Cultivation System: Stronger with Age
Chapter 30 - 27 Turns Out He’s the Genius, Turtle-Poria Elixir (Please Follow)

Chapter 30: Chapter 27 Turns Out He’s the Genius, Turtle-Poria Elixir (Please Follow)

"Three of them! He actually lit up three Seals in a row, and the fourth Seal seems to be starting to flicker too!"

"Holy shit!"

"I thought he was just an old man selling flatbreads. Who would have thought he’s an old genius!"

Behind Lin Xuankong, those Independent Martial Cultivators were full of astonishment, their discussions constantly drifting over.

Gu Beicheng, who had been lightly stroking his long beard, showed a look of surprise when he saw the three Seals light up.

But before he could speak, he saw that under Lin Xuankong’s infusion of Qi Blood, the fourth Seal had also lit up.

Gu Beicheng couldn’t help but feel his Qi Blood surge, causing lightning to abruptly appear on his finger, almost scorching his long beard!

Lin Xuankong, who was infusing Qi Blood, felt a shock in his heart, feeling as if he had become one with the Heaven-Interpreting Stone. If he continued infusing Qi Blood, it seemed he could keep lighting up the Seals! But what if that strange scene he had witnessed earlier occurred again? Would something unexpected happen? He felt that if the mighty, terrifying Thunder God so much as glanced at him one more time, his soul would surely disperse! This Heaven-Interpreting Stone was definitely not just for testing Talent; it was extremely bizarre!

At this moment, that feeling of connecting with some mysterious existence appeared again...

Lin Xuankong was startled, and his eyes suddenly showed a fierce look. He decisively withdrew his right hand from the Hand Seal.

Lighting up Four Seals, judging by Gu Beicheng’s reaction, I should have a chance to secure the Deputy Steward position! This situation of connecting with a mysterious and powerful existence might entail serious life risk, which I can’t be certain about. I can’t risk my life... Patience, the future is long!

Not far away, seeing that all Four Seals were lit, Steward Ma’s expression was uncertain. He actually lit up Four Seals! Four Seals! ...But the one who lit up Four Seals had to be him, an old man nearing seventy! If a Martial Cultivator in their twenties or thirties lit up Four Seals, the sect would have another genius like Gu Beicheng! But at his age, no matter how well suited he was to the Yin Talisman Technique, it would be impossible for him to make any further progress in Cultivation!

Frowning as he looked at Lin Xuankong for a few moments, Steward Ma pondered briefly, then eventually walked over. "This Scholar Lin, come with me to see the Grand Chief Steward."

「In the Martial Arts Hall,」

A piece of Agarwood was placed on a sandalwood table in the ornate guest room.

Sitting opposite Jiang Yuran, Chief Steward Wu smiled and said, "It’s just a piece of Agarwood worth a few thousand taels of silver. It’s rare for Chief Steward Jiang to visit me, so please accept it."

Jiang Yuran glanced at him. "Is Senior Brother Wu being so generous? If I come often in the future, will you give me a piece every time?"

Chief Steward Wu was stunned for a moment and then laughed awkwardly.

Jiang Yuran continued, "Grand Chief Steward Wu Liangye, of the twenty-nine towns you are in charge of in the Outer City, seven have been plundered by the Demon People Race, and thousands of townspeople were killed. Those are all our Yin Talisman Sect’s tenant farmers. If the spring planting and autumn harvest are delayed... the Yin Talisman Sect’s monthly stipend shortfall for the second half of the year will far exceed a few thousand taels of silver!"

Wu Liangye sighed. "I have already cooperated with the officials’ Exorcism Army to eliminate over a dozen groups of Demon People. But now, Demons are rampant, and the number of townspeople controlled by Demons and turned into violent Demon People keeps increasing!"

Jiang Yuran’s apricot eyes widened. "Cooperate with the officials to eliminate Demon People? Hmph! The Black Tiger Gang Leader’s surname is Li, and the Governor of Great Marsh County’s surname is also Li. How could the officials’ Exorcism Army be willing to help our Yin Talisman Sect!"

Wu Liangye thought for a moment and said, "Then, I will arrange for more elite members of the sect, and I will also personally participate in eradicating the Demon People Race!"

Seeing him say this, Jiang Yuran’s expression softened.

She leaned back on the chair, looked at the guest room window, and said:

"Today, only about thirty Martial Cultivators came to apply for the Steward positions, but there was one who lit up Two Seals, which is rare good news recently!

But after all, they are external Martial Cultivators, not as intimately known to us as our own disciples. Appoint that Li Er as a Deputy Steward. Observe him for two or three months, and only after he completes three Deputy Steward tasks should you allow him to cultivate the Yin Talisman Technique!"

Wu Liangye said, "That is indeed good news. Among the thousands of members of our Yin Talisman Sect, only seventy or eighty were able to light up Two Seals during their entry test. This Li Er has excellent Talent. As long as he sincerely joins our Yin Talisman Sect, I will surely cultivate him into a core pillar of the sect!"

At this moment, Steward Ma’s voice came from the guest room door, "Chief Steward Jiang, Grand Chief Steward, I have something to report!"

Wu Liangye turned to look at Steward Ma. "What is it?"

After a respectful bow, Steward Ma finally spoke, "During the test, one person lit up Four Seals!"

"Four Seals! Really?" Wu Liangye, whose face had been calm just a moment ago, showed a sudden change in expression upon hearing the words ’Four Seals’.

"Absolutely!" Steward Ma said.

"Quick, bring that Martial Cultivator here immediately!" Wu Liangye ordered decisively. "Apart from Gu Beicheng, our Yin Talisman Sect hasn’t had a disciple so compatible with the Yin Talisman Technique in over a decade!"

Jiang Yuran nodded slightly, a trace of joy also appearing on her delicate face.

Steward Ma cupped his hands and said, "Chief Steward Jiang, Grand Chief Steward, I have already brought that Martial Cultivator over!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuran stood up, with a look of anticipation and curiosity on her face as she looked towards the door. "Brought him over? Let him in!"

Wu Liangye also looked toward the door with some anticipation.

But when he saw that the person who walked in was Lin Xuankong with his full head of white hair,

Their faces, which had been full of anticipation and curiosity, instantly turned into extremely complex expressions...

"This... you!" Jiang Yuran’s delicate facial expressions shifted rapidly; for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

"The Martial Cultivator who lit up Four Seals... is this old... old man?" Wu Liangye frowned and asked.

Steward Ma replied, "Indeed, it is this Scholar Lin Xuankong."

Lin Xuankong, who had just entered the guest room, felt a stirring in his heart as he saw their expressions. After lighting up Four Seals, he was immediately brought over by this Steward Ma. It was evident that in the Yin Talisman Sect’s testing, Four Seals were extremely rare.

After all, even Martial Cultivators at the Perfection of the Transcendence First Layer with Two Seals had the chance to be directly promoted to Deputy Steward!

But looking at their expressions, it was clear they were disappointed because of my age... However, it doesn’t matter. So what if I can’t directly become a Deputy Steward? Since I’ve already passed the Heaven-Interpreting Stone test, relying on my own strength, I can just compete with those Martial Cultivators! Most importantly, based on my own senses, if I keep infusing my Qi Blood, I might light up five Seals, six Seals, or even more... This indicates I’m highly compatible with the Yin Talisman Technique. With such high compatibility, plus the fiftyfold Cultivation Speed bonus, as long as I can complete Steward tasks and cultivate the Yin Talisman Technique in the future, my Cultivation Speed will surely be rapid! In this dangerous world where strength is paramount, this is what’s most important! As for how others view me, why should I care!

Thinking of this, his heart became clear and worry-free.

"Scholar Lin, your age? And your Cultivation Realm?" Jiang Yuran asked.

"Reporting to the Chief Steward, I am fifty-nine, at the Transcendence Second Layer!"

Hearing Lin Xuankong’s answer, Wu Liangye couldn’t help but shake his head repeatedly, while Jiang Yuran frowned slightly, deep in thought.

Wu Liangye sighed and said, "A Four-Seal Talent, such aptitude is one in ten thousand... Even if you were thirty-six or thirty-seven, I’d be confident of making you a Martial Cultivator of the late Transcendence Third Layer, or even the Fourth Layer, within ten years. But you’re already fifty-nine. Alas, what a pity, truly a great pity!"

Wu Liangye was a high-ranking figure in the Yin Talisman Sect and widely experienced. He knew that for a Martial Cultivator to achieve breakthroughs in old age, when their Qi Blood was continually declining, was so rare that one might not be found in a hundred million!

Thinking about this, his previously joyful mood dampened.

Steward Ma, seeing his expression, naturally understood what Wu Liangye was thinking, and said, "Then I’ll take this Scholar Lin back to participate in the martial competition!"

Wu Liangye silently nodded, without a word.

Seeing that Steward Ma was about to lead Lin Xuankong out of the guest room,

"Wait a moment!" Jiang Yuran suddenly said.

She walked around the table and came to stand in front of the silver-haired Lin Xuankong. "With a Four-Seal Talent, and having already advanced to the Transcendence Second Layer, according to the rules set by the Sect Leader, not only can you become a Deputy Steward, but you can also be directly promoted to Chief Steward!"

Hearing this, Lin Xuankong was stunned. I had originally prepared to go out and fight a few rounds to earn a Deputy Steward position... This Chief Steward Jiang is actually going to promote me directly to Chief Steward?

"But he is already fifty-nine years old! Even if he cultivates the Yin Talisman Technique in the future, it’s absolutely impossible for him to advance his Realm!" Wu Liangye frowned deeply.

Jiang Yuran did not pay attention to Wu Liangye.

She looked at Lin Xuankong and said with a smile, "Our Yin Talisman Sect is currently recruiting talents. How can we discriminate based on age? If word spread, it would only make the heroes of Great Marsh Prefecture laugh at us, saying that our Yin Talisman Sect lacks magnanimity! Moreover, I see that Scholar Lin has a firm gaze and an extraordinary aura. I am sure that after becoming a Steward, he will not disappoint me!"

She reached into her bosom and took out a Small Jade Box.

"I not only want this highly talented and spirited old scholar to become a Chief Steward directly, but I also want to help him! Steward Lin, this is a Turtle-Poria Elixir, refined by my father. It can continually enhance Qi Blood and has some life-extending effects. Consider it a welcoming gift from our Yin Talisman Sect for an esteemed scholar like yourself joining us!"

Lin Xuankong looked at the highly authoritative Jiang Yuran with some surprise.

Beside him, Wu Liangye, seeing Jiang Yuran’s insistence and her taking out the Turtle-Poria Elixir, thought for a moment. His expression eased, and he said, "The Turtle-Poria Elixir! Only our Sect Leader can occasionally refine a batch. It’s priceless and hard to acquire externally, normally only awarded to meritorious disciples at the annual commendation and disciplinary assembly! With Chief Steward Jiang treating you so generously, you should quickly accept it!"

Looking at the Jade Box, Wu Liangye felt somewhat emotional. Even he, the Sect Leader’s second disciple, rarely received the Turtle-Poria Elixir. While its life-extending effects might be elusive, its Qi Blood enhancing effects were extremely potent, comparable to more than thirty servings of Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup!

"If Steward Lin doesn’t want it, I’ll take it back!" Jiang Yuran smiled, her lips curved.

Hearing her address him as Steward Lin and speaking so kindly and approachably, Lin Xuankong couldn’t help but be moved. He took the Jade Box and cupped his hands, saying, "This disciple thanks Chief Steward Jiang!"

Steward Ma, seeing Chief Steward Jiang appoint Lin Xuankong not as a Deputy Steward but as a Chief Steward, was filled with astonishment. This was the first time in his twenty-odd years in the Yin Talisman Sect that he had witnessed a Martial Cultivator at the early Transcendence Second Layer being promoted three ranks—from disciple, past Elite Disciple and Deputy Steward, directly to Chief Steward. And crucially, this was a fifty-nine-year-old, decrepit old man!

After a moment of astonishment, he gave Lin Xuankong a complicated look, cupping his hands and saying, "Congratulations, Steward Lin!"

Lin Xuankong returned the salute. Jiang Yuran, meanwhile, smiled and nodded.

Seeing this old Martial Cultivator, for some reason, I’m suddenly reminded of that elderly Conical Hat Strange Guest Gu Beicheng once mentioned! I wonder if this Lin Xuankong before me will be as fiercely opposed to evil and as interesting in his actions as that Conical Hat Strange Guest! But in any case, in these chaotic times, we must let the Martial Cultivators of Great Marsh Prefecture know that our Yin Talisman Sect is magnanimous and worth joining!

「Leaving the guest room,」

Lin Xuankong stood in a corner of the Martial Arts Hall and took out the Elixir from the Jade Box.

Looking at the Turtle-Poria Elixir exuding a peculiar fragrance, his heart was filled with a myriad of emotions. Unexpectedly, after a series of twists and turns today, I didn’t become a Deputy Steward but was directly appointed by Jiang Yuran as a Chief Steward! My Young Lady at home was even preparing to apply herself if I ’failed’... I wonder what her expression will be when she hears this news? And then there’s Chief Steward Jiang Yuran, with her inscrutable temperament, giving me a seemingly priceless Turtle-Poria Elixir! This is indeed an unexpectedly precious gain. I just don’t know if this Elixir truly has life-extending effects. If it does, how much Lifespan could it extend?