Twin Dimension Yin-Yang Mirror: Attaining immortality through the martial path
Chapter 271 - 238: True Martial Doesn’t Appear, Nine Refinements Reign Supreme

Chapter 271: Chapter 238: True Martial Doesn’t Appear, Nine Refinements Reign Supreme

"You go back to the camp first, let Tang Lin’er gather the troops. I’ll make a trip to Lin Residence and hurry over,"

Zhou Ping’an let out a long sigh as he saw the chaotic scene on the streets.

Just in that short moment,

he felt not only hostile gazes coming from all directions,

but his spiritual power also sensed several strong presences lurking on the side.

These presences secretly lingered in the inns, taverns, and residential homes. Even more so, some gazes could actually exert a bit of pressure on him.

"How many demons and devils have infiltrated this place?"

"The news of the Prison Suppressing Demon Subjugation Scripture appearing in the world, as Zhang Yuanhao mentioned, has indeed brought great trouble to Qingyang City."

However, the more experts there are, the more critical it is to strike swiftly and resolutely.

Once things escalate, relying solely on his own power might not be enough to control the situation.

While the news has not fully spread and fewer people have arrived, this is an excellent opportunity to take action.

Zhou Ping’an vaguely felt

that this situation might not be a bad opportunity, after all.

As for how exactly to proceed, that would depend on whether it could be managed...

...

"Brother Ping’an."

Just as he entered Lin Residence,

he saw a small figure wearing a Tiger Head Hat in the corner, whose little short legs moved as quickly as rolling wheels, rushing towards him like a gust of wind.

Who knew how long the little girl had been waiting at home?

Seeing her face scrunched up in such a way that her nose hardly looked like a nose, she must have been feeling very wronged.

"There are bad people, bad people hurt Grandfather Qing, and Big Sister Xiao Cui got hurt too, many big brothers died..."

Little Jiu’er cried as she complained.

"Why did you come back so slowly? If you hadn’t come back soon, you wouldn’t see me anymore."

"It’s alright now, it’s okay."

Zhou Ping’an quickly consoled her, "Don’t be afraid, Little Jiu’er. Next time any bad guys come, just kill them.

You didn’t call out to your sister, she might be unhappy."

"Wu wu..."

The little girl sniffled twice and, feeling embarrassed, got off the ground and reached out to hold onto Lin Huaiyu’s clothes.

She seemed to realize that what she did just now was inappropriate.

Where would someone ignore their sister and just rush into a man’s arms?

She feared that once her sister realized this, her own little bottom might be in trouble.

Lin Huaiyu, however, was not angry but rather wiped the tear stains on Little Jiu’er’s cheeks with a bit of pity and gently lifted her up.

"Let’s go, let’s see how Grandfather Qing is."

From the words the little girl had just spoken, one could discern the severe impact Lin Residence had undergone.

When he entered the place, he had even seen more than three hundred soldiers standing guard.

This very fact that soldiers were posted to guard the place further proved how vulnerable Lin Residence was at the moment.

...

"Cough cough... I’m not dead yet."

Elder Qing leaned against the couch, his complexion jaundiced and his eyes dim: "Don’t take Little Jiu’er’s words too seriously, that demon brat didn’t really gain any advantage.

The most infuriating part is that there were still people lurking around in the dark, secretly hindering me."

"Yanwang Needle, from the Lishan Sect."

Zhou Ping’an lifted the clothes on Elder Qing’s shoulder and saw black qi swirling around his skin.

Although it was sealed by True Qi, the deathly energy lingered and seeped into his muscles and bones, slowly spreading towards his heart.

"Now that you’re back, it’s all right. Was Lishan Sect’s action too cautious, or did they have another motive?

They only secretly shot one needle and then vanished without a trace, leaving us no way to avenge this one needle."

Elder Qing felt somewhat regretful.

Discussing this matter, his tone fluctuated significantly, clearly very upset, eager to fight to the death for a final blaze of glory.

Unfortunately, his opponent didn’t give him that chance.

After making a covert move, they retreated and hid.

Elder Qing dared not leave Lin Residence to search for them and could only silently endure the grievance.

"Let it be a loss. As long as nobody is harmed, it’s fine.

Luckily, that person didn’t show up, otherwise, even if we fought to the death and killed him, our losses would have been even greater.

We still need you, Elder Qing, for alchemy. Let’s not quibble over this brief moment," Zhou Ping’an said half-jokingly.

He hadn’t expected that someone of such an advanced age would still have such a fiery temper.

Indeed, if his temperament was not like this, how could he have possibly dragged his critically injured body to Qingyang City to accompany Lin Huaiyu?

Obviously, it was because he couldn’t rest easy.

If it were an ordinary old man, knowing he didn’t have many years left, he might as well have hidden in some old forest to live out his days in seclusion and wait for death.

Who would have such drive?

To cultivate medicine and alchemy, making the most of his remaining heat?

As he spoke, Zhou Ping’an took out a few silver needles and gradually transformed the dead energy in Old Man Qing’s body into vitality.

From death to life, nourishing the body.

Because their cultivation techniques were of the same origin, this transformation was even easier this time.

With this extra burst of vitality, even the True Qi in Old Man Qing’s body grew slightly stronger, and he seemed much more spirited.

"Next, you can take some tonic herbs and properly recuperate. There won’t be any lingering aftereffects."

Zhou Ping’an sensed the Qi around Old Man Qing’s body before he finally felt reassured.

Fortunately, it hadn’t damaged the foundation; his lifespan was intact.

Although he was joking,

deep inside, he really did rely on Old Man Qing.

The other’s alchemy skills were far superior to those of an ordinary Pill Master.

With the same ingredients, he could produce many more pills.

Now that both he and Lin Huaiyu had stepped into the True Qi Realm,

what they needed most were high-grade Qi-nourishing elixirs, such as the "Yellow Sprout Pill."

Unfortunately, the main ingredients for these kinds of pills were hard to find...

Even the Cloud Water Sect felt a shortage, and they could only ration pills for the Inner Sect Disciples.

Getting enough pills from within the sect, even if one stayed on the mountain to complete missions, wouldn’t suffice.

Therefore, one had to find one’s own herbs and make one’s own pills.

This was when the value of a formidable Pill Master became apparent.

A furnace of herbs yielding five pills versus nine pills was not even comparable.

And this was the gap between Lin Huaiyu and Old Man Qing’s level of alchemy.

For now, Lin Huaiyu couldn’t compare with decades of experience of the old man.

"Old man, at your age, you think it’s not sinful for me to want you to work tirelessly?"

When Old Man Qing heard Zhou Ping’an say he still needed him for alchemy, he almost spit out his tea, chuckling before jeering, "With your personality, Little Yu’er is bound to suffer in the future."

"Grandfather Qing, I’m not afraid of hardship,"

said Lin Huaiyu earnestly. After some thought, he added somewhat awkwardly, "I mean, Brother Zhou has also helped me a lot. It’s not a big deal to repay him a little."

"Look at that, see? Before anything’s even started, Little Yu’er is already elbowing out on me, just like I said..."

Ole Man Qing teased with a chuckle then tried to add more but was promptly stopped as a chunk of date and glutinous rice cake was stuffed in his mouth. A soft, tender voice followed by his ear, "Grandfather Qing, your teeth aren’t the best, try this cake I brought back. It’s really tasty."

As he spoke, Lin Huaiyu chuckled softly and then left the room.

Seeing Old Man Qing choke and cough, Zhou Ping’an quickly handed him some tea and laughed, "Take it slowly. Have you noticed, the Third Miss seems more lively?"

"Ah, I must say, you’ve got your ways. Little Yu’er hasn’t smiled this heartily in a long time. Your trip to the Cloud Water Sect must have been quite fruitful."

"It was okay, we acquired the Canghai Sword Codex. At least for now, at the Mortal Rank Ninth Refinement level, we don’t have to worry about lacking a legacy."

"Mortal Rank Ninth Refinement, that’s great..."

Old Man Qing initially paused, then his expression brightened significantly.

"That is the fundamental legacy of the Four Great Immortal Sects. Martial Artists of the same rank can’t compare at all to ordinary Martial Artists.

Being so young and already cultivating to the True Qi Realm, you both will have a promising future. As long as your cultivation improves, you no longer need to worry about external enemies..."

He didn’t mention the True Martial Realm.

In fact, for the past hundred years, various sects and schools have been living off their old laurels.

No one had heard of anyone breaking through to the True Martial Realm.

It goes to show just how hard it is to step into that realm.

Reaching the Ninth Refinement of the Mortal Rank is already enough to defend oneself; facing even stronger enemies, there’s no need to be afraid.

"Elder Qing, are you saying there aren’t many in Jianghu at the True Martial Realm?"

Zhou Ping’an listened intently and obviously sensed the relaxation in the other’s mood.

Did this mean he didn’t have to worry about enemies from the True Martial Realm?

Master Su Lianxue didn’t want to bring up this subject, and Zhou Ping’an and Lin Huaiyu, during their time at the Cloud Water Sect, were very prudent and didn’t pry unnecessarily.

Thus, his understanding of the top experts from various sects and schools was rather limited.

"Not many at all. They are all old fellows who survived from a hundred years ago. How many can there be?

If the information is correct, there should only be two in Cloud Water Sect."

Old Man Qing didn’t mince words.

"Headmaster Feng, who seriously injured Real Person of the Underworld from the Reincarnation Sect ten years ago, is at the True Martial Realm.

Another is their Supreme Elder, Su Lin. But he hasn’t been seen for many years; it’s uncertain if he’s still alive."

After a moment of thought, he added, "It’s the same with other sects; there are generally one or two True Martial Realm experts remaining, who are highly influential figures. They generally don’t wander through Jianghu.

And certainly, they won’t be coming to Qingyang City to trouble you; rest assured."

"That’s good."

Zhou Ping’an breathed a huge sigh of relief.

If it were True Martial Realm masters of legendary Great Grandmaster Rank, he would naturally stand no chance at all, likely crushed with a single blow.

Even rapid cultivation would be of little use in that situation.

But if the overt power is only up to Mortal Rank Ninth Refinement, the level of Martial Intent...

Though still somewhat lacking now.

Given some more time, it wouldn’t be indefensible.

...