Condensing the Elixir!

"How did you do it...?"

Lin Chen pondered for a moment before, under Lin Dong's expectant gaze, he guessed, "Maybe it's because my cultivation speed increases when I practice sword techniques."

Lin Dong paused, then asked in confusion, "But isn't cultivation supposed to be done by sitting cross-legged, closing your eyes, and meditating? How can practicing sword techniques speed up your cultivation?"

"No, no, no."

Lin Chen shook his head and explained, "What you're talking about is the conventional cultivation method. What I'm talking about is a cultivation method I discovered by accident. When I practice sword techniques, my body automatically absorbs Heaven and Earth Yuan Qi to accumulate Yuan Power. Do you understand what I mean?"

The further he went, the more obvious his cultivation speed would become.

Now that he had made it clear, Lin Dong would not remain confused and think it was only thanks to the Ancestral Stone's help that Lin Chen had achieved this much.

At most, the Ancestral Stone was just icing on the cake.

"I..."

After thinking for a while, Lin Dong also showed a look of envy and said, "Brother Chen, I remember now. In ancient records, there were sword-path geniuses like this. Either they had extremely strong comprehension in sword techniques, or their cultivation speed was very fast when practicing sword techniques.

Looks like you're exactly that kind of sword-path genius.

If Grandpa knew, he definitely wouldn't be letting you grow freely like this, Brother Chen."

It seemed as if Lin Chen had grown up by Lin Zhentian's side, but in truth, the latter had not had much time to look after him.

Because of that, in Lin Dong's eyes, Lin Chen had been left to grow on his own, keeping an even lower profile than he himself did in the Lin Family.

"Maybe. Those are all empty titles. Anything that can improve one's strength is what truly matters."

Lin Chen gave a slight shrug, not really caring about being called a sword-path genius, and continued, "Little bro, don't belittle yourself. With your current cultivation speed, you're already very impressive. In half a year, you went from Body Tempering Stage Two to Body Tempering Stage Six. How many people could do that? Most importantly, you have that firm will when cultivating martial arts, and you work hard. In the future, you'll definitely accomplish great things!"

It had to be said that if it were someone else, they would definitely have developed wicked thoughts.

But if it was Lin Dong, then there was no need to worry.

By the time Lin Chen and Lin Dong came out of the Mental Space, the sun outside had already risen directly overhead.

"That was too exciting. I never imagined I'd be able to duel someone in the Mental Space."

Lin Dong opened his eyes and sprang up from the bed with a whoosh.

He waved his fists and said with great excitement, "Sparring with you, Brother Chen, I feel like my real combat experience has clearly improved."

After both of their martial arts had improved, Lin Chen had suggested that they practice against each other in the Mental Space to strengthen their real combat ability.

After all, this was only the Mental Space, and there would be no such thing as getting injured.

All there was was a contest between their martial arts. Compared to the Gray Shadow's single martial art, this was clearly better for consolidating their grasp of their own martial arts and improving their strength.

"As long as there's improvement. Next, we'll practice more. Let's set our sights farther ahead—at least on the Qingyang Town Hunting Event."

Lin Chen had naturally gained benefits as well. He had sparred with Lin Dong using every martial art he had pushed to the limit through deduction in the Mental Space, checking for gaps and filling in flaws. He had basically confirmed there were no real problems, and his own strength had undergone another transformation.

He had originally wanted to practice the first move of the Green Lotus Sword Song, but considering that its grade was too high and it would probably be very difficult to master in a short time, and with Lin Dong present, he did not have much of an opportunity, so he had not done it.

Now that the Ancestral Stone was already his, finding some free time to cultivate the Green Lotus Sword Song would not be a problem.

Thinking this, Lin Chen opened his palm, revealing the Ancestral Stone. The runes on it flickered with a faint luster.

Under Lin Dong's curious gaze, Lin Chen took out a Crystal Vermilion Fruit and placed it beside the Ancestral Stone.

A strange suction force instantly appeared and sucked the Crystal Vermilion Fruit into the Ancestral Stone, making it vanish from both of their sight.

"Brother Chen, th-this Crystal Vermilion Fruit disappeared?!"

At that moment, Lin Dong's mouth fell open, his face full of shock.

He had not known at all that the Ancestral Stone had such an ability. Now, seeing the Third-grade Spirit Medicine Crystal Vermilion Fruit disappear, his whole heart ached a little.

That was a Third-grade Spirit Medicine. It was really hard to obtain, okay!

"This Stone Talisman has other uses too."

Lin Chen answered simply, then motioned for him to keep watching. At the groove of the Ancestral Stone, a vermilion glow suddenly appeared, gradually growing richer, and in the end, it actually condensed into two bean-sized vermilion pills.

Since he had already prepared for this, he immediately placed them into a jade bottle, lest they fall to the ground and lose their medicinal power.

"As expected, aside from condensing that red Spirit Liquid, this Stone Talisman also has the ability to condense spirit medicines into pills."

A smile appeared on Lin Chen's face. He poured the vermilion pills out of the jade bottle, handed one to Lin Dong, and continued, "Take a look. Is this about the same as the medicinal effect of the Crystal Vermilion Fruit?"

"Brother Chen, why do I feel like this pill is even purer than the Crystal Vermilion Fruit spirit medicine? If we take it, it'll be even easier to absorb the medicinal power and increase our strength!"

Lin Dong had previously received two Crystal Vermilion Fruits from Lin Chen. After taking them out and comparing them with the vermilion pill, he replied with great excitement, "And the medicinal power of one vermilion pill is actually stronger than one Crystal Vermilion Fruit!"

Hearing that, Lin Chen also smiled and nodded, saying, "Looks like our luck is pretty good. Bring over those two Crystal Vermilion Fruits too. I'll turn them directly into pills. That way, it'll be equivalent to four portions of Third-grade Spirit Medicine."

"Okay, okay, okay!"

Lin Dong was definitely willing to accept such a good deal.

Without hesitation, he handed the two Crystal Vermilion Fruits to Lin Chen.

Before long, he had obtained four Crystal Vermilion Fruit pills.

Lin Chen once again took out a stalk of Crimson Ginseng and placed it beside the Ancestral Stone, then had it absorb it with practiced ease.

However, this time, after the light flickered, the two pills that appeared in the groove actually did not possess the same medicinal power as the previous Crystal Vermilion Fruit pills. They were also extremely irregular in shape, far from reaching the perfectly round form of a true pill.

"Brother Chen, what's going on?"

Lin Dong was greatly shocked. Just moments ago, he had been thinking that since the Ancestral Stone had the ability to condense pills, if he brought over the remaining First-grade Spirit Medicines, wouldn't he be able to get even more portions?

Now, seeing this scene, he was dumbfounded.

Clearly, the Ancestral Stone's ability to condense pills was not that simple either.

"Maybe the grade of the Spirit Medicine isn't high enough."

Lin Chen frowned slightly and continued, "It probably needs to be at least a Third-grade Spirit Medicine to have that effect of doubling the medicinal power like the Crystal Vermilion Fruit did just now."

This plunged Lin Dong into deep thought. Damn it, even obtaining a Second-grade Spirit Medicine was difficult for him, yet this thing started at Third-grade Spirit Medicine. Who could afford to support that?

No wonder, when he had previously obtained First-grade and Second-grade Spirit Medicines, he had never noticed that the Ancestral Stone possessed such an ability.

Lin Dong sighed. As expected, he was not qualified to possess the Ancestral Stone. During the half a year after he had picked it up, he had really been reaching above his station.

He shook his head inwardly, completely giving up on the Ancestral Stone.

Given the current situation, being able to continue using a portion of the Ancestral Stone's abilities was already very good.

Lin Dong felt much more relieved as well. He recalled the records in ancient books about recognizing a master; it seemed that treasures all had the ability to find a suitable owner. And in this past half a year, he had still failed to establish a master-recognition bond with it, which already explained the problem well enough.

In that case, what right did he have now to keep thinking about the Ancestral Stone?

Just then, from the courtyard outside, Qing Tan called out cheerfully:

"Brother Chen, Brother Lin Dong, hurry up and come eat! Mother made especially fragrant dishes. I'm going to start eating!"