Chapter 12: Purification Technique

When Sun Changfu entered the side room, he wasn't planning to hand over the money just yet. He intended to delay the payment, wanting to see if the ash concoction the spirit medium prescribed would have any effect on his wife.

Then, he noticed his son had followed him into the room.

"Father, that spirit medium is just trying to scam us. You shouldn't believe her."

Sun Changfu let out a bitter laugh. "I don't believe her either, but your mother's condition is worrying me. Even the experienced doctor from the county couldn't figure out what's wrong. I'm afraid if we delay any longer, she might not make it..."

Although Sun Changfu often argued with his wife, he couldn't bear the thought of losing the woman he had shared his life with for decades.

Without hesitation, Sun Yigao told his father about Lin Xiao's abilities.

"This... This... Yigao, are you telling the truth?" Sun Changfu was astonished by what he heard.

Sun Yigao nodded and pointed to his clothes. "Father, look at me. There isn't a single stain on my clothes. When I was fetching water earlier, I spilled it all over myself, and the ground by the stream was damp, so my shoes got wet. But now, there's not a trace of dirt on me."

Sun Changfu examined his son's long robe and was at a loss for words.

It wasn't just the stains—even the ink marks that had built up on Yigao's sleeves from years of writing had disappeared.

Ordinary people couldn't have achieved this level of cleanliness, even if they had meticulously scrubbed the clothes after removing them from his son.

Sun Changfu was already convinced about seventy to eighty percent.

Sun Yigao continued, "Besides, Jiang Youfu and Lin Xiao are both from well-known families in our village. Even if something went wrong, we'd know where to find them. But that spirit medium—Grandmother hired her based on someone's recommendation, and we don't even know where she really came from. I'm not afraid of anything else, but I'm worried that if she delays Mother's treatment and something happens to her, we won't be able to find her afterward."

Sun Changfu nodded repeatedly. "You're right, son. I was being foolish. I'll find an excuse to take your grandmother and the spirit medium away. You can bring Lin Xiao and the others in to see your mother. If they need anything, and we have it at home, go ahead and use it. If we don't, take some money and buy it in town.

After all, we're already spending money to treat your mother. Instead of giving it to the spirit medium, we might as well bet on Lin Xiao."

Sun Yigao knew where the family's money was kept since his father had told him after he turned thirteen.

He reassured his father, "Don't worry, Father. I'll make sure Mother is safe."

Sun Changfu nodded with satisfaction. "Good, my son has grown up..."

After they had finalized their plan, Sun Changfu headed back to the main house.

"Oh dear, Mother-in-law, we don't have that much money at home. How about you go rest in the guest room, and Spirit Medium Song, why don't you come with me to the town bank?"

The spirit medium, thinking that this would allow her to get the money and leave without having to wait around to see if the ash concoction worked, quickly agreed.

"I think that's a good idea."

But Sun Yigao's grandmother waved her hand dismissively. "You go ahead. I'll stay here and look after my daughter."

At this point, Sun Yigao hurried into the room and said, "Grandmother, you've been working hard all morning. Please go rest and let your grandson take care of Mother."

Sun Changfu also chimed in, "That's right, Mother-in-law. Yigao is old enough now. It's only right that he shows his filial piety by taking care of his own mother."

Touched by her grandson's thoughtfulness, Sun Yigao's grandmother relented. "Alright, I'll go rest and give my good grandson the chance to care for his mother."

After sending Sun Changfu and the spirit medium out of the house, Sun Yigao helped his grandmother to a guest room, far from the main house, so she could rest.

Not long after, Sun Yigao returned to his room and led Lin Xiao and Jiang Youfu into the main house.

Lin Xiao immediately noticed Sun Yigao's mother lying on the bed. Her face was pale, her lips tinged with purple, and her eyes half-opened in a dazed state. Her mouth moved slightly as if she was trying to breathe or mutter something inaudible.

Surrounding her was that strange aura Lin Xiao had sensed before—a sinister energy slowly devouring her vital essence.

That's right—vital essence.

Ever since advancing to the second level of Qi Refinement, Lin Xiao had become aware of the vital essence that surrounded every living being. The vitality of a healthy person was strong and abundant, while those who were ill or weak had a thinner presence of this vital essence. Normally, it remained stable unless there was a significant injury or illness.

But at this moment, Sun Yigao's mother's vital essence was dangerously low, far below that of a healthy person.

The sinister energy that was consuming her vital essence... Lin Xiao guessed it must be demonic energy.

If this demonic energy continued to erode her vital essence, Sun Yigao's mother would likely not survive the night.

Lin Xiao explained the situation to Sun Yigao, who immediately bowed deeply to him.

"Please, Lin Xiao, save my mother! I'm willing to do anything—serve you, follow you—I don't care, just save her!"

Lin Xiao quickly helped him up, his expression serious. "Of course, I want to save your mother, but I must be honest with you. I'm still a novice in cultivation, and my abilities aren't very advanced. I've learned a technique that might be able to purify the demonic energy that's draining your mother's vital essence, but I'm not sure if I have enough strength to successfully use it."

The technique Lin Xiao referred to was the second level of the Purification Technique—Purification of Qi.

Thanks to the system, Lin Xiao had directly acquired this technique without needing to train for it. Although his spiritual power was limited, he was fully aware of how to use the technique.

Sun Yigao looked confused and desperate. "What can we do? Is there really no way to save her?"

Seeing the usually calm and composed Sun Yigao so distraught, Jiang Youfu felt a surge of frustration. He hated that his own cultivation progress had been so slow—he still hadn't managed to draw Qi into his body and was unable to help.

Lin Xiao estimated that using the Purification of Qi technique would be a bit beyond his current spiritual power. If he failed and exhausted his spiritual energy, Sun Yigao's mother would have no hope left.

However, he sensed that if he could advance to the third level of Qi Refinement, he might just have enough power to use the technique.

But the progress of his cultivation while on autopilot was steady and slow. The only solution...

Lin Xiao turned to Sun Yigao and said, "If you trust me, please give me some time. I'll try to break through to the third level of Qi Refinement as quickly as possible. Once I'm stronger, I might be able to save your mother."

Sun Yigao didn't hesitate. He bowed deeply once more and said, "I'll leave it to you, Brother Lin!"

With that, Lin Xiao took out the simplified version of the Taoyuan Wankong Art from Jiang Youfu's bag, sat down on the floor, and began to meditate, concentrating on comprehending the cultivation technique.