Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 91 - 90 Rewards Part 2

Chapter 91: Chapter 90 Rewards Part 2

"I’m all right, thanks for your concern, Senior Brother," Lin Xin replied politely. "I hope your injuries are no hindrance as well?"

"Indeed, just needed some rest to recover. This time, I’m acting on the several stewards’ wishes from the Formation Hall. In a little while, I’ll take you to formally join the Sect. You should mentally prepare yourself," the man in yellow spoke in hushed tones.

"Formally join the Sect?"

Lin Xin was intrigued.

"Yes, that’s a formal initiation where you swear a blood oath. You’ll need to take a master. It’s different from the random weed-out process at Tingjian Valley," the man in yellow whispered.

"Isn’t my cultivation a bit too low...?" Lin Xin hesitated.

"It is low, but your talent is exceptional, and you’ve been using the Luminous Talisman Sword pretty comfortably, haven’t you?" The man in yellow suddenly chuckled mischievously.

Sweat formed on Lin Xin’s brow; he hadn’t expected this seemingly good-natured man in yellow to have such a side.

"It’s... alright."

"Tsk tsk, to think that with less than a year of your own effort, you could miniaturize the Luminous Fire Formation, albeit a simple one. That’s nothing for some Qi Cultivation seniors, but for an ordinary Innate disciple like us, it’s practically monstrous. Don’t you use up any mental focus or energy?"

"Uh..." Lin Xin was at a loss for words.

The two slowly headed back, following the stone path that connected the platform to the shore.

"The higher-ups have granted you a year’s leave. As a formal disciple, you need to go back and make arrangements for your family, to prevent future worries. Your various arrangements will also be prepared one by one, and we’ll notify the other Three Sects. Every formal disciple must be recorded in the jade rolls; only formal disciples are the true pillars of the Sect," explained the man in yellow. "You’re the only one on this roster of formal disciples under the Sixth Layer of cultivation. You’ll need to work hard."

Lin Xin quickly nodded in agreement.

****************

Leaving the stone platform, Lin Xin first checked on Xiao Lingling who was still in a deep slumber, the effects of the healing potion not yet worn off.

Then, with the reward—a red gift box in hand, he returned to his stone hut and bolted the door shut.

Sitting at the desk, he placed the gift box on it.

The box was fastened with a small brass lock at the opening.

A small key was inserted in it.

Lin Xin took the small key and gave it a gentle twist.

Click.

The box opened, revealing a black silk cloth inside with several items on it.

From left to right, there was a Ruyi-shaped green jade token, a blood-red cylindrical jade bottle the size of a thumb, and a green porcelain bottle with a fine neck that was half the size of a palm.

The surface of the jade token was marked with web-like fine lines.

The blood-colored jade bottle had the words ’Spirit Gathering’ written on it with a flourish, quite casual in appearance.

Written on the green porcelain bottle were the words ’Return to Origin,’ appearing much more serious.

"Spirit Gathering Pill... the best Spirit Pill from this trial," Lin Xin decided without hesitation, secured the door and windows, then sat on the bed and poured the contents of the blood-colored jade bottle into his palm.

Instantly, a blood-red bead rolled into his hand.

The bead was warm and fleshy, as if alive, with a vague sense of pulsation.

Lin Xin tossed the bead into his mouth.

Gulp.

He swallowed the pill with difficulty, almost choking.

He then looked at his attribute status.

’Damage—3, Defense—4, Evasion—1, Constitution—1. Free Attributes 1’

’Return to Origin—Fourth Layer. (Completion 99%) (Damage +4, Constitution +4)’

"Return to Origin is the foundation of everything, but it’s still stuck at 99% completion; it must be due to the lack of total Inner Qi. Perhaps this Spirit Gathering Pill could push me to the Fifth Layer in one fell swoop!"

Lin Xin closed his eyes and began to meditate, waiting for the pill’s effects to take hold.

After a while, he felt a warm sensation all over, and the air inside the stone hut seemed to become fresher.

His Inner Qi began to circulate automatically, and what was strange was that Lin Xin clearly felt a series of cool streams entering his body from above his head.

Upon entering his body, these streams quickly turned hot, as if on fire, and then rapidly infused into the mass of Inner Qi in his chest.

Boom!

All at once, his Inner Qi exploded, blasting throughout his body’s meridians like a bomb from beneath his heart.

Caught off guard, Lin Xin spewed out blood and then felt the epicenter of the Inner Qi explosion, from where traces of Innate energy emerged out of nowhere, swiftly converging towards the Innate energy mass in his lower abdomen.

As that trace of Innate energy gathered in his lower abdomen, Lin Xin’s whole body trembled fiercely, and the pathway for the Fifth Layer of Return to Origin automatically began to circulate.

The Innate energy swiftly flowed through the meridians cleared out by the Fifth Layer, starting to repair and nurture the meridians that Lin Xin had just injured.

"Fifth Layer... I’ve reached it," Lin Xin glanced at his attribute column.

’Return to Origin—Fifth Layer. (Completion 1%) (Damage +5, Constitution +5)’

"No wonder the Spirit Gathering Pill is unheard of for repeated use to increase one’s cultivation... Just one use almost kills."

After catching his breath, he instinctively added the attribute point to his Defense.

"What kind of power does the Fifth Layer truly have?"

He was a bit curious, stood up, and channeled his Inner Qi to his right palm.

His palm began to throb, and his skin turned taut and solid.

Raising his hand, he lightly grasped the iron-wrapped corner of the stone bed and squeezed.

Crack.

Without exerting much effort, as if squeezing marshmallow, three finger imprints appeared on the thick iron wrap.

Lin Xin lifted his finger and looked at it, and found his skin unharmed.

"Interesting, my strength has increased significantly."

Having broken through to the Fifth Layer, he knew he needed to stabilize his cultivation level. Reaching the Fifth Layer in one year, this pace was indeed a bit too fast.

"It’s a good time to go home for a visit. I can also take the opportunity to study the Demon Talisman Seed in detail. And research some new practical formations. The current Luminous Formation is starting to fall short...."

"The Demon Talisman Seed probably requires hunting the souls of powerful beings, but it’s unlikely there are creatures strong enough near the surrounding Sects. This could be problematic..."

Lin Xin stroked his chin, lost in thought.

He went out to the archives and found a crude map delineating the threat levels near the neighboring Sects; although not precise, it provided a rough positioning.

The map identified not only threat points near the Pine Sword Sect but also marked every danger spot within the borders of Song State under the Sect’s control.

After making a handwritten copy of the map and paying for it, Lin Xin visited the Formation Hall, but since the old lady wasn’t there, he copied down several formations. He returned to his stone residence and began trying out the new formations. He also needed to plan his trips, preparing to go out and hunt to see if he could acquire some attribute points.

He kept busy until dusk, when he lit an oil lamp.

Thud thud thud.

Lin Xin, who was drawing on a stone with a Talisman Brush, slowly put the brush down.

"Who is it?"

"It’s me... Brother Lin." Xiao Lingling’s voice came from outside the door.

Lin Xin hurried to open the door.

He saw Xiao Lingling, pale-faced, dressed in plain white, standing outside with her black hair draped over her shoulders and her large watery eyes looking at him with a trace of vulnerability.

"Brother Lin... you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I made you some dishes and rice and brought them over."

She lifted the wooden black food box in her hand, a hint of hope flickering in her eyes.

"Weren’t you still in bed recovering from your illness!?" Lin Xin was taken aback, looking at the food box and feeling a bit moved. "Why aren’t you resting properly?"

"Don’t worry, I’m not one of those delicate young ladies; I’m not so fragile," Xiao Lingling replied with a sweet smile.

"Come in first, it’s freezing rain outside." Lin Xin glanced outside; the weather in Tingjian Valley was always like this, with freezing rain falling at night.

He quickly stepped aside to let Xiao Lingling in.

"Brother Lin, what are you doing?" Xiao Lingling entered curiously and looked at the various objects and strange ink on his table.

Lin Xin no longer hid it. The Formation Hall probably figured it out already—this wasn’t something he could keep secret for long.

"I’m making a Talisman Artifact."

"Talisman Artifact?" Xiao Lingling was stunned. "What’s that?"

Lin Xin couldn’t help but laugh when he realized she didn’t know what a Talisman Artifact was.

"It’s a tool that utilizes material inscribed with formations to unleash the power of the Formation Path."

"You know Formation Path?" Xiao Lingling’s eyes widened in surprise. Her small mouth parted slightly, pink and adorable.

Lin Xin was speechless, realizing Xiao Lingling really knew nothing about Talisman Formations. She had followed him for so long in the trials and still couldn’t recognize his trump card was the Formation Path.

"I have a slight understanding," he replied after contemplating. He did indeed only have a cursory knowledge.

Xiao Lingling’s eyes looked up to him with a trace of admiration.

"Brother Lin, you are so amazing~" She whispered in a hushed tone, her voice soft, giving him a tingling sensation.

Being looked at with admiration by a beautiful girl, even Lin Xin couldn’t help but feel slightly elated.

"It’s nothing special, but yeah." He sobered up and spoke solemnly, "In a few days, I’ll be going back to my family, and you’re coming with me."

"Ah..." Xiao Lingling’s complexion suddenly changed slightly as she lowered her head. "Brother Lin... "

"You should heal well in the meantime and don’t come back looking sick," Lin Xin insisted without room for argument.

But Xiao Lingling stammered and seemed at a loss for words.

Her personality seemed to have grown weaker after the injury.

"Brother Lin..." she put down the food box, "I... I have to go."

She turned and tried to run away.

Slap.

Lin Xin grabbed her arm in one swift motion.

"I’m a man of my word, and I will take responsibility!" he declared decisively, pulling her arm.

Suddenly, Xiao Lingling let out a cry as she was drawn close to him, nearly leaning against him.

"Don’t try to run away," Lin Xin said calmly. "Is there something wrong with your injuries?"

"No... there’s nothing," Xiao Lingling looked down, biting her lip, her complexion growing even paler. "I have something to do, I’m meeting someone. I have to go."

She struggled to free herself from Lin Xin’s grasp and dashed through the door.

"Lingling!"

Lin Xin couldn’t grip her arm too tightly; she was so weak he feared hurting her.

Xiao Lingling had already run into the night, disappearing quickly among the stone houses.

He sighed. Although he didn’t know what had happened, Lin Xin did not want to coerce anyone against their will.

He picked up the food box from the table and gently opened it. Inside the First Layer, there lay a small red gift box.

"What’s this? A Spirit Gathering Pill?"

He instantly realized what it was. Instead of feeling any bit of surprise, his heart sank. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)