Spirit Grinding Mill

"Cooperation?"

"What do you want from Master Diao?"

A trace of confusion flashed through Little Marten's tiny eyes as he spoke in a somewhat shrill voice.

"I'm seeking your cooperation only because I want your help in becoming familiar with the Stone Talisman as soon as possible, not because I want anything from you. The demonic spirit of a Heavenly Demonic Sable at the peak of the Death Profound Realm might be of great use to others, but it is utterly useless to me."

Lin Chen gave a calm explanation, dispelling the unease Little Marten had yet to reveal.

Lin Chen more or less knew why Little Marten had been avoiding him.

The existence of the Stone Talisman, along with the final battle Little Marten had experienced back then, had made the once fearless Little Marten far more mature and steady, but also left him with lingering fears.

After all, no matter how formidable Little Marten had been before his injuries, he was ultimately just a demonic spirit now, unable to wield much of his strength.

"Who... exactly are you?!"

"How do you know these things?"

Little Marten's expressionless mouse face tightened. His tiny eyes were filled with shock as he stared at Lin Chen and asked the two questions word by word.

"Who I am is not important. What matters is that I can find spirit medicines similar to Thousand Year Demonic Spirit Ginseng. I even know where a Life-Death Reincarnation Pill is located."

"Besides that, I also know how to return to the Heavenly Demonic Sable Clan and awaken the clan leader who has been sleeping ever since you disappeared—your father."

"As for why I know these things, you'd best not ask that question again. Because whether now or in the future, even if you ask, I will not tell you the answer."

Lin Chen's dark, bright eyes flickered. His gaze toward Little Marten was full of goodwill as he spoke with a faint smile.

"What happened to my father?"

Upon hearing about his father, Little Marten was instantly alarmed. Anxiety filled his tiny eyes, and he could not help but sharply question Lin Chen.

"He is fine for now. As far as I know, he still has a long period of safety ahead of him. So believe me—helping me raise my strength quickly is your best way forward at present."

"Of course, you can also take the Stone Talisman and seek help from someone else. But in the Great Yan Dynasty, even if you find a suitable candidate, I'm afraid your patience will run out before you even leave the Great Yan Dynasty."

"After all, not just anyone can meet the requirements to join a super sect in the Eastern Profound Region within the next five years."

"In the Great Yan Dynasty, no one will be faster than me, nor will anyone dare to give you the same guarantee I do."

Faced with Little Marten's gaze, Lin Chen shrugged and spoke one sentence after another with indifference, as though he were merely discussing some trivial matter.

To him, both the Stone Talisman and Little Marten were only aids. They could not determine his future. That was why, even if Little Marten made a choice beyond his expectations, it would not affect him at his core.

Upon hearing Lin Chen's words, the tension on Little Marten's mouse face eased considerably. His tiny eyes darted about constantly, clearly deep in thought.

Seeing Little Marten lost in thought, Lin Chen did not disturb him.

In Lin Chen's view, Little Marten had only just awakened, and everything needed time. The secrets concerning the Heavenly Demonic Sable that he knew were not yet ready to be revealed to Little Marten.

As long as Little Marten agreed to cooperate with him today, they could slowly build mutual trust in the future. Trying to achieve it all at once would not be appropriate.

After an unknown amount of time, Little Marten finally finished considering it. His tiny eyes were faintly visible in the darkness, filled with complicated emotions. Helplessness, excitement, and guilt alternated within them.

"Fine, then Master Diao will reluctantly agree to cooperate with you, brat, and help you familiarize yourself with some uses of this Stone Talisman."

"But if you dare harbor any ill intentions toward Master Diao, don't blame Master Diao for risking his life to turn against you!"

After reluctantly agreeing, Little Marten fiercely threatened Lin Chen again.

Lin Chen merely smiled faintly and shook his head.

"Stop calling yourself Master Diao. Don't think I don't know that, among the Heavenly Demonic Sables, you're at most considered an adult."

Lin Chen was not particularly bothered by Little Marten's self-proclaimed title, but they were only partners at present. The man and mouse had not yet reached the level of complete trust, and Little Marten calling himself that before him carried a slight air of bluster.

"You're quite mysterious, brat. I never expected you to know so much about Master Diao. I truly wonder what kind of existence stands behind you."

"Seems that though the Great Yan Dynasty is small, it is also a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers lie."

Little Marten shot Lin Chen a glare and casually came to that conclusion about him.

"Hidden dragons and crouching tigers... perhaps."

Inside the Stone Talisman, within the dark spiritual space.

Lin Chen followed closely behind Little Marten. The route taken by the man and mouse was extremely winding, and after an unknown amount of time, Little Marten, who was ahead of him, suddenly vanished without a trace.

Yet Lin Chen did not panic at the sight. The smile on his handsome, jade-like face silently proclaimed that he already knew why Little Marten had left.

After Lin Chen and Little Marten reached their agreement, their cooperative relationship had been established. Although Little Marten did not particularly trust Lin Chen, he still felt some gratitude toward him for awakening him.

That was why, when Lin Chen asked to find the Spirit Grinding Mill within the Stone Talisman, Little Marten agreed readily without even giving it a second thought.

After walking through the spiritual space for a while, they had already reached their destination. Little Marten had merely gone ahead to clear the way.

Lin Chen did not wait long. Before half the time it took to drink a cup of tea had passed, faint white light suddenly bloomed in the dark space before him.

Then, within that white glow, Lin Chen saw two enormous crystal millstones slowly rotating. As the millstones turned, a peculiar fluctuation gradually spread out.

"So this is the Spirit Grinding Mill that can cultivate Spiritual Power?"

"It truly is rather extraordinary."

Lin Chen stared fixedly at the enormous crystal millstones, unable to help marveling inwardly.

"This is the Spirit Grinding Mill you were looking for. If you want your Spiritual Power to reach the level of a Spirit Talisman Master within five months, then I'm afraid you'll have to remain inside this Spirit Grinding Mill for the next few months. Let's hope you can endure it, brat."

At some point, Little Marten had already leaped onto Lin Chen's shoulder. He pointed his claw at the area where the two crystal millstones met and spoke with some gloating delight.

Following the direction of Little Marten's claw, Lin Chen could clearly see white light gathering there, while even space itself seemed slightly distorted.

"Sit there, and this Spirit Grinding Mill will thoroughly grind your spirit to pieces before restoring it. The process will repeat endlessly. If you can endure it, it will greatly benefit your Spiritual Power."

"But if you cannot endure it, it is highly possible that it will injure your own spiritual essence and leave behind severe lasting effects."