315-316

Chapter 315: The Sacred Ground Sword God War

"You've just begun to recover, so it's best not to wander around. Rest and recuperate,"

The white-bearded elder kindly advised.

"Mm."

Li Hao nodded.

He could feel the state of his body, worse than ever before. Spending too long in the void had shattered his battle body and left it deeply corroded by the void's energy. These forces seemed to have solidified within him, like vicious barbs constantly tearing at his flesh, their destructive power matching his innate healing abilities.

He could only rely on the slow healing offered by his "Concealment and Cultivation" attribute.

The Dao energy circulating within him had also dissipated significantly, causing his cultivation to plummet to the early stages of True Person Realm. He needed to condense his Dao energy again.

This injury was severe, but thankfully, he had at least survived.

Escaping from the grasp of a Saint was nothing short of a miracle.

Thinking of the Void Saint and the Sun Saint, a surge of killing intent flared within Li Hao, but he quickly suppressed it. He pushed aside these thoughts, knowing that his priority was to recover from his injuries.

"Judging by your accent, you're not from our Canglan Realm, are you?"

The white-bearded elder inquired gently.

Canglan Realm? Li Hao's heart stirred, a silent sigh of relief escaping him. At least it wasn't Yunxia Realm.

Otherwise, with his current strength, remaining under the watchful eyes of his enemies would be far too dangerous.

"I was pursued by my enemies and fled here from another realm. Thank you for your hospitality, senior,"

Li Hao said humbly, his words partially truthful, though he omitted the fact that his pursuers were Saints.

The white-bearded elder's eyes flickered slightly, a smile gracing his lips. "The world of martial arts is fraught with conflict, it's hard to avoid. I won't pry into your enemies' affairs. This is the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground. You can stay here and recover peacefully."

"Thank you," Li Hao expressed his gratitude once more.

The white-bearded elder said no more, instead picking up nearby herbs and meticulously grinding them into a fine powder.

A gentle breeze swept through the courtyard. The woman's sword movements seemed to draw in the energy of the heavens. White energy gathered at the tip of her blade, swirling like ribbons, graceful and beautiful, yet imbued with a sharp, cutting edge. It was a perfect blend of softness and strength, a profound expression of the Way of Gentleness.

Sitting on a straw mat, Li Hao watched, recognizing the profound depth of the woman's swordsmanship. It was no less impressive than his own.

His own Sword Dao was still at the 6th stage, and he had yet to grasp any other skills to the point of spiritual integration, preventing him from reaching the 7th stage.

His continuous battles had propelled his realm, but his swordsmanship and martial arts had lagged behind. During combat, he felt a sense of inadequacy. This period of rest was a perfect opportunity to improve his swordsmanship.

A thought struck Li Hao, and he brought up his status panel, examining his current attributes:

Body Dao: 9th stage, Governing Dao: 7th stage, Movement Dao: 6th stage, Sword Dao: 6th stage, Martial Arts Dao: 6th stage.

And his skills: Chess Dao: 6th stage, Music Dao: 4th stage, Literature & Calligraphy Dao: 4th stage, Carving Dao: 4th stage, Culinary Dao: 9th stage, Painting Dao: 7th stage, Fishing Dao: 5th stage.

Remaining Skill Points: 5.

Mindset: Literature & Calligraphy Heart, Carving Heart (Usable)

The two Mindsets he had exchanged for 200 Merit Points in the Merit Treasury had allowed Li Hao's Literature & Calligraphy and Carving to smoothly reach the 4th stage, enabling him to continue gaining experience.

If he had relied on his own understanding and practice, it would have taken at least two or three months of complete immersion, neglecting everything else. This had saved him several months of effort.

Currently, the best choice for his third skill was Chess Dao, which was already at the 6th stage.

After his game with the Emperor Yu, Li Hao had faintly touched upon the spiritual integration of Chess Dao. Now, he was just a step away.

Suddenly, a distant bell resonated.

The bell's sound was like a resonant drum, causing a pleasant tremor in one's heart, as if clearing away all distracting thoughts.

"Grandpa, I'm going to the Sacred Ground for my morning practice,"

Inside the courtyard, the woman finished her sword practice, turning to look towards the alchemy room. Her gaze swept over Li Hao before she addressed the white-bearded elder.

"Mm."

The white-bearded elder, engrossed in grinding the medicinal powder, simply responded without looking up.

Li Hao watched as his savior soared into the sky on her sword, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

The courtyard fell silent once more, the only sound the rhythmic grinding of the stone mortar.

Li Hao was curious about his surroundings, but he knew that rushing into exploration would be counterproductive. He was in no hurry, so he closed his eyes and rested, focusing on healing.

Time flew by.

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to his recuperation and the self-healing power of Concealment and Cultivation, one-third of the void's corruption within Li Hao's body had been purged, and his complexion was improving.

Now, in the courtyard, Li Hao sat on the veranda, his legs swinging playfully over the edge. He held a small, chopstick-sized wooden knife, its blade dancing nimbly between his fingers. On a piece of wood, he was slowly carving the image of an elder, with kind eyes and a gentle smile.

Soon, with the final stroke of the knife, Li Hao finished his work. Seeing the experience notification pop up on his panel, a smile graced his lips.

During this month, he had initially planned to focus on Chess Dao and Fishing Dao, aiming to achieve spiritual integration in both. However, no one here seemed interested in playing chess, and solo practice didn't yield any experience. As for fishing, that was out of the question for now; he'd need to venture outside the Sacred Ground to find a suitable spot.

His injuries weren't fully healed, and Li Hao didn't want to risk any further complications by wandering around.

With nothing better to do, he had decided to improve his Carving Dao in the courtyard.

He would need to improve it eventually, and the tranquility of the place was perfect for solitary carving.

Besides accumulating experience in carving, he also occasionally pondered the final spark of insight needed for Chess Dao, but he hadn't found the answer yet.

"Your carving skills are quite impressive. Have you studied them extensively?"

The white-bearded elder's voice came from behind him. He glanced at the elder Li Hao had carved, and his eyes softened slightly upon recognizing his own likeness. "I just received word that we need to refine 300 doses of Concentration Pills today. Would you be willing to help?"

"Of course."

Li Hao put away his small knife and placed the wooden carving of the elder on a nearby wooden rack.

Besides the elder, there were many other carvings there, including many of Li Hao's acquaintances from the human realm, as well as the little white fox and other notable demons he remembered.

After placing the carving, Li Hao went to the alchemy room.

After a month of interaction, Li Hao had learned the identity of this old man. His name was Lin Shanhai, a high-ranking alchemist in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground, holding a position of great prestige, second only to the semi-saint elders.

The Great Yu Dynasty also had alchemists, under the control of the royal family. Martial arts sects also had their own alchemists, but their formulas and techniques were limited, and their treatment couldn't compare to the royal alchemy academy.

"It's the same as always. You handle the initial stir-frying, and I'll take over the refining process,"

Lin Shanhai moved the medicinal herbs over and instructed Li Hao. "Your family's stir-frying technique is truly exceptional. Ever since you started helping, the yield of my pills has increased, and the quality has improved significantly. However, it's also led to a lot more work…"

He sighed, a hint of helplessness in his tone, but a smile remained on his face.

After all, each pill refining session brought a certain amount of profit, and more work meant more benefits.

"It's just a minor trick, nothing special,"

Li Hao chuckled. He hadn't expected his Culinary Dao to be connected to alchemy.

Previously, while watching the old man refine pills and smelling the unique fragrance of the pills, he had a sudden idea. He wondered if his Culinary Dao could be used to cook medicinal herbs into delicacies comparable to pills.

With this thought in mind, he borrowed some leftover low-grade medicinal herbs from the old man and experimented with cooking them. With the core essence extraction ability of his 9th stage Culinary Dao, he extracted the essence of the herbs and created simple medicinal dishes. The effects were indeed comparable to pills.

Moreover, unlike pills, there were no fire toxins, and they were pure and easily absorbed. Even in Li Hao's unique situation, he could absorb them as dishes, without being blocked by his panel.

"It's not a minor trick at all. It's a refining technique that many alchemists dream of mastering. The core of alchemy is refining, followed by the ratio and refining process. Your refining technique is the best and most unique I've ever seen. Even I, an old man, am in awe,"

Lin Shanhai exclaimed. "Your ancestors must have been an incredibly skilled alchemist. They must have transformed this refining technique into a cooking method to prevent outsiders from discovering it and passed it down in this obscure way."

"….Perhaps."

Li Hao felt a little embarrassed. The casual explanation he'd given for his refining skills had led the old man to imagine a backstory filled with grudges and hidden secrets. He even believed that Li Hao's pursuit was due to the secret being leaked and attracting the attention of those with ill intent.

Li Hao naturally didn't correct him... it was all for the best.

At this moment, he stepped forward to help prepare the medicinal herbs.

When Lin Shanhai lit the furnace, Li Hao immediately used his palm to activate the medicinal herbs, stir-frying and refining them in mid-air, using his Qi as a spatula to extract the essence of the herbs.

Soon, the medicinal herbs were cooked, releasing a vibrant green juice.

Lin Shanhai, experienced in this process, knew exactly what to do and opened the furnace lid.

Li Hao poured all the refined medicinal juice into the alchemy furnace.

Lin Shanhai's palm glowed with fire as he began to manipulate the medicinal herbs within the furnace for condensation.

The two worked in perfect harmony, and soon, pill after pill, exuding a fragrant aroma, emerged from the furnace.

"Done."

Two hours later, all 300 doses of Concentration Pills were refined.

A smile spread across Lin Shanhai's face as he patted his old back.

"With your help, it's so much easier. You're new to Canglan Realm, with no family or friends. If you're willing, you can stay here and become my alchemy assistant. Once you learn those few intermediate formulas, you can become an intermediate alchemist and enjoy extraordinary status. In the future, I'll also pass on my advanced formulas to you."

"Elder Lin, you're too kind. It's just a small favor, and mentioning formulas is too much,"

Li Hao shook his head.

Lin Shanhai shook his head and chuckled. This wasn't the first time he'd made this offer, and Li Hao had repeatedly refused, so he was used to it.

"Come, have some tea."

Lin Shanhai brought over some tea and invited Li Hao to join him for a rest.

Li Hao sat down at the tea table and sipped tea with him, his gaze falling upon the woman practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard.

Her name was Lin Qingying, Lin Shanhai's granddaughter and one of the Ten Saint Maidens of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground. She possessed exceptional swordsmanship talent and a Saint Bone, leading some to believe she was a reincarnated Saint.

However, a reincarnated Saint, before achieving Sainthood, couldn't recover all their memories.

For now, she was simply Lin Shanhai's granddaughter.

"Miss Lin is truly diligent…"

Li Hao watched the woman tirelessly practice her swordsmanship day after day, feeling a pang of shame. Whenever he saw these people diligently cultivating, he felt a sense of guilt.

However, thinking that his carving was also a form of cultivation, he felt slightly better.

"The Sacred Ground Sword God War will be held soon. It will determine the strongest prodigy within the Sacred Ground, who will represent the Sword Ancestor Sacred Ground in the All-Saint Prodigy War. The spots are extremely precious, related to the path to Sainthood. Naturally, she doesn't dare to slack off,"

Lin Shanhai held his teacup and spoke with a smile, but a hint of worry flickered in his eyes.

Conflict with others inevitably leads to injury, and even death.

But all things compete, and stagnation leads to decline. This path is destined to be paved with blood and tears.

During his time here, Li Hao had also learned a lot about the All-Saint Lands and was no longer as unfamiliar with the place as he initially was.

The Thirty-Three Realms, with their 108 Saints, had seen many Saints, through avatars or reincarnations, descend into the mortal realm for cultivation and refinement since a thousand years ago.

Also, since a thousand years ago, every hundred years, there would be a prodigy war that swept across the Thirty-Three Realms, encompassing numerous dynasties.

It was said that the victor would receive the incense of all nations and achieve Sainthood on the spot!

This led to the All-Nation Prodigy War being incredibly fierce every hundred years, with many reincarnated Saints participating in the competition.

Dong! The morning bell rang.

Lin Qingying heard the bell and slowly sheathed her sword. She turned to see the old man and young man drinking tea in the courtyard, her expression calm.

Over the past month, she had grown accustomed to Li Hao's presence. She had also learned from her grandfather that the person she had rescued was from an alchemy family, but his ancestors had likely encountered misfortune, leading to the decline of his family. Now, he had become her grandfather's alchemy assistant.

She wasn't interested in alchemy, so she didn't pay much attention to him.

"Grandpa, I'm going to the Sacred Ground for my morning practice,"

Lin Qingying told Lin Shanhai.

Then, she soared away on her sword.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 316: The Path of Go Enters the Spirit (Two-in-One)

"This child… I hope she can cultivate what she desires in this life…"

Lin Shanhai watched his granddaughter depart, shaking his head with a soft sigh.

Given Lin Qingying's aptitude, possessing a Sacred Bone, coupled with the frequent occurrences of Sage reincarnations and the exposure of their incarnations over the millennium, it was hard not to suspect that she was also a Sage reborn. However, who that Sage was remained unknown.

But Lin Shanhai didn't feel any discomfort. At least in this lifetime, she was his granddaughter, the one he had personally raised from infancy.

Lin Qingying's parents had passed away early, and he had been the one caring for her since she was little. He had soothed her cries, witnessed her childish mischief and gentle nature, all of which were etched deep within his heart.

"Elder Lin, why do these Sages seek rebirth?"

Li Hao, holding a teacup, inquired curiously.

Lin Shanhai, refilling his own cup with the teapot, looked up at the blank white clouds outside the eaves. A gentle breeze danced through the courtyard, creating a sense of tranquility and comfort.

He took a sip of tea, then turned with a light smile, "You, my boy, still claim you don't know how to refine pills!"

"If you were a true martial artist, you should know that these Sage reincarnations are in pursuit of the ultimate martial realm, where all paths are perfectly intertwined. It's said that cultivating each realm to its peak holds a profound and hidden secret, especially the Sixth Realm!"

I really don't know how to refine pills… Li Hao chuckled wryly. Ever since he displayed his unique skill of stir-frying and refining, the old man had treated him as the descendant of a long-fallen pill refining family. His explanations were seen as attempts to conceal his identity, a sign of distrust, as if he was being evasive.

He naturally wouldn't bother explaining further, lest he offend the old man.

"The Sixth Realm? Is there some profound meaning behind it?"

Li Hao's heart stirred, and he asked with curiosity.

"How would I know? No one has been heard of cultivating all the realms to completion, not even the Sages."

Lin Shanhai shook his head.

"What?"

Li Hao was startled, looking at him in disbelief.

Sages possess long lifespans, and the history of the Sacred Lands is incredibly ancient, far older than the Great Yu Dynasty. While the various martial realms are difficult to achieve, those who become Sages naturally possess exceptional talent and resources. With enough time, they should be able to gradually cultivate them all.

Yet, those exalted Sages had failed to master all the realms?!

Ever since encountering individuals who mastered several realms during his encounter with the Dao Law Realm, Li Hao had subconsciously assumed that Sages had mastered all of them. But now it seemed that wasn't the case.

"Your ancestors were pill refiners, it's natural for you to be unfamiliar with martial arts. The realms aren't so easy to cultivate."

Seeing Li Hao's shocked expression, Lin Shanhai patiently and gently explained, "Other realms are one thing, but the Third Realm, the Heavenly Dharma Manifestation, requires a naturally born Sage's heart, the courage to challenge Heaven and Earth! And the Sixth Realm is even more so. It's universally acknowledged as the most difficult realm to cultivate, very mysterious. According to the secret information I've obtained, the Sages' reincarnations are primarily for this purpose."

"Hmm…"

Li Hao was stunned, the Sixth Realm being the most difficult to cultivate? Even driving the Sages to rebirth for it?

He suddenly felt a sense of surprise. Could his aptitude surpass that of the Sages?

When he cultivated the Sixth Realm, although it took him several months of contemplation, it didn't seem much different from other realms.

It just required some insight and understanding of Heaven and Earth.

"This Sixth Realm is very mysterious. It's not about insight, nor about ambition, nor about cultivation foundation, etc. No one can explain how to achieve it, but all the Sages speculate that it might be a certain state of mind!"

Lin Shanhai said, "But state of mind is the most elusive thing. It's also strange. There are countless geniuses in the world, each with different experiences and states of mind. Among those geniuses who are qualified to touch the Sixth Realm, not a single one has been able to grasp this state of mind. It's truly bizarre."

Li Hao was stunned, not expecting the Sixth Realm to be so difficult.

If he had arrived from the Immortal Gate through normal means, perhaps he would have alarmed the entire Sacred Lands.

The Void Sage's shameless attack on him was likely due to this fear.

"If it's about cultivating the Sixth Realm, why would the Sages need to be reborn?"

Li Hao couldn't help but ask.

"Naturally, because the Sixth Realm, like the Third Realm, is an irreversible realm!"

Lin Shanhai said, "Furthermore, if it's about state of mind, and even their Sage minds can't figure it out, then it's naturally best to start from a blank slate. After all, a Sage's will can sometimes create interference. Once you become aware of certain things, it's difficult to pretend you don't know them."

"Knowledge, experience, can sometimes be a terrible invasion, changing you beyond recognition."

Hearing his words, Li Hao immediately understood what he meant.

With the Dao thoughts contained within a Sage's mind, trying to comprehend things outside their own Dao would actually create obstacles.

It's easier to start over.

Even if a Sage pretends to be as pure as a blank sheet of paper, some things, once known, cannot be forgotten.

"Wishing to buy osmanthus flowers and share wine, it's ultimately not the same, as a youthful journey…"

Li Hao muttered to himself. This was probably the reason why the Sages needed to be reborn and cultivate.

Only by living another life, truly as a blank slate, could they return to their true youth.

Seeing the jumping Poetry and Literature experience increase, Li Hao ignored it.

Beside him, Lin Shanhai heard Li Hao's murmured poem, paused, and felt a certain resonance.

After carefully pondering it, a look of surprise appeared on his face. He found that it truly captured the essence of the Sages' reincarnations and cultivation.

"With your talent, becoming a literary champion in the human kingdoms wouldn't be difficult."

Lin Shanhai said to Li Hao.

Li Hao blushed slightly. The literary champion wasn't so easy to become. It couldn't be achieved with just a few lines of poetry.

"Let's not talk about that. Guests have arrived. Those fellows…"

Lin Shanhai suddenly put down his teacup, flicked the dust off his sleeve, and was about to get up to greet them. Suddenly, he remembered something, glanced at the teapot, and nudged Li Hao with his mouth,

"Quickly put this away. Also, the package of ginseng tea in my desk drawer, quickly hide it in the furnace, use the medicinal fragrance to cover it up. Those fellows have very keen noses…"

As he spoke, he stood up, put on his simple cloth shoes, and walked towards the courtyard.

Li Hao was taken aback, but his movements were swift. He scooped up the teapot and put the ginseng tea into his spatial ring. Then, he retrieved the package from the drawer and stored it in his ring as well. After that, he took a few fragrant herbs and threw them into the teapot, pouring a cup for himself and the old man.

He gently warmed the teapot with his palm, accelerating the infusion of the herbs' medicinal power, the fragrance wafting through the teacups.

At this moment, bursts of laughter came from outside the courtyard, and several elders, led by Lin Shanhai, walked in.

"You fellows, why didn't you give me any prior notice before coming?"

"It's such a short distance, what's the need for notice? We just came together to see your newly recruited medicine boy, to see what kind of prodigy he is."

Four figures entered the courtyard, three elders and a still-graceful middle-aged woman. Except for one elder who was adorned in gold and jade, exuding a noble air, the others were relatively simple, their hairpins made of wood.

But without exception, all four emanated a strong scent of herbs.

"Hmm? Is this the young man?"

The four entered the courtyard and quickly noticed Li Hao.

After all, they were guests, so they didn't rashly use their spiritual sense to probe. Their eyes swept over him, giving him a cursory glance.

Li Hao, no longer seated, quickly stood up.

Lin Shanhai saw the teapot still beside him, paused for a moment, but quickly noticed the medicinal fragrance wafting from the teacups. He couldn't help but chuckle, glancing at Li Hao, thinking that this kid was even more cunning than him.

"Come, come, please have a seat."

Lin Shanhai greeted them with a smile, asking Li Hao to fetch more tea sets and pastries.

Li Hao played the role of medicine boy, fetching cushions, teacups, and pastries for them.

"Old Lin, the batch of pills you've been refining recently, was this young man helping you with them?"

The noble-looking elder, adorned in gold and silver, asked with a smile, rubbing a jade finger ring.

Lin Shanhai seemed to have seen through his intentions, and lightly snorted, "Don't you dare have any thoughts about him. I've already decided to pass on my mantle to him."

"Look at you, why are you so hasty? Who said we were here to ask for him?" The graceful middle-aged woman, who was also a pill refiner, covered her mouth and laughed.

"Old Lin still has that temper. But speaking of which, I've seen the pills you've been refining recently. They're truly amazing. The purity is incredibly high. This isn't something you could achieve on your own." Another elder said.

Lin Shanhai didn't try to hide it. In fact, the arrival of these old friends was within his expectations. He also intended to introduce Li Hao to them, helping him expand his social circle. He wanted to keep Li Hao by his side, after all, such a rare talent for pill refining, with his unique refining skill alone, was enough to qualify him as a high-level pill refiner.

If he continued to diligently study the art of pill refining for decades, becoming a Pill Dao Grandmaster would be within reach.

"That's right, it's all thanks to Qingfeng's help. He fell off a cliff in his early years and had a miraculous encounter. Later, he was pursued and hunted by others, and was saved by Qingying. Only now has he finally settled down."

Lin Shanhai said.

Qingfeng was the alias Li Hao had given him. Although this wasn't the Cloud霞 Realm, Li Hao wasn't sure about the Sages' methods and was worried that they would track him down through his name.

Moreover, many people knew his name. If they learned of his whereabouts through those people, it would cause further trouble.

Hearing Lin Shanhai's introduction, Li Hao was speechless. The old man had thought of everything for him, creating a backstory to prevent others from investigating. He was truly thoughtful.

"I see…"

The four exchanged glances, not delving further into the matter. After all, everyone has their own secrets.

"Can you show us? Don't worry, we won't reveal anything. We just want to learn."

One of the elders said.

Lin Shanhai said with a displeased tone, "This is his unique skill. You can't just ask to learn it. You have a few high-level pill formulas, why don't you take out two to exchange?"

"Old Lin, the boy hasn't even spoken yet, why are you in such a hurry?" The elder retorted, "Two high-level pill formulas? I think you're the one who's eyeing them. If you're so capable, exchange with me. Or we can have a pill refining competition, each of us betting a formula?"

"Who wants to compete with you? I don't need your formulas." Lin Shanhai snorted.

"Alright, that pill refining duel from back then, haven't you two calmed down yet? Don't scare the youngsters." The middle-aged woman said helplessly.

Lin Shanhai stopped bickering with them and turned to introduce the four to Li Hao.

The four were all high-level pill refiners in the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, and also old friends of Lin Shanhai.

Li Hao memorized their names one by one and greeted them respectfully.

"Young man, are you willing to demonstrate? You've shown Old Lin, whatever conditions he gave you, I'll give you the same." Zhao Yingzhen, the elder with the jade finger ring, said.

"That's right. If it's an exchange, I can give you a high-level pill formula in exchange." The middle-aged woman, Shi Huajin, her eyes sparkling, stared at Li Hao with a serious expression.

As high-level pill refiners, they had all analyzed the pills Lin Shanhai had recently refined, after all, they had caused a sensation within the Sacred Land.

After analyzing them, they realized that the method of refining the medicinal power within the pills was incredibly profound, even surpassing their own skills.

Upon inquiring, they learned that Lin Shanhai, their old friend, had found a treasure.

Lin Shanhai saw the covetous looks of his old friends and secretly chuckled to himself. He picked up his teacup and calmly sipped the tea.

He only took a couple of sips before frowning. The medicinal fragrance was too strong, making the tea incredibly bitter.

This kid doesn't know how to choose good herbs… He thought to himself, but recalling the few ounces of ginseng tea he had collected over a hundred years, which he had almost exposed, his mood brightened considerably.

"If several seniors want to see, I'll just show you a little something, no need for pill formula exchange." Li Hao said with a smile.

The four were stunned, not expecting Li Hao to be so easygoing. They couldn't help but exchange glances, suddenly feeling a little guilty.

"This… there's no such thing as free learning. Young man, if you need anything, just tell us. As long as it's within our capabilities, we'll do our best to help you." Zhao Yingzhen said, no longer rubbing his jade finger ring, his expression serious.

"That's right."

The other elder, Sun Zhengshang, nodded in agreement.

"Well, I don't really need anything at the moment." Li Hao shook his head.

The group looked at each other, feeling a little headache. With Lin Shanhai present, they wouldn't be so brazen as to take advantage of a junior.

But owing someone a favor was even more troublesome.

Lin Shanhai saw their predicament and smiled, "Since Qingfeng is willing to show you, you can watch first. If Qingfeng has any trouble in the future, you can help him out a little."

Seeing Lin Shanhai say this, the four no longer hesitated and immediately asked Li Hao to demonstrate.

Li Hao went to the pill refining room, selected some herbs, and began to stir-fry them in mid-air.

Seeing Li Hao's actions, the four widened their eyes.

Stir-frying?

If it weren't for the fact that he was holding herbs, they would have thought the boy was cooking!

Their feeling was correct. Li Hao was indeed cooking, refining through cooking.

Soon, the herb cooking was complete, and a wave of medicinal fragrance spread.

The four were stunned, quickly extending their spiritual sense to observe carefully, and were immediately shocked.

The medicinal power within the herbs was actually extracted through such a simple stir-fry!

Using this medicinal power for pill refining, it was no wonder the purity and quality were enhanced. With such a valuable assistant, even they could do it!

"So that's it, a unique refining technique…"

After the shock, they all understood. It wasn't some kind of secret technique, but a special refining method. Moreover, it seemed very difficult to cultivate. Just watching it once wouldn't be enough to master it.

No wonder he didn't mind showing it. This technique was too profound, they wouldn't be able to learn it easily.

"I never imagined there was such a pill refining method. It truly opened my eyes, Zhao."

Zhao Yingzhen was a little dazed. After regaining his composure, his eyes couldn't help but gleam slightly, as if his pill refining thoughts had been broadened.

"Your name is Qingfeng, isn't it? Qingfeng, would you be willing to assist me in refining a high-level pill? During the refining process, I won't deliberately conceal anything from you. If you can learn it, it'll be your own ability. I need your refining ability to help me condense the medicinal liquid…" Shi Huajin stared at Li Hao, extending an invitation.

Li Hao was slightly stunned and couldn't help but look at Lin Shanhai beside him.

Lin Shanhai saw Li Hao's gaze and was also stunned. He immediately understood Li Hao's intention. The boy was asking whether he should agree.

And the meaning of that question seemed to be that if he agreed, he would accept the invitation out of respect for him. If he expressed indifference, the boy would probably refuse…

This was an invitation from a high-level pill refiner! Moreover, it involved a high-level pill formula, and she was willing to refine it together without reservation. What a precious opportunity! Was the boy truly uninterested?

Lin Shanhai was speechless. This was the first time he had encountered such a person.

"Since Pill Master Shi is asking for your help, if you're willing to help, then agree. It's up to you. But this is a rare opportunity. If you're not interested in the pill formula, you can ask for something else. Pill Master Shi has extensive connections and a rich background…" Lin Shanhai said with a smile.

Shi Huajin was stunned upon hearing this. Did this mean that she was willing to show him her high-level pill formula without reservation, and yet the boy wasn't interested?

"Since it's a senior's invitation, I'll accept it without hesitation."

Li Hao thought for a moment and still agreed.

Although doing this would delay his carving, it wouldn't take too long.

After all, he was Lin Shanhai's friend, and it would be impolite to refuse. He also owed Lin Shanhai a great favor.

Moreover, he was currently unfamiliar with the place, and the other party had gone to such lengths to introduce him to others. Making a few friends wouldn't hurt.

"Then what do you need?" Shi Huajin curiously asked Li Hao.

Li Hao shook his head, "I don't need anything. If possible, I'm interested in some valuable calligraphy, paintings, or Go records."

"Calligraphy, paintings, Go records?"

Shi Huajin and the others were surprised. Such insignificant things were of little use to cultivators, except for some merchants who enjoyed the arts.

Lin Shanhai had seen Li Hao carving in his spare time this month and never asked about pill refining or cultivation. He was already accustomed to Li Hao's unique nature, but when he heard this, he couldn't help but be startled.

Shi Huajin was a little doubtful and asked Li Hao twice more. After confirming that he truly only wanted these things, she didn't think much of it. Regardless of Li Hao's motives, she would find out later.

"Old Lin, why are you brewing tea with herbs? It's so bitter."

Another elder, Liu Dongting, spat out the herbs from his tea, displeased.

"You don't understand tea. Drinking some herbs will strengthen your body." Lin Shanhai chuckled.

The group continued to chat about pill refining, the Sacred Land's pill formula allocation tasks, and so on. Occasionally, the conversation turned to Lin Shanhai's granddaughter, Lin Qingying, and inevitably, the upcoming Sword God War of the Sacred Land.

All the disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land, including the Sacred Maiden, revered the sword. Their ultimate competition was in cultivation and swordsmanship. The loser would undoubtedly be a complete failure, with no excuses for differences in weapons.

Li Hao sat aside, listening quietly.

Occasionally, when someone praised him, he would respond with a smile.

After a pleasant chat, Li Hao became familiar with the names and personalities of the four, and they also remembered this quiet and special young man.

After the four took their leave, life in the courtyard returned to normal.

Time flew by.

In the following days, Li Hao, in addition to assisting Lin Shanhai with pill refining and purification, was also invited to help the four in their pill refining areas, his figure frequently appearing. He gradually gained a small reputation. The medicine boys and disciples who flattered them heard that there was a pill refining assistant who was deeply favored by several high-level pill refiners…

In Lin Shanhai's courtyard.

The night sky was brilliant, and sword light danced.

Lin Qingying finished a set of sword techniques, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and then smelled a fragrant aroma.

She turned her head and saw the pill refiner she had picked up, carrying a plate of pastries from the firewood room in the other part of the courtyard.

"Are you hungry? Do you want some pastries?"

Seeing her look over, Li Hao smiled and held up the pastries.

Lin Qingying's eyes were calm, and she didn't respond. She continued to practice another sword technique.

While performing the movements, she was also comprehending the trajectory of the sword intent.

Gurg…

Perhaps the aroma was too enticing, halfway through her practice, her stomach rumbled slightly.

Lin Qingying frowned, stopping her comprehension of the sword intent and turning to look at the pill refining room, where an old man and a young man were eating and drinking happily.

These two… when did they become so close?

Lin Qingying was slightly stunned, a hint of surprise in her eyes. She knew her grandfather's nature. Although he seemed easygoing, he had experienced many dangers in his early years and was always wary of others. But now, he seemed extremely friendly towards the pill refiner he had picked up.

"Qingying, if you're tired, come and rest for a while. Try Qingfeng's craftsmanship. It's truly amazing!"

Seeing his granddaughter's gaze, Lin Shanhai immediately held up the pastries and beckoned her.

Lin Qingying glanced at the pastries, paused for a moment, and finally slowly put away her sword and walked into the pill refining room.

"Here."

Li Hao held out the plate, letting her take it herself. As someone with his own cleanliness habits, he would be disgusted by food that others had touched.

Lin Qingying saw Li Hao's subtle action, her eyes flickered slightly, but she didn't speak. With two slender fingers as white as jade, she gently picked up a pastry and put it in her mouth.

The moment it entered her mouth, the fragrance melted away, and an indescribable sensation spread. Lin Qingying's eyes widened slightly, but she quickly returned to normal. She silently chewed it a few times.

Then, she was silent again, as if savoring the taste.

Seeing that she had swallowed, Li Hao didn't hesitate and held out the plate again.

"…"

Lin Qingying paused for a moment, then picked up another piece. This time, she put it in her mouth and slowly chewed it.

After swallowing, she looked at Li Hao and nodded, "It tastes good. Thank you for the pastries."

Then, she turned and went back to the courtyard to continue practicing her swordsmanship.

Li Hao didn't mind. He pushed the plate towards Lin Shanhai, and the old and young men ate casually.

Ever since Lin Shanhai had introduced Li Hao to Zhao Yingzhen and the others, Li Hao had become familiar with them. Besides staying in Lin Shanhai's courtyard, he would often go to their places to help or to relax.

Lin Shanhai only enjoyed pill refining and wasn't interested in Go, calligraphy, painting, or fishing.

But to Li Hao's surprise, Shi Huajin, this woman, had a considerable talent for Go.

So, besides helping out, Li Hao would occasionally visit Shi Huajin's mountain peak in his spare time to discuss Go.

The pill refiners lived in the core area of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land. The environment was spacious, surrounded by medicinal mountains. Disciples of the Sword Ancestor Sacred Land were forbidden to disturb them.

The Sword Ancestor Sacred Land was incredibly vast. Li Hao, based on Lin Shanhai's descriptions and his own deductions, estimated that the Sacred Land alone was twice the size of the Great Yu Dynasty, equivalent to the size of thirty-eight states!

The area where Li Hao helped Lin Shanhai refine pills was the size of a city, and there were only a few servants and medicine boys, making it extremely quiet and spacious.

The same was true for others, but Zhao Yingzhen's medicinal mountain was incredibly lively, with numerous medicine boys and disciples, and the entire mountain was decorated luxuriously, like a human imperial capital.

"You've put a lot of thought into your Go skills. It's not something you can achieve just by playing casually."

In the pavilion on the medicinal mountain, Shi Huajin placed a piece, blocking Li Hao's white piece. After half a month of interaction, she became increasingly interested in this young man. He was unlike anyone she had met before.

"It's just a casual hobby, I've just delved into it a little."

Li Hao smiled, his mind focused on the Go board. Her Go skills were not bad, around the fifth dan level. If he was too careless, even with his sixth dan level, he would lose.

Pride before a fall. Unless the difference in dan levels was significant, there was no saving it.

"If you're willing, I can recommend you to the Sacred Land. With the few of us recommending you, you can directly become a mid-level pill refiner, with a status comparable to that of an inner disciple of the Sacred Land." Shi Huajin said seriously to Li Hao.

Li Hao shook his head slightly. He only planned to recuperate here and improve his skills.

The status of a pill refiner meant little to him.

Seeing Li Hao's focused expression, Shi Huajin didn't say anything more and focused on placing her pieces.

On the Go board, black and white pieces interacted, and Li Hao immersed himself completely. The Go board in front of him seemed to slowly enlarge in his vision, the grid lines stretching infinitely, surrounding him.

He himself seemed to transform into a piece on the Go board.

That spiritual light, faintly, appeared. This time, Li Hao captured it.

(End of Chapter)