Iceberg Senior Sister Offers Warmth

For the next month, Lin Yuan lived a quiet life, rarely stepping outside his doors.

During the day, he practiced Alchemy and Cultivated, handling his Sect tasks perfectly. At night, Xue Linglong would knock on his courtyard door right on time, and the two would lock the door for an intense and fulfilling "face-to-face hard cultivation," while also exchanging the latest intelligence from the front lines.

Living such a regular life, Lin Yuan's gains were immense.

Not only did his available attribute points grow steadily, but after a month, relying on the Medicinal Pill he handed over, he had accumulated over six hundred merit coins.

During this time, Gu Zheng actually listened to Su Meiniang's strategy and took the initiative to visit him several times.

From the initial excuse of "discussing Alchemy," to later "exchanging pointers on Formation," and finally "gifting spiritual fruits," she tried all sorts of tricks.

Unfortunately, Lin Yuan rejected her politely every time with excuses like "Alchemy is at a critical moment, inconvenient to receive guests" or "I have gained some insights in Cultivation and am currently in seclusion."

He didn't even open the Formation, which made this proud daughter of heaven stomp her feet outside the courtyard several times in anger.

This day, Lin Yuan had just finished a batch of Medicinal Pill and was preparing to consume one to continue his Cultivation.

Outside the courtyard, Gu Zheng's cold voice, with a hint of intentional slowing, came again.

"Junior Brother Lin, stop staying in the courtyard all day, come with me to the Pill Treasure Pavilion. It is said that there was a great victory at the front lines, and they brought back many good things!"

"A great victory at the front lines?" Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow.

In the intelligence Xue Linglong sent over these past few days, it only mentioned minor friction between the two sides and mutual vigilance; he hadn't heard of any major moves.

How could there suddenly be a Breakthrough?

"Come out, or let me in, and I will tell you in detail!" The voice outside the courtyard carried a sense of command that brooked no refusal, but soon softened again.

Lin Yuan pondered for a moment, knowing that refusing again would seem intentional, and he was indeed very interested in those "spoils of war."

He stood up, dismantled the Formation, and opened the courtyard door.

Today, Gu Zheng was clearly well-prepared. She had changed into a simple and elegant light blue long dress, which made her figure look even more upright and her skin as fair as snow.

Her long black hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and a few strands of hair fell by her cheeks, adding a touch of softness.

What surprised Lin Yuan the most was her face.

On that eternal iceberg face, she had actually applied a layer of very light makeup. The sharpness between her brows was cleverly concealed, a light color was applied to her lips, and there was even a faint smile at the corners of her mouth.

Although this smile still looked a bit stiff, it was a world of difference compared to her previous "keep strangers at a distance" appearance.

"What happened? A great victory at the front lines, can we go back now?" Lin Yuan asked with pleasant surprise.

"Want to go back? It's still too early." Gu Zheng rolled her eyes at him, "However, speaking of this great victory, it actually has something to do with you."

"Me?" Lin Yuan pointed at himself, looking innocent.

"This month, you handed over nearly two hundred Medicinal Pill in total, half of which were Blood Melting Muscle Growing Pills and half were Instant Spirit Essence Recovery Pills, and their grade was extremely high."

In Gu Zheng's tone, there was a hint of pride she hadn't even noticed herself.

"These Medicinal Pill allowed our injured Cultivator, especially the core combat forces at the Core Formation Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage, to recover from their injuries quickly. Two days ago, Grandfather personally commanded, and with the sufficient support of Medicinal Pill, he caught the Misty Immortal Sect off guard."

"Not only did he break through their forward defense line in one fell swoop and seize the main entrance of the Blood River Spirit Mine, but he also captured many Cultivators from the Misty Immortal Sect alive."

She paused, her clear phoenix eyes looking at Lin Yuan, the smile in her eyes becoming a bit more genuine: "Now, all the spoils of war have been sent to the Pill Treasure Pavilion and can be exchanged with merit coins. Don't you want to go take a look?"

"That is naturally something I must go see!" Lin Yuan immediately perked up.

This was the first time he had stepped out of his small courtyard since coming to Black Stone City a month ago.

Walking on the road, he could clearly feel that the atmosphere in the city was completely different from when he first arrived.

The suffocating murderous Aura in the air had faded a lot, and the Yin Corpse Sect Disciple coming and going, although still cold in expression, all had an unhidden joy and excitement between their brows.

The Pill Treasure Pavilion in Black Stone City was located in the most conspicuous position in the center of the city. It was a two-story stone building made entirely of black stone, with a rough style and an extraordinary Aura.

Today, the Pill Treasure Pavilion could be said to be crowded.

As soon as the two stepped in, a heat wave mixed with the smell of blood and spiritual Materials rushed towards them.

The first floor of the pavilion was extremely spacious. Directly facing the door was a huge circular counter. Behind the counter stood a huge spiritual monument several feet high, on which lines of small characters were constantly refreshing and scrolling.

"Low Grade Magical Artifact Green Sharp Sword, one hundred merit points!"

"Three souls from a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator, two hundred merit points!"

"A set of standard Magical Artifact robes of the Misty Immortal Sect, with basic defensive Formation, eighty merit points!"

"Incomplete Formation Plate 'Small Maze Formation', one hundred and fifty merit points!"

...

The dazzling array of items on the spiritual monument was overwhelming, from Magical Artifact, Medicinal Pill, Talisman to various Materials, and even the souls of captured Cultivators, everything was available.

Behind the spiritual monument were rows of tall shelves, reaching the ceiling.

Dozens of Utility Disciple at the Qi Refinement Stage shuttled between the shelves like busy worker ants, taking down the exchanged items and sending them to the counter in front.

Lin Yuan looked at the tempting items on the spiritual monument and the numbers behind them, then thought about the six hundred plus merit coins in his Storage Pouch, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up slightly.

It was not in vain to work so hard for this month.

A Late Stage Core Formation Cultivator like Gu Zheng, who was also the granddaughter of Old Ancestor Xuan Yin, naturally received special treatment at the Pill Treasure Pavilion.

The two were led to a quiet private room on the second floor.

"Junior Martial Uncle Gu, whatever you want to exchange, just give the order. This is the list of all items in the pavilion, all in this Jade Slip."

A young Disciple at the ninth level of the Qi Refinement Stage smiled, offering a Jade Slip with both hands.

Lin Yuan took the Jade Slip, but did not rush to check it. Instead, he glanced at Gu Zheng, who was sitting upright beside him, and a flash of hard-to-detect cunning streaked across the depths of his eyes.

This iceberg beauty was now single-mindedly trying to "Cultivate feelings" with him, playing that game of playing hard to get. Then don't blame him for being impolite.

He sank his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip, and the dazzling list of treasures instantly appeared in his mind.

"Pill Formula for Yuan-Increasing Pill, not bad, fifty merit points, not expensive." Lin Yuan muttered, as if talking to himself.

"Hundred-Mile Divine Movement Talisman, one thousand merit points. After activation, it can move nearly a hundred miles in an instant, and even Core Formation Stage Cultivators can hardly catch up... Good stuff! A Divine Artifact for saving one's life!"

"Soul-Suppressing Protection Talisman, one thousand two hundred merit points. Wearing this Talisman close to the body can form a Divine Soul barrier, isolating external Divine Sense intrusion, and can even resist the Possession secret technique of high-level Cultivators... Hiss, this must also be taken! With it, I can sleep much more soundly in the future!"

These two things, one for escaping and one for preventing old monsters from sneak-attacking, were tailor-made Divine Artifact for his life-saving needs, given his dangerous situation and many secrets.

Since he saw them, there was absolutely no reason to miss them!

Three things added together, a full two thousand two hundred and fifty merit points.

This number was enough to make most Core Formation Cultivators flinch; even after risking their lives in this bloody Black Stone City for a year or two, they might not be able to save up enough.

Lin Yuan withdrew his Divine Sense, his face showing the right amount of fanatical desire, and then quickly slumped, turning into pain and embarrassment. He sighed heavily.

He looked up, looking at Gu Zheng pitifully, his eyes so sincere that they seemed to be able to drip water.

"Senior Sister..."

"My... my merit points, seem to be not enough."