New Version of Shi Lijia

Li Feng snapped back to reality, noticing the veins bulging on Yang He's back. It wasn't Nezha's fetal movement again, but something originating from the pupil ghost.

In just a moment, the pupil ghost showed signs of another advancement.

As the third blood thread formed in the whites of its eyes, a chilling yin wind swept through.

Perhaps Nezha felt Yang He's yang energy was the strongest, comparable to over ten people, and was intentionally slowing its absorption.

However, to outsiders, it looked like camaraderie between fellow disciples.

"Immortal Venerable Taiyi mentioned that Third Young Master's past life was quite significant. Daoist Yang is likely not simple either. Could he be an immortal reincarnated for a new cultivation?"

Li Feng was almost certain Yang He possessed some kind of innate immortal body.

Otherwise, why would Grandmaster Taiyi value him so highly?

Li Feng even suspected Yang He was sent to Cailian Town by Grandmaster Taiyi, as the latter seemed to have a penchant for cultivating through borrowed bodies.

The Daoist lineage of Qianyuan Mountain was unstoppable in its fortune.

Yang He dangled in mid-air, his vision unobstructed by fog, revealing a wide expanse. He saw that Qing Lake was completely devoid of lotus flowers and leaves.

It was supposed to be the season for a bountiful lotus root harvest, yet Qing Lake was empty within just a few days.

A sense of urgency arose in Yang He's heart. He might not have many good days left. He quickly spoke to urge Li Feng, "Lord Li."

"Don't forget to refine those pills that boost yang energy. If I can't even suppress Senior Brother, the entire Cailian Town will likely be buried with me."

Yang He's Great Replenishing Pills were down to just over a hundred, definitely not enough.

He could accept his Daoist acolyte persona being damaged by ghosts, but dying from depleted yang fire felt utterly stifling.

"This humble general will start preparations immediately. Daoist Yang, do you have any other requests?"

Yang He stated in a deep voice, "Have someone keep an eye on Qing Lake. If Wu Hong returns to Cailian Town, meet them immediately."

Li Feng nodded in agreement, signaling Song Kuo to be responsible for collecting the medicinal ingredients.

Song Kuo, who had just managed to doze off and saw hope for resolving Cailian Town's crisis, forced himself awake and asked, "My Lord, what specific ingredients are needed?"

"Ginseng, primarily."

Li Feng took another small taste of the Great Replenishing Pill and hesitated, "Although I don't know the exact formula, the Great Replenishing Pill has a distinct pastry-like flavor. Don't overlook ingredients like red dates, chestnuts, and walnuts either."

"I understand."

As Song Kuo was about to turn and leave, Li Feng added, "Wait."

"Daoist Yang is still young. See if you can find honey and cane sugar."

Mentioning Yang He's youth, Li Feng recalled his demeanor when facing malevolent spirits and felt his own decades of life had been lived in vain.

Yang He's lips twitched. The new formula was inexplicably starting to resemble Shi Lijia. Or perhaps renaming it the Bingliang Pill would be more fitting?

He suppressed his stray thoughts and continued to develop his fourth yin meridian.

The condition for the pupil ghost to advance to a Hungry Ghost was nine yin meridians. The Lore World offered many opportunities, and he had unknowingly passed the halfway point of his weak ghost stage.

The yamen became busy.

Everyone worked together to move items, and soon a large iron pot was set up.

Half a day later, Song Kuo returned laden with goods, and the smell of cooking filled the air.

He didn't target the closed pharmacies to avoid encouraging public imitation, instead choosing several wealthy households.

With the exchange of a few yellow talismans gifted by Li Feng, he easily obtained a hundred catties of medicinal ingredients.

As a large quantity of herbs was poured into the pot, along with various pastry seasonings, a simple simmer for a short while released a rich aroma.

Following Yang He's instructions, Li Feng added flour last, shaping the mixture into pill-like forms.

As soon as they were done, he prepared to give them to Yang He, but the ballad from the coffin sounded again.

"Hide and seek, hide and seek, where is the kitty hiding? Look inside and outside the cave, find the kitty and laugh, haha..."

Everyone froze, their scalps tingling despite the absence of surging yin qi.

"Absorb!"

Yang He secretly activated his ghost hand, and an invisible suction force pulled the dried Great Replenishing Pills into his palm, accumulating seven to eight hundred of them.

He took out a portion of the Great Replenishing Pills and fed them into the gaps of the coffin.

The ballad abruptly stopped, followed by a chilling chewing sound echoing from the backyard. Then, Nezha, seemingly satisfied, returned to a state of peace.

Li Feng let out a sigh of relief.

"So that's how it is. It seems Third Young Master's resentment has significantly subsided."

Everyone spent the night in apprehension, but the coffin remained quiet for a long time, as if the disaster had been quelled. It seemed to be waiting only for Grandmaster Taiyi's appearance.

The fog shrouding the yamen thinned, and the long-awaited morning sun bathed the ground.

Li Feng had been sleepless all night, monitoring Qing Lake.

Through his spells, he could sense that the deputy general had already reached the vicinity of Qing Lake.

"Perhaps Daoist Yang is worrying too much. How could Third Young Master's affairs be related to Qing Lake?"

Li Feng glanced at Yang He, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Yang He's cultivation method was becoming increasingly extreme, swallowing twenty to thirty Great Replenishing Pills at a time, but the problem was he couldn't fully digest the medicinal power.

Pus and blood flowed from his facial features, and his internal organs were damaged to varying degrees.

It was likely that before long, Yang He's yin-yang balance would be broken. Why would a naturally born immortal body resort to such a desperate measure?

"Immortal Master Yang, what are you concerned about?"

"The Third Young Master has already been suppressed. All that's needed now is for Grandmaster Taiyi to make a move."

"Hmm."

Li Feng's eyes widened as he clutched his chest. A monkey-like screech, audible only to himself, erupted as his heart pounded like a drum.

"Impossible, how could Zhou Chen suddenly die in Qing Lake?"

Zhou Chen was the deputy general escorting Wu Hong. One moment he was still alive, and the next he died without any warning, catching Li Feng completely off guard.

One had to understand that the Heart Monkey technique they cultivated was based on the heart.

Zhou Chen was at acquired realm perfection. As long as his heart was intact, he could survive for half a day even if his body was separated from his head. This was too strange and eerie.

Song Kuo rushed over. With Yang He present, he was still relatively calm.

"General Li!"

"The soldiers on the city wall noticed that Wu Hong is returning to Cailian Town along the mountain path!"

Li Feng didn't have time to mourn Zhou Chen's death. He realized Yang He's concerns were valid; Qing Lake seemed to hide something else.

"What about the other three?"

"I'm not sure. I've already sent people on horseback to meet Wu Hong."

Li Feng was extremely anxious, wanting to ask Yang He but not knowing how to start.

Yang He was immersed in his cultivation, continuously swallowing Great Replenishing Pills. His organs were at their limit, and he was only holding on with his half-human, half-ghost physique.

He saw Li Feng's unusual behavior and understood that something had indeed happened in Qing Lake.

Nezha also sensed something, and the coffin lid trembled slightly.

"As expected, the beginner's benefits are about to end."

Yang He coughed repeatedly, his yang fire flickering. Yin qi continuously gathered in the backyard, and the fourth yin meridian had already begun to take shape.

The ghost hand was slightly distorted from being unable to withstand the influx of yin qi.

At the same time, Song Kuo carried the unconscious Wu Hong to the yamen.

Li Feng dipped his finger in talisman water and drew several incantations on Wu Hong's forehead, using a spell to expel the yin qi from his body.

Gag.

Wu Hong regained consciousness and then vomited a dense mass of black hair.

Li Feng couldn't help but retreat half a meter, his expression shifting between uncertainty and gloom. For the first time, he showed a loss of composure, clearly recognizing the source of the black hair.

Was it Madam Yin?

Madam Yin from Chentang Pass was at Qing Lake?!