The Li Family compound.
Master Li narrowed his eyes and reclined halfway on a soft couch, happily humming a little tune.
Two young women leaned against him on either side. One gently kneaded Master Li's shoulders, while the other pounded his legs.
"Now this is comfort!"
The wealth and glory before his eyes, along with the soft fragrance at his side, left Master Li refreshed and content.
He felt that these days were better than living like an immortal.
Several of his sons and nephews were cultivating in Yanhsia Grotto-heaven. The family lacked neither spirit herbs nor immortal pills, and they had even obtained a few rudimentary Qi Cultivation methods.
Though they were not true immortal techniques, they were still invincible secret arts among ordinary mortals.
With a few small tricks, he had crushed the rising Jiang Family and seized its properties.
The Li Family had already become the strongest family in town.
Their wealth and influence continued to grow, and the entire family flourished. As the head of the household, Master Li felt that he was truly wise and mighty.
"The Wang Family is the only opponent left. Hmm, I should find an opportunity to wipe them out as well."
Master Li reached out and patted the woman beside him on her rounded body, thinking contentedly.
"Master! Master! This is bad! This is bad!"
A panicked cry interrupted Master Li's pleasant daydream.
"What is it? Why are you panicking? Has the sky fallen?"
Master Li was displeased and roared toward the door.
"Master! Seventh Young Master... Seventh Young Master, he... he's dead!"
"What?"
Master Li's face changed drastically. He abruptly sat up. "What exactly happened?"
"Master, a cultivator came to town. We don't know what kind of wicked sorcery he used, but he blew out a breath and killed Seventh Young Master!"
"A cultivator? Damn it!"
Master Li flew into a rage and kicked over the low table before him.
"Quick! Report this to Yanhsia Grotto-heaven. Tell them... tell them an outside cultivator is trying to seize the Source Ore we discovered, and that he killed our Seventh. Ask them to send support immediately."
"Yes!"
The subordinate accepted the order and left.
Master Li's face was livid, his teeth grinding with a clatter. "No matter who you are, if you provoke the Li Family, there is only one road for you—death."
"Big Brother, I've tied up your hair."
Little Tingting set down the wooden comb and walked from behind Li Yu to stand before him with a giggle. She held up a bronze mirror before him. "Look, does it look nice?"
"Mm! It looks great. Little Tingting is amazing."
Li Yu reached out and took the bronze mirror, holding it up before him.
Seeing the handsome figure in the mirror, with his hair bound beneath a golden crown and a face as fair as jade, he smiled and nodded.
"I really don't know how to do this hair-combing stuff!"
Li Yu shook his head at the mirror helplessly. "Looks like I really need to find someone to do my hair! This Little Tingting seems pretty good!"
He set down the mirror and turned to look at Little Tingting, his expression changing at once.
Little Tingting's face had turned bluish-purple. Her entire body trembled, and she swayed as though she were about to collapse.
"Tingting? What's wrong? What's wrong with you?"
Li Yu's heart lurched, and he hurriedly reached out to support her.
"Hiss..."
The moment he touched Little Tingting, he found her ice-cold, as if he were holding a block of ice. Li Yu could not help drawing in a sharp breath.
"This is... because of the Taiyin Physique? She's actually this cold?"
Seeing the little girl's pained expression and the tears frozen into icy beads on her young face, Li Yu's heart inexplicably ached.
"What a pitiful child! At such a young age, she has to suffer so much. The Taiyin Physique... she won't live past twenty, and she must constantly endure the torment of cold energy. It is both peerless talent and a tormenting curse!"
Li Yu shook his head slightly and sighed inwardly.
"Benefactor, I've finished preparing the food... Ah! Tingting!"
Old Jiang had come to call Li Yu to eat. When he suddenly saw Little Tingting's condition, his face went pale. He cried out and staggered over.
"Tingting! Tingting!"
Old Jiang pulled Little Tingting into his arms and used his body to warm her icy frame. Tears streamed down his aged face. "Child! My poor child! Heavens! What sin have I committed? Why must such a young child suffer like this?"
"Old Jiang, perhaps... I can cure her."
Seeing this, Li Yu's nose stung, and he truly could not bear to watch any longer. It's only an Earth Life Fruit. Could it be more precious than an Undying Elixir?
"Benefactor..."
Old Jiang looked at Li Yu through tear-filled eyes and asked in disbelief, "Benefactor, can Tingting's illness still be cured?"
"It can!"
Li Yu crouched down and took Tingting from Old Jiang's arms. "Old Jiang, I can cure her!"
"Wonderful! Wonderful! Tingting can be saved! Tingting can be saved!"
Old Jiang wept bitterly. With a thud, he knelt before Li Yu and knocked his head heavily against the ground. "Thank you, Benefactor! Thank you, Benefactor!"
"Old Jiang, you mustn't! You mustn't!"
Li Yu hurriedly helped Old Jiang up. "There's no need for this, Old Jiang. Tingting isn't sick. She has a special constitution. If it is not dealt with properly, she truly will find it difficult to live past twenty. But I have a way to cure her!"
Carrying Little Tingting in his arms, Li Yu found a stool in the courtyard and sat down.
"The flaw in the Taiyin Physique requires an Earth Life Fruit to make up for it. To exchange for an Earth Life Fruit..."
Li Yu frowned slightly. He still had too few Energy Points and could not afford to spend too many. If he wanted to exchange for an Earth Life Fruit, he would have to think of another way.
Lowering his head to look at the little girl's pained face in his arms, Li Yu took a deep breath and gritted his teeth.
"System, exchange an Undying Elixir from the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Ground for an Earth Life Fruit."
The moment he spoke, an Earth Life Fruit immediately appeared in the System Resource Library. As for the resources consumed...
"Only one fruit from an Undying Elixir was used?"
Li Yu froze for a moment. He had originally planned to give up all the Undying Elixirs in exchange for a single Earth Life Fruit, but the Earth Life Fruit's price was far lower than he had expected!
Li Yu quickly understood. To the system, an item's value depended on the energy consumed to create it.
Although the Earth Life Fruit was incomparably precious, its rarity came from the fact that it was nearly extinct. Things were valuable because they were scarce.
In essence, the Earth Life Fruit was certainly inferior to the Undying Elixir.
He reached out and took out the Earth Life Fruit. Looking at the fruit, which resembled a green olive, Li Yu secretly shook his head. "Such an inconspicuous thing is actually the lifesaving treasure of the Taiyin Physique."
"Tingting, Big Brother can cure you. Come, eat this medicine, and you'll get better soon."
Li Yu gently placed the Earth Life Fruit in Little Tingting's mouth and spoke softly beside her ear.
Little Tingting seemed to hear Li Yu's words. Her lips trembled as she laboriously swallowed the Earth Life Fruit.
Ding ding!
A string of crisp sounds like wind chimes rang out from within Little Tingting's body. A pure, bright radiance like moonlight filled the entire courtyard.