40: The beauty was surprised and secretly liked

As he entered the carriage, a faint scent of a young woman's body permeated his nostrils, making him feel inexplicably pleasant.

Lin Yuan looked up, his gaze sweeping from bottom to top over her body.

Pale pink embroidered shoes wrapped around her slender feet, and above that was a light green long dress, with her long, dark hair draped behind her shoulders. Her features were delicate, and her face was beautiful.

As Deng Rui said, this woman was indeed attractive, a true beauty, on par with Miao Yizi's looks.

If he hadn't experienced the two women, he might have been captivated, but having already 'eaten meat,' he naturally didn't have much of a reaction.

On the other side, Deng Fuxi suddenly saw this uninvited guest and couldn't help but show a look of astonishment.

How handsome!

Was the 'fellow villager' Young Revered Master Rui spoke of such a handsome man?

Why didn't that guy tell her earlier?

The young woman grumbled inwardly. She had thought the other party was a rough man, never expecting such an appearance; it was a pleasant surprise.

"He's certainly good-looking, but it's a pity his Family background is too ordinary. It would be great if he were a bit wealthier."

Amidst her surprise, she sighed softly, thinking of his origins.

"Hello, my name is Deng Fuxi, from the Deng Family of Luoxiao City. Young Revered Master Rui must have told you about our destination for this trip, right?"

"Yes, I am Lin Yuan. I apologize for the disturbance on your journey."

"You're welcome. Everyone has difficulties, and meeting by chance is also a form of destiny."

The two exchanged a few pleasantries, then each began to Cultivate.

Deng Fuxi took out a Medicinal Pill the size of a mung bean. Just as she was about to take it, she saw the other party's actions and was stunned.

Origin Stone?

He's actually using an Origin Stone to Cultivate?

That's too extravagant!

Lin Yuan was holding an Origin Stone, absorbing it, when he suddenly noticed her surprised gaze. He couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Miss Deng?"

"No, Young Master Lin, do you always Cultivate with Origin Stones?"

"Yes, is there a problem?"

Lin Yuan found it strange. Wasn't the original purpose of an Origin Stone to be absorbed? Why was she so surprised?

Deng Fuxi explained, "There's no problem, it's just that Origin Stones are precious even for small families, so we usually exchange Origin Stones for Origin Qi Pills to Cultivate. One Origin Stone can be exchanged for ten Origin Qi Pills, which is enough for us to Cultivate for several days. If you Cultivate with an Origin Stone, you'd consume roughly one a day, which is truly too wasteful."

Lin Yuan understood. When he was in the Body Tempering Realm, he hadn't opened his Meridians yet, so he couldn't use Origin Stones and hadn't absorbed them. It had only been a few days since he Broke Through to Opening Meridian, so he wasn't aware of this. His Revered Master and Revered Master had never mentioned it either. He figured the Elder's Salary was enough to support their Cultivation with Origin Stones.

"That sounds a bit wasteful, but the efficiency of Cultivating with Origin Stones is higher than with Origin Qi Pills, right?"

He replied.

"It is higher, but it's also truly wasteful. At least our Deng Family juniors can't afford such consumption."

Deng Fuxi replied.

Besides the above reasons, there's another point: Cultivators in the Opening Meridian Realm cannot fully absorb the Origin Qi within an Origin Stone. Usually, after absorbing half, the remaining cannot be extracted. Only after reaching the Condensing Core Realm can it be fully absorbed.

Therefore, Cultivators in the Opening Meridian Realm generally do not directly absorb Origin Stones for Cultivation.

Instead, they use the more economical Origin Qi Pills.

Of course, for wealthy families, it doesn't matter.

Lin Yuan smiled faintly, "Thank you for the explanation, Young Miss. I'll continue my Cultivation then."

"Ah? You're still planning to Cultivate with Origin Stones?"

"Yes, I'm not short on Origin Stones for now, and efficiency is more important to me."

After Lin Yuan finished speaking, he closed his eyes and began to Cultivate.

He still had three thousand Origin Stones from the Sect's reward in his Storage Pouch, as well as some monthly stipends he had saved up earlier. He could afford this level of consumption for Cultivation.

Deng Fuxi saw his serious demeanor and was extremely puzzled.

She had already explained it so clearly, so why did this guy still insist on Cultivating with Origin Stones?

Could it be that he was very rich and didn't lack Origin Stones?

Or was he deliberately trying to show off his wealth in front of her?

If it was the latter, then he was too foolish.

In the end, she still couldn't see through him and could only shake her head, taking an Origin Qi Pill to begin her Cultivation.

Half a day later.

The sun set, and night fell.

The Deng Family stopped their journey, dismounted, and set up a bonfire on the spot, preparing to rest.

Lin Yuan and Deng Fuxi also emerged from the carriage and sat cross-legged near the bonfire.

"Visibility is poor at night, and it's difficult to deal with Yao Beasts if we encounter them, so we generally don't rush our journey after dark."

Before Lin Yuan could speak, Deng Fuxi voluntarily explained.

For some reason, she always felt that this man was very mysterious, making her involuntarily develop a good impression and unable to resist striking up a conversation with him.

Beside them, upon hearing Deng Fuxi speak, Deng Rui and the rest of the Deng Family members were dumbfounded.

What's going on?

The Young Miss is actively talking to a man?

And a stranger she just met?

Has the sun risen from the west?

Lin Yuan smiled knowingly and whispered, "Thank you for letting me know, Miss Deng. It is indeed not advisable to travel after dark; safety is paramount."

"Yes, I just don't know if it will delay your time."

"It's fine, I'm not short on this one night's time."

"That's good."

After their conversation, Lin Yuan closed his eyes and resumed Cultivating.

Deng Rui quickly went to the young woman's side and asked, puzzled, "Deng Fuxi, what's going on with you? Don't tell me you've fallen for this pretty boy?"

Deng Fuxi's pretty face flushed, and she immediately denied, "What kind of joke is that? I am the Young Miss of the Deng Family, how could I easily fall for a man?"

Deng Rui noticed her abnormality and teased, "Beauties love handsome men, it's normal for Deng Fuxi to have such a reaction."

After speaking, his expression changed, and he reminded, "This guy is indeed very handsome, but his Family background is humble, and he's not worthy of you. Even if you like him, Father definitely won't agree, so please calm down, Deng Fuxi, and put away those unrealistic notions."

Deng Fuxi said, annoyed, "What nonsense are you talking about, you brat? I never said I liked him, so how can you talk about 'worthy' or 'unworthy'? And what about 'unrealistic'? Am I that foolish? Do I not understand these things?"

Deng Rui chuckled, "I'm just worried about you, Deng Fuxi. Since you understand, then I, Young Revered Master Rui, have spoken too much."

Deng Fuxi suddenly sobered her expression and said seriously, "I think this person is extraordinary."

"Ah? Why do you say that?"

"Look at what he's holding in his hand."

Hearing this, Deng Rui turned his head and saw that the other party was holding an Origin Stone and absorbing it.

"This is... an Origin Stone?"

"Yes, he's Cultivating with an Origin Stone."

"No way? This person personally told me that his background is ordinary and his parents are Mortals. How could he have the means to absorb Origin Stones?"

"Perhaps we were all wrong. His Family background is indeed ordinary, but his talent is exceptional, and he was appreciated by the Cloud Ripple Sect's higher-ups, thus receiving a large amount of Origin Stones."

Deng Fuxi speculated with sound reasoning.

Deng Rui nodded thoughtfully, "What Deng Fuxi says is indeed reasonable. Otherwise, there's no explaining why he can be so generous, giving me two Origin Stones right away, and even directly Cultivating with Origin Stones. He must have backing!"