Chapter 449

"This child, I hope she can cultivate what she wants in this life..."

Lin Shanhai watched his departing granddaughter and sighed softly, shaking his head.

Given Lin Qingying's aptitude, possessing Holy Bones, coupled with the frequent exposure of Sage reincarnations and incarnations over the past thousand years, it was hard not to suspect that she was also a reincarnated Sage, though which specific Sage remained unknown.

But Lin Shanhai did not feel disgusted by this; at least in this life's memories, she was his granddaughter, whom he had held and raised since she was small.

Lin Qingying's parents died early, and he had raised her since she was a child. Her naughtiness and obedience during childhood had long been imprinted in his heart.

"Lin Lao, why do these Sages want to reincarnate and practice again?"

Li Hao held his teacup and asked curiously.

Lin Shanhai picked up the teapot to refill his own cup, looked up at the floating white clouds outside the eaves, and felt the clear breeze drifting in the courtyard, a kind of leisurely and relaxed comfort.

He smacked his lips after a sip of tea, turned his head, and laughed softly: "You brat, you still say you don't know alchemy!"

"If you were a true martial artist, you would know that these reincarnated Sages are seeking to make their Martial Dao extreme realms completely unobstructed. It is said that cultivating each realm to the extreme concerns a shocking secret, especially the Sixth Extreme Realm!"

I really don't know alchemy... Li Hao gave a bitter smile. Ever since he revealed his stir-frying and purification skills, this old man had treated him as a descendant of a declining alchemy family. His own explanations were seen by the other party as hiding his identity, not trusting the other party, and being evasive.

Regarding this, he naturally would not explain further, lest he provoke resentment.

"The Sixth Extreme Realm? Is there any mysterious explanation for this?"

Li Hao's heart stirred, and he asked curiously.

"How would I know? So far, I haven't heard of anyone who has cultivated all the extreme realms, including Sages."

Lin Shanhai shook his head.

"What?"

Li Hao's heart shook, and he looked at him in astonishment.

Sages have long lifespans, and the history of this Land of All Sages is extremely long, far older than the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty. While the various Martial Dao extreme realms are difficult, those who can become Sages naturally do not lack talent or resources. As long as they spend a large amount of time, they can basically be tempered one by one.

As a result, those high and mighty Sages actually failed to master all the extreme realms?!

Ever since he encountered someone who mastered several extreme realms when killing a Dao-Law Realm cultivator, Li Hao had subconsciously assumed that Sages had basically cultivated all the extreme realms, but now it seemed that was not the case.

"Your ancestors were alchemists, so it's normal that you don't understand Martial Dao. Extreme realms are not so easy to cultivate."

Seeing Li Hao's shocked expression, Lin Shanhai patiently and gently explained: "If it were other extreme realms, it would be one thing, but the Third Extreme Realm, Heaven and Earth Dharma Form, requires one to be born with a Sage's heart and the courage to fight against heaven and earth! And the Sixth Extreme Realm goes without saying; it is recognized as the most difficult extreme realm to cultivate. It is very mysterious. According to the secret news I have received, the reincarnation and re-cultivation of all the Sages are basically for this."

"Hmm..."

Li Hao was a bit stunned. The Sixth Extreme Realm is the most difficult? It even forced all the Sages to reincarnate for it?

He suddenly felt a sense of being flattered. Could it be that his aptitude surpassed that of the Sages? When he cultivated the Sixth Extreme Realm, although it took him several months of hard thinking, compared to other extreme realms, the difference did not seem to be that great.

It just might require some comprehension and understanding of heaven and earth.

"This Sixth Extreme Realm is very mysterious. It doesn't depend on comprehension, nor on heart and ambition, let alone foundation or techniques. No one can clearly explain how to reach it, but all the Sages speculate that it might be a certain state of mind!"

Lin Shanhai said: "But a state of mind happens to be the most difficult thing to ponder. It is strange to say that there are thousands of Heaven's Prides in the world, each with different experiences and different states of mind. Among the Heaven's Prides qualified to touch the Sixth Extreme Realm, not a single one can understand this state of mind. It is truly strange."

Li Hao was stunned, not expecting the Sixth Extreme Realm to be so difficult.

If he had come normally from the Immortal Gate, perhaps he would have shocked the entire Land of All Sages.

That Void Sage did not hesitate to lose face to attack him, mostly because he was wary of this.

"If one is to cultivate the Sixth Extreme Realm, why do Sages need to reincarnate?"

Li Hao could not help but ask.

"Of course, it is because the Sixth Extreme Realm, like the Third Extreme Realm, is an extreme realm that cannot be turned back and re-cultivated!"

Lin Shanhai said: "And if it is a state of mind, since even their Sage minds cannot ponder it, then naturally starting from a blank slate is best. After all, Sage will sometimes form interference. When you recognize some things, it is very difficult to pretend that you don't recognize them."

"Knowledge and experience are sometimes a terrifying invasion that makes you unrecognizable."

Hearing his words, Li Hao immediately understood the other party's meaning.

With the Dao thoughts carried in a Sage's mind, going to perceive things outside one's own Great Dao would instead form obstacles.

It is better to start over from the beginning.

Even if a Sage pretends to be as simple as a blank slate, some things are known once they are known, and once known, they cannot be forgotten.

"Wishing to buy osmanthus flowers to drink wine together, in the end, it is not like the travels of youth..."

Li Hao murmured to himself. This was probably the reason why Sages needed to reincarnate and practice.

Only by living another life, as a true blank slate, can one return to being a true youth.

Glancing at the jumping Poetry and Calligraphy experience increase, Li Hao ignored it.

Beside him, Lin Shanhai heard the poem Li Hao murmured, was stunned for a moment, and felt it had some charm.

After he carefully savored it, surprise immediately appeared on his face, finding that it indeed fit the thoughts of the Sages reincarnating and re-cultivating.

"With your talent, it wouldn't be difficult to become a literary top graduate in a mortal dynasty."

Lin Shanhai said to Li Hao.

Li Hao blushed slightly. Being a literary top graduate was not so easy to achieve; it wasn't something one or two lines of poetry could fool.

"Let's not talk about this. A guest has arrived. These guys..."

Lin Shanhai suddenly put down his teacup, shook the dust off his sleeves, and was about to get up to welcome them. Suddenly, thinking of something, he glanced at the teapot and nudged Li Hao with his chin:

"Quickly put this away. Also, hide that bag of Dragon Ginseng tea in the drawer under my table in the furnace and cover it with the scent of medicine. Those guys have very sharp noses..."

While speaking, he got up, put on his simple cloth shoes, and walked toward the outside of the courtyard.

Li Hao was stunned, but his movements were not slow. With a sweep of his palm, he put away the Dragon Ginseng tea in the teapot, then put the bag in the drawer into his heaven and earth space, and then took a few herbs with a good scent, threw them into the teapot, and poured a cup for himself and the other party.

He heated his palm slightly to let the herbs accelerate the penetration of the medicinal power, and the medicinal fragrance drifted between the teacups.

At this time, bursts of laughter came from outside the courtyard, and several old men walked in under the lead of Lin Shanhai.

"You guys, why didn't you notify me in advance if you were coming?"

"It's just such a short distance, what's there to notify? We just came over together to see that new medicine boy you took in, to see what kind of genius he is."

Four figures walked into the courtyard, three old men and a beautiful woman who still possessed charm. Except for one old man who was dressed in gold and jade and looked noble, the others were relatively simple, and their hairpins were all wooden.

But without exception, all four of them had a smell of herbs on them.

"Hmm? Is this the young man?"

The four entered the courtyard and soon noticed Li Hao.

After all, they were guests, so they did not rashly use their spiritual sense to probe. Seeing him with their eyes, they all sized him up a little.

Li Hao did not sit anymore and stood up quickly.

Lin Shanhai saw the teapot still there and was slightly stunned, but soon noticed the medicinal fragrance drifting from the teacup and could not help but be dumbfounded. He glanced at Li Hao, thinking that this kid was even more cunning than himself.

"Come, come, please take a seat."

Lin Shanhai greeted with a smile and asked Li Hao to get some more tea sets and pastries.

Li Hao acted as the medicine boy and brought cushions, teacups, and pastries for them.

"Old Lin, that batch of pills you refined recently was refined with the help of this young man, right?"

The old man dressed in gold and silver, looking noble, asked with a smile while rubbing the jade thumb ring in his hand.

Lin Shanhai seemed to see through the other party's thoughts and hummed: "Don't you dare have designs on him; I have already decided to pass my mantle to him."

"Look at you, why are you in such a hurry? Who said we came to ask for people?" The alchemist who looked like a noble woman covered her mouth and laughed.

"Old Lin still has this temperament. But speaking of which, I have seen all the pills you refined recently; they are truly amazing. The purity is too high; this is not something you could do yourself." Another old man said.

Hearing this, Lin Shanhai did not intend to hide it. In fact, the arrival of these old friends today was within his expectations, and he also intended to introduce Li Hao to them to help Li Hao expand his network. He wanted to keep Li Hao by his side; after all, such a rare alchemy seedling, just by this refining specialty, was enough to rank among high-level alchemists.

If he studied diligently in alchemy for a few more decades, becoming an Alchemy Grandmaster would be just around the corner.

"That's right, this is all thanks to Qingfeng's help. He fell off a cliff in his early years and had a miraculous encounter. Later, he was spied upon and hunted by others, and was saved by Qingying. Only now can he be considered stable."

Lin Shanhai said.

Qingfeng was the pseudonym Li Hao told him. Although this place was not the Yunxia Realm, Li Hao did not know the methods of Sages and was worried that the other party would track him down through his name.

Moreover, there were many people who knew his name. If they learned of his whereabouts through those people's mouths, it would cause trouble again.

Hearing Lin Shanhai's introduction, Li Hao was speechless. This was helping him think of a background to avoid investigation; the old man was truly painstaking.

"So that's how it is..."

The four looked at each other and did not delve deeper or ask more; after all, everyone had their own secrets.

"Can you show us? Don't worry, we will never leak it; we just want to learn."

One of the old men said.

Lin Shanhai said indignantly: "This is someone else's family specialty. You say you want to learn, so you learn? Shouldn't you take out two of your high-grade pill formulas to exchange?"

"Old Lin, the person hasn't even spoken yet, what are you in such a hurry for?" The old man said indignantly: "And two high-grade pill formulas? I think it's you who are coveting them. If you have the ability, exchange with me. Or how about we have an alchemy competition, one pill formula each, how about that?"

"Who wants to compete with you? I'm not interested." Lin Shanhai hummed.

"Alright, that alchemy duel back then hasn't let you two vent your anger yet? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by the juniors?" The noble woman said helplessly.

Lin Shanhai stopped arguing with them and turned to introduce the identities of the four to Li Hao.

All four were high-level alchemists of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land and were also Lin Shanhai's old friends.

Li Hao remembered their names one by one and greeted them respectively.

"Young man, is it convenient to show us? You've already shown Old Lin. Whatever conditions Old Lin gave you, I will give the same." Zhao Yingzhen, who was rubbing the jade thumb ring, said with a smile.

"That's right. If it's an exchange, I can take a high-grade alchemy formula to exchange with you." The noble woman's name was Shi Huajin. Her eyes flowed with anticipation as she stared at Li Hao, her expression quite serious.

As high-level alchemists, they had all analyzed the pills Lin Shanhai had refined recently; after all, they had set off a wave of praise in the Holy Land.

And after analysis, they realized that the technique of refining medicinal power in these pills was extremely profound, even exceeding theirs.

Only after inquiring did they know that Lin Shanhai, this old friend, had picked up a treasure.

Seeing the greedy look of these old friends, Lin Shanhai secretly laughed in his heart, picked up the tea on the side, and tasted it indifferently.

Only after drinking two sips did he frown a little; this medicinal fragrance was too strong, and it was really hard to drink as tea. This kid didn't know how to pick something good... he slandered in his heart, but thinking that the few taels of Dragon Ginseng tea he had collected over a hundred years had almost been exposed, his mood became much more comfortable.

"If the seniors want to see, this junior will make a fool of himself to show you. There is no need for pill formula exchange." Li Hao said with a smile.

The four were stunned, not expecting Li Hao to be so easy to talk to, and could not help but look at each other, suddenly feeling a bit embarrassed.

"This... how can there be a reason for learning for free? Young man, tell us whatever you need. As long as it is something we can do, we will try our best to help you." Zhao Yingzhen said, no longer rubbing the thumb ring in his hand, his expression looking very serious.

"That's right."

Sun Zhenshang, another old man on the side, nodded.

"This, I don't have any needs for the time being." Li Hao shook his head.

Several people looked at each other, all feeling a bit of a headache. With Lin Shanhai here, they were not thick-skinned enough to take benefits from a junior for free.

But owing a favor was even more troublesome.

Lin Shanhai saw that the four were in a dilemma, smiled, and said: "Since Qingfeng is willing to show you, you should take a look first. If Qingfeng has trouble in the future, you can just help him out a little."

Seeing that Lin Shanhai had said so, the four did not hesitate anymore and immediately asked Li Hao to take action.

Li Hao came to the alchemy room, selected some herbs, and began to stir-fry in the void.

Seeing Li Hao's movements, the four widened their eyes.

Stir-frying?

With that posture, if it weren't for the herbs in his hands, they would have thought this youth was cooking! Their feeling was indeed correct; Li Hao was indeed cooking, cooking and refining.

Not long after, the herb cooking ended, and bursts of medicinal fragrance drifted out.

The four were stunned, quickly probed with their spiritual sense to observe carefully, and were immediately shocked.

The medicinal power in these herbs was actually extracted so simply by stir-frying!

Using such medicinal power to refine pills, no wonder the purity would increase and the quality would improve. If such a treasure assistant were given to them, they could do it too! "So that's how it is, it's a unique refining technique..."

After the shock, several people understood. This was not some secret technique, but a special refining technique, and it looked very difficult to cultivate. Just by showing it once, it was impossible to master.

No wonder the other party didn't mind showing it; this technique was too mysterious, and he wasn't afraid of them learning it at all.

"I didn't expect there to be such an alchemy method. It really opened Zhao's eyes."

Zhao Yingzhen was a bit distracted. After coming back to his senses, he could not help but have his eyes glow slightly, as if his alchemy thinking had been opened.

"Your name is Qingfeng, right? Qingfeng, are you willing to assist me in refining a high-grade pill? I will not deliberately hide it from you during the refining process. If you can learn it, it will be your ability. I need your refining ability to help me condense the medicinal liquid..." Shi Huajin stared at Li Hao and issued an invitation.

Li Hao was slightly stunned and could not help but look at Lin Shanhai on the side.

Lin Shanhai saw Li Hao's gaze and was also stunned. He immediately saw Li Hao's thoughts; the other party was asking him whether he should agree.

And the meaning of that inquiry seemed to be that if he agreed, he would accept it for his sake, and if he expressed indifference, this kid would likely refuse...

This was an invitation from a high-level alchemist, and it was even refining together without reservation with a high-grade pill formula. What a precious opportunity! Is this kid really not interested?

Lin Shanhai was speechless; this was the first time he had seen such a guy.

"Since Alchemist Shi is asking you for help, if you are willing to help, then agree. It's up to you. But this opportunity is rare. If you are not interested in the pill formula, you can talk about what you want. Alchemist Shi has a very wide network and a very rich family background..." Lin Shanhai said with a smile.

Hearing this, Shi Huajin was stunned. Hearing this, she was showing him the high-grade pill formula without reservation, and this youth was actually not interested? "Since the senior is inviting me, then I will respectfully obey."

Li Hao thought about it and agreed.

Although doing this would delay his carving, it wouldn't delay too much time.

After all, it was Lin Shanhai's friend. Refusing would be a bit of a buzzkill, and he could be considered to owe Lin Shanhai a great favor.

Moreover, he was a stranger here. Since the other party had pulled strings to this extent, it wouldn't be bad to make some friends.

"Then what do you need?" Shi Huajin asked Li Hao curiously.

Li Hao shook his head: "I don't need anything for now. If possible, I am interested in some famous calligraphy, paintings, or chess manuals."

"Calligraphy, paintings, and chess manuals?"

Shi Huajin and the others were all surprised. These worthless things, except for some merchants who were pretentious, were basically useless to practitioners.

Lin Shanhai had seen Li Hao carving when he was free this month and had never asked about alchemy or cultivation, and had long since learned about Li Hao's unconventionality. But hearing this now, he could not help but be stunned.

Shi Huajin was a bit suspicious and asked Li Hao two more times. Confirming that Li Hao really only needed these, she did not think much more. Regardless of what Li Hao's thoughts were, she would know in the future.

"Old Lin, why do you use herbs to make tea? It's really hard to drink."

Liu Dongting, another old man, spat out the herbs in the tea and said indignantly.

"You don't know how to drink tea; drink some herbs to strengthen your body." Lin Shanhai laughed softly.

Several people then chatted about alchemy and the Holy Land's pill proportioning tasks. The topic occasionally drifted to Lin Shanhai's granddaughter, Lin Qingying. Mentioning her inevitably led to the upcoming Holy Land Sword God Battle.

The numerous disciples in the Sword Ancestor Holy Land, including the Holy Maidens, all respected the sword. It was the ultimate contest of cultivation and sword technique. The loser would undoubtedly be a complete failure, and there were no excuses like weapon differences.

Li Hao sat on the side, sitting quietly and listening.

Occasionally, when he was praised, he would respond with a smile.

After a chat, Li Hao was somewhat familiar with the names and personalities of the four, and all four remembered this quiet and special youth.

After the four said goodbye, the days in the courtyard went on as usual.

Time flew by.

In the following days, besides helping Lin Shanhai with alchemy and purification, Li Hao was also invited to help at the alchemy places of these four. His figure appeared frequently, and he gradually gained a small reputation. The medicine boys of several alchemists and those Holy Land disciples who flattered the medicine boys all heard that there was an alchemy assistant who was deeply loved by several high-level alchemists...

In Lin Shanhai's courtyard.

The night sky was brilliant, and the sword light danced.

Lin Qingying finished practicing a set of sword techniques, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and immediately smelled bursts of fragrance.

She turned her head and saw the alchemist she had picked up bringing out a plate of pastries from the firewood stove on the other side of the courtyard.

"Are you hungry? Do you want to eat some snacks?"

Li Hao saw the other party look over, smiled, and raised the pastries in his hand.

Lin Qingying's eyes were calm, and she did not respond, continuing to practice another sword technique.

In the process of practicing the movements, she was also comprehending the direction of the sword momentum.

Gulu...

Perhaps because the fragrance was drifting, halfway through the practice, her stomach rumbled slightly.

Lin Qingying frowned, stopped her comprehension of sword intent, turned her head to look at the alchemy room, where an old man and a young man were eating and drinking, looking extremely happy.

These two... when did they look so familiar? Lin Qingying was slightly stunned, and a trace of surprise appeared in her eyes. She knew her grandfather's temperament. Although he seemed easygoing, he had experienced many dangerous things in his early years and always held a trace of vigilance toward others. But now, he seemed extremely close to the alchemist he had picked up.

"Qingying, if you are tired, come over and rest for a while. Try Qingfeng's craft; it's truly amazing!"

Lin Shanhai saw his granddaughter's gaze and immediately raised the pastries in his hand to greet her.

Lin Qingying looked at the pastries, was silent for a while, and finally slowly put away the sword in her hand and walked into the alchemy room.

"Here."

Li Hao picked up the plate and handed it over, letting the other party take it herself. People like him who had mysophobia would dislike food that others had touched with their hands.

Lin Qingying saw Li Hao's subtle action, her eyes flickered slightly, and she didn't speak. Two white, onion-like slender fingers gently picked up a piece of pastry and sent it into her mouth.

The fragrance that melted in the mouth and the indescribable spreading feeling made Lin Qingying's eyes widen slightly, but soon she returned to normal, just silently chewing twice.

Then she was slightly silent again, as if savoring it.

Seeing that she had swallowed it, Li Hao was not stingy and handed the plate over again.

"..."

Lin Qingying paused, but still picked up a piece again. This time she sent it into her mouth and chewed slowly.

After swallowing, she looked at Li Hao and nodded: "The taste is good. Thank you for your pastries."

After speaking, she turned and returned to the courtyard, continuing to draw her sword and practice.

Li Hao didn't mind and pushed the plate to Lin Shanhai. The old man and the young man ate casually.

Since the day Lin Shanhai introduced Li Hao, Li Hao had also become familiar with Zhao Yingzhen and others. On weekdays, besides staying in Lin Shanhai's courtyard, he would also often go to their side to help or play.

Lin Shanhai only liked alchemy and was not interested in chess, calligraphy, painting, or fishing.

But what surprised Li Hao was that Shi Huajin, this woman, actually had quite high attainments in chess.

So besides helping, Li Hao would also go to Shi Huajin's mountain peak from time to time in his spare time to discuss chess skills.

Their alchemists lived in the core area of the Sword Ancestor Holy Land. The environment was empty, and there were medicine mountains nearby. On weekdays, Sword Ancestor Holy Land disciples were forbidden to come here to disturb them.

The Sword Ancestor Holy Land was extremely vast. Li Hao heard Lin Shanhai describe it, combined with his own deduction, that just the area of this Holy Land was about twice that of the Emperor Da Yu Divine Dynasty, equivalent to the size of thirty-eight states! The area for Lin Shanhai to refine pills had the area of a city, and there were only a few servants and medicine boys inside, extremely quiet and empty.

Others were the same, but the medicine mountain where Zhao Yingzhen was located was extremely lively, with many medicine boy disciples, and the whole mountain peak was decorated magnificently, like an imperial capital in the mortal world.

"You must have spent a lot of thought on this chess skill; it's definitely not something that can be achieved by playing for fun."

In the pavilion on the medicine mountain, Shi Huajin played a piece, blocking Li Hao's white piece. After half a month of getting along, she became more and more interested in this youth, who was quite different from the people she had contacted in the past.

"It's just playing for fun, I studied it a little."

Li Hao smiled, his mind on the chessboard. The other party's chess skill was not bad, about Level 5. If he was too careless, even if his Chess Dao was Level 6, he would lose.

Arrogant soldiers will be defeated; unless the levels are vastly different, it can be saved.

"If you are willing, I can recommend you to the Holy Land. With the recommendation of several of us, you can directly be appointed as a medium-grade alchemist, with a status comparable to an inner-sect disciple of the Holy Land." Shi Huajin said seriously to Li Hao.

Li Hao shook his head slightly. He only intended to heal his injuries here and improve his artistic skills by the way.

The alchemy identity didn't mean much to him.

Seeing Li Hao's focused expression, Shi Huajin didn't say anything more and played seriously.

On the chessboard, black and white pieces interacted. Li Hao was fully immersed. The chessboard in front of him seemed to slowly grow larger in his line of sight, and the grid lines became infinitely elongated, surrounding him.

He himself seemed to have turned into a piece on the chessboard.

That glimmer of inspiration appeared trance-like, and Li Hao captured it this time.

(End of chapter)