Chapter 49 Liu Yu

The white flame started burning the lightning core essence. Despite the remaining lightning core essence struggling hard, it was fruitless against the white flame. In just a minute, it was completely refined into white flame.

Although there was no difference in appearance compared to the core essence of false Core Formation Cultivators, Shangguan Yi could sense a denser core essence within it.

Holding back his excitement, Shangguan Yi began absorbing it. The process took a bit longer than absorbing the essence of a false Core Formation Cultivator. When it was complete, the result made Shangguan Yi burst with joy—it instantly increased his cultivation by 10%. Just one core had given him such a boost. Shangguan Yi couldn’t help but regret that he hadn’t captured Tie Tu. If he had, he might have refined Tie Tu and broken through to a level 3 Core Formation Realm by now.

Still, he knew there was nothing he could do about it now. Shangguan Yi then looked into the technique function and saw no future potential for another level 3 combat technique yet.

“At the very least, I need a level 3 flame-type technique to make further upgrades. This matter involves great forces, and I need to have a level 5 cultivation first before proceeding with that step,” Shangguan Yi murmured.

He then looked into the Falling Serene Water Technique. With the information he had now, he could create a level 3 technique, the Abyssal Purification Technique.

The Abyssal Purification Technique grants a Cultivator the ability to cleanse impurities from their body and move flexibly in water.

Shangguan Yi began to throw the materials to the system and started the process right there.

…

Meanwhile, in the southern part, at the Ling Family.

“It’s damn hard to find the ingredients for refining the essence in such barren land. Luckily, I have the main ingredients. As for the subtle ones, I can replace them. I remember there’s Red Lily on the mountain behind. I’ll go for a walk for a while,” Ling Han stood up and opened the door.

“Where are you going?” Just as he stepped out, he was greeted by a beautiful woman.

Ling Han pretended to be causal and aloof when he saw her. He believed that, having encountered all kinds of women in his previous life, he couldn't be swayed by such a young woman before him.

Seeing his expression, Liu Yu couldn’t help but curse inwardly, [Hmph! This pretentious fool! I still remember him looking at me with lusty eyes at the banquet. Now, he acts so mysterious! What a faker!]

Back at the banquet, Liu Yu arrived to receive the new disciple of the Ling Family as ordered by her Master. Although she was quite surprised by the sudden change in the quota, she didn’t want to entangle herself in the conflict within the Ling Family. Having traveled through many families before, she was used to such tricks and turned a blind eye to it.

But who would have thought the previously named quota holder would suddenly appear? He was none other than Ling Han. Despite being looked down upon by others in the banquet, he turned a deaf ear to it and challenged Ling Yun right then and there. What everyone didn’t expect was that he could beat and injure Ling Yun, a level 3 Foundation Establishment Cultivator, with his level 1 Foundation Establishment Realm abilities.

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This shocked everyone on the spot, even Liu Yu was quite surprised. But that was not enough for her to linger in the Ling Family this long, as chaos time was about to arrive. Unexpectedly, Ling Han shamelessly boasted, “Miss Liu, you’re sick, I can heal you.”

These words stopped her in her tracks. How could her cultivation problem be known to others? She had the intention to kill Ling Han right then, but who would have thought Ling Han wasn’t afraid of her in the slightest? He let her grip his neck without any fear of death, which moved her. After then, Ling Han gave more and more hints about it, making her slowly believe in him, though she remained suspicious.

Ling Han looked at Liu Yu from head to toe. This young woman was truly beautiful. Her looks were like autumn, her skin as fair as the moon. She seemed to be only seventeen or eighteen, but she was actually twenty-five and possessed an elegant demeanor and beauty that could bring disaster to a country and its people. However, her aura was as cold as an icy mountain, driving away any who dared to approach.

“Miss Liu, I’m going to collect some ingredients to refine pills. Would you like to come with me?” Ling Han invited.

“You can refine pills?” Liu Yu looked at Ling Han with newfound interest.

“There are many things in this world that I can do. Refining pills is easier for me than eating bananas.” Ling Han said, recalling his previous life where he was known as the Pill Refiner Emperor. Asking him if he could refine pills was really a disgrace to his name. In his previous life, such a question would have made others laugh at Liu Yu.

“Oh, since you’re so confident, I’ll go with you and see for myself,” Liu Yu replied coldly, but deep down she sneered.

“Okay. Let’s go.” Ling Han ignored her expression and didn't care what she thought. He activated his technique and took the lead.

Liu Yu followed immediately, matching her speed to Ling Han's.

The Ling Family was a great family, and their territory was much larger than that of the Xia Family. There were huge mountains behind the Ling Family estate, used both as a martial ground and a hunting ground.

Ling Han and Liu Yu spent fifteen minutes to reach their destination.

“It’s here. Let’s walk,” Ling Han said enthusiastically, not showing any signs of fatigue despite activating his technique continuously for fifteen minutes.

As cold as she was, Liu Yu was quite surprised by this, but she didn’t show it on her face.

Ling Han took each step forward slowly, as if he were strolling through his own back garden. The scenery is not bad here.

However, as he walked, he furrowed his eyebrows from time to time.

“What’s the matter?” Liu Yu finally couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked.

“The natural essence in this mountain is starting to decline. By my calculations, it won’t be a year before the natural essence completely dies down,” Ling Han said solemnly. As an expert pill refiner, he had come into contact with countless ingredients and herbs, and was very familiar with them. He could detect abnormal growth with just a glance, something Shangguan Yi could not compare to.

Hearing this, Liu Yu swept her Divine Sense over the herbs around them, at this moment the aura of a Core Formation Cultivator was fully releasing, scaring the living beings around. She was a core disciple from the academy in the imperial city, so it was not strange that she had reached the Core Formation Realm at 25. Moreover, she was not a new Core Formation Cultivator, but a genuine level 3.

However, despite her cultivation, she couldn’t see the change yet.

Ling Han wasn’t surprised by this. A mere Core Formation Cultivator using pure force to detect such subtle changes was impossible.

“Forget it. If you search like that, even if you search all day, you won’t see it,” Ling Han shook his head.

Liu Yu ignored him and continued searching, but just as Ling Han said, no matter how she searched, she couldn’t find anything abnormal. However, she didn’t give up.

“Sigh, I’ll help you once. Focus your Divine Sense on one specific herb and calm your mind,” Ling Han said.

From her previous experiences, Liu Yu had come to believe that Ling Han harbored some secrets. Although she couldn’t pinpoint them now, she knew his words were credible. Therefore, she gathered her Divine Sense and focused on a single herb. The result didn’t disappoint her; she could sense the slight change in the herb. She then continued to the next one, with the same result.

Seeing that she could do it with just one teaching, Ling Han couldn't help but be surprised. [Her potential is not bad. She deserves to be my maid,] he thought.

Meanwhile, Liu Yu also pondered the mystery of Ling Han. The more they interacted, the more enigmatic he seemed.

“Let’s go. We haven't seen the Red Lily yet,” Ling Han said, losing interest in investigating further. The chaos time was approaching, and because not being confident in his safety during this period, he decided to remain with the Ling Family to increase his strength before heading to the imperial city with Liu Yu.

This time, Liu Yu didn’t say anything. She simply nodded and followed quietly.

They walked for about ten minutes without encountering any beasts, due to the previous aura of Liu Yu.

When they were about to reach the area where the Red Lily grew, Liu Yu suddenly stopped Ling Han. “There’s someone ahead. His aura is unstable.”

Liu Yu quickly positioned herself in front of Ling Han. The method to solve her cultivation problem was within Ling Han’s grasp, and she couldn’t let him be in danger.

Despite having had very high cultivation in his previous life, Ling Han was just a but level 1 Foundation Establishment Cultivator now. It wasn’t strange that he couldn't sense something ahead before Liu Yu did.

Not far from them lay an old man with matted hair and one arm, breathing his last breaths. Yet, he still clutched a spear tightly, as if unwilling to part with it even in death.