Man Luo Demonic Pearl

A chill surged through Lin Xuankong, filling his heart with alarm and doubt. Was this bead the important matter the Young Lady had mentioned?

Why did this bead give him such an intense sense of oppression and danger?

Seeing his tense expression, Li Xiaolan could not help smiling, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Judging by that look, you've probably never seen one before! This kind of bead is called a Demonic Pearl. It forms after a powerful demon or fiend is slain.

"However, the Demonic Pearl in my hand has been treated with a special refining method. More than ninety-nine percent of its Demonic Energy has dissipated, so even a Martial Cultivator at Mortal Transformation Layer One can use it without worrying about being assimilated by demonic power!"

So this was the Demonic Pearl formed after a demon died?

Lin Xuankong froze. Of course, he had heard of demons. Demons often appeared outside the prefectural city of Great Marsh Prefecture, choosing people to devour. Ordinary commoners had no power to resist them at all! Every prefecture, city, and town in the Great Xia Dynasty had large numbers of Martial Cultivators standing guard, which was why they could avoid being ravaged by demons.

As for Demonic Pearls, it was said that only exceptionally powerful demons and Demonic Beasts had an extremely small chance of condensing one after being slain!

Ordinary demons were already terrifying enough. How could it be easy to kill an exceptionally powerful demon and obtain a Demonic Pearl?

Thus, Demonic Pearls were quite rare. On top of that, they had numerous uses; it was said that every single one was worth a fortune!

The previous owner of this body had only occasionally heard vague legends about Demonic Pearls in the streets and alleys. How could he possibly have seen such a precious thing?

This Demonic Pearl was probably worth more than a hundred thousand flatbreads.

My Young Lady actually possesses such a precious Demonic Pearl. Could she already be strong enough to slay powerful demons and fiends?

Lin Xuankong's face was full of confusion.

"This bead of mine is called the Man Luo Demonic Pearl, and it is rather mysterious. As long as you circulate your blood and qi into it, it will take effect!

"For the time being, I'm giving it to you. If you happen to face a single opponent, activate it, and it will certainly keep you safe! Unless your opponent is an expert at Mortal Transformation Layer Six, no one will be able to break through this bead's effects!"

After saying that, Li Xiaolan held the bead out to Lin Xuankong.

A look of surprise appeared on Lin Xuankong's face. "Keep me safe? The Young Lady is so strong. What danger could there be if I stay with you? Wait, are you leaving this place?"

Li Xiaolan placed the bead by his hand and lightly bit her lip. "I really am leaving for a while. At best, ten days; at worst, half a month!

"That's why I'm giving you this bead. Although you are already at the Early Stage of Mortal Transformation Layer One, and your strength far surpasses that of ordinary Martial Cultivators,

"There are quite a few experts in the city of Great Marsh Prefecture. If anything unexpected happens, this bead can protect your life as well!

"Also, here are more than thirty silver taels, along with the recipe for Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup. It includes detailed instructions for how to prepare and brew it.

"Mortal Transformation Layer One is an important period for a Martial Cultivator to lay their foundation. These thirty-odd silver taels will buy enough medicinal ingredients to support ten days of cultivation. By the time ten days or half a month has passed, I'll probably be back!"

Couldn't she not leave?

The words reached Lin Xuankong's lips, but he did not say them.

The Young Lady had explained things in such detail. Clearly, she had already planned it all out!

At that thought, his expression could not help dimming. He said, "Will you be in danger by yourself? Can I go with you?"

Before leaving, the Young Lady had given him such a precious Demonic Pearl, left him silver taels, and even left behind the recipe for Qi Nourishing Soup... It was hard not to worry.

When Li Xiaolan saw the gloom and reluctance on his face, a trace of gentleness flickered in her eyes. Then she waved a hand with feigned nonchalance. "Enough, enough. Don't put on such a reluctant-to-part look. You're a grown man!

"What danger could I possibly face? Among the several thousand Martial Cultivators in the city of Great Marsh Prefecture, apart from those few old monsters and the Old Witch of the Huang Family, there are hardly any who can compare with me. If I could run into danger just by going out, I'm afraid no one in Great Marsh Prefecture would dare leave the city!"

After saying that, she rose and walked upstairs. At the stairway, she rubbed her little belly. "Go cook. I'm heading out, so I want to eat until I'm full!"

Watching her back, Lin Xuankong frowned. "Then I'll buy a few catties of smoked meat and some side dishes. It's one thing to scrimp and save on ordinary days, but now that you're going out, we should at least have a proper feast!"

Before long, the light-footed Lin Xuankong returned with the food. The two sat at the table and ate as they usually did, but the atmosphere was no longer as warm as before.

Lin Xuankong silently ate a few bites of food and was just about to speak.

Li Xiaolan happened to raise her head and look at him as well. "There's one more thing. Activating the Man Luo Demonic Pearl consumes a great deal of blood and qi. The blood and qi replenished by one serving of Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup can sustain it for no more than three breaths.

"You are only at Mortal Transformation Layer One right now, and your blood and qi are not abundant. Don't activate it for too long, or the Demonic Pearl may drain your blood and qi dry and damage your foundation."

Lin Xuankong said, "I'll remember that!"

He secretly thought, I'm completely different from ordinary Martial Cultivators at Mortal Transformation Layer One. My Destiny has the mysterious ability to store massive amounts of blood and qi. My current reserves are probably more than ten times those of an ordinary Mortal Transformation Layer One cultivator!

Even if that Man Luo Demonic Pearl consumes a great deal of blood and qi, I probably won't need to worry about running dry.

Still, this Demonic Pearl is worth a city of gold. I definitely can't casually take it out and use it, lest others covet it!

Li Xiaolan spoke again. "Remember to keep the Demonic Pearl close to your body! The city of Great Marsh Prefecture looks peaceful on the surface, but there are many disputes and grudges among the various gangs and martial lineages. While I'm gone, try not to leave the house!"

Lin Xuankong nodded and continued eating in silence. He had originally had a bellyful of things he wanted to tell her, such as reminding her to stay safe. Before he could say them, she had started giving him instructions instead!

A moment later, Li Xiaolan set down her bowl and chopsticks. "I'll be back in around ten days!"

Immediately afterward, the air beside him trembled slightly. Lin Xuankong hurriedly looked up, only to find that the neatly arranged bowls and chopsticks were all that remained before him. His Young Lady had already vanished without a trace!

In the rear courtyard of the old little building,

Lin Xuankong had practiced the Spirit Crane Finger for nearly two hours. Only after more than half his strength had been spent did he stop.

The Pine Crane Mind Method and Green Pine Stance could not be practiced beyond their allotted number of times, or they would cause enormous depletion to one's mind, spirit, blood, and qi. The Spirit Crane Finger, however, was an offensive combat technique. Practicing a few extra rounds was no problem!

He trained so fiercely

partly to stop himself from letting his thoughts run wild once things grew quiet.

The Young Lady had shown him so much kindness and affection over the past several dozen days that even a block of wood could have felt it! Now she was clearly going to do something somewhat dangerous. How could he possibly not worry?

On the other hand, he wanted to improve his actual combat ability as quickly as possible.

Lin Xuankong secretly thought, One reason the Young Lady did not invite me to leave the city with her is my strength. If my strength isn't enough and I insist on following her, I'll only be a burden! If I become strong enough, then if something similar happens again in the future, will I still need to worry about being unable to help the Young Lady?

Besides,

although he was not entirely certain that Zhang Wu and Ma Xiong intended to deal with him, it was never wrong to increase his strength as quickly as possible.

After all, Zhang Wu was at the late first layer, and he had nearly a hundred elite gang members under him, hardened by long battles.

The Man Luo Demonic Pearl was meant for a single opponent, and the Young Lady was no longer by his side. If Zhang Wu truly intended to deal with him, open spears were easy to dodge, but hidden arrows were hard to guard against. There was still some danger.

After resting beside the Old Willow Tree for a while,

Lin Xuankong focused his attention on his mind and looked at the progress of the Pine Crane Longevity Technique.

When the Young Lady had taught him the Green Pine Stance and Spirit Crane Finger, she had said that the next realm of the Pine Crane Technique was far more difficult than the Entry Level realm.

She had said that he might need three or four years of cultivation, perhaps even five or six years, before he could cultivate the Pine Crane Technique to the next realm!

Thinking of this, then looking at the information in his mind, Lin Xuankong slightly shook his head. How could reaching the next realm possibly take four or five years?