171: Miao Dan's invitation, feelings gradually deepening

On the way back to Listening to Bamboo Pavilion, that obscure and malicious Divine Sense felt like a cold, venomous snake. Though it did not appear again, it caused alarms to ring in Lin Xuan's heart. On the surface, he remained calm, discussing what they had seen at the grand event with the four women, but secretly, he had already raised his Taichu Sword Intent to its Peak. His Divine Sense acted like the most precise net, covering a hundred zhang around him, ensuring no movement could escape his perception.

Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan also noticed Lin Xuan's momentary stiffness. They exchanged a glance, seeing gravity in each other's eyes. They adjusted their positions without a word; Su Wanqing moved slightly forward, her icy gaze sharply scanning the front, while Qu Feiyan lagged half a step behind. The invisible sound waves of her yaoguang immortal sound zither rippled out behind the group, forming a second layer of vigilance. Gongsun Yu and Yun Shang were protected in the middle.

The five moved like a well-trained squad through the bustling crowd. They appeared ordinary, but they were actually fully prepared to respond to a surprise attack at any moment.

Fortunately, until they returned to the small courtyard of Listening to Bamboo Pavilion and activated all defensive Formations, the anticipated attack did not occur.

"That Divine Sense... it was very strong, and it was filled with a kind of... pure greed. It didn't feel like someone from Heavenly Frost City or the Liu family." Qu Feiyan put away her zither, a thoughtful look in her charming eyes.

Su Wanqing nodded slightly. "It seems like some lone old monster who might have targeted us at the auction." It was hard not to attract attention when they had spent 40,000 High-Grade Spirit Stones to purchase the phoenix blood vine roots.

Lin Xuan pondered, "No matter. If soldiers come, we block them. The top priority is to improve our strength as quickly as possible and find clues about the nirvana flower." He took out the Phoenix wood core he had obtained at the free market, which had been covered by filthy aura. He wrapped a trace of Spiritual Energy containing the essence of Taichu breaking-law intent around his fingertips and carefully began to strip away the filth on the surface.

This process required extremely precise control to avoid damaging the wood core inside. Su Wanqing and Qu Feiyan watched intently from the side. They could feel the profound nature of Lin Xuan's Spiritual Energy; it seemed capable of decomposing all things, yet it also contained the meaning of endless creation, making them admire his methods even more.

Gongsun Yu watched Lin Xuan's focused profile with eyes full of adoration, feeling that everything he did was handsome and impressive. She quietly went to the kitchen to prepare tea and snacks, placing them aside without daring to disturb him.

About the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the last trace of filthy black Qi was annihilated by the Tai Chu Spiritual Energy. The wood core revealed its true appearance—the entire body was a warm, dark gold, the wood texture as fine as jade. Inside, golden liquid seemed to be flowing slowly, emitting an incomparably pure wood spirit Qi and a faint, refreshing exotic fragrance, a world of difference from its previous charred appearance!

"Such pure wood spirit Origin! And this lingering aura of the Phoenix... it's several times stronger than that lightning-struck Phoenix wood!" Yun Shang couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Lin Xuan put away the Phoenix wood core with satisfaction. This was undoubtedly another top-grade auxiliary material for refining the nirvana phoenix blood pill.

Just as he was preparing to continue studying the star path compass, a slight fluctuation occurred in the courtyard's defensive Formation. It was not an attack, but a request similar to a message transmission.

Lin Xuan scanned with his Divine Sense and saw a young boy dressed in the attire of the Marvelous Elixir Pavilion standing outside the courtyard gate, holding a gilded invitation in his hands.

Opening the gate, the boy bowed respectfully and presented the invitation. "Senior Lin, this was sent by the Pavilion Master. Three days from now, a close friend of the Pavilion Master, 'Daoist Master Miao Dan,' will be hosting a small pill Dao exchange meeting at his private residence, 'Marvelous Elixir Pavilion.' He specifically invites you to attend."

Daoist Master Miao Dan!

A flash of light appeared in Lin Xuan's eyes as he took the invitation. This was one of the key people they had been searching for in vain! The old man from Danxia was indeed a man of his word, or perhaps, he had seen Lin Xuan's potential and had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch.

"Please thank Senior Danxia for me. Three days from now, I will definitely attend as promised," Lin Xuan said warmly.

The boy bowed and retreated.

Closing the courtyard gate, Lin Xuan looked at the invitation, which emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, feeling a slight stir in his heart. This might be an important Breakthrough.

Night fell once again.

After the hustle and bustle of the day and the potential crisis, the atmosphere in the small courtyard was much more relaxed than the previous night. Perhaps facing external pressure together had transformed the subtle sense of competition among the three women into more understanding and tolerance.

Dinner was prepared by Gongsun Yu and Yun Shang together. Although not exquisite, it had a unique flavor. During the meal, Qu Feiyan even took the initiative to pick up some light spirit bamboo shoots that Su Wanqing liked for her. Although Su Wanqing only nodded faintly, she did not refuse. Gongsun Yu was busy serving rice and dishes for Lin Xuan, her small face filled with a satisfied smile.

Lin Xuan saw all this and felt gratified. He knew well that it was no easy task to make these three women, each with distinct personalities and all outstanding individuals, truly live in harmony. It would take time and sincerity to slowly adjust. For now, things seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

After the meal, Su Wanqing continued to be responsible for the perimeter, while Qu Feiyan played the zither in the inner hall. The music was no longer full of allure but had become ethereal and distant, with the effect of calming the mind and spirit, assisting everyone in their cultivation.

Lin Xuan called Gongsun Yu into the quiet room alone.

"Xiaoyu, circulate your Cultivation Technique. I will help you completely repair the cracks in your Golden Core," Lin Xuan said gently. Now that he had found quite a few auxiliary materials, and his own understanding of thunder had deepened due to his resonance with Gongsun Yu, he was confident he could help her fully recover.

Gongsun Yu sat down cross-legged obediently, closed her eyes, and trustingly opened herself up without reservation.

Lin Xuan placed his hands on her back, and his pure, vast, and incomparably gentle Tai Chu Spiritual Energy, mixed with a trace of vitality from the thunder source crystal marrow, slowly flowed into her body. This time, he was not just repairing; he was guiding, guiding the thunder Origin within her, which had become even purer after merging with the Chaos Thunder Gang and the fusion of spirit and flesh, to take the initiative to nourish and mend the cracks.

His Spiritual Energy was like the most skillful weaver, while Gongsun Yu's thunder Origin was the thread. Under his precise guidance, it wound and filled the gaps on the Golden Core, thread by thread. This process required immense patience and meticulous control of energy.

Time passed bit by bit. Fine beads of sweat seeped from Gongsun Yu's forehead, but she gritted her teeth and persisted. She could feel her Spiritual Energy merging with Big Brother Lin's like milk and water, and that intimate feeling filled her heart with sweetness and strength.

Finally, when the last crack was completely covered and mended by the pure thunder Origin, the Golden Core inside Gongsun Yu's body shook violently, erupting with a purple brilliance more dazzling and solid than ever before! The Dao patterns on it became more complex and clear, and her aura instantly broke through the barriers. Not only were her injuries fully healed, but her cultivation also advanced a step further, stabilizing at the Mid-stage Golden Core!

She opened her eyes in joy, feeling the surging power within her and her Golden Core as good as new. She excitedly threw herself into Lin Xuan's arms. "Big Brother Lin! I'm healed! I've had a Breakthrough!"

Lin Xuan held her, feeling her joy, and was sincerely happy for her. "Very good. In the future, you must not be so reckless again."

"Mm!" Gongsun Yu nodded vigorously, burying her face in the crook of his neck, greedily breathing in his comforting scent, and whispered, "Big Brother Lin, thank you... Also, I... I will always, always stay by your side..."

Seeing her look of wholehearted reliance and deep-rooted affection, Lin Xuan's heart softened. He lowered his head and pressed a kiss to her smooth forehead.

Just then, the door of the quiet room was gently knocked.

Su Wanqing's cold voice came from outside. "A guest has arrived, claiming to be a steward from the Marvelous Elixir Pavilion."

Lin Xuan separated from Gongsun Yu, tidied his clothes, and walked out of the quiet room.

Standing in the courtyard was a middle-aged Cultivator wearing a brown robe with a kind face, his cultivation at the Late Golden Core Stage. Seeing Lin Xuan, he bowed respectfully. "Are you the alchemist Lin Fan? I am Zhou Tong, a steward of the Marvelous Elixir Pavilion. Following the Immortal Master's orders, I have come specifically to deliver the detailed procedures and precautions for tomorrow's exchange meeting. Additionally, the Immortal Master heard that you are quite interested in high-level Spirit Medicine, so he specially ordered me to bring an item for you to examine."

As he spoke, he took out a jade box and carefully opened it.

Inside the jade box was not Spirit Medicine, but a Jade Slip.

Lin Xuan's Divine Sense sank into the Jade Slip, and a moment later, a shocking brilliance erupted in his eyes!

The Jade Slip did not contain a Pill Formula or a Cultivation Technique, but a remnant map depicting the terrain of a strange valley, with a few small characters marked beside it: Suspected location of the "nirvana flower," located deep in the Ten Thousand Monster Mountain Range. Dangerous! Dangerous! Dangerous!

Clues about the nirvana flower! And it pointed directly to a specific location—deep in Qiwu Valley!

Although it was marked with three "dangerous" warnings, this gift was undoubtedly significant!

Daoist Master Miao Dan truly lived up to his reputation! This exchange meeting was becoming more and more interesting.

Lin Xuan suppressed the excitement in his heart and said to Zhou Tong, "Many thanks to the Immortal Master for his generous gift. Tomorrow, I will definitely attend the meeting on time."

After sending off Zhou Tong, Lin Xuan held the Jade Slip in his hand, his gaze seemingly piercing through the Void Realm and landing on the distant and dangerous Ten Thousand Monster Mountain Range.

Clues for the nirvana flower were now available, the phoenix blood vine roots were in hand, and many auxiliary materials had been collected... Refining the nirvana phoenix blood pill no longer seemed like an unreachable dream.

And tomorrow's trip to the Marvelous Elixir Pavilion might bring even more surprises, or perhaps... a deeper whirlpool.