Saving Little Tingting

The Li Family courtyard.

Master Li squinted, half-reclining on a soft couch, humming a cheerful tune.

Two beautiful young women leaned on either side of him. One gently massaged Master Li's shoulders, while the other tapped his leg.

"This is truly comfortable!"

With the prosperity and wealth before him, and the soft jade and warm fragrance beside him, Master Li felt refreshed, believing his life was better than that of an immortal.

Several of his sons and nephews cultivated in the Yanhsia Grotto-heaven. The family lacked for no spiritual herbs or elixirs, and had even acquired some rudimentary Qi-refining and cultivation methods. Although not true immortal orthodox techniques, they were invincible divine methods within the mortal world.

With a little scheme, they had brought down the rising Jiang Family and seized their assets. The Li Family was now the most powerful family in town.

As wealth and influence grew, the entire family prospered. As the head of the household, Master Li felt he was truly wise and mighty.

"The only remaining opponent is the Wang Family. Hmm, I should find an opportunity to eliminate the Wang Family as well."

Master Li reached out and patted the smooth curve of the woman beside him, thinking contentedly.

"Master! Master! It's bad! It's bad!"

A panicked shout interrupted Master Li's pleasant daydream.

"What is it? Why the panic? Has the sky fallen?"

Master Li was displeased and roared towards the door outside.

"Master! Seventh Young Master... Seventh Young Master, he... he's dead!"

"What?"

Master Li was greatly alarmed and sat up abruptly. "What happened?"

"Master, a cultivator came to town. We don't know what dark magic they used, but with just a breath, they blew Seventh Young Master to death!"

"A cultivator? Damnable!"

Master Li was furious, kicking over the low table in front of him. "Quick! Report to the Yanhsia Grotto-heaven immediately. Say... say that an outsider cultivator is trying to seize the Source Ore we discovered and has killed my seventh son. Ask them to come quickly to provide support."

"Yes!"

The subordinate took the order and left.

Master Li's face turned ashen, his teeth grinding. "No matter who you are, if you mess with the Li Family, you will only find death."

"Big Brother, your hair is all tied up."

Little Tingting put down the wooden comb and skipped from behind Li Yu to in front of him, holding up a bronze mirror. "Look, is it tied nicely?"

"Mm! It looks great. Little Tingting is so amazing."

Li Yu took the bronze mirror and held it in front of him. Seeing the handsome figure with his hair tied up with a golden crown and a face like jade, he smiled and nodded.

"As for tying hair, I'm truly hopeless at it!"

Li Yu shook his head in front of the mirror, sighing helplessly. "It seems I really need to find someone who's good at tying hair! This little Tingting seems pretty good!"

Putting down the mirror, he turned to look at little Tingting, and Li Yu's expression changed.

He saw that little Tingting's face was purple and blue, and she was trembling all over, swaying as if she was about to fall.

"Tingting? What's wrong? What's wrong?"

Li Yu was startled and quickly reached out to support little Tingting.

"Hiss..."

As he reached out to steady little Tingting, his touch was icy cold, as if he were holding a block of ice. Li Yu couldn't help but gasp.

"Is this... because of the Taiyin Physique? It's so cold?"

Looking at the little girl's pained expression, and the tears that had frozen into ice beads on her tender face, Li Yu felt an inexplicable pang in his heart.

"What a pitiable child! To suffer so much at such a young age. The Taiyin Physique... she won't live past twenty, and she constantly suffers from the erosion of cold energy. It's both peerless talent and a torment and curse!"

Li Yu shook his head slightly, sighing inwardly.

"Benefactor, I've prepared the meal... Ah! Tingting!"

Old Jiang came to call Li Yu for dinner. He suddenly saw little Tingting's condition and was greatly alarmed. He cried out and stumbled over.

"Tingting! Tingting!"

Old Jiang scooped little Tingting into his arms, using his body to warm her icy cold form. Tears streamed down his face. "Child! My unfortunate child! Oh, heavens! What sin have I committed? Why must such a young child suffer like this!"

"Uncle Jiang, perhaps... I can cure her."

Seeing this, Li Yu's nose felt a little sore. He couldn't bear to watch any longer. Wasn't it just an Earth Life Fruit? Was it more precious than the Undying Elixir?

"Benefactor..."

Old Jiang looked at Li Yu with tear-filled eyes, asking disbelievingly, "Benefactor, is there still hope for Tingting's illness?"

"There is hope!"

Li Yu squatted down and took Tingting from Old Jiang's arms. "Old man, I can cure her!"

"This is great! This is great! Tingting is saved! Tingting is saved!"

Old Jiang cried torrentially, then knelt before Li Yu with a "plop" and kowtowed heavily, "Thank you, benefactor! Thank you, benefactor!"

"Old man, please don't! Please don't!"

Li Yu quickly helped Old Jiang up. "Old man, there's no need for this. Tingting isn't sick; it's a special physique. If not handled properly, she might not live past twenty. But I have a way to cure her!"

Picking up the little Tingting, Li Yu found a stool in the courtyard and sat down.

"The flaws of the Taiyin Physique need to be compensated by the Earth Life Fruit. To redeem one Earth Life Fruit..."

Li Yu frowned slightly. His current Energy Points were still too low, and he couldn't afford to consume too many. To redeem the Earth Life Fruit, he'd have to find another way.

Looking down at the little girl's pained face in his arms, Li Yu took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.

"System, exchange one Earth Life Fruit for the Undying Elixir from the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground."

As soon as he spoke, an Earth Life Fruit immediately appeared in the System Resource Library. And the resources consumed were...

"It only cost one fruit from the Undying Elixir?"

Li Yu was stunned. He had originally planned to sacrifice all the Undying Elixir to redeem one Earth Life Fruit, but he hadn't expected the Earth Life Fruit to be priced far below his expectations!

Li Yu quickly figured it out. To the System, the value of an item depended on the energy consumed to create it.

Although the Earth Life Fruit was extremely precious, its preciousness came from it being almost extinct, making it valuable due to rarity. In essence, the Earth Life Fruit was definitely inferior to the Undying Elixir.

Reaching out to take the Earth Life Fruit, and seeing the fruit that resembled a green olive, Li Yu secretly shook his head. "Such an unremarkable thing is actually the life-saving item for the Taiyin Physique."

"Tingting, brother can cure your illness. Here, eat this medicine, and you'll get better soon."

Li Yu gently placed the Earth Life Fruit into little Tingting's mouth, whispering softly in her ear.

Tingting seemed to hear Li Yu's words, her lips trembling as she struggled to swallow the Earth Life Fruit.

"Ding ding!"

A crisp sound, like wind chimes, echoed within Tingting's body. A light as bright and pure as moonlight filled the entire courtyard.