Chapter 139: The Noble Lady Hides Her True Power

In the dead of night, such a sound was unmistakable.

Soon, Huang Qi and Hong Luan arrived.

At first, they thought Li Lin and Li Yanjing were doing something improper in the main hall, which was not good, and they were about to urge the two into their rooms.

Instead, they saw Li Lin sitting on a chair, while Li Yanjing was curled up on the floor.

"What has happened to Sister Taowu Zhenjun?" Huang Qi asked.

Hong Luan also wore an expression of curiosity.

Li Lin helplessly shrugged: "I just let her absorb some blood qi, and she ended up like this."

While they were talking, Li Yanjing on the floor finally sat up, panting heavily, with an expression of lingering desire.

"House Master, give me more of your blood qi in the future; I will do whatever you ask." Her face was flushed, her expression excited.

"Could my blood qi now be some kind of poison?"

"It is not poison; it is a good medicine."

Li Yanjing reached out to Huang Qi: "Sister, look, is my hand a little warmer?"

Huang Qi still felt cold... After all, she was an ordinary person, and her perception of such subtleties was not very sharp.

Li Yanjing helplessly withdrew her hand: "The House Master's blood qi is unique; it feels even more miraculous than last time. I now have a wisp of yang energy within my body. Do you understand what this means for a ghost?"

"What does it mean?" Hong Luan asked curiously.

"If a ghost's body achieves a balance of yin and yang, it is no longer a ghost, but a 'Spirit'!"

Li Lin pressed: "Does this mean that if I provide enough blood food, you can become a Spirit in the future?"

"Indeed so," Li Yanjing said, "but I do not recommend the House Master do this right now..."

"Why?"

"Although it is very powerful, the taste is still not pure enough," Li Yanjing continued. "With your current cultivation method, it does help me, but injecting enough yang energy into my body will take a very long time. If I absorb it frequently, it will affect your cultivation speed, so it is not too late to find a way to help me after you become powerful enough in the future."

Li Lin was somewhat surprised; Li Yanjing was actually considering him, rather than eagerly demanding he support her, so her nature seemed quite kind.

Huang Qi looked at the sky and said, "Alright, you two stop talking. Husband, let us go back and rest."

Li Lin nodded.

Li Yanjing stood in the hall, watching the three leave.

Her eyes were full of excitement; becoming the family ghost of the Li family was truly wonderful.

After so many years of unlucky days, bitterness had finally given way to sweetness, and the future was bright.

That was a Spirit.

Li Lin woke up the next day, ate breakfast, and then went for his routine patrol.

Now Jiang Jili dared not appear before Li Lin; when the two met, it was Jiang Jili who avoided the former, covering his sleeve and departing.

By noon, Li Lin did not go home but went to the barracks to borrow a fine horse, riding it to Shangdikou Village.

At the village entrance, the slowly disappearing snake tail could still be seen.

Li Lin smiled as he approached the altar; the peach tree beside it was lush with leaves and already in bloom.

The flowers were very beautiful.

Li Lin called out, "Liu Zhe, I have come to offer blood qi."

The Tree Immortal Lady appeared, looking at Li Lin with the same cold demeanor.

Li Lin extended his palm, and the Tree Immortal Lady bent down.

Li Lin suddenly closed his palm.

The Tree Immortal Lady looked up, watching him with some surprise.

"I recently practiced a new cultivation method, and my blood qi has changed. You may absorb it slowly; if you cannot bear it, you can stop, rest for a while, and then continue."

The Tree Immortal Lady blinked her eyes and nodded lightly.

Li Lin opened his palm again.

The Tree Immortal Lady's snake tongue extended out and lightly 'scratched' Li Lin's palm.

It took away a drop of pale purple blood qi and swallowed it into her throat.

Then the Tree Immortal Lady frowned: "Spiritual energy!"

"You know?"

The Tree Immortal Lady nodded: "It is passable."

Then she bent down again, licking Li Lin's palm bite by bite.

As a bit of blood qi was taken away, that familiar sense of comfort returned.

After Li Lin hissed a few times, the Tree Immortal Lady finally finished the agreed-upon amount.

Then, the Tree Immortal Lady floated in the air for a while before disappearing.

Li Lin, however, felt it was somewhat incredible.

Li Yanjing was also a great ghost; when she absorbed his blood qi, even just a little, her exaggerated appearance was incredibly alluring.

But now the Tree Immortal Lady absorbed so much in one go and was completely fine.

She was clearly far more powerful than Li Yanjing.

Li Lin rested in the 'house' for a while, ate some blood rice, and then returned to the county town again.

His purpose in coming to Shangdikou Village was simply to see the Tree Immortal Lady.

He had just returned to the county government office and returned the fine horse when he was approached by a servant of Ding Yingqiu.

"County Commandant Li, my master requests your presence."

Li Lin and Ding Yingqiu had a fairly good relationship, so upon hearing this, he went.

Half a stick of incense later.

Ding Yingqiu sat in the main seat of the main hall and said, "Our Ding family has news that the Jiang family sent two sixth-rank martial artists from Jingcheng; they are estimated to arrive soon. Be careful yourself."

"You are a noble family of Guicheng; do you also know matters of Jingcheng?"

"A cunning rabbit has three burrows."

"Thank you."

Ding Yingqiu continued, "Additionally, my father said you have already obtained the Immortal Artifact. Have you made any discoveries?"

"The Immortal Artifact is already ruined," Li Lin said. "The black and white qi have vanished; it is no different from an ordinary glass vessel."

Ding Yingqiu laughed, "You truly know how to cause trouble. This thing sat in our Ding family for over a hundred years without incident, yet in your hands for less than a month, it is broken."

"However, there is good news. I have deciphered some secrets within it."

Ding Yingqiu's eyes brightened, "Really?"

"Really."

"May I know?"

"Exchange something for it."

Ding Yingqiu immediately laughed, "Fine, what do you want? As long as our Ding family possesses it, we are willing to give it to you."

"The formula for protective barrier powder."

Li Lin felt this item should have some relation to Immortals.

So he must study it.

"Fine, no problem, but I must first see the content of the secret," Ding Yingqiu laughed. "After all, protective barrier powder is very important."

"Mm, after I return, I will write it for you."

"Good, hurry." Ding Yingqiu's face was full of excitement.

Li Lin left the Ding family.

He did not intend to hand over the complete Foundation Establishment method, because protective barrier powder was not worth that price.

But writing a small portion was no problem.

It would be enough to make the Ding family feel the content was stunning.

This way, he could also conceal the fact that he was already cultivating.

After Li Lin returned home, he worked as usual; after dual cultivation at night, he practiced the Foundation Establishment method.

But he discovered that after entering Qi Refining, the cultivation speed was very slow.

Not as fast as when he first began cultivating.

It seemed the surrounding qi was difficult to absorb.

He was somewhat puzzled; he cultivated entirely according to the Foundation Establishment method, so why was the cultivation effect now greatly diminished?

If not for the prompt 【Cultivation +1】, he would truly have thought he had practiced incorrectly.

The next day, he went to work with his doubts, then ran into Jiang Jili.

At this moment, Jiang Jili did not flee upon seeing him; instead, he looked at him with a strange gaze.

Li Lin did not understand, but he was too lazy to pay attention to the other party and directly led people to patrol.

On Jiang Jili's side, he sat in the main seat of the Household Office and said displeasedly to Jiang Asheng and Jiang Aqiang, "Strange, wasn't it said that the family's two experts had already arrived long ago? Why is no one seen? Send messenger pigeons again to ask what is happening."

The two responded and left.

After Li Lin finished patrolling, Huang Ying called him over, "Brother-in-law, Father... the County Magistrate requests you come to the rear courtyard."

Li Lin arrived at the rear courtyard and saw Huang Yan sitting in the pavilion.

Li Lin walked over, clasped his fists in salute, and said, "Taishan."

Huang Yan nodded and pointed to the opposite seat, saying, "Sit."

Li Lin sat as instructed.

Huang Yan said, "Several days ago, the Jiang family sent two experts from Jingcheng."

Li Lin already knew this; Ding Yingqiu had told him.

"Those two experts are already dead."

Li Lin was stunned for a moment; then, seeing Huang Yan's somewhat subtle expression, he understood everything.

"Thank you, Taishan, for your assistance."

"I know nothing; you need not thank me."

Although he spoke thus, Huang Yan's face was full of smiles.

"Additionally, I am going to Jincheng to take up my post next month."

Li Lin said in surprise, "So soon?"

"Not too soon; if I do not go, that Assistant Prefect will likely become the true Prefect and then replace me."

Li Lin laughed, "I think that is unlikely. For the position of Prefect of Jincheng, besides Taishan, the imperial court does not consider a second person."

Huang Yan laughed heartily, stroking his beard as he said, "After I take up my post in Jincheng, a new County Magistrate will arrive. I also know who it is; you need not worry. He is a friend of our Huang family."

Li Lin nodded.

"And!" Huang Yan looked at Li Lin and said, "Now you should begin preparing for the altar relocation. After I take Taowu Zhenjun away, a new Zhenjun must be immediately appointed. Shall we choose the new Apparition you recruited, or Tree Immortal Lady?"

Li Lin said without hesitation, "Tree Immortal Lady."

"Then prepare as soon as possible," Huang Yan said. "Lingti Zhenjun outside the city is the backup. If you wish to relocate Tree Immortal Lady back to the county town, then send Lingti Zhenjun to Shangtikou Village in advance."

"Will Lingti Zhenjun agree?"

Huang Yan laughed, "He will definitely agree. Outside the city, he cannot absorb much blood qi, but in the village, both human qi and blood qi are far more prosperous than in the suburbs. Only a fool would disagree."

Li Lin nodded.

"Also, prepare more Body-Strengthening Pills for me."

Li Lin exclaimed in surprise, "Taishan is already used up so quickly?"

When he got married, I sent over several dozen bottles; it has only been three months, and they are all finished?

That must be incredibly frequent.

Huang Yan coughed twice and emphasized, "Most of them were given away, given away."

"Oh, I see." Li Lin did not wish to expose his father-in-law, so he left him some face: "Then I will send another box to you in a couple of days!"

"Good, good. After all, since I took up my post in Jincheng, it has been difficult for me to meet you and Qing'er; it is best to keep a large supply."

Li Lin stood up, clasped his fist, and said, "Then I will return to make preparations; refining pills takes quite a bit of time."

"Very well." Huang Yan also stood up: "There is another matter you must pay attention to."

"Taishan, please speak."

"It seems there are some problems over at the Bobai Army Garrison. As the County Commandant, you must go and take a look. You must bring enough local militia."

(End of this chapter)