Cultivation System: Stronger with Age
Chapter 40 - 36: Demon People’s Essence, The Hall Master’s Generous Reward

Chapter 40: Chapter 36: Demon People’s Essence, The Hall Master’s Generous Reward

When Lin Xuankong heard her actually claim he had incredible luck, he couldn’t help but become even more curious. "So, what exactly is this black crystal?"

Lii Xiaolan’s expression had gradually calmed by this point. Seeing his curious look, she couldn’t help but smirk. "Oh my, we’ve run so far; I’m rather thirsty!"

Lin Xuankong quietly circulated his Qi Blood, suppressing the urge to give this mischievous girl a spanking. He then placed the black crystal into his bosom. "I’m a bit tired. Why don’t you tell me tomorrow instead!"

After saying this, he leisurely walked towards the inner room.

Lii Xiaolan immediately felt a little frustrated. She glared at Lin Xuankong. "Alright, I’ll tell you then! Do you know why Exorcism Equipment is so expensive?"

Lin Xuankong’s heart skipped a beat. "Could it be because the Forehead Scales of the Demon People are rare, or is it related to this black crystal?"

Lii Xiaolan nodded. "The number of Marsh Python People isn’t that large, and the Forehead Scales of the Python Demon People are indeed considered rare and precious. However, for powerful Martial Cultivators, they are materials obtainable by killing Low-tier Demon People, so they aren’t extremely rare. You can even buy some with silver! But the most crucial material for crafting Exorcism Equipment, the Demon People’s Essence you’re holding, is extremely, extremely rare! It’s feared that only one Demon People Leader out of dozens, or even hundreds, will occasionally form a Demon People’s Essence upon death. Those capable of forming an essence are, without exception, elite Leaders among the Demon People, and ones who are particularly attuned to Demon Qi!"

Lin Xuankong’s eyes lit up. "So this is the Demon People’s Essence... If the chances of forming this essence are so low, then my luck tonight was truly phenomenal! However, the first Demon People Leader I killed was indeed the strongest among the four Leaders, which likely accounts for this!"

Lii Xiaolan beamed. "It’s more than just good luck! If the Yin Talisman Sect hadn’t dispatched several Grand Steward Level experts to attack the Demons, giving them quite a headache, those Marsh Pythons and Ghost Lizards probably wouldn’t have deployed their subordinate Demon People to attack the Yin Talisman Sect’s many towns in this ’besiege Wei to save Zhao’ gambit! Under normal circumstances, the Demon People Race gathers in groups of hundreds or even thousands; killing them isn’t so easy!"

Lin Xuankong exclaimed joyfully, "To think I actually obtained a piece of the most crucial and rarest material for crafting Exorcism Equipment! If I can gather another hundred or so Forehead Scales, wouldn’t I be able to ask someone to make me a pair of Exorcism Gloves!"

Lii Xiaolan showed an expression of ’exasperation at his failure to aim higher.’ "What Exorcism Gloves? You wasteful old man! You’re not the Yin Talisman Sect Leader or the Black Tiger Gang Leader, commanding thousands or tens of thousands. Do you think you’ll be able to get another Demon People’s Essence next time? A Demon People’s Essence is incredibly precious, comparable to a Demon Pearl! How could you use it to make Exorcism Gloves? Of course, you should save up for Eight Hundred Forehead Scales and craft Exorcism Armor! Then, when you activate your Qi Blood, your entire body will be covered in Forehead Scales, impervious to Demon Qi, and your attack power will increase more than tenfold!"

Lin Xuankong paused. Eight Hundred Forehead Scales... Exorcism Armor!

In tonight’s battle, the Exorcism Gloves had allowed him to quickly dispel Demon Qi and further aided him in displaying his might, sweeping through the Marsh Python People. He could certainly imagine how terrifying the augmented power in every move would be if his whole body were covered in Forehead Scales. He could probably tunnel through a small mountain just by running into it at full speed! He could likely create a meteor crater by sitting down with all his might... he would completely transform into a human-shaped Divine Dragon! Crucially, he would be completely impervious to Demon Qi. Even when facing Demons possessing strange Demonic Powers, his combat strength would be amplified several times over!

"Take good care of it!" Lii Xiaolan laughed. "From now on, besides your Cultivation, your most important task is to save money and collect Forehead Scales. Once you have all the materials and the armor is made, remember to let me... this wife-and-master of yours, try it on!" She glanced outside at the sky. "Well, I’m done wandering around. I’m going back to the Great Marsh Prefecture!"

Before her voice even faded, her figure flickered and vanished out the window!

Lin Xuankong couldn’t help but smile. Wandering? This Young Lady must have been worried about me and came over... Her words are tough, but she clearly dares to act but not admit it!

He walked into the inner room, lay down comfortably on the bed, and carefully examined the Demon People’s Essence, which was comparable in value to a Demon Pearl. After indulging in these fantasies for a while, he slowly closed his eyes.

But just as he closed his eyes, he seemed to suddenly think of something. He then sat up, his face full of joy. He recalled the fleeting image of the Young Lady as she left, his eyes shining. In the past, when the Young Lady left in front of me, I couldn’t even perceive her movements. Just now, when she left, I could actually see her afterimage as she moved quickly. It seemed that as his strength grew, he had gradually closed the distance between himself and the Young Lady, even if just a little! This was indeed something to be happy about!

「Early the next morning.」

"Has Steward Lin woken up?" Han Lu’s voice sounded from outside the door.

Lin Xuankong opened his eyes, ending his Cultivation session, and walked to the door. "Steward Han, you’re here so early. Is something the matter?"

Han Lu, leaning on his cane, smiled. "Of course, there is! It’s great news!"

Lin Xuankong already had a good idea, so he smiled. "Come in and tell me!"

But Han Lu couldn’t wait and said from the doorway, "Last night, when I returned to town, I immediately sent a Flying Eagle Letter to report the great victory to the Hall. Early this morning, a message came back! The message said that the Hall Master was overjoyed upon hearing the news. He repeatedly praised it as the most unexpected major victory since the recent war against the Demon People Race began. His original hope was for us to merely hold off or repel the Demon People Race; who would have thought we could annihilate them completely! The Hall Master immediately decided to disseminate the news of this great victory to all cities, towns, and garrisons to boost morale. Furthermore, he more than doubled the previously determined rewards. The Hall Master’s reward for you, Steward Lin, was originally one Turtle-Poria Elixir and forty portions of Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup. To recognize your great contributions, he specifically increased the number of Turtle-Poria Elixirs to three and the Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup ingredients to one hundred portions! The other disciples, who were each to receive six portions of ingredients, also had their rewards increased to twelve portions!"

Three Turtle-Poria Elixirs and one hundred portions of Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup ingredients! Even though Lin Xuankong had anticipated something, he never imagined the reward would be so generous. Especially the Turtle-Poria Elixirs! Each one was equivalent to more than thirty portions of Nine Revolutions Qi Replenishing Soup and could even forcibly increase one’s Lifespan by more than three years... Three of them! Three times three... how much was that again? For a moment, his heart was filled with joy.

"With this, Steward Lin, your name will be known by everyone in the sect!" Steward Han said with a smile. "’Mighty General Lin Xuankong, at the Second-Layer Cultivation, swept through over a hundred Demon People!’ Such a battle record will likely astound all sect members who hear of it!"

Fame is secondary; the ingredients are key! Lin Xuankong nodded slightly.

Steward Han took out a document from his bosom and continued, "There is one more matter. The Hall Master has issued a special order: because the war with the Demon People Race will continue, for the next half-month, you and I, Steward Lin, will jointly guard Xunyang Town. We must ensure the complete protection of this grain-producing town. This is your second task, Steward Lin!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xuankong’s joy deepened. The second task? Does this mean that after completing the fifteen-day task of guarding Xunyang Town, I’ll only have one task left before I can start cultivating Yin Talisman Thunder!

Thinking of Han Lu’s lightning, thick as a little finger, wreathed around his longsword during last night’s battle, and recalling the feeling of having the chance to light up all the marks during the test, he couldn’t help but muse, My physique is definitely compatible with Yin Talisman Thunder, and with the ’Vigorous in Old Age’ Life Plate... If I can also start cultivating Yin Talisman Thunder, I will surely master a Thunderbolt Technique! Spiritual Crane Finger combined with Wandering Dragon Exorcism Hand, all encased in formidable lightning... A human-shaped thunder dragon?

He eagerly took the document and quickly read through it. Seeing that the document indeed stated what Steward Han had said, his anticipation grew even stronger. He wished time would fly by, bringing him to fifteen days later so he could accept the third task!

「In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.」

During this period, Han Lu continuously received news: among the twenty-nine towns of the Yin Talisman Gate Outer City, several other towns were repeatedly attacked by the Demon People. Minor incidents resulted in casualties, while severe ones saw city defenses breached and large numbers of townspeople abducted! Xunxi Town, the neighboring major grain-producing town, guarded by no fewer than a hundred elite disciples, was suddenly attacked and overrun by over one hundred and fifty Marsh Python People...

However, Chief Steward Jiang and the Grand Chief Steward remained outside, battling Demons, and had not returned to provide reinforcements, showing their determination to slay the Demon leaders!

As for Xunyang Town, ever since the annihilation of over a hundred Marsh Python People, no further Demon People incursions had been seen. Of course, Han Lu remained very vigilant, daily sending disciples out for dozens of miles on patrol. After all, Xunxi Town, barely a hundred miles away, now lay in ruins. He couldn’t help but be tense. Who knew if the Marsh Python People Race was trying to lull Xunyang Town into a false sense of security before launching a major, vicious attack!

Lin Xuankong, on the other hand, was somewhat regretful that the ’Silver Yuanbao’ hadn’t been delivered to his doorstep. But his primary goal was Cultivation, so he wasn’t too troubled. After all, as long as his strength reached a certain level, even if he didn’t get another chance to hunt Marsh Python People, he could find other ways to earn silver and then buy some Marsh Python Forehead Scales!

Furthermore, he had estimated: with his Cultivation at the late stage of the Second Layer, wearing a full suit of Exorcism Armor weighing nearly two thousand jin... Although he could unleash terrifying combat strength, he definitely couldn’t bring out the full potential of the Battle Armor. Only when his strength increased further could the might of the Wandering Dragon Exorcism Armor be displayed to its fullest!

「This morning.」

Lin Xuankong sat by the table, glancing at the blood-stained Hundred-refined Steel Saber on it, then looked down at the cut on his right arm. During these past few days of Cultivation, he could feel his Qi Blood growing increasingly condensed, approaching a threshold of Metamorphosis. Overjoyed, he took the Hundred-refined Steel Saber and, channeling his full strength, dragged it across his right arm. The result... although his Qi Blood’s protection meant it only opened a shallow wound, it still broke the skin and drew blood!

His eyes showed a trace of excitement as he mused to himself, I felt like my Qi Blood was on the verge of another Metamorphosis yesterday. I wonder if it will happen today? If I can reach the Late Stage today, I’ll cut myself a few more times to test it out—thigh, neck, face, waist—give them all a slash, a stab!

He recalled the scene of the Bearded Martial Cultivator intimidating dozens of experts. He remembered the Young Lady casually letting him try to slash her neck with the Hundred-refined Steel Saber. Thinking that the late stage of the Second Layer was so close, his anticipation grew even more palpable. If I could reach the late stage of the Second Layer, even if I encountered an expert at the early stage of the Third Layer, I could withstand dozens, even hundreds, of their attacks... After all, Second Layer Martial Cultivators specialize in defense; at the Late Stage, their bodies become like Vajra! Then, when facing Martial Cultivators at the same Realm as that Bearded Martial Cultivator, even without using the Heaven-Covering Flying Locusts, or the Twin Vine Demon Pearl and Manluo Demon Pearl, I could deal with them easily, without any more worries!

With that thought, he calmed his Heart Spirit, immersed himself in his various insights, and carefully resumed his Cultivation.

After completing two cycles of the Pine Heart Method and three repetitions of the Spiritual Crane Finger, he once again assumed the Cangsong Posture. By now, his Cangsong Posture had changed considerably from before...