Absorption (Please Bookmark and Vote)

"Miss, I've found out everything!" Ling Ying knelt on one knee and handed two thin slips of paper to Xiao Xun'er.

Xiao Xun'er took the slips and read them carefully. But as she continued reading, her brows gradually furrowed. After finishing, she burned the slips with a firestarter.

"Elder Ling, are you sure there's no problem? Why is there so little information?"

"Miss, his background and movements are both very clear. He is Xiao Zhan's nephew and has lived in the Xiao Clan all these years. He became an orphan at the age of two and began cultivating at four. Other than cultivation, eating, sleeping, drinking tea, and reading, he likes spicy rabbit heads and roasted Magical Beast meat. A few days ago, he ran into the Back Mountain. It looked somewhat like he was breaking through to become a Fighter, but upon closer observation, he was not a Fighter. He was at the third stage of Dou Might. I watched him very carefully for a long time, and he truly was at the third stage. Because he is handsome, many girls in the Xiao Clan like him and often ask him to play with them, but he usually refuses on the grounds that he needs to cultivate. The only two he is relatively close to are Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei. Boys his age are generally playful, yet he is very self-disciplined. I imagine it is because of his experiences."

Ling Ying had a favorable impression of Lin Qing as well, not only because he had helped block Xiao Yan, but also because he sympathized with his background.

"Being handsome isn't important. What matters is that he is a seven-year-old Fighter. Such a person is rare even in the Central Plains. Even if his background had an influence, he could still tell that something was wrong with my body. He has secrets."

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Xun'er instructed:

"Since we've investigated him thoroughly, there's no need to continue. Keep searching for the key! As for Lin Qing, I'll just sound him out myself. Didn't he say I should find some medicinal liquid and have someone nourish my meridians? I'll use that matter to approach him."

"Miss, is this really...?"

Hearing Ling Ying's hesitation, Xiao Xun'er shook her head.

"Father said that one must act prudently. I'll proceed step by step. My age is an advantage, and Lin Qing is only a little older than me. I'll draw his secrets out of him."

Lin Qing knew nothing about Xiao Xun'er's preparations. Even if he had known, he would have played along. After all, obtaining the Devouring Ancestral Talisman was the most important matter at present.

On the new day, Lin Qing repeated his usual routine, except now he had a Magical Beast egg to check on every day.

That afternoon, just as he was about to leave, Xiao Xun'er came looking for him.

"Brother Lin Qing!"

A little girl in a dress stood outside Lin Qing's courtyard gate.

"Cousin Xun'er!"

Lin Qing glanced at the little girl by the gate and spoke.

"Brother Lin Qing, there is something I would like to ask of you."

"Then let's go to your place!"

Each carrying her own thoughts, the two entered Xiao Xun'er's Small Courtyard.

First step successful! ×2

After they sat down, Xiao Xun'er spoke first.

"Brother Lin Qing, because of my physique, I have to endure pain in my meridians every day. It is especially obvious whenever I cultivate Dou Qi. The clan previously invited an Alchemist to examine me, and what he said was similar to what you said. This condition will disappear once I am a little older. What I wish to ask is for you to help nourish my meridians."

She did not dislike Lin Qing. In fact, she thought he was quite a decent person. According to the information, he was relatively straightforward, which was why she had brought this up directly.

She intended to use the nourishing of her meridians to test his secrets. However, she did not truly believe that nourishing her meridians could resolve the burning of the Heavenly Flame. Her father had tried it before, and it had some effect, but it required daily treatment.

Medicinal liquid had also been tried, but its effects were limited. Perhaps it was also because the Ancient Clan's Alchemists were inferior to those of the Medicine Clan. Even the Eighth-Grade Nine-Colored Foundation-Establishing Pill her mother had taken before giving birth to her had been obtained from the Medicine Clan.

"I can't nourish your meridians. That is something only the strong can do, but I can help you sort through them with Dou Qi."

Lin Qing shook his head. He really was tempted by the little rich girl's easy life. Without the system, he might have tried raising her himself. But with the system, at most he would treat her as a childhood sweetheart and grow up with her slowly. As for the future, who could say what would happen later?

As for nourishing her meridians, considering that the little girl had not even reached the second stage of Dou Might, it would take either someone with Dou Might or a high-level cultivator to do it without damaging her meridians. Of course, he could accomplish it with his Soul Power, but the effect would not be very significant. Truly good results required a high-level cultivator.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Brother Lin Qing."

Xiao Xun'er was somewhat satisfied with Lin Qing's answer. He truly was the steady and reliable sort.

"Alright. If you feel anything unusual, tell me immediately!"

Lin Qing walked behind Xiao Xun'er and placed his left palm against her back. The Ancestral Stone was located in his left hand, so there was no need to use his right.

Through her clothes, Xiao Xun'er felt the warmth of his palm. Her heart felt strangely itchy, and her face reddened slightly as she could not help squirming.

Meanwhile, a shadowy corner of the courtyard stirred faintly.

Ling Ying wanted to step out and stop this, but Lin Qing was not even seven years old and had done nothing improper. Moreover, it had been his miss's request, so he could only silently withdraw.

Noticing the little girl's reaction, Lin Qing knew it was caused by her physique. It simply was not as powerful against a child. He no longer hesitated. Without even activating the Ancestral Stone, a force of suction came from it.

Xiao Xun'er felt that the energy leaking from the Golden Emperor Burning Heaven Flame within her body seemed to vanish.

"Mm!" Xiao Xun'er could not help letting out a muffled moan. She had never felt so relaxed before.

A quarter of an hour later, when he sensed that the Ancestral Stone had stopped absorbing, Lin Qing withdrew his hand and silently placed the golden bead condensed from the Heavenly Flame's energy into his Storage Space.

The system's voice sounded in his mind once more:

[ Ding! Choice completed. Reward issued to the System Space! ]

The Devouring Ancestral Talisman! With it, my path to becoming a Dou Emperor will be steadier and faster!

Looking at the ancient black-hole-like rune floating in his Storage Space, Lin Qing smiled in satisfaction.

The rune was not large, only about the size of a human head. Moreover, it had no fixed form, constantly writhing and changing. Yet no matter how it transformed, its shape resembled a slowly rotating black hole. Threads of domineering devouring power, as though capable of swallowing heaven and earth, seeped out from it, causing even the surrounding space to ripple.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, he quickly froze time in the System Space. He decided to refine the Ancestor Symbol after leaving the clan. Now was not the time.

"So Brother Lin Qing is already a Fighter?"

Xiao Xun'er said with her little face flushed red, while thinking with some conflict:

And the burning of the Heavenly Flame seems to have temporarily disappeared? I wonder whether Brother Lin Qing will help me sort through my meridians again in the future?

"This is our secret, so you can't tell anyone! I'll sort through them for you every few days from now on." Lin Qing said seriously as he glanced toward the shadows.

"Alright! I will!" Xiao Xun'er nodded obediently. Lin Qing's trust and concern made her feel somewhat guilty. Thinking of his background and his diligent efforts, she had still asked Ling Ying to investigate him and wanted to probe his secrets. She truly was awful!

Brother Lin Qing was probably simply more talented, or perhaps he had obtained some inheritance. But since it had nothing to do with the Ancient Jade, there was no need to report it to the clan!