Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill

Ye An had only taken a few steps when Lu Xingzhou and Shen Qing suddenly appeared from the side.

Lu Xingzhou winked and deliberately lowered his voice. "Brother Ye, that's the Liu Lineage's carriage, isn't it? I saw Liu Ruyan get off with you."

Shen Qing stood to the side, her lips twitching slightly. She didn't speak, but her eyes said it all.

Lu Xingzhou immediately grabbed Ye An's shoulder, pushing Ye An forward in a jog. He glanced back at Shen Qing, who was about ten meters away, and muttered to himself:

"Who is Liu Ruyan? The eldest daughter of the Liu Lineage, a renowned beauty in Cangwu Prefecture. You want her to personally escort her back?"

Ye An said expressionlessly, "I am Liu Family Guest Elder. I was officially registered when I was in the Meridian Opening stage. A guest retainer does things for the master, and the master sees him off. What's the problem?"

"Guest Elder? Brother Ye, no one around here knows what we're talking about. Just tell me, and I'll never tell anyone. What exactly is your relationship...?" As she spoke, she turned to look at Shen Qing again, only to find him still standing there.

"The relationship between the host and the guest," Ye An's tone remained unchanged, "If you ask again, I won't be explaining the Meridian Opening points next time."

Lu Xingzhou immediately shut up and made a gesture to seal his mouth.

Shen Qing walked up, noticing that the two men were avoiding her while they were talking. Shen Qing noticed this, so after they finished, she kicked Lu Xingzhou in the leg. "Alright, Senior Brother Ye, Lu is being disobedient. I'll teach him a lesson later."

After the three said goodbye...

Lu Xingzhou thought to himself, "He was already noticed by Liu Ruyan when he was opening his Meridian Opening...?"

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

[Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Art - Qi Condensation Chapter (First Layer): 194/800]

[Black Tortoise Mountain-Suppressing Palm - Part 1 (Initial Glance): 238/800]

Progress remains slow.

The cultivation speed of Low-B Grade Root Bone is like a narrow path—it's walkable, but not fast. Ye An knew this clearly—if the problem with his Root Bone wasn't resolved, the path ahead would become increasingly slower.

He's already at the Qi Condensation Initial Stage, and the leaps in his cultivation will become increasingly larger. If his Root Bone remains at the Low-B Grade, even without bottlenecks, there will still be some obstacles.

Ye An closed the Qi Condensation Miscellany and was about to continue circulating the "Black Tortoise Sea-Suppressing Art" when footsteps came from outside the door.

"Senior Brother Ye, there's a letter for you." A disciple standing at the door handed over a sealed envelope.

Ye An took it; it was from Lin Wanyue.

He opened the letter; it contained only one page, not very long, but packed with information.

Ye An:

Regarding the matter you mentioned earlier, my Lin Lineage has investigated through all channels in Cangwu Prefecture. Treasures that can improve Root Bone are indeed hard to find, but there is one thing we can try.

The Lin Lineage has now found a Supreme Mystic Clear Spirit Grass and a Purple Essence Mushroom) as a medicinal guide, and they have both obtained them. The only thing they haven't found yet is the main ingredient, Yin-Congealing Grass. This kind of rare grass occasionally appears in Clear River Commandery, and I have already sent people to inquire about it. If they can gather both, they can refine the Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill, which can raise the Root Bone of Grade A below Grade A by one grade.

I'll be waiting for you in Cangwu Prefectural City. -- Lin Wanyue

After reading it, Ye An saw the Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill... He had heard of this pill before. It was an Earth Grade pill, with rare ingredients and difficult to refine, but its effects were indeed top-notch. It was effective for those with Root Bone below Grade A, which was perfect for him in his current state.

Ye An thought of Clear River Commandery.

I remembered Chen Qingyao. It seemed that she went to Clear River Commandery with her mother, Widow Shen, to look for her relatives. After that, there was no news of her family in Willow Alley. I wonder how she is doing now.

Ye An stopped thinking about it and got up to go to Cangwu Prefectural City to meet Lin Wanyue first and ask her about the Tai Supreme Mystic Clear Spirit Grass and Purple Essence Mushroom in person.

Just as he stepped out of the Black Tortoise Hall courtyard, another messenger disciple quickly caught up with him. "Senior Brother Ye, there's another letter!"

Ye An stopped and took the envelope.

Upon opening it, the handwriting was more delicate than Lin Wanyue's, carrying a sense of unhurried composure.

The letter contained only a few lines:

Ye An:

Uncle Hou has returned from Clear River Commandery, bringing back a Yin-Congealing Grass. I've heard that this is beneficial for a martial artist's cultivation of their Root Bone. Ru Yan doesn't understand the art of alchemy, but she thinks Master Ye should find it useful. If you have time, you can come to the Liu Lineage for a chat. Uncle Hou is about to return to the Liu Lineage, and Ru Yan is waiting for good news at the Liu Lineage. -- Ru Yan

Ye An looked at the two letters in his hand. Lin Wanyue said that Yin-Congealing Grass was needed, and Liu Ruyan said that Yin-Congealing Grass had arrived.

Quite a coincidence, but it's just right.

Without further hesitation, Ye An headed towards Cangwu Prefectural City.

Upon entering Cangwu Prefectural City, I encountered Lin Wanyue.

Today she was dressed in a smart and practical outfit, with a sword hanging at her waist, looking like she was ready to go out at any moment.

Seeing that Ye An had finally arrived, she went up to him and asked, "Did you read the letter I gave you? So, when do you have time to go to Clear River Commandery?"

Before Ye An could speak, Lin Wanyue continued, "I've thought it all out. I've inquired about Clear River Commandery; it takes about five days by carriage. Along the way, we'll pass a bamboo forest and a rather famous 'Star-Gazing Mountain.' We can slow down and enjoy the scenery along the way."

Lin Wanyue recalled a storybook she had once read, about a man and a woman adventuring in the martial arts world, how wonderful!

Little did he know that Ye An would interrupt his fantasy the next second, "No need for that trouble, we already have news about the Yin-Congealing Grass, come with me."

Lin Wanyue was stunned. "... What news?"

Ye An led the way towards the Liu Lineage's residence. Upon reaching the gate, he said, "Let's go inside and talk."

Lin Wanyue caught up with him. "What are you doing at the Liu Lineage? Do you have any connection with the Liu Lineage? Is there any Yin-Congealing Grass here?"

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, I am Liu Family Guest Elder."

"Guest Elder?" Lin Wanyue was surprised that she had been beaten to a punch before she could even make a move.

She didn't ask any more questions, but silently followed Ye An into the Liu Lineage's gate.

Liu Ruyan was standing at the entrance of the front hall, waiting for Ye An.

She was dressed in a plain-colored dress today, her hair tied up with a wooden hairpin, looking much more composed than she had been on the transport route that day. Seeing Ye An walk in, she was about to speak when her gaze fell on Ye An Lin Wanyue him.

The two women locked eyes for a moment.

The two sat down, Liu Ruyan had tea served.

Lin Wanyue picked up her teacup and took a sip. She had originally thought that Ye An had been won over by some old man from the Liu Lineage, but it turned out to be Liu Ruyan, the eldest daughter of the Liu Lineage.

The two had met a few times, but had never spoken.

Liu Ruyan also recognized Lin Wanyue.

The girl from the Lin Lineage who entered the Demon Suppressing Guard also joined the Hanging Sword Sect, the second Sect in Cangwu Prefecture. Previously, when the Song and Lin Lineages had a dispute, news spread that Lin Wanyue, with her Qi Condensation cultivation, suppressed the entire audience in the council hall.

Liu Ruyan smiled and spoke in a very amiable tone, "Miss Lin, I've seen you from afar on several occasions in the county town before, but I haven't had a chance to say hello."

Lin Wanyue put down her teacup, a slight smile curving her lips. "Miss Liu, you're too kind. The Liu Lineage's tea is excellent."

"If Miss Lin likes them, please take some back with you later."

The two spoke with smiles on their faces, their voices gentle and friendly, as if they were exchanging pleasantries.

Liu Ruyan shifted the topic back to Ye An: "Uncle Hou has found the Yin-Congealing Grass in Clear River Commandery and should be back today. I've already sent someone to wait for him at the city gate. Master Ye and Miss Lin, please wait a moment."

Lin Wanyue glanced casually at the furnishings in the hall before her gaze returned to Liu Ruyan.

Liu Ruyan was talking to Ye An in a gentle tone, with just the right amount of distance, but Lin Wanyue noticed that when she called him "Teacher Ye," the last syllable was softer than usual.

Lin Wanyue lowered her head and took another sip of tea without saying a word.

Liu Ruyan also noticed Lin Wanyue's gaze, but did not look away, only smiled and said, "I heard that Miss Lin works in the Demon Suppressing Guard?"

"Yes, he's been given the title of Commandant of the Commandant."

"Then you must have seen quite a bit of the world."

Lin Wanyue put down her teacup. "It's alright. I've heard quite a few people say that the Liu Lineage has produced a business genius. Miss Liu has helped the Liu Lineage acquire several mining sites over the years. The Liu Lineage's rise to a higher level in the county town is largely due to Miss Liu's contributions. Perhaps in the future, Cangwu Prefecture will become Three Great Lineages."

Liu Ruyan tilted her head slightly. "Miss Lin, you flatter me. The Liu Lineage is just a small Lineage, not comparable to the Lin Lineage."

The two spoke with smiles in their eyes and in a friendly tone, but Ye An vaguely sensed that something was amiss.