The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, their silent communication faster than lightning.
Tongtian Jiaozhu's eyes gleamed with excitement.
This child was a treasure!
An immense treasure!
A single touch could make someone ascend on the spot. That ability was utterly heaven-defying!
Yuanshi Tianzun, meanwhile, frowned in contemplation.
This defied common sense.
Why did Lin Shen's Origin Qi have such miraculous effects?
What was the principle behind it?
Would it harm Lin Shen himself?
Could this power be controlled?
A string of questions swirled through his mind.
Taishang Laojun thought the farthest ahead.
The appearance of this little disciple was itself an anomaly.
Perhaps his ability was not merely for aiding cultivation.
It might even concern the future course of the primordial world, as well as the Dao paths of the three brothers.
"Ahem."
Yuanshi Tianzun cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
With a stern face, he looked at Daoist Duobao, who was still kneeling on the ground, his voice imposing and beyond dispute:
"Duobao, recount everything you just experienced in full detail."
"Do not leave out a single thing!"
Daoist Duobao was so overwhelmed by the pressure that he could not even raise his head.
He hurriedly described in detail how he had been drawn in by the fragrance surrounding Lin Shen, how he had gathered the courage to approach, how his little junior brother had touched the top of his head, and how the bottleneck within him had instantly shattered.
His account was exceedingly thorough.
He even described his inner struggle at the time and the feeling of his soul ascending to heaven when his head had been touched.
After hearing Duobao's account, Tongtian Jiaozhu could no longer hold back.
He snatched Lin Shen from Taishang Laojun's arms and planted a hard kiss on his chubby cheek.
"Hahaha! My good disciple, you really are a lucky star!"
Tongtian Jiaozhu grinned from ear to ear.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, did you hear that? Just one touch! Just one touch!"
Lin Shen's face itched from Tongtian Jiaozhu's coarse beard, and he babbled as he pushed at his face.
But inwardly, he thought, A lucky star?
No, no, no. I'm a Humanoid Cheat!
Still, this cheat's effect is even stronger than I imagined.
Duobao went directly from the transformation stage to the peak of Heavenly Immortal. How many minor realms did he skip?
The system's reward only got me to the early stage of Refining Spirit into Void.
The system feels a little stingy.
[ Ding! The system has detected the host's doubts and hereby explains: rewards are determined based on the host's current cultivation and the support effect. The host's current cultivation is too low to withstand excessive energy. Most of the energy has been converted into potential and stored within the host's body, to be gradually unlocked as the host's cultivation rises. ]
The system's explanation rang out in his mind.
Lin Shen suddenly understood.
Oh, so it was afraid I'd burst from too much energy. It even stored the rest for me.
Fine. I suppose you do have a bit of a conscience.
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Tongtian Jiaozhu's unseemly behavior, his brows furrowing even more deeply.
"Third Brother, have some decorum!"
"You will scare little Shen'er like this."
As he spoke, he reached out, naturally intending to take Lin Shen from him.
"Lin Shen is still young, and his mind has yet to develop. Your noisy behavior is not conducive to his rest."
"Second Brother, that's not right. Children need a little liveliness, don't they?"
How could Tongtian Jiaozhu be willing to let go? He turned with Lin Shen in his arms, avoiding Yuanshi Tianzun's hand.
"If he spends every day suppressing his desires, won't he turn into a little old man?"
Seeing his two younger brothers about to fight over the disciple again, Taishang Laojun shook his head helplessly.
"Enough. Stop arguing."
The moment he spoke, Yuanshi and Tongtian fell silent.
"This matter is no small thing."
Taishang Laojun's expression turned grave.
"Lin Shen possesses such a heaven-defying ability. He is an opportunity for us, but he may also be a variable for the primordial world."
"This must never be revealed to outsiders."
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded in deep agreement.
"Big Brother is absolutely right."
"If word of this spreads, the entire primordial world will likely go mad over it."
"Then Kunlun Mountain will never know peace, and Lin Shen will be placed in grave danger."
Just imagine it: how much greed would a "humanoid spiritual treasure" that allowed people to ignore bottlenecks and break through directly provoke?
Even those old monsters who had hidden themselves away from the world would likely be unable to resist making a move to seize him.
"Who dares!"
Tongtian Jiaozhu's eyes widened, sharp sword intent radiating from him.
"Whoever dares set their sights on my disciple will taste the power of my Qingping Sword Intent!"
Although he did not yet know where the enemy was, that did not stop him from making fierce threats.
Frightened by the aura around him, Lin Shen shrank his neck and tightly clutched Tongtian Jiaozhu's collar with his little hands.
Tongtian Jiaozhu immediately withdrew all his aura, returning to his hearty uncle-like self as he gently patted Lin Shen's back to soothe him.
"Beloved Disciple, don't be afraid. With Master here, no one can hurt you."
Taishang Laojun continued.
"Therefore, from this day onward, he must be strictly guarded."
"The strongest restrictions must be placed around Lin Shen's palace. Other than the three of us, no one may approach at will."
"Agreed."
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded.
"Furthermore," Taishang Laojun said, looking at the still-dazed Lin Shen, his gaze becoming incomparably gentle, "we need to observe Lin Shen's ability more closely."
"We must determine the conditions for activating it, the extent of its consumption, and its effects on Lin Shen himself."
At those words, Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu's eyes both lit up.
Right!
They needed to study it!
Tongtian Jiaozhu was the first to grow interested.
"Big Brother is right! We need to study this properly!"
"How about I catch a few Spirit Beasts that are about to break through and let Little Lin Shen touch them one by one?"
He thought the idea was simply brilliant.
"Nonsense!"
Yuanshi Tianzun immediately rebuked him.
"What do you take Lin Shen for? A tool for experimentation?"
"He has just used his Origin Qi and needs rest most of all."
"Wouldn't your method be like draining a pond to catch the fish?"
"I... I only meant it for research!"
Tongtian Jiaozhu defended himself with some guilt.
"Research also requires proper methods."
Yuanshi Tianzun said with a stern expression.
"This matter must be considered over the long term and approached step by step."
"First, we must determine the consumption of this ability."
"Lin Shen, how does your body feel now? Do you feel fatigued?"
He lowered his head and asked Lin Shen in the gentlest tone he could manage.
Lin Shen blinked his big eyes and felt out his body.
Honestly, he was not tired at all.
The energy from the system's reward had just flooded into him. He felt full of strength, so energetic that he could do somersaults.
But when he saw the worried expressions of his three Masters, his thoughts took a turn.
I can't say I'm not tired!
If I say I'm not tired, Third Master will definitely drag me off to touch every cat and dog on Kunlun Mountain!
I have to look very weak. That way, I'll get more concern and more treasures!
Thus, Lin Shen's little face immediately fell.
He weakly let out an "ahh."
His little head tilted to one side, resting against Tongtian Jiaozhu's shoulder.
He even stretched out a small hand to rub his belly, looking as though his body had been completely drained.
That pitiful appearance instantly made the hearts of the Three Pure Ones tighten.
"See! I told you there was consumption!"
Yuanshi Tianzun immediately said, with a trace of reproach in his voice.
"Third Brother, do not mention such reckless matters again!"
Seeing Lin Shen's listless appearance, Tongtian Jiaozhu's heart ached as well, and he nodded repeatedly.
"My fault, my fault."
"Good disciple, Third Master was wrong. Rest quickly."
Taishang Laojun directly took a small white jade bottle from his robes.
He poured out a drop of crystal-clear liquid brimming with rich life energy, dipped his finger into it, and gently dabbed it onto Lin Shen's lips.
"This is Life-Creating Elixir, refined by me from Ten-Thousand-Year Stalactite Milk and the essence of a hundred spiritual roots. It is especially effective at replenishing one's origin."
"Little fellow, drink it quickly."
Lin Shen licked it with his little tongue.
A warm current, sweet and refreshing yet containing immense vitality, instantly flowed into his stomach.
Wow!
It tastes so good!
And it feels like the potential inside my body has grown a little stronger!
Lin Shen rejoiced inwardly, but he still maintained a weak appearance on the surface.
His little mouth smacked twice, as though he wanted more.
Pretending to be weak really does get you treats!
Before you continue