Han Li flew on his Leaf-Shaped Magical Artifact, accompanied by Senior Brother Tan Ying, the man who had once berated Senior Sister Chang.
Han Li looked at Senior Brother Tan and asked skeptically,
"Senior Brother Tan, is what you said really true? Junior Brother Lin, who came out of the Forbidden Land Trial at the eleventh layer of Qi Refining, just like me... he actually reached Foundation Establishment?"
Senior Brother Tan sighed. "Junior Brother Han, it's not just you. Even now, I still feel as though I'm lost in the clouds, barely able to tell what's real. He visited our Kirin Pavilion several times before. Back then, he was only at the peak of the seventh layer of Qi Refining, nothing worth mentioning in my eyes. Who could have known that in just a year and a half, Junior Brother Lin would quietly become Martial Uncle Lin? Comparing yourself to others really can drive you to your death."
Senior Brother Tan felt miserable. If he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, he would already have become Martial Uncle Tan, admired by everyone. Why would he still need to run errands for Lin He?
Han Li also found it hard to believe. A little over half a year ago, he had met Lin He during the Forbidden Land Trial. The formidable combat prowess Lin He had displayed then had already left a deep impression on him. Yet that had not been enough. In barely more than half a year, Lin He had leaped straight from the eleventh layer of Qi Refining to early Foundation Establishment, becoming a senior whom Han Li had to look up to.
Foundation Establishment! I must reach Foundation Establishment. Only then will I truly have stepped into the cultivation world. After all, a Qi Refining Stage cultivator's lifespan is about the same as an ordinary mortal's. That hardly counts as cultivating immortality.
Han Li silently made up his mind, wishing he could attempt Foundation Establishment immediately. But he still needed to spend several years accelerating the growth of spirit medicines, and that could not be rushed.
Thus, under Senior Brother Tan's guidance, Han Li followed him to Lin He's newly established cave abode.
The newly established cave abode was quite remote, and the spiritual energy did not seem particularly abundant either. Han Li was taken aback at the sight and thought,
It seems Martial Uncle Lin thinks rather like me. We both prefer quiet, secluded places. If I reach Foundation Establishment, I'll probably choose somewhere similar.
They had just reached the entrance to the cave abode when a youthful voice rang out. "Come in."
Immediately afterward, the doors to the cave abode opened. Senior Brother Tan bowed respectfully, then led Han Li inside.
Senior Brother Tan behaved with extreme caution, afraid of offending Lin He. After all, he had bullied Senior Sister Chang before, and he feared Lin He might take revenge on him now.
Han Li, meanwhile, felt uncomfortable all over. Always cautious, he had now entered someone else's cave abode on his own. On another person's territory, his guard rose even higher, even if this Martial Uncle Lin was someone he had met a few times before.
Had it not been for the task Martial Uncle Ma had specifically assigned him, he would have taken to his heels long ago rather than put himself somewhere beyond his control.
Senior Brother Tan led Han Li along for a while before they reached a stone chamber. A handsome young man in blue robes sat upright in its center. It was Lin He.
Upon seeing Han Li, Lin He did not put on airs. Instead, he stood up and greeted him with a smile,
"Martial Nephew Han, we meet again!"
Seeing Lin He in person, Han Li finally confirmed that he was indeed the Martial Uncle Lin who had recently reached Foundation Establishment. He felt somewhat dispirited, but outwardly offered his congratulations,
"Congratulations, Martial Uncle Lin! We met during the Forbidden Land Trial a little over half a year ago. To think that after just that much time, you've already reached Foundation Establishment. Your progress truly has been astonishing."
Lin He smiled, but his reply carried a deeper meaning. "I've merely taken the lead for the time being. You're blessed with great fortune, Martial Nephew Han. I'm sure you'll successfully reach Foundation Establishment before long as well."
Han Li hastily shook his head in denial. "My spiritual root aptitude is far inferior to yours, Martial Uncle Lin. I'm sure you know how difficult Foundation Establishment is. How would I dare harbor such extravagant hopes?"
"Is that so?"
When Han Li reached Foundation Establishment, he took eight Foundation Establishment Pills in succession. Such a method could be called extravagance taken to an extreme, unmatched by anyone before or since.
When Han Li attempted Foundation Establishment, he took eight Foundation Establishment Pills in succession. Such a method could be called extravagance taken to an extreme, unmatched by anyone before or since.
Perhaps this also indirectly showed just how difficult it was to reach Foundation Establishment with four spiritual roots. After all, not everyone had so many Foundation Establishment Pills on hand like Han Li.
But claiming that Han Li had no hopes of reaching Foundation Establishment was nonsense. Clearly, he was simply keeping a deliberately low profile to avoid attracting attention.
Naturally, Lin He would not expose him. Whenever Han Li met Lin He's eyes, he had the strange feeling that he was being seen right through. Not daring to linger, he quickly took out the spirit medicines Martial Uncle Ma had instructed him to deliver.
Lin He checked them, then nodded in satisfaction. "Good. These spirit medicines have all been cultivated very well. You truly have a talent for this, Martial Nephew Han."
"You flatter me, Martial Uncle Lin. Since the spirit medicines have been delivered, I should take my leave. There are still plenty of miscellaneous tasks to deal with in the herb garden."
Han Li left in a hurry. Watching his hastily retreating figure, Lin He shook his head with a chuckle, then turned his gaze toward Tan Ying beside him.
"What are your instructions, Martial Uncle Lin?" Tan Ying asked with a start.
"You handled this matter well. This is your reward."
With a casual toss, Lin He threw him two Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Tan Ying caught them with delight. Two spirit stones for running an errand-that was the equivalent of over half a month's income. Suddenly, he felt that knowing a senior like this was not bad at all.
"Thank you for your reward, Martial Uncle Lin."
"Don't thank me just yet." Lin He's expression grew serious as he suddenly asked, "Tell me, how has Senior Sister Chang been doing at your place lately?"
"Junior Sister Chang is conscientious and responsible. Everyone likes her, and no one gives her any trouble."
Tan Ying hurriedly answered in a fawning manner, while his mind churned with speculation,
Doesn't Martial Uncle Lin already have a flower-like beauty such as Martial Aunt Chen? Is he still not satisfied? Does he want to get his hands on Senior Sister Chang as well? Why else would he care so much about her?
Seeing Tan Ying's eyes dart about as though he were pondering something, Lin He frowned and waved a hand. "Good, then. You may leave."
"Then I'll take my leave, Martial Uncle."
Unable to gauge Lin He's intentions, Tan Ying stopped dwelling on the matter. Still, he had gained two Low-Grade Spirit Stones on this trip, so he hurried away with a cheerful smile.
Watching his departing figure, Lin He silently considered, Senior Sister Chang is Senior Sister Chen's close friend, after all, and we formed a friendship during the Forbidden Land Trial as well. A little help in passing can spare her some trouble, but this is as far as I can go. If I treat Senior Sister Chang too well, it may stir up other problems. This Tan Ying might even take it upon himself to do something else to curry favor with me. That could cause Senior Sister Chen to misunderstand.
Lin He sighed. Even helping someone was not easy. Putting those thoughts aside, only then did he
put away all the spirit medicines. He swept his spiritual sense over the surroundings and confirmed that no one was spying on him, then waved a hand and entered the Portable Space.
Inside the Portable Space, starlight shone throughout the sky. At the top of the enormous funnel were already three drops of exceptionally emerald-green spirit liquid. Specks of starlight were still gathering, continuing to form more spirit liquid.
Lin He turned his attention away from the funnel and looked to the other side. There were over forty peak level one demonic beasts and over seventy upper level one demonic beasts there. By contrast, few middle- or lower-level one demonic beasts remained.
Most of them had become cannon fodder against the peak level one demonic beasts during the final two days of the Forbidden Land Trial.
Lin He felt no regret about this at all. His original plan had been to capture more high-level Demon Beasts anyway. Lower- and middle-level one Demon Beasts advanced too slowly and held up his progress far too much.
Over the past half year or so, these one hundred and twenty-odd Demon Beasts had gradually been tamed by Lin He and made to acknowledge him as their master.
They had been beaten by Lin He before, so taming them was not difficult. Now that Lin He had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, merely releasing his powerful spiritual energy left even the Peak Level One Demon Beasts trembling with terror.
Just then, a system notification suddenly sounded.
Friendly reminder: accelerating the growth of a level two spirit beast requires one medium-grade spirit stone.