89: Preparing to refine elixir

Over an hour later, Lin Jingyu lay on the ground like a salted fish left out in the blazing sun, soaked in sweat, gasping for air, his limbs occasionally twitching uncontrollably.

"That... that was damn... inhuman suffering..."

Lingering fear remained in his heart; he felt the bitter taste still clinging to the base of his tongue, and the mere thought of it made him reflexively want to retch.

However, feeling the Mental Energy in his Sea of Consciousness surge by nearly thirty percent, becoming more condensed and vigorous, he felt the suffering was worth it.

It was so worth it!

"This lantern fruit... it can actually directly increase and refine Mental Energy!" He was incredibly shocked.

At the very least, there were no such Medicinal Pills for sale in the market.

Some Medicinal Pills that could restore Mental Energy were sold at sky-high prices.

Let alone one that could directly enhance Mental Energy.

It was simply a Heaven-Defying level treasure! Unheard of!

What did this mean? It meant he didn't need to struggle and slowly grind away time relying on the Spirit Refining Art.

As long as his total Mental Energy reached the limit of what his Sea of Consciousness could bear, filling up the lake of Mental Energy.

He could immediately attempt to use the secret technique from the Spirit Refining Art to divide his Mental Energy, stepping into the Realm of Mind Dividing into Three Uses in one go.

And the success rate was nearly one hundred percent.

To reach his Mental Energy limit, he needed at least three more lantern fruits.

Being bitter to the point of death was fine, but the key was that there were far fewer lantern fruits than foxtail grass seeds.

Altogether, there were only about twenty pods.

Each pod contained three fruits.

He wasn't sure if they would still have the effect of enhancing Mental Energy if separated.

Therefore, he had to consume them together in the future.

He struggled to crawl up, looking at the lantern grass hanging with the remaining fruits, his eyes burning with intensity.

Unfortunately, he still lacked the strength and channels.

Otherwise, with this lantern fruit in hand, he might be able to hire a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to hold the fort.

If he revealed it now, he would likely be captured and have his soul searched immediately.

Let it be a waste; it was more reliable to eat it himself.

Lin Jingyu left the secret chamber and returned to the surface.

At this moment, the sky was already bright, and white clouds like ocean waves floated in the azure sky.

Ling Kuang was already waiting anxiously, pacing back and forth in the courtyard like an ant on a hot pan. As soon as he saw him come out of the room, he immediately approached with a bitter face, his tone indignant:

"Jingyu. You've finally come out. That old rascal, the Grand Elder... is truly a piece of work."

He poured out his grievances like beans from a bamboo tube: "I went to find him and said the Family Head was severely injured and needed Spirit Medicine, but that old thing cried harder than if his own father had died."

"He kept saying the ancestral hall was destroyed, the storehouse was raided, and the Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills were looted by that demonic Cultivator, leaving only a pile of junk."

"In the end, he stingily threw me only fifty Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as if he were sending off a beggar."

The more he spoke, the angrier he became, his face turning red: "Fifty Spirit Stones can't even buy top-quality healing Medicinal Pills."

"I had to go to every household to ask for help, wore my lips out, and what was the result?"

He pointed to a pitiful pile of things on the ground in the corner—a dozen or so bags filled with Spirit Rice, a few pieces of air-dried low-level Yao Beast jerky, and some dried ordinary herbs.

His face was full of helplessness and sorrow: "Just this! I didn't even get a single Spirit Stone! That is the Family Head, yet they don't care at all!"

His eyes were bloodshot, and his teeth gnashed together, making a "creaking" sound.

Lin Jingyu's face twitched; he had already spread the news that "the Family Head is dying."

How could anyone pay for a dead man?

It was already good enough to get some Spirit Rice and such.

Spirit Rice was a good thing.

Although the Lin family's stock was only First-Grade Low Grade White Tooth Spirit Rice, which contained extremely weak Spiritual Qi, long-term consumption could still subtly improve one's Physique and replenish Qi and blood.

Planting Spirit Rice was also the means by which the bottom-tier Cultivators of the Lin family made a living.

Usually, he and his sister couldn't bear to eat it; they would mix half a liang of Spirit Rice with two jin of ordinary rice to cook.

Even then, the Spirit Rice in the house had already been eaten up.

For the severely injured Family Head, as well as for him and Lin Jingxia who were Cultivating, these were all highly nourishing items.

"That's perfect." He waved his hand, his voice becoming a bit louder, dispelling some of the gloom in the courtyard. "Sister, don't just stand there, today we're steaming Spirit Rice, plenty of it! Eat as much as you want!"

He remembered that the Yao Beast meat hunted previously was still hanging on the kitchen beam. "Is there still that Yao Beast meat from last time? Don't save it, take it all out! Stir-fry a few more dishes, let's have a good meal today!"

He had been Transmigrated for so long, and yet he hadn't had a proper, hearty meal.

Last time there was only Yao Beast meat, not this much Spirit Rice.

He also thought about how the Family Head, Lin Lingshan, as a Body Cultivator, must have a huge appetite, and with his severe injuries, he urgently needed replenishment.

He added, "Use that big pot, steam half a pot; the Family Head can probably finish half of it."

Turning to the sorrowful-looking Ling Kuang, he rubbed his hands together, a slightly embarrassed smile appearing on his face:

"Uncle Lingkuang, I have to trouble you to make another trip to the market."

He took out a densely written note from his bosom and handed it over: "Besides delivering the sweet potato pills to Miaoling Pavilion as per the old rules, I have to trouble you to help me purchase these things... they are key medicinal materials and auxiliary ingredients to save the Family Head's life."

He was not deceiving Ling Kuang; he indeed planned to max out his Mental Energy after eating.

Then, divide it!

Afterward, he would attempt to refine the Pill Formula obtained from the animal skin of the Immovable Wisdom King Art.

If it could really be done, it would definitely play a crucial role in Lin Lingshan's injuries.

If it didn't, it wouldn't matter.

The note listed dozens of names of medicinal materials and quantity requirements in a swirling, calligraphic hand, and even included several types of special mineral powders and low-level talisman papers, making Ling Kuang's head spin.

Lin Jingyu then took out Chen Biao, the Grand-Uncle's shabby, worn-edged Storage Pouch and solemnly stuffed it into Ling Kuang's hand:

"Uncle, you use this Storage Pouch for now; it's more convenient and safe to put things inside. There... are still some Spirit Stones inside."

He paused, his tone sincere and with a hint of imperceptible embarrassment: "It might... not be enough; some of the items on the list are quite obscure, and the price probably won't be cheap."

He took a deep breath and looked into Ling Kuang's eyes: "If it's really not enough... I have to ask Uncle... for the sake of saving the Family Head, please help cover the difference first. I, Lin Jingyu, swear here that I will definitely repay it double in the future."

Don't look at him as holding precious medicine and a brick Jade Slip; his pockets only had four or five Spirit Stones.

When he moved the Family Head, Lin Lingshan, to the side room, he had also taken more than thirty Spirit Stones from him.

Sigh, a dignified Family Head, with less than a hundred Spirit Stones in his pocket.

Except for leaving a few Spirit Stones to restore Spiritual Qi, the rest were all in the Storage Pouch.

Ling Kuang raised his head, met Lin Jingyu's gaze, and an angry look appeared on his face:

"For the sake of the Family Head, I would be willing even if it meant going bankrupt! If you say anything about repaying again, that means you don't acknowledge me as your uncle!"

Lin Jingyu had given him a Storage Pouch worth at least two hundred Spirit Stones; this was complete trust in him.

How could he be reluctant because of a few Spirit Stones?

Then he nodded heavily and said: "Jingyu, don't worry, I will definitely return as soon as possible!"

After speaking, he tightly grasped the Storage Pouch and the list, turned around, and walked toward the outside of the courtyard with long strides.