenge them.

He was nearly beaten to death, and his family's 'fist technique' was lost to the opponent.

Tianyi Gate... Hearing this term, Li Lin thought of that 'Eldest Senior Brother' again; he clearly wasn't a simple character.

Could Zhao Hao have been defeated by that Eldest Senior Brother?

Hearing this, Bai Liwei laughed: "You actually bet against the Tianyi Gate... Your courage is truly great. The Tianyi Gate is famous for having many experts."

Zhao Hao laughed bitterly: "I had no choice."

"Just ignore that so-called Little Yan, wouldn't that work?"

Zhao Hao flatly refused: "Impossible."

Bai Liwei stood up: "Since this isn't a grudge, we won't stay long. Let's meet in Yulin County."

At this moment, Bai Liwei was somewhat angry; he felt Zhao Hao was too soft in front of a woman, feeling a bit like one who hates iron for not becoming steel.

Su Huafang patted Bai Liwei's shoulder, comforted the latter, then said to Zhao Hao: "Take good care of your injuries."

With that, he pulled Bai Liwei and left.

Li Lin glanced at Zhao Hao.

Zhao Hao waved his hand and said: "No need to feel guilty; this matter was originally my problem."

Li Lin also turned and left.

The three did not plan to return to Yulin County immediately, so they found an inn to stay here.

Su and Bai, to save money, squeezed into one room.

Li Lin found a single room to sleep in; he didn't plan to save money, preferring quiet and comfort.

By noon the next day, the two woke Li Lin up.

"We found out why Young Master Zhao is so devoted to enduring that girl."

Li Lin yawned: "Speak."

Just as Su Huafang was about to speak, he heard a knock on the door.

Opening the door, he saw a young man with a sword hanging at his waist standing outside.

The other person clasped his hands and said: "Three Soul-Hunters from Yulin County, the Tianyi Gate greets you."

There we go, the opposing side has come to the door.

(End of this chapter)