295: Continuous breakthroughs, wood demon consciousness (Thanks to Mr. Gu Yue Fangyuan for the 5000 reward)

Lin Shiming put away the Storage Pouch and took out two talismans, one flying towards Lin Houyong's Immortal Cave and the other towards Lin Shitao's Immortal Cave.

He didn't want to come out of seclusion just yet; for the Lin Family, the longer he remained in seclusion, the longer the Lin Family could lie low.

Moreover, he indeed needed time to elevate himself.

The Lin Family's future enemies would only grow stronger, and Cultivation had always been like sailing against the current—no progress meant falling behind.

Not to mention the lifespan issue, which was like a great mountain pressing down on all Cultivators.

Lin Shiming also guessed that the Zhang Family would inevitably visit the Lin Family then, and what Lin Shiming told Lin Houyong was to temporarily avoid them.

The Qian Family and Li Family's territory could be temporarily conceded, but not entirely given up, otherwise the Zhang Family would likely become insatiable!

And this balance needed to be managed by his Fifth Uncle, Lin Houyong, himself.

He believed his Fifth Uncle could do it.

Additionally, as long as he remained in seclusion, the Zhang Family wouldn't go too far, as he was a Disciple of Zi Xuan Sanren, and if all went as expected, Zi Xuan Sanren was already in seclusion, attempting to Breakthrough to Golden Core!

However, a successful Breakthrough might not necessarily be a good thing for the Lin Family!

Apart from the Zhang Family matter, Lin Shiming also needed the Lin Family to help him search for Spirit Snake corpses, especially third-tier Spirit Snake corpses.

Before Wang Jiao underwent Bloodline Restoration, he couldn't guarantee if it could withstand the Bloodline of a Purple Mansion Great Demon; the safest approach was to let Wang Jiao complete an ordinary Bloodline Restoration first.

As for Lin Shitao, Lin Shiming expressed his longing and gratitude, and inquired about her recent situation.

Then, he re-entered the Grotto-heaven World, his Divine Sense probing into his Storage Pouch, where he saw several jade bottles containing many Mianyang Pills, and also many third-tier Beast Nurturing Pills.

Now that Lin Houxuan, the head of the Alchemy Hall, had Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, two of the Lin Family's third-tier Alchemists had also Breakthrough, and the speed of pill refining had greatly increased.

Conversely, Spirit Medicine was somewhat scarce, and the Lin Family needed to Cultivate more spirit plant masters and open more spirit plant gardens.

This was a matter of foundation; Spirit Medicine couldn't be achieved overnight, and the Lin Family had to proceed gradually!

Besides Medicinal Pills, there was also the Body Tempering Spirit Liquid for the Mountain Ape Body Refining Art.

These Spirit Liquids were condensed from blood crocodile flowers and Body Forging Flowers; of course, for Lin Shiming, the most important ones were the Dragon Blood Grass next to Wang Jiao, and the Black Spirit Fish.

Lin Shiming took out a wooden bucket, and subconsciously took out two wooden buckets.

He poured in the Body Tempering liquid!

Then he shook his head, a little dumbfounded!

Red-haired was still in deep sleep, but before he could put it away, Wang Jiao was already lying in the remaining bucket. However, Wang Jiao's body couldn't shrink like Red-haired's, and the entire wooden bucket only held most of its tail!

Most of its body was exposed, and it immediately twisted uncomfortably, even looking like it was about to tip over the bucket!

Its mouth made whimpering sounds, and a Divine Sense fluctuation came from its mind.

"Small! Small!"

Lin Shiming was a little exasperated, then he took out a large bucket.

Using Body Forging liquid for Spirit Beasts was actually quite extravagant, but these Spirit Beasts were inherently good at Physical Body, and using Body Forging liquid could indeed improve their strength.

Moreover, he also needed these Spirit Beasts to practice with him to improve his close-combat Body Cultivator strength. With Red-haired in deep sleep for Breakthrough, Wang Jiao naturally stepped up!

However, a large bucket required more Body Tempering liquid, so Lin Shiming naturally diluted the Body Tempering liquid much further for Wang Jiao.

As the Body Tempering liquid was ready, Lin Shiming also took out several Dragon Blood Grasses and carefully blended them into the Body Refining liquid according to the proportions.

Lin Shiming took off his top, sat cross-legged in the Body Tempering liquid, and began to circulate the Mountain Ape Body Refining Art.

Slowly, a trace of golden light appeared on his body surface.

The golden light grew larger and larger; from a distance, it looked like a golden ape sitting cross-legged.

And the Spirit Light of the Body Tempering liquid continuously flowed into Lin Shiming's body.

Beside him, Wang Jiao's two giant eyes glanced at Lin Shiming, then it rolled a Dragon Blood Grass from its swamp, and then rolled up a High-Grade Spirit Stone, putting them into its bucket.

Surprisingly, streaks of dark light also began to appear on its body surface.

Within this dark light, faint glimpses of 蛟鱗 could be seen.

If Lin Shiming had seen this scene, he would have been surprised for a long time, as this indicated that Wang Jiao actually had its own set of Body Tempering Spirit Arts!

...A long time later, as a noticeable swelling and pain appeared in his true essence, Lin Shiming opened his eyes.

The Body Tempering liquid had begun to lighten, and the power of his vital energy and blood had once again soared. His palm transformed into a sword, and with a press into the Void Realm, a terrifying gust of wind shot out!

Lin Shiming woke from the tub, then woke Wang Jiao, and immediately began close combat in the Grotto-heaven World.

One person and one flood dragon continuously wrestled in the Void Realm.

Although Lin Shiming was a Body Cultivator at the third-tier Middle Stage, facing Wang Jiao, who was at the third-tier Early Stage, he couldn't gain any advantage. It was only when he pushed the Mountain Ape Body Refining Art to its limit that he could suppress Wang Jiao with his Realm advantage.

After the physical combat, Lin Shiming took out the sword carving stone from the Tai Bai Sword Palace and formed a new section of steps.

He was like a mountain ape guarding the mountain!

He landed on the steps made of sword carving stone, and he did not release his Sword Intent, allowing the Sword Intent on the sword carving stone to press down on him.

Countless Sword Intents cut his Physical Body, but he circulated the Mountain Ape Body Refining Art, remaining unmoving.

Even though he was covered in blood, his gaze remained firm.

Body Tempering liquid for Body Forging!

Close combat for Body Forging!

Sword Intent for Body Forging!

Plus the mysterious Black Spirit Fish as Spirit Cuisine!

Lin Shiming's Body Refining Cultivation advanced rapidly... Spring passed and autumn came, flowers bloomed and fell!

The Red Spirit Fish in the spirit pond leaped out of the pond countless times.

And the Mingxin Tea Tree had fully sprouted, lush and green, each spirit leaf incredibly vibrant.

On the sword carving stone, Lin Shiming's body trembled uncontrollably.

At this moment, the Sword Intent cutting into his body could only stir up bursts of golden light; the Mountain Ape Body Refining Art had almost become instinctive, constantly circulating.

And the next moment, with a sound, Lin Shiming suddenly stood up.

Immediately, the steps of the sword carving stone sank several feet deep!

But when he stood up, he unleashed a terrifying surge of power.

Lin Shiming clenched his fist, and a power characteristic of a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Body Cultivator appeared on his fist.

Countless gusts of wind appeared around him, and a true essence storm scattered in all directions.

Lin Shiming opened his eyes, feeling immeasurably stronger than when he was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

As Lin Shiming opened his eyes, Red-haired and Golden Wings in the distance also scurried over.

It had been another two years, and these two beasts had finally Breakthrough to the third-tier Late Stage not long ago.

At this moment, a Spirit Fire mark appeared on Red-haired's forehead, and the spirit patterns that once only covered its tail now covered its entire body. When fully unleashed, the sky-filling Spirit Fire's power was immeasurably greater than before.

When it returned to its original form, it could grow up to twenty feet tall, like a Titan Giant Ape.

And the Golden Winged Mantis also changed greatly; its eight wings were fully grown, shimmering with golden light, and golden spirit patterns appeared on its golden scythes. The terrifying cutting power, even swaying in the air, seemed capable of slicing open the Void Realm.

The strength of the two beasts naturally increased greatly, and similarly, their appetites also increased greatly.

Previously, when Lin Shiming was Cultivating, they could restrain themselves, but now that Lin Shiming was out of seclusion, the two beasts stood on either side, howling and squeaking.

Red-haired habitually stroked his Storage Pouch, its eyes full of hope.

Golden Wings rubbed against him with its triangular head.

Lin Shiming also unhesitatingly took out countless third-tier Beast Nurturing Pills, and gave the two beasts all the remaining third-tier spirit beast meat sealed in his Storage Pouch. In addition, there was also a lot of third-tier spirit water.

Only then did the two beasts quiet down. Red-haired also extended its monkey hand, trying to reach towards Golden Wings's side.

Clearly, having Breakthrough, it felt it was capable again.

And Golden Wings would not indulge it; with terrifying speed, a golden flash appeared, and the back of Golden Wings's golden sickle-like leg swept across Red-haired's hand. The golden barbs on it immediately pricked Red-haired, causing it to howl loudly, wishing it could return to the Fu Ling Fire Mulberry Tree, take out its Yuan Magnetic Seal, and smash Golden Wings with it.

This was still Golden Wings using the blunt side of its mantis blade; otherwise, Red-haired's hand would have been at risk of being severed on the spot.

Golden Wings's terrifying speed and the terrifying attack of its mantis blade greatly increased its danger, and Lin Shiming was also overjoyed.

Such a Golden Wings would bring him even greater combat power amplification.

The Breakthroughs of the two beasts both gave him no small surprise.

Lin Shiming also took out a lot of star spirit floss for the latter, and from the spirit pond, he took out several third-tier Black Spirit Fish, letting the two beasts feast.

After everything was done, Lin Shiming walked towards Wang Jiao. At this moment, Wang Jiao was sleeping in the swamp. After two years of sparring, coupled with a large number of Beast Nurturing Pills and star spirit floss, even without the Bloodline Ancestral Return Secret Method, it had fallen into a deep sleep.

When it wakes up, it will probably be at the third-tier Middle Stage, and by then, it might be able to directly undertake the Bloodline Restoration of the Purple Mansion Great Demon Taiqing Purple Jade Python!

Lin Shiming placed two High-Grade Spirit Stones, then looked at the Mingxin Tea Tree.

He stood before the Mingxin Tea Tree, watching its branches being re-covered, his eyes indifferent, his face devoid of expression.

Half an incense stick later, the Mingxin Tea Tree's vital spirit tea spot began to stir with spirit leaves, and a spirit leaf with a richer Spirit Light extended from it, followed by a strong tea fragrance that permeated the air.

The next moment, a Wood Demon's face manifested on the tree.

The Wood Demon's body also appeared before Lin Shiming.

"This old man greets Master!"

The next moment, the Wood Demon spoke, completely startling Lin Shiming.

He hadn't expected the Wood Demon to be able to speak.

But precisely because of this, Lin Shiming's gaze grew even colder.

He wasn't a young Cultivator fresh out of the mountains, to be swayed by this 'Master' address.

He only knew that this Wood Demon had been conscious before, and its consciousness was definitely not that of an ordinary Wood Demon.

No wonder it could observe the Golden Thunder Bamboo.

Such powerful consciousness and Comprehension Ability, and indeed, it was later able to utilize the Lightning Tribulation to live a new life.

However, he then thought of the Taiqing Purple Jade Python, and suddenly realized that this Wood Demon might have, on that day, cleverly survived an incredible Transformation Lightning Tribulation.

Although he felt it was impossible, he was even more unwilling to believe that the Wood Demon had such strong consciousness at the second-tier.

"Speak, you've hidden it from Lin for so long..." Lin Shiming said coldly.

Although he had thought a lot in his mind, for him, this Wood Demon had indeed been hiding something from him.

"Master, forgive me, Wood Demon has not hidden anything from Master!" The Wood Demon plopped down and knelt directly.

"Wood Demon originally used the Golden Thunder Bamboo to attract lightning and survived half of a transformation tribulation, coupled with its inherent Wood Demon body, it was able to gain consciousness. But these consciousnesses were born from observing Master in the dark and recalling a thousand years of tree life!"

"And if Master still doesn't believe, please let Master cast a Soul Restraining Seal, Wood Demon is willing to manage the entire Grotto-heaven World for Master!"

"Our Wood Demon race are natural spirit plant masters!"

"But I also ask Master, after achieving the Dao, to fulfill the promise made that day!" The Wood Demon said.

After saying the last sentence, the old tree face was almost pressed to the ground.

Lin Shiming didn't speak, but began to condense the Soul Restraining Seal.

Given the Wood Demon's state, he naturally needed to condense a more powerful Soul Restraining Seal. Ordinary spirit contracts had long been of little use, and he even suspected that most of the spirit contract had been destroyed during the Lightning Tribulation.

However, all of this, after condensing the Soul Restraining Seal, he would know everything.

As the essential blood of the Soul Restraining Seal condensed and flew towards the Wood Demon.

The Wood Demon did not dodge at all, allowing the essential blood to drip in. The next moment, a tiny tree demon figure was captured within the blood drop and returned to Lin Shiming's hand.

As the Soul Restraining Seal formed, Lin Shiming's mind, with just a slight thought, could access the Wood Demon's memories and its previous consciousness.

The next moment, his gaze finally softened considerably.

The Wood Demon's words held no falsehood.

In the Yellow Grade Secret Realm, the Mingxin Tea Tree had grown for over a thousand years; all the sub-Tea Trees there were formed from tea seeds that dropped from its body.

And because the Secret Realm had restrictions on Spirit Beasts and Cultivators, it also restricted the Wood Demon, preventing it from Breakthrough to the third-tier.

But consciousness was born during its long tree life, and then came everything else.

"Don't worry, Lin will definitely fulfill his promise!"

"Next, you should take good care of these spirit plants!" Lin Shiming, having learned everything, was no longer angry.

He immediately told the Wood Demon to start managing them, and in the future, perhaps he wouldn't even need to transplant spirit plants himself. If he let the Wood Demon transplant them, he wouldn't have to worry about the loss from transplanting spirit plants.

One must know that he was, after all, only a second-tier spirit plant master.

And the Wood Demon was clearly a professional.

After dealing with the Wood Demon's matters, Lin Shiming also breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards the three yuan forging spirit flower.

These Body Forging Flowers had matured and could all be refined into Three-Essence Spirit Refining Pills.

The Pill Formula happened to be among those fourth-tier Pill Formulas, and with the Spirit Splitting Art, he also had hope of raising his Divine Sense to the true Peak Foundation Establishment. As for whether he could reach Purple Mansion, he was still a little unsure.

Of course, he would also share a portion of these Body Forging Flowers with Lin Shitao and Lin Houxuan.

Alchemists who wish to improve their Alchemy skills also need powerful Divine Sense, which is indispensable.

Besides the Body Forging Flowers, Lin Shiming also collected many Red Spirit Fish. These Red Spirit Fish were recently put in as fry, and now they were second-tier High Grade Spirit Fish with strong vital energy and blood, perfect for Body Tempering for the Family's Body Cultivators.

As for him and the current several beasts, they were not very interested in second-tier Red Spirit Fish.

After everything was handled, Lin Shiming changed into a green robe, and his external Cultivation began to change.

Finally, with a burst of Spirit Light covering him, he completely transformed into the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage state.

"This Three Purities Qi Concealment Art is indeed powerful!"