Blood Vitality Pills!

Ye Lingshuang still looked as cool and otherworldly as ever, though a faint trace of weariness seemed to linger between her brows.

Her gaze swept over the relatively tidy clearing outside the Hall of Discarded Treasures, then turned to Li Qingshan, who had come out of the stone hut at the sound.

When she saw Li Qingshan, a flicker of barely perceptible surprise passed through her cool eyes.

The old man before her still had a head of white hair and deep wrinkles etched across his face, but his overall vigor was worlds apart from what it had been several months ago.

His eyes, once cloudy, dull, and heavy with the gloom of approaching death, now held a faint glimmer of clarity. His back also seemed a little straighter. His steps were slow but steady, and the air of imminent decay that had clung to him had faded considerably.

"Li Qingshan?"

Ye Lingshuang's voice was still cool, with a note of confirmation.

"Li Qingshan greets Senior Sister Ye."

Following the sect's rules, Li Qingshan bowed.

He deliberately suppressed the third-layer Qi Refining spiritual power within him deep in his dantian, revealing only an extremely faint aura, barely stronger than an ordinary mortal's.

"Mm."

Ye Lingshuang nodded slightly and gave him another careful look. "It seems that although the Hall of Discarded Treasures is remote and its spiritual energy thin, you haven't let yourself sink into despair. You look much better than when you first arrived."

"Thanks to you, Senior Sister, I've found this place quite peaceful. I sweep and tidy up every day to keep my body active, and... in my spare time, I've tried cultivating the Evergreen Technique. I've made a little progress."

Li Qingshan spoke calmly, with just the right touch of excitement and apprehension.

"Oh?"

At last, a clear flicker of emotion crossed Ye Lingshuang's eyes; they were no longer as indifferent as before. "You... succeeded in drawing in qi?"

She could hardly believe it.

Could a hundred-year-old man, in such a place with such scant spiritual energy, really draw qi into his body with nothing but a basic cultivation manual? It was practically against all common sense!

"This disciple is dull-witted. After several months of hard cultivation, I was lucky... lucky enough to enter the first layer of Qi Refining."

As he spoke, Li Qingshan deliberately released a trace of the weak Wood-attributed spiritual power from the first layer of Qi Refining, which he had suppressed to the utmost.

Ye Lingshuang stepped forward and pointed a pale finger toward Li Qingshan's wrist.

A stream of pure, gentle spiritual power probed into Li Qingshan's body.

This time, Li Qingshan was prepared.

He kept the vast majority of his spiritual power firmly locked deep in his dantian, allowing only the trace disguised as first-layer Qi Refining power to flow slowly through a few of the most superficial meridians. At the same time, he revealed without reservation the true state of his body: shrunken, blocked meridians and withered qi and blood.

Ye Lingshuang's spiritual power made a circuit through Li Qingshan's body, then quickly withdrew.

The surprise on her face gave way to understanding, which was soon replaced by even deeper regret.

"It is indeed the first layer of Qi Refining... Wood-attributed spiritual power."

She sighed softly. "To succeed in drawing in qi at your age, in such an environment, is truly no small feat. It seems your Heavenly Spirit Root really does possess some mysterious quality. It actually enabled you to forcibly break through the shackles of this decaying body."

There was a note of praise in her voice, but even more regret. "Unfortunately, your meridians are far too clogged, and your foundation of qi and blood is nearly exhausted. This first layer of Qi Refining may well be your limit. Advancing further will be harder than climbing to heaven.

"Still, being able to draw qi into your body, cleanse a little of the impurities from your flesh, strengthen your body by a fraction, and extend your life by a few years is a blessing in the midst of misfortune."

Ye Lingshuang's words were exactly what Li Qingshan had hoped to hear.

Sure enough, she hadn't seen through the third-layer Qi Refining cultivation he had deliberately hidden.

"I understand. To glimpse even a corner of the Immortal Realm is already a blessing beyond anything I could have hoped for. I dare not ask for more. Thank you for guiding me that day, Senior Sister."

Li Qingshan bowed again, his voice sincere.

Seeing him accept reality so calmly, the stir in Ye Lingshuang's heart at discovering his Heavenly Spirit Root gradually settled.

After a moment's thought, she took a small white jade bottle from her storage pouch.

"Your immortal path may be hopeless, but drawing qi into your body may extend your lifespan a little. These two are mid-grade first-rank Blood Vitality Pills. They can replenish your qi and blood and may be of some help to you. Perhaps they'll let you live another year or two."

She held out the jade bottle.

Li Qingshan accepted it with both hands. The jade felt warm and smooth in his palm.

His heart stirred. Blood Vitality Pills were quite precious. The pills he had taken before were all low-grade first-rank spirit pills. Mid-grade first-rank spirit pills were taken by cultivators in the middle stage, from the fourth to the sixth layer of Qi Refining.

And if these Blood Vitality Pills were enhanced by the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd, their value would surely skyrocket.

More importantly, this was a gesture of goodwill from Ye Lingshuang.

"Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Sister!"

Li Qingshan bowed solemnly.

He hadn't expected Ye Lingshuang to offer mid-grade first-rank spirit pills right off the bat.

In the cultivation world, magical artifacts, talismans, pills, and formations were all divided into five ranks, corresponding to the five great cultivation realms.

Each rank was further divided into low-grade, mid-grade, high-grade, and supreme-grade.

Mid-grade first-rank spirit pills were taken only by cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Refining. They were already quite precious.

And these were Blood Vitality Pills, which could both improve one's cultivation and replenish one's qi, blood, and vitality.

"No need for such formalities."

Ye Lingshuang waved a hand and turned her gaze toward the mountain of discarded treasures. "I came here to carry out the routine clearing of the discarded treasures, using true fire to refine the lingering baleful energy and useless items."

"Understood."

Li Qingshan replied, then let just the right amount of hesitation and earnestness show on his face. "Senior Sister Ye, I have one more request... I know my cultivation is low and my immortal path uncertain.

"But living in such a remote place, I can't help feeling uneasy. I wonder if Senior Sister might... bestow a few of the most basic self-defense techniques upon me? I don't ask to defeat enemies. I only hope that if I encounter poisonous insects or wild beasts, I might be able to protect myself."

Ye Lingshuang's brows knit slightly at his words.

Looking at Li Qingshan's aged, earnest face and thinking of his mere first-layer Qi Refining cultivation and frail body, she realized that even the most ordinary wild beast could pose a threat to him.

"Spell cultivation requires spiritual power. Your spiritual power is weak and your meridians fragile. Forcing yourself to cast spells could injure you, doing more harm than good."

She warned him, her tone admonishing. "Don't reach too high or try to learn too much too quickly."

"This disciple will remember your teachings, Senior Sister! I ask only for the most basic techniques, those that consume the least spiritual power, for self-defense. I would never dare to chase after great achievements or rush ahead recklessly."

Li Qingshan hurriedly promised, adopting an exceedingly humble posture.

Seeing his earnest attitude, and thinking of how precarious his circumstances truly were, Ye Lingshuang finally nodded.

With a graceful lift of her hand, three jade slips of different colors, each glowing with a faint light, floated before Li Qingshan.

"These three jade slips each record one of the most basic techniques: the Fireball Technique, the Flying Feather Technique, and the Concealment Technique." She pointed them out one by one.

"The Fireball Technique is an offensive spell. It draws on fire spiritual energy to condense a fireball and attack your enemy. It consumes a great deal, so use it with caution."

"The Flying Feather Technique is a movement technique. It can slightly increase your speed, helping you run or dodge."

"The Concealment Technique suppresses your aura and lowers your presence. It's an auxiliary spell that consumes the least spiritual power, and may be the most useful to you."

The moment he heard the words "Concealment Technique," Li Qingshan's heart gave a violent leap. A surge of joy nearly broke through the calm expression he was maintaining!

This was exactly the technique he had dreamed of obtaining!

With it, he would be far better able to hide his cultivation!

He forcefully suppressed his excitement, putting on an expression of overwhelming gratitude. With both hands, he respectfully accepted the three jade slips. "This disciple, Li Qingshan, thanks Senior Sister Ye for imparting these techniques! I will keep your teachings in mind and cultivate with caution. I would never dare misuse them!"