304: Chapter 304 Only Talking About Romance

After entering the Land Immortal realm, the first refresh of the system mall made the items appear exceptionally dazzling!

Good heavens! As expected, there are cultivation techniques and equipment related to music!

[Nine Nether Soul Suppression (immortal grade): Rumored to be created by the Ghost Emperor of Fengdu. A single tune breaks the heart; ten thousand ghosts are suppressed in the Yellow Springs. prestige: 80,000]

[Sanskrit Salvation (immortal grade): Ethereal Sanskrit sounds, delivering all living beings from suffering. prestige: 90,000]

Lin Xiao's eyes gleamed with envy. They looked incredibly powerful, but he couldn't afford them!

Looking at the equipment, there was an ancient zither, charred black all over with a faint ghostly green glow. It looked extraordinary!

[Green Ripple: A legendary ancient zither. An immortal once said: 'A Shu monk cradles the Green Ripple, descending westward from Emei Peak.' Rank: immortal grade]

He looked at the required prestige... 120,000?!

One hundred and twenty thousand!?

Farewell!

Lin Xiao continued looking down. There were several more zithers, flutes, and pipes, all of which were Immortal or Heaven Grade.

But the cheapest Heaven Grade musical instrument equipment actually cost 10,000 prestige!

This was clearly much more expensive than ordinary blades, spears, staves, or clubs!

"Damn... no matter where you are, those who dare to play with art are all rich people!"

Lin Xiao couldn't help but complain.

Although he still had a "Free Meal" voucher that allowed him to pick one item for free,

he would never use such a precious opportunity here.

After all, he had never seen the actual effects of immortal grade musical techniques and equipment.

To be safe, Lin Xiao planned to pick a Heaven Grade technique for Xie Juner to temporarily keep up with the progress of the other women.

As for a weapon, he already had a mystic grade zither on hand, so she could use that for now.

Even so, this was a massive investment!

After some weighing, based on his intuition as a Land Immortal, Lin Xiao selected three Heaven Grade techniques he felt were suitable:

Freezing Chill Flying Feathers: Converts sound waves into thousands of ice shards like flying blades, possessing strong explosive power. 10,000 prestige.

Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix: Uses sound waves to control the field within a range, balanced in offense and defense. 10,000 prestige.

There was also a very special one that combined swordsmanship and music—

Sword Heart and Zither Soul: "On the small couch, the zither's heart unfolds; with the long tassel, the sword's courage eases." 12,000 prestige.

Strengthen courage with the sword; steady the heart with the zither.

This allowed for both close combat with a sword and long-range attacks with a zither, and it required the most prestige.

Based on Lin Xiao's experience, if Xie Juner wanted to truly catch up with the other women in the later stages, she had to improve her aptitude.

Therefore, if she could practice both the sword and the zither, her physical fitness would improve faster, and she wouldn't become a "squishy mage."

By the time Xie Juner finished playing her soft, storytelling melody, Lin Xiao had finished his considerations.

"General, did it sound good?"

Lin Xiao said honestly, "I don't know much about music, but... it was very moving."

Xie Juner said with satisfaction, "You don't need to understand it; as long as you listened with your heart, that's enough."

Lin Xiao said, "Juner, I have three techniques here that should be suitable for you to practice. You..."

Before he could finish, Xie Juner stood up and covered his mouth with her fragrant little hand.

There was a hint of resentment in the girl's eyes: "Tonight, we only talk of romance, only you and me. Let's not talk of anything else..."

Lin Xiao froze for a moment, silently cursing himself for being truly stupid.

Isn't it just teaching a woman to cultivate? It's a trivial matter; is it worth this moment?

Developing new virgin territory was more important!

If one isn't proactive in reclaiming wasteland, there's something wrong with their mindset!

Lin Xiao picked up the beauty and strode toward the warm bed...

At another location under the night sky.

Linyuan Marquis Mansion.

By the window of an exquisite house, Marquis Xie Shang and Official Xie Tong, the two brothers, were sitting around a stove brewing tea.

Outside the window, a bright red, beautiful camellia flower fell onto the snow.

"What a pity. Such a vibrant flower, why did it have to fall?" Official Xie Tong said regretfully.

Heh... if it didn't fall, Lord Xie wouldn't have noticed it. This flower's withered fall was worth it," Marquis Xie Shang said with a smile.

Official Xie Tong said helplessly, "Brother, how many times have I said it? There's no need for such titles in private."

"Haha, what's wrong with me calling you Lord Xie? I wish I could call you 'Prime Minister Xie'!"

Marquis Xie Shang poured tea for both of them and said beamingly, "My best brother is the minister of personnel. I'm proud."

"Back then in the clan, because I was born to a concubine, my mother and I were bullied. It was thanks to your righteous words, Brother, that I could study in peace..."

Official Xie Tong sighed with sincere emotion, "I have always kept this kindness in my heart, little brother."

"Ai! We are brothers; there's no need to say such things. I only looked out for you back then because you were smart; otherwise, I might not have bothered with you."

"You became a child prodigy early on. I didn't help you much; most of it was on your own."

Marquis Xie Shang smiled bitterly. "You also know that our Linyuan Marquis Mansion hasn't had any luck in officialdom for several generations. We'll have to rely more on your support in the future."

"Haha..."

Hearing this, Official Xie Tong smiled and said, "I don't think that's necessarily true. You are good at judging people, Brother. You sent Xie Yu and the commandery princess to Lin Xiao's side early on. In the future, at least in the Northern Territory, the status of the Linyuan Marquis Mansion will likely be even more unshakable."

"Don't even mention that, it makes me angry!"

Marquis Xie Shang said gloomily, "That girl Juner, after following Lin Xiao, won't even speak up for me, her father, anymore."

"I told her to persuade Lin Xiao to meet with you sooner, but she just pretended she didn't see the message!"

Official Xie Tong wasn't angry, saying with a smile, "That's because your daughter is clever. Once married, a woman follows her husband. No man likes his woman constantly speaking up for her natal family."

"Besides... if Lin Xiao doesn't want to see me, no amount of persuasion will work. He didn't even care about the imperial envoy; that already explains the situation."

Marquis Xie Shang's expression turned serious. "Brother, do you think... the one in the palace will allow Lin Xiao to replace Prince Bai?"

"Naturally, it's impossible. The Six Prefectures of the Northern Territory hold too many resources. Whoever takes the six prefectures essentially takes the entire North."

"But because of this, everyone wants a piece of this fat meat."

Official Xie Tong said, "The Emperor himself certainly cannot forcibly retake the North, but the problem is... Lin Xiao must be able to hold it."

"He is currently only a third-rank General Yunhui. Logically, he should return to Baishui City to guard the border."

"If he continues to monopolize power and refuses to let the court send people to take over, it is neither justified nor proper."

"If he rebels, he becomes a treacherous official and a rebel, whom everyone has the right to execute."

Marquis Xie Shang nodded repeatedly. "Exactly. This is his biggest problem now. He is just a commoner and has no royal blood. Even if he wants to take the world and actually conquers it, he won't be able to sit securely because his claim is illegitimate."

"Brother, this is the greatest opportunity for our Xie Clan!!"

Official Xie Tong took a sip of tea, his gaze deep. "Yes, no matter who takes the world, they must share it with the gentry clans."

"Great Gan already shows signs of decline. If we must support a new monarch, Lin Xiao, who has no foundation, is indeed a good choice."

"Because of this, I must see him on this trip. This is also the clan's intention."

Marquis Xie Shang said solemnly, "Don't worry. At worst, I'll swallow my pride and go beg him! At the very least, I'm still his father-in-law!"

Meanwhile.

At a Mountain God Temple outside Yangquan City.

In front of a divine statue, several grilled fish and three wild pheasants were being roasted over a campfire.

"Senior Brother, you still have an appetite?" Daoist Mad Dog coughed a few times. Due to internal injuries, his face didn't look very good.

"Am I not doing this because I saw you were injured and wanted to nourish your body?" Daoist Cang Zhu said.

"I'm injured; I have no appetite..."

"Then there's no helping it. I'll eat for you! We can't let it go to waste!"

As Daoist Cang Zhu spoke, he took out a pill bottle he carried with him. After opening it, he poured out some coarse salt, rubbed it fine with his fingers, and sprinkled it onto the fish and chicken meat...

Gou Qizi was dumbfounded. "Isn't that the bottle for 'Heart Protecting Pills'? You're using it to hold salt!? And here I thought you were being stingy and refused to give me healing pills!"

"Salt is the chief of all flavors. How can one travel the world without it?" Daoist Cang Zhu lectured.

Just as he was speaking, a falcon descended from the sky outside the Mountain God Temple!

The expressions of both men turned solemn. Daoist Cang Zhu stood up and reached out, taking a rolled-up slip of paper from the falcon's ankle.

After a dive, the falcon flew directly out of a back window and quickly disappeared into the night sky.

"Spiritual bird message? Has Master come out of seclusion!?" Gou Qizi's face looked pale, filled with unease.

Daoist Cang Zhu no longer had the heart to sprinkle salt. He opened the slip of paper and began to read it carefully...