"Oh?"

Lin Chang'sheng paused, then asked, "What is your request?"

"Let's spar. If you win, I won't ask for silver, and you can have the three Dragon Blood Pills. But if I, by chance, manage to win a move or two, I ask that you empathize with my predicament and simply leave! How about it?"

Tian Ci looked deeply into Lin Chang'sheng's eyes as he spoke.

"Deal!"

Lin Chang'sheng felt a stir in his heart. He'd never sparred with a Martial Arts Grandmaster before—this was the perfect chance to test out the power of Thunder Shock Slash!

"Great-grandfather! Your body..."

The faces of Tian Yu and Tian Feng changed when they heard this. Their great-grandfather did not have much time left, his body was frail. How could he fight anyone?

"I have my own measure. You both step back!"

Tian Ci waved his hand as he spoke.

The Tian family brothers could only back away, helpless.

Tian Ci returned to his room, fetched a fine steel longsword, then came to the spacious training ground, standing face-to-face with Lin Chang'sheng.

"Lin, make your move!!"

Tian Ci looked at Lin Chang'sheng, then unleashed his aura; sword aura shot out sharply, countless sword shadows filled the air, slicing the air with a harsh hiss, surging toward Lin Chang'sheng!

"Clang!"

Lin Chang'sheng drew his Dawn Blade, the long saber humming, unleashing a pale blue six-zhang-long blade aura—like a blue rainbow—it slashed down upon Tian Ci's myriad sword shadows!

This was Thunder Shock Slash!

BOOM!

Boom boom boom!

A deafening blast shook the ground. The flagstones of the training yard flew several zhang into the air, and the wild shockwave instantly blew all the flagstones away!

The training ground was left with an oval crater, over ten zhang long and two zhang deep!

"Pfft! Cough cough...cough cough!"

An aged figure was sent flying from the swirling dust, crashing down more than ten zhang away, spitting blood as soon as he landed!

It was Tian Ci.

Five zhang away, Lin Chang'sheng sheathed his blade. Tian Ci's sword aura was sharp, but it couldn't match his Fleeting Shadows movement.

"Great-grandfather!"

"Great-grandfather!"

Tian Feng and Tian Yu's faces changed dramatically. They rushed over and helped Tian Ci up.

At this moment, blood was oozing from Tian Ci's lips. His upper garments had been blasted apart, exposing a shattered piece of golden armor on his thin, bony chest.

"Lin's cultivation...is truly powerful. I...have lost!"

Tian Ci looked at Lin Chang'sheng, his eyes full of shock, murmuring to himself.

He hadn't expected that after all these years of hard work, he'd still lose to this young man. If he hadn't been wearing expensive protective soft armor, that last slash would've been fatal, not just crippling!

"Thank you for letting me win."

Lin Chang'sheng's figure flickered as he crossed the chasm. Looking at the blood-spitting Tian Ci two zhang away, his expression was complicated.

"Yu'er...give three...three Dragon Blood Pills, and the...Dragon Blood Pill, Nourishing Spirit Pill...formulas...to Lin..."

Tian Ci looked at Lin Chang'sheng, issuing broken instructions to Tian Yu beside him.

"Great-grandfather!"

Tian Yu cried out in grief.

Great-grandfather was wounded by Lin Chang'sheng, but now he's giving the enemy three Dragon Blood Pills and two pill formulas?

"A man keeps his...his word!"

"Go!"

Tian Ci took a deep breath and said solemnly.

Tian Feng stepped forward to staunch Tian Ci's bleeding and fed him a Healing Pill.

"Yes!"

Remembering what great-grandfather had told him earlier, Tian Yu quickly went to Tian Ci's residence. In no time, he returned with three white porcelain bottles and a small sandalwood box, handing them to Lin Chang'sheng and cupping his fist. "Inside are three Dragon Blood Pills, the Dragon Blood Pill Formula, and the Nourishing Spirit Pill Formula!"

"Patriarch Tian, what's this about?"

Lin Chang'sheng turned to Tian Ci.

The deal was set—if he lost, he'd leave; if he won, he'd take three Dragon Blood Pills. Yet now they were also giving him the Dragon Blood Pill and Nourishing Spirit Pill Formulas. Lin Chang'sheng found this puzzling.

He wouldn't refuse a gift, of course—but he wanted to know why.

"I...don't have much time left. Once I pass, the Tian family won't be able to protect the pill formulas. It's better to hand them over to you now...just hoping you'll offer us some protection..."

Tian Ci spoke haltingly.

He knew his own health—at the most, he had ten days or half a month left to live.

By then, without a Martial Arts Grandmaster to guard them, the Golden Saber Sect and Liuyun Sect would come without hesitation to seize the formulas.

Rather than let the Golden Saber Sect or Liuyun Sect swallow up the family...

He preferred to hand them over now.

In exchange for Lin Chang'sheng's protection.

After all, the Tian family had backup copies of the pill formulas.

"So what does the Nourishing Spirit Pill do? I've never heard of Hundred Herbs Hall selling it."

Lin Chang'sheng didn't agree just yet, and asked.

He remembered, Hundred Herbs Hall's best elixir was the Dragon Blood Pill.

"According to the formula, the Nourishing Spirit Pill nourishes the essence, energy, and spirit. Back when I obtained the formula, I also got one Nourishing Spirit Pill. With the help of that pill, I advanced from First-class Early Stage to Martial Arts Grandmaster!"

"But the Nourishing Spirit Pill is higher grade than the Dragon Blood Pill—the ingredients are rare and it's extremely difficult to refine. Over the years I've gathered ingredients for five attempts, and every one of them failed!!"

After taking a Healing Pill, Tian Ci seemed to be rallying with a last burst of energy. He sighed, eyes full of regret.

If he could've refined a Nourishing Spirit Pill to nourish his essence, energy, and spirit, maybe he'd have a few more years to live!

"Nourish the essence, energy, and spirit?"

Lin Chang'sheng's heart stirred at Tian Ci's words.

Breaking through in cultivation was closely tied to how full one's energy and spirit were. If he could refine and take Nourishing Spirit Pills, his Experience Points would rocket for sure!

With his Simplify panel, simplifying the process, there's no way he wouldn't succeed at refining them!

"Alright, I'll accept the two formulas and three Dragon Blood Pills. In return, I will lend you a hand once if your Tian family faces a crisis—but there's a condition: If the enemy is far stronger than me, I won't act!"

Lin Chang'sheng spoke gravely.

Pill formulas—of course the Tian family had backups. He was getting a good deal and could step in once to help, but if things got out of hand, he'd just run to save himself first.

"Thank you, Lin. With your promise, I am deeply grateful!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Ci's eyes showed deep gratitude.

"You're welcome. If you face a crisis, come find me. Farewell!"

Lin Chang'sheng cupped his fists to Tian Yu, then turned and left.

"Great-grandfather, what if he doesn't protect our Tian family after taking the formulas...?"

Watching Lin Chang'sheng's departing figure, Tian Feng spoke anxiously.

Tian Ci gave a long sigh and shook his head. "We have no choice... We have backup copies anyway. Lin is so young, yet his martial arts are extraordinary. If he keeps his word and helps when he can, that's already a boon. If not...well, we can't afford to offend him either... Enough—spread the word: wind down Hundred Herbs Hall's business, the Tian family...will withdraw from the Five Great Clans..."

"Yes!"

Tian Yu and Tian Feng both nodded upon hearing his words.

......

Lin Chang'sheng left the Hundred Herbs Garden and returned to his rented courtyard.

Passing by the South City Drunk Fragrance Tower, after walking about a hundred zhang, suddenly ahead stood a black-clad man, carrying a big pack, just two zhang away. He cupped his fist to Lin Chang'sheng, politely saying, "I'm Black Eagle! Greetings, Brother Lin!"

"Black Eagle? You...know me?"

Lin Chang'sheng squinted. He couldn't recall knowing anyone named Black Eagle.

"The Princess sent me. She asked me to deliver this Cloud-Piercing Bow to you."

As Black Eagle spoke, he took the pack from his back, handing it to Lin Chang'sheng. "Brother Lin, I had to make a lot of inquiries to finally find you. Now that I've delivered it, I'll go report back. Farewell!"

"The Princess...Cloud-Piercing Bow?"

Lin Chang'sheng held the pack, silent for a moment. Then he bought a brush, ink, and rice paper on the street, and carried the pack to his rented courtyard.

Soon after—

Lin Chang'sheng returned to his yard and opened the door.

"Ying ying ying!"

The Little White Fox poked its head out from under a small quilt in its basket, waving its little paw at Lin Chang'sheng. After having some soup, it seemed much better in spirit.

"Come, I've got the Dragon Blood Pill. Take one and see how you feel!"

Lin Chang'sheng took out a white porcelain bottle, tipped out a pill the size of a longan, faintly red and full of a rich medicinal aroma, and placed it in front of the Little White Fox.

Seeing the Dragon Blood Pill, the Little White Fox blinked its big eyes, lifted the pill with its paws, and popped it into its mouth.

Once it swallowed the pill, the Little White Fox closed its eyes.

Soon, its white fur stood on end, and it looked even more spirited.

"Mm, the Dragon Blood Pill works."

Watching the Little White Fox, Lin Chang'sheng was filled with anticipation. He took out the Jade Scroll, brush, ink, and rice paper. Once Xiaobai recovered, he'd have it open the Jade Scroll.

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