Soul-Nourishing Pill Formula, Protection [Please Follow!]

"Oh?"

Lin Changsheng was taken aback and asked, "What condition?"

"We spar once. If little friend Lin wins, this old man will not ask for silver, and you may take the three Dragon Blood Pills. If this old man is fortunate enough to win by a move or half a stance, I hope little friend Lin will understand this old man's difficulties and leave. How about it?"

Tian Ci gave Lin Changsheng a deep look and said.

"Fine!"

Lin Changsheng's heart stirred. He had never fought a martial arts grandmaster before, so this was the perfect chance to test the power of Thunderclap Slash!

"Great-Grandfather! Your health..."

Tian Yu and Tian Feng's expressions changed at once. Their great-grandfather did not have many days left and was weak in body—how could he fight someone?

"I know my own limits. Stand down!"

Tian Ci waved a hand and said.

The Tian brothers had no choice but to step back.

Tian Ci returned to his room, took out a refined steel longsword, and came to the training ground spanning a hundred zhang. He stood facing Lin Changsheng.

"Little friend Lin, make your move!"

Tian Ci looked at Lin Changsheng. As soon as he finished speaking, his aura surged forth, shooting out streaks of sharp sword radiance. Countless sword shadows filled the air, piercing it with hissing sounds as they swept toward Lin Changsheng!

Clang!

Lin Changsheng's Dawnblade left its sheath. With a shake of his long blade, a pale blue blade radiance six zhang long slashed down like a blue rainbow toward Tian Ci's myriad sword shadows!

It was precisely Thunderclap Slash!

Rumble!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With an earth-shattering blast, the ground trembled. Bluestone slabs flew several zhang into the air, and the violent shockwave of force instantly overturned every bluestone slab in the training ground!

Where the training ground had once stood, there was now an oval crater over ten zhang long and two zhang deep!

"Puh! Cough, cough, cough... cough, cough, cough!"

An aged figure flew backward through the rising dust, crashing down over ten zhang away and immediately coughing up blood!

It was Tian Ci.

Five zhang away, Lin Changsheng sheathed his blade. Tian Ci's sword radiance had been sharp, but it was not faster than his Fleeting Light and Passing Shadow.

"Great-Grandfather!"

"Great-Grandfather!"

Tian Feng and Tian Yu's faces changed drastically. They hurried over and helped Tian Ci up.

At that moment, blood seeped from Tian Ci's lips. His upper garments had all been shattered by the impact, revealing a cracked golden armor over his chest and his gaunt, bony body.

"Little friend Lin's cultivation... is formidable. This old man... has lost!"

Tian Ci looked at Lin Changsheng, his eyes filled with shock as he muttered.

He had never expected that after years of bitter cultivation, he would still lose to this young man. Had he not been wearing the protective soft armor he had bought at great expense, that strike would not merely have severely wounded him—it would have killed him!

"You let me win!"

Lin Changsheng flashed across the ravine and looked at the blood-spitting Tian Ci two zhang away, his expression complicated.

"Yu'er... give the three... three Dragon Blood Pills, and the Dragon... Dragon Blood Pill and Soul-Nourishing Pill... formulas, to little friend Lin... cough, cough!"

Tian Ci looked at Lin Changsheng and gave Tian Yu a halting instruction.

"Great-Grandfather!"

Tian Yu cried out sorrowfully.

His great-grandfather had been wounded by Lin Changsheng, yet the old man was giving their enemy three Dragon Blood Pills and two pill formulas?

"Keep your... word!"

"Go!"

Tian Ci drew a deep breath and said in a low voice.

Tian Feng stepped forward to stop Tian Ci's bleeding and fed him a healing pill.

"Yes!"

Remembering what his great-grandfather had told him earlier that day, Tian Yu immediately hurried into Tian Ci's residence. Before long, he emerged with three white porcelain bottles and a small sandalwood box. He handed them to Lin Changsheng and cupped his fists. "Inside are three Dragon Blood Pills, as well as the Dragon Blood Pill formula and the Soul-Nourishing Pill formula!"

"Patriarch Tian, what is this?"

Lin Changsheng looked toward Tian Ci.

They had agreed to spar: if Lin Changsheng lost, he would leave; if he won, he would take three Dragon Blood Pills. Yet Tian Ci was giving him the Dragon Blood Pill formula and the Soul-Nourishing Pill formula as well. Lin Changsheng could not make sense of it.

Since they were being offered willingly, Lin Changsheng naturally would not refuse—but he had to ask clearly.

"I... do not have much time left. Once I pass away in meditation, the Tian Family will not be able to keep the formulas. Better to give them to little friend... in hopes of receiving a measure of your protection..."

Tian Ci spoke in broken phrases.

He knew his own condition. At most, he had another ten days to half a month before he passed away in meditation.

By then, without a martial arts grandmaster to hold down the fort, the Golden Saber Sect and the Flowing Cloud Sect would have no more reservations. They would surely come to seize the formulas.

Rather than let the Golden Saber Sect and Flowing Cloud Sect swallow up the family then—

It would be better to hand them over now.

In exchange for Lin Changsheng's protection.

After all, the Tian Family still had backup copies of the formulas.

"What effects does the Soul-Nourishing Pill have? Why have I never heard of Hundred Herbs Hall selling it?"

Lin Changsheng did not agree immediately and instead asked.

He remembered that the finest pill Hundred Herbs Hall sold was the Dragon Blood Pill.

"According to the formula's records, the Soul-Nourishing Pill nourishes one's essence, qi, and spirit. When this old man obtained the formula, I also obtained one Soul-Nourishing Pill. With its aid, I successfully advanced from the early stage of first-rate to martial arts grandmaster!"

"However, the Soul-Nourishing Pill is of a higher grade than the Dragon Blood Pill. Its ingredients are difficult to obtain, and it is extremely difficult to refine. Over these years, this old man gathered five sets of ingredients, and every refinement failed!"

After taking the healing pill, Tian Ci seemed to experience a final flash of vitality, and his spirits improved considerably. He sighed, his eyes filled with regret.

If he could refine a Soul-Nourishing Pill to nourish his essence, qi, and spirit, perhaps he could have lived a few more years!

"Nourishes one's essence, qi, and spirit?"

Hearing Tian Ci's words, Lin Changsheng's heart stirred.

Breakthroughs in cultivation were greatly related to whether one's essence, qi, and spirit were full. If he could refine and consume Soul-Nourishing Pills, gaining experience points would certainly be faster!

He had the Simplification Panel. Once he simplified it, there was no need to worry about failing to refine it!

"Fine. I will accept the two pill formulas and the three Dragon Blood Pills. I can act once when your Tian Family faces danger, but there is a condition: if the enemy's strength greatly surpasses mine, I will not intervene!"

Lin Changsheng spoke gravely.

The Tian Family certainly had backup copies of the formulas. Since he had accepted the benefits, he could act once, but if the enemy was too strong, he would flee far away at once to preserve himself.

"Thank you, little friend Lin. With this promise from you, this old man is immensely grateful!"

Tian Ci's eyes revealed gratitude at his words.

"You're welcome. If a crisis arises, you may come find me. Farewell!"

Lin Changsheng cupped his fists toward Tian Yu, then turned and left.

"Great-Grandfather, you gave him the formulas—what if he does not protect our Tian Family..."

Tian Feng watched Lin Changsheng's departing back and asked worriedly.

Tian Ci let out a long sigh and shook his head. "We have no choice... We still have backup copies of the formulas. Little friend Lin is so young, yet his martial arts are so formidable. If he can act once as he promised when it is within his power, that would be for the best. If he cannot... we cannot afford to offend him either... Forget it. Send word out: scale back Hundred Herbs Hall's businesses. The Tian Family... will withdraw from the five great families..."

"Yes!"

Tian Yu and Tian Feng nodded at his words.

Lin Changsheng left Hundred Herbs Garden and returned to the courtyard he rented.

After passing Drunken Fragrance Tower in South City and walking roughly a hundred zhang, he suddenly saw a black-clad man standing two zhang ahead, carrying a large bundle on his back. The man cupped his fists toward Lin Changsheng and said politely, "I am Black Eagle. Greetings, Brother Lin!"

"Black Eagle? You... know me?"

Lin Changsheng narrowed his eyes. He did not remember knowing anyone called Black Eagle.

"Her Highness the Princess sent me. She asked me to deliver this Cloud-Piercing Bow to you!"

As Black Eagle spoke, he untied the bundle from his back and handed it to Lin Changsheng. "Brother Lin, I asked around and finally found you. Now that the item has been delivered, I must return and report back. Farewell!"

"The princess... the Cloud-Piercing Bow?"

Holding the bundle, Lin Changsheng fell silent for a while. He bought a brush, ink, and rice paper from a street stall, then carried the bundle toward his rented courtyard.

Not long after.

Lin Changsheng returned to the courtyard and opened the gate.

"Ying, ying, ying!"

The little white fox poked its head out from beneath the small blanket in its basket and waved a tiny paw at Lin Changsheng. After drinking the soup, it seemed to be in somewhat better spirits.

"Come. I got the Dragon Blood Pills. Take one first and see how it goes!"

Lin Changsheng took out a white porcelain bottle and poured out a pill the size of a longan. It was pale red and emitted a rich medicinal fragrance. He placed it before the little white fox.

Seeing the Dragon Blood Pill, the little white fox blinked its large eyes, held the pill in both paws, and tossed it into its mouth.

The little white fox swallowed the pill and closed its eyes.

Gradually, the white fur on its body stood on end, and it seemed more spirited.

"Mm, the Dragon Blood Pill is effective."

Lin Changsheng looked at the little white fox with great anticipation. He took out the jade slip, brush, ink, and rice paper. Once the little white fox recovered, he would have it open the jade slip.