A Sleepless Night and the Mysterious Yin Enchanting Physique

The people who had been in the hall also came out one after another to see what had caused the dazzling light.

Seeing Yuan Zhexian and his four companions dressed in splendid clothing, each carrying themselves with impressive bearing, they felt that the group must be extraordinary. Yuan Zhexian especially was perfect in both looks and temperament, like a being from the heavens. They then asked, "May we ask who you are? What brings you to the Lin Lineage?"

Yuan Zhexian smiled faintly. "We come from a hidden lineage and have emerged to travel through the mortal world. But it's growing dark, and we're looking for a place to stay."

Yuan Zhexian had been one thing when he wasn't smiling, but the moment he smiled, the hearts of all the women present tightened. The sight of such a perfectly handsome man made their hearts flutter.

Huo Xing, standing nearby, saw Zhao Zixuan staring fixedly at Yuan Zhexian. He was secretly furious and deeply displeased, but he maintained his gentlemanly manner and said, "In that case, friends, please take the seats of honor in the hall." He then signaled the Lin Lineage's grand elder with his eyes.

The grand elder came to his senses and immediately said, "Yes, yes, please take the seats of honor in the hall."

He then led Yuan Zhexian and the other four into the hall. Yuan Zhexian saw Lin Yan, who was still inside, and the World Seed in his soul suddenly flashed with seven-colored light. Yuan Zhexian immediately used his divine sense to examine Lin Yan. He found the man utterly ordinary in every respect, except that there seemed to be something faintly amiss about the spirit pills and medicines he carried. Yuan Zhexian then withdrew his divine sense and stopped looking at him.

The grand elder of the Lin Lineage said to Yuan Zhexian, "Please wait a moment while I attend to a family matter."

"It's no trouble," Yuan Zhexian said, waving a hand.

The grand elder then continued, "Lin Yan, even now, you're still fantasizing about pleasant things. Hurry up and dissolve the engagement, and things will be easier for everyone."

Yuan Zhexian found the scene rather funny. In his previous life, he had read far too many novels with plots like this: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west; don't bully a youth for being poor. Or ten years east of the river, then west; don't laugh at a poor man in tattered clothes. He knew these plots all too well.

Lin Yan said, "Fine, fine, fine. I'll dissolve the engagement."

That's more like it. A wise man knows when to yield. Seeing Lin Yan agree, the Lin Lineage's grand elder and Huo Xing both smiled. Zhao Zixuan remained silent, glancing at Yuan Zhexian from time to time.

But then Lin Yan said, "Dissolving the engagement means my dreams have been shattered! Shouldn't you give me some compensation for my emotional distress, to soothe my young heart?"

Huh??? Yuan Zhexian looked astonished. This plot seemed a little different from what he knew. Wasn't Lin Yan supposed to stand tall and throw out some lofty, ambitious words? Why had he shamelessly gone along with it, and even asked for compensation for emotional distress?

Hearing Lin Yan's words, the Lin Lineage's grand elder and Huo Xing were briefly taken aback. Then they asked, "What do you want?"

"Just give me ten or twenty spirit pills and medicines. My young heart needs them to soothe it, little by little."

Seeing how shameless Lin Yan was, the Lin Lineage's grand elder felt deeply embarrassed. Huo Xing's expression darkened slightly. "Do you think they're cabbages, that you can just ask for ten or twenty? I have five Qi Increasing Pills. Take them or leave them."

"Deal! I'll dissolve the engagement right now! Right now." Lin Yan took out the marriage contract written by his grandfather and Zhao Zixuan's grandfather and set it alight.

He then said to the Lin Lineage's grand elder, "Now that the matter is settled, I'll take my leave." He cast a frightened glance at Yuan Zhexian and immediately left the hall.

"What a waste." The Lin Lineage's grand elder had not expected Lin Yan to be so absurd and useless. He then said to Yuan Zhexian, "I'm sorry you had to see that. Please follow me to the guest rooms and rest." He led Yuan Zhexian to the guest rooms.

Inside the guest room, Yuan Ruochu and the others stood before Yuan Zhexian. Looking at him, Yuan Ruochu said, "Divine Son, there was something very strange about that Lin Yan today."

Yuan Zhexian sat at the tea table, holding a cup in one hand and pouring tea with the other. He said calmly, "You noticed it too, cousin?"

"That's right. His aptitude and talent are both ordinary, not even as good as that Huo Xing's. By rights, the most he should be able to achieve in this lifetime would be around the Blood Moving Realm. Yet he's actually a Grotto-Heaven Realm expert, and his cultivation aura is stable. Could he have some unparalleled opportunity?" Yuan Ruochu said.

"That's right, Divine Son. Without an unparalleled opportunity, there's no way someone with such ordinary talent could advance to the Grotto-Heaven Realm in the lower realm," Ji Jingtian added.

Yuan Zhexian took a gentle sip of tea. "You're both right. His aptitude and talent are indeed ordinary, even extremely poor. He should be someone with a great, unparalleled opportunity. I examined him with my divine sense today and found nothing unusual except for some strange things about his pills. I think we can investigate his pills."

He then said to Yuan Zifeng, "Zifeng, go and look into those pills of Lin Yan's."

"Yes," Yuan Zifeng said. He vanished in a flash, and Yuan Ruochu, Ji Jingtian, and Yuan Yan'er also left Yuan Zhexian's room and returned to their own quarters.

Night fell!

Yuan Zhexian sat by the window, sipping tea as he gazed at the bright crescent moon outside. A faint smile appeared on his face. His eyes flicked to the side, and he said softly, "Since you're here, why not come over and sit down for a cup of tea?"

"You knew I would come?" Lin Yan's figure appeared in Yuan Zhexian's room.

"My intuition told me you would come looking for me, and that it would be tonight," Yuan Zhexian said calmly.

"You're here to capture me," Lin Yan said through clenched teeth.

"Capture you? We've never met before, and I don't know you. Why would I capture you?" Yuan Zhexian's voice remained calm.

"You're definitely not ordinary people. Who exactly are you, and what is your purpose in coming to the Lin Lineage?" Lin Yan pressed.

"We're from a hidden lineage. We came only to travel through the mortal world," Yuan Zhexian replied.

Lin Yan thought to himself, A hidden lineage? Rumor has it that hidden lineages stay out of worldly affairs, but their strength is terrifying. Even imperial dynasties and some holy lands don't dare provoke them lightly. There isn't the slightest fluctuation of spiritual power from this man, but the people accompanying him have quite strong fluctuations. They're probably his subordinates. A successor of a hidden lineage? It looks like I can make some careful plans.

He then said, "Since you're a successor of a hidden lineage, how about making a deal with me, young master?"

"Let's hear it." Yuan Zhexian was interested. This was probably the first person who had dared to make a deal with him.

"Some time ago, I obtained a treasure, but some people harbored ill intentions and tried to steal it. I escaped them, but I'm afraid they'll find me sooner or later. So I'd like to ask you to deal with them for me when the time comes. To show my gratitude, I'm willing to pay you some spirit pills and medicines. My spirit pills and medicines are several times more effective than normal ones. What do you think, young master?"

Yuan Zhexian pondered for a while, then readily agreed to his request. Lin Yan left Yuan Zhexian's room with a hint of shrewd calculation in his eyes.

At that moment, four figures flickered into view before Yuan Zhexian. Yuan Zifeng cupped his hands and said, "Divine Son, I found that all the spirit pills and medicines he carries are grown and raised by himself. They grow extremely quickly, and their medicinal effects are actually several to more than ten times stronger than the originals."

Yuan Ruochu and Ji Jingtian were both slightly shocked by Yuan Zifeng's report. Several to more than ten times stronger-even the best medicinal cultivators in the upper realm could only grow spirit pills and holy medicines with effects several times stronger than the originals. Yet Lin Yan could achieve more than ten times? Could he have the talent of an unparalleled medicinal cultivator?

After these spiritual roots of heaven and earth-pills, medicines, medicinal herbs, and spirit herbs-were discovered, most would be brought back to their discoverers' lineages to be grown and raised. Those who grew them were called medicinal cultivators. Like medicinal refiners, one cultivated while the other refined.

"Divine Son, you even agreed to his request. That's too much trouble. Why don't I capture him and search his soul directly? Everything will be clear at a glance," Yuan Ruochu said.

"No!" Yuan Zhexian refused.

"Why not?" Yuan Ruochu asked, puzzled.

Yuan Zhexian explained, "First, his aptitude and talent are utterly ordinary. Second, he doesn't have the innate spiritual power of a medicinal cultivator. Yet he can grow spirit pills and medicines several times more effective than normal. That can only mean the answer lies in the soil."

Yuan Zhexian continued, "He said earlier that he obtained a treasure and was hunted for it. I think it should be this soil. He isn't a child of fortune, but he possesses a great, unparalleled opportunity. If we search his soul, we'll learn where the soil is, but because of the opportunity, we won't be able to enter. Unless someone with a great, unparalleled opportunity takes us in, no one can enter a place that produces such soil. That place could be the goal of our trip to the lower realm. That's why I'm keeping him around. Not only can we not touch him now, we must make use of him. I have my own plans for everything."

After hearing Yuan Zhexian out, everyone understood. Yuan Yan'er said admiringly, "Wow, Divine Son, you're amazing! You not only saw where the answer lay, but also planned to make use of him. Unlike certain people, who want to search souls at the slightest excuse." She stuck out her tongue at Yuan Ruochu.

"All right, all right," Yuan Zhexian said, waving a hand. "We'll leave it at that for now. You may all withdraw."

"Yes, Divine Son." The four bowed and left the room.

After they left, a faint smile appeared on Yuan Zhexian's face again. "It seems tonight is destined to be a sleepless night."

Another figure appeared in Yuan Zhexian's room. Still gazing at the bright white moon, Yuan Zhexian said without turning his head, "Miss, what important matter brings you here so late at night?"

A graceful figure slowly stepped forward. It was Zhao Zixuan.

"Zixuan heard that you are a successor of a hidden sect, young master. There's something I'd like to ask you about," Zhao Zixuan said.

"What is it?" Yuan Zhexian asked.

"Do you know of the Mysterious Yin Enchanting Physique?" Zhao Zixuan asked expectantly.

Yuan Zhexian smiled faintly and immediately said, "The Mysterious Yin Enchanting Physique is a physique of extreme cold. Those who possess it suffer the erosion of cold poison every day. More importantly, they cannot live past twenty."

Zhao Zixuan's body trembled slightly at his words, because she herself possessed the Mysterious Yin Enchanting Physique. Full of hope, she continued, "Then, young master, do you have a way to save me?"

"Of course there's a way," Yuan Zhexian said.

"Could you tell me what it is?" Zhao Zixuan asked anxiously.

"Why should I tell you? Even if I did, you wouldn't be able to do it." Looking at the anxious Zhao Zixuan, Yuan Zhexian spoke unhurriedly.

"This...?" Zhao Zixuan was completely panicked.

Yuan Zhexian then said, uncharacteristically, "But saving one life is worth more than building a seven-tiered pagoda. Miss Zixuan, I can help you, but..."

"But what?" Zhao Zixuan immediately asked.

"But the Mysterious Yin Enchanting Physique needs something of extreme Yang to dispel the cold poison in your body. As it dispels the poison, the extreme Yang substance will generate intense heat. If you're wearing clothes, I'm afraid it will harm your skin, so you'll need to take them off," Yuan Zhexian said.

"Ah...?" After her initial shock, Zhao Zixuan thought to herself, He isn't trying to take advantage of me, is he?

"Miss Zixuan, rest assured, I'm an honorable gentleman. I absolutely won't lay a finger on you. If you think I'm using this as an excuse to take advantage of you, I can simply close my eyes. If even that won't do, then I truly can't help you," Yuan Zhexian declared earnestly.

"Th-then, all right." To rid herself of the suffering caused by the cold poison as soon as possible, Zhao Zixuan could only choose to believe Yuan Zhexian.

Her pretty face flushed red, and she slowly undid her clothes. A perfect naked body appeared before Yuan Zhexian, curvaceous and well-proportioned, with skin as fair as a baby's. Zhao Zixuan covered her chest with one hand and her lower body with the other. Yuan Zhexian immediately closed his eyes and told her to lie down on the bed.

Lying on the bed and looking at Yuan Zhexian with his eyes closed, Zhao Zixuan felt her heart pounding faster and faster, her whole body flushing slightly. With his perfect looks, noble character, and formidable background, it was impossible not to be attracted to him. Yuan Zhexian waved a hand, and an Extreme Yang Holy Pill appeared in the air. "I'm going to begin," he said. With a flick of his finger, the Extreme Yang Holy Pill immediately entered Zhao Zixuan's body.

Zhao Zixuan's body gave off a faint red glow from time to time, accompanied by pained moans. Seeing that everything was done, Yuan Zhexian walked straight back to the window and sat cross-legged, waiting for the Extreme Yang Holy Pill's power of extreme Yang to purge the cold poison from her body.

And so the night passed. Early the next morning!

The Lin Lineage's grand elder, its disciples, and Huo Xing arrived early outside Yuan Zhexian's room. Sensing their approach, Yuan Zhexian opened his eyes, rose, and went to open the door.

"Young master, did you rest well last night?" the Lin Lineage's grand elder asked when Yuan Zhexian opened the door.

"Very well. Thank you for your hospitality, Grand Elder." Just as Yuan Zhexian finished speaking, Zhao Zixuan awoke inside the room. The cold poison in her body had been completely purged, and her cultivation was on the verge of breaking through to the Blood Moving Realm. Stretching and straightening her clothes, she walked out of the room.

A stir broke out. In an instant, everyone was dumbfounded. In broad daylight, Zhao Zixuan had walked out of Yuan Zhexian's room, her face rosy as she straightened her clothes. Their minds could not help running wild.

"Y-you... you..." Huo Xing's eyes were bloodshot, and his fists were clenched tight. His Blood Moving Realm cultivation aura burst forth in an instant. Seeing the woman he loved walk out of another man's room, his heart was bleeding. He flew into a rage and, without stopping to find out what had happened, sent a punch blasting straight at Yuan Zhexian.

Yuan Zhexian remained unmoved as he watched Huo Xing's punch come at him, his eyes full of indifference.

"How dare you!"

Yuan Zifeng appeared from who knew where in an instant, placing a single finger against Huo Xing's fist. "An ant like you dares act so insolently toward the young master?" Golden light flashed from his finger, and the recoil sent Huo Xing smashing heavily into the wall.

Huo Xing slowly got to his feet, clutching his chest. He was already seriously injured. He stared at Yuan Zifeng in disbelief. He could tell Yuan Zifeng was strong, but he had never imagined he was strong enough to seriously injure someone in the Blood Moving Realm with a single finger.

He immediately roared at the sky, "Elder, help me kill them! I want them to suffer a fate worse than death!"