After nearly two hours, Lin Yubai exhaled a deep breath, slowly awakening from his meditative state of respiration and circulation.
Following an initial moment of disorientation, a hint of emotion appeared in his eyes. After being cleansed by the righteous qi within the sheathed daoist knife, the healing speed of his internal injuries had increased by at least thirty to forty percent.
It was precisely because of this effect that less than two hours of treatment had yielded results far surpassing the previous four to five hours.
The injuries sustained in the recent battle with the demonic path had already recovered by about half. Although a complete recovery was still a long way off, it was sufficient to not significantly impact his combat effectiveness.
In this state, Lin Yubai was confident that he could exert about seventy to eighty percent of his full combat power. As long as the fighting was not overly intense, his injuries would not worsen.
After assessing his internal condition, he shifted his gaze to the side, focusing on the young man not far away.
Looking at the boy's face, reflected in the firelight, a sense of curiosity arose within him. The longer they interacted, the more he marveled at the young man before him.
Lin Yubai had indeed heard about the Xuan Tian lineage’s return with fortuitous destiny. As an inner sect prodigy and the disciple of the Peak Master of Lei Ze Peak, he knew more than ordinary disciples, and even elders.
Therefore, he found it somewhat difficult to comprehend how a declining lineage from a third-rate county could produce a youth comparable to the prodigies of the Nine Xuan Sect.
Yes, although the latter's cultivation was still somewhat lacking and his combat power was not yet fully developed, he already possessed the aura of an inner sect prodigy.
With time, and a slight breakthrough in his realm, coupled with enhanced refinement of his spiritual treasures, he would undoubtedly be no weaker than the inner sect prodigies.
It was truly hard to imagine such a youth emerging from a small county, from a lineage that had declined for hundreds of years.
When the final batch of Spirit Nourishing Pills was successfully refined, Ji Yuan exhaled a heavy breath. Although his spiritual power had not been significantly depleted due to the support of the Xuan Tian Spirit Devouring Pagoda, the fatigue could not be easily dispelled.
He shook his head, silently circulated the Myriad Origin Manifestation Divine Technique to clear his mind, and then waved his hand to cease the infusion of spiritual power.
The flames on the bronze alchemical furnace extinguished almost instantly, and the surrounding temperature rapidly decreased, leaving only a residual warmth after a short while.
As the lid was opened, five round, white pills flew out, guided by Ji Yuan's spiritual power, and finally landed in a prepared jade bottle.
Including the ones just refined, he now held nine bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills. Although they were only the most basic type, providing a vast amount of pure spiritual energy, they were already extremely precious.
A total of nine bottles, each containing five pills, had consumed nearly seventy percent of the Xuan Tian Spirit Devouring Pagoda’s immense spiritual energy. If converted into spirit crystals, it would be enough to condense hundreds of them.
In terms of silver, this would equate to at least several million taels of silver, or about a million taels of snowflake-patterned silver!
Despite being only mid-grade, the Spirit Nourishing Pills refined with such a vast amount of spiritual energy possessed efficacy far exceeding high-grade pills. A single pill would allow a cultivator in the Spirit Pointing realm to engage in even the most intense battles without worrying about their spiritual power running out.
Moreover, these pills contained a small amount of vitality, which not only provided abundant spiritual energy but also nourished the meridians and aided in healing injuries.
“Take this!”
After putting away the bronze alchemical furnace, Ji Yuan sent out a stream of spiritual power, carrying four jade bottles, to Lin Yubai.
The latter was initially stunned, then smiled and accepted them into his mountain and river pouch. However, after hearing about the pill's effects, his expression became somewhat complex.
“I’ll remember this. I’ll compensate you when I have the chance.”
He did not refuse, as he genuinely needed the pills, and could only find an opportunity to repay the favor later.
As a prodigy of the Nine Xuan Sect, he could roughly estimate the value of the pills just by hearing about them. However, he truly had nothing on him that was both needed by Ji Yuan and equivalent to these four bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills.
“Don’t forget to include the jade bottles when you settle the debt.”
Ji Yuan slowly stood up and reminded him with a serious expression.
Lin Yubai was taken aback for a moment, then let out a few helpless laughs. Their time together had allowed him to gradually understand the young man before him.
After surveying their surroundings once more, the two of them quickly walked out of the treasury, preparing to leave the inner city and confront Ji Changlin and the others again.
Although there was no concrete evidence, if their suspicions were correct, these individuals were likely concealing many matters, and possibly even plotting to use them.
Even though they could simply leave and depart the inner city from another direction, Ji Yuan and Lin Yubai, after some consideration, decided to engage with these people first, to see if they could extract any useful information.
There was no other choice. As the underground dojo was continuously explored, the Nine Xuan Sect would eventually enter Xuan Huang City. Without any knowledge of the situation within, it would inevitably lead to more trouble.
If they could obtain some useful intelligence, allowing their sect to gain a preemptive advantage in the future, it might increase their chances of securing the ultimate opportunity.
Both Ji Yuan and Lin Yubai knew that the Nine Xuan Sect's objective was the Scarlet Heart Daoist, who, at the Golden Core realm, could contend with great powers thousands of years ago. They sought the Minor Xuan Huang Scripture obtained from a meteor, and the spiritual treasure forged from that meteor.
As an inner sect prodigy and the direct disciple of the Peak Master of Lei Ze Peak, Lin Yubai understood even better than Ji Yuan that, compared to the Minor Xuan Huang Scripture, the sect's true focus was the spiritual treasure forged from the meteor.
Legend had it that the core forbidden land of the Nine Xuan Sect was formed from a meteor, and even the entire mountain range where their sect was located had become a spiritual land for cultivation because of this meteor.
“Something’s not right…”
As soon as they stepped out of the treasury, Ji Yuan frowned slightly, a strange feeling arising in his heart for no apparent reason.
The two exchanged glances and immediately stirred their internal spiritual power, ready to act at any moment.
A moment later, they stepped out of the room, and a gust of wind inexplicably swept through the courtyard before them.
The wind carried a chilling coldness and chaotic, violent thoughts. It was clearly not a normal breeze, but an icy, bone-chilling killing intent!
“Be careful!”
Ji Yuan shouted. The Xuan Tian Spirit Devouring Pagoda above his head began to rotate, casting down wisps of radiant light.
Almost at the same instant, a whistling sound erupted from all directions, and the next moment, several dark figures streaked towards them, their dense, violent killing intent surging like a tide!
The speed of the dark figures was so great that he had no time to react, and could only rely on the Xuan Tian Spirit Devouring Pagoda above his head to forcefully resist.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Several dull thuds followed, and the radiant light flickered violently, almost collapsing under the immense force.
Illuminated by the brilliant light, the two finally saw the true forms of the dark figures – they were individuals with turbid eyes and bodies filled with deathly energy!
Their appearances were no different from those of Ji Changlin and the others, with the only distinction being the astonishing chaotic killing intent they constantly emanated.
Their turbid eyes seemed to hold endless murderous desire and madness, as if ready to erupt at any moment.
“Get lost!”
Lin Yubai let out a low growl, and lightning surged from his body.
In the next instant, several bolts of lightning erupted, striking the enemies before them with astonishing speed, sending them flying dozens of feet back, smashing through surrounding walls and houses.
“They are Fallen Ones!”
Ji Yuan took a step forward, and as he spoke, more light descended from the small pagoda above his head.
According to Ji Changlin, those who were trapped in bodies that had long ‘died,’ enduring torment every moment, had called themselves ‘Lost Ones’ for thousands of years.
And those who, due to the influence of heavenly punishment, had completely lost all reason and transformed into bloodthirsty beasts that only knew how to kill, were called ‘Fallen Ones.’
Within the inner city, besides the pervasive heavenly punishment, the most dangerous beings were these Fallen Ones!
As their thoughts raced, several Fallen Ones quickly emerged from the collapsed walls and houses. Without moving their lips, mad roars echoed.
Seeing this, Lin Yubai transformed into dazzling lightning. With a single movement, he appeared before a Fallen One.
He thrust his palm forward fiercely. His palm did not make contact with the opponent's chest; instead, inches away, a surge of dazzling lightning erupted, just a few arcs of lightning that were enough to split metal, shatter stone, and crack the bluestones underfoot!
After all, this small courtyard was protected by formation patterns, yet mere arcs of lightning had torn through the formation power attached to the ground!
*Boom!*
With a muffled explosion, the Fallen One was sent flying backward, its entire body flashing with bright, dazzling lightning, smashing through several walls and houses amidst deafening roars.
However, after striking away a Fallen One, Lin Yubai's expression turned grim. In that instant, he could feel that his palm had been ineffective, having failed to injure the opponent in the slightest.
A palm strike that could split metal, shatter stone, and even kill ordinary early-stage second-realm cultivators, had failed to even tear the skin on the opponent's chest!
Such a sturdy physique was comparable to a high-grade spiritual treasure. Relying solely on the Spirit Pointing realm cultivation, without external aid, it was almost impossible to inflict any damage.
He turned to look, and three Fallen Ones were streaking towards him, their ferocious killing intent surging like waves, as if intending to drown him.
“Seeking death!”
With a cold snort, countless bolts of lightning erupted and then condensed in his palm!
As he clenched his palm, the myriad bolts of lightning shot out, and then a long staff suddenly appeared in his hand!
The staff, cast from metal, was engraved with numerous profound patterns. Its entire body was bright silver with streaks of golden patterns, and it released a powerful spiritual energy fluctuation as soon as it appeared.
Lin Yubai swept the staff horizontally, and along with the surge of spiritual power, he unleashed ferocious lightning that struck the opponent fiercely from a distance of two to three yards.
Furious roars echoed. The Fallen One, enduring the surging lightning on its chest and relying on its physique, as sturdy as a spiritual treasure, struggled to move forward.
With every step it took, the formation patterns on the ground would glow, only to be shattered by an immense force!
However, in the next moment, Lin Yubai transformed into lightning, instantly appearing before the Fallen One. The golden and silver long staff, as if carrying immense force, descended heavily with raging thunder!