67: Chapter 67 The Tragic News Returns Home and the Bounty Decision

Lin Chen's gaze was cold as iron, yet the roiling Qi in the depths of his body and the burning, stinging pain in his Meridians were ruthlessly reminding him of the cruelty of reality.

He forcefully suppressed the sweetness of blood in his throat, his gaze sweeping over Han Ji and another injured guard, his voice hoarse yet unquestionable: "Let's go, return to the manor."

The journey back was long and heavy.

The sunset's afterglow dyed the outline of the Lin Family manor in a layer of warm orange. At the main gate, a slender figure had been standing for a long time, as lonely as a stone statue waiting for a husband.

Su Qingyao's gaze was locked tightly onto the end of the mountain road.

When Lin Chen's familiar yet exceptionally staggering figure finally appeared, the breath she had been holding was suddenly released.

But immediately after, her heart sank into an abyss.

His face was as pale as water-soaked rice paper, and a trace of dark red blood remained at the corner of his mouth.

Behind him, Han Ji was almost carrying the unconscious Liu Yuan, and at the end of the line, another guard was carrying two cold bodies covered in white cloth on a makeshift stretcher.

Six went, four returned.

Su Qingyao's face drained of color in an instant. Those clear eyes, which always avoided eye contact, were now nailed firmly onto Lin Chen, her fingertips pressing hard against her lips, leaving a deathly pale mark.

She did not cry, nor did she ask.

When Lin Chen stumbled to her, she simply reached out with her cool hands, supported his arm, and said in a barely audible voice: "Go inside first."

These three words carried a reassuring calmness.

Su Qingyao immediately turned around, her voice cold and urgent as she ordered the stewards and servants who had been waiting on the side: "Quick! Take Mr. Liu to the Meditation Room! Go get the pharmacist Liu, immediately!"

The atmosphere inside the manor froze instantly; everyone felt the chill brought back from the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, mixed with blood and death.

Liu Yuan was quickly placed on the warm jade bed in the Meditation Room. Liu Ruxu, who had been in the manor studying the Pill Formula, rushed over with her medical kit.

She only took one look at Liu Yuan's black, swollen left shoulder, which emitted a faint stench of decay, and her expression became grave to the extreme.

She cut open his clothes, carefully examining the flesh around the wound, and then took out silver needles to pierce several Acupoints, observing the speed and color change of the needle tips.

"It's a mixed poison," Liu Ruxu's voice was very deep. "The main poison quenched on the needle is 'pulse-corroding powder', which is vicious and overbearing, specially designed to corrode Meridians. But what's more troublesome is that it is mixed with at least three different types of Gu toxins. They are entangled with each other, like a dead knot tied inside Mr. Liu's body, which is extremely difficult to clear."

She looked up at Lin Chen, who was being supported by Su Qingyao and leaning against the door.

"Clan Head, I need time to prepare the antidote, and also..." Liu Ruxu's gaze fell back on the patch of black, necrotic flesh on Liu Yuan's shoulder, saying with difficulty, "This part of the flesh has had the poison penetrate deep into the bone marrow. To save his life, I'm afraid... it needs to be removed."

Gouging flesh and scraping bone.

Lin Chen's eyelids twitched. He looked at Liu Yuan, who was still frowning in pain while unconscious, and without any hesitation, he said: "Save his life. Do whatever you must. If you need any medicinal herbs, go directly to the treasury to get them."

"Yes," Liu Ruxu nodded and immediately began to prepare.

Su Qingyao helped Lin Chen to the inner hall to sit down. Regardless of his refusal, she directly gripped his wrist and probed his body with a strand of gentle spiritual power.

A moment later, she withdrew her hand, her eyes slightly reddened: "You forcefully erupted your spiritual power, injuring your internal organs, and there are traces of poison mist burns in your Meridians. Are you not worried about your life?"

Lin Chen did not answer, but instead held her cool fingertips, feeling that familiar warmth.

Outside the Meditation Room, the remains of Chen Dashan and the other sacrificed guard were properly placed in the side hall of the ancestral hall, and a simple internal memorial service was underway.

There was no noisy mournful music, only suppressed sobbing and a grief and anger that felt as substantial as air filling the space.

Every person in the Lin Family felt the naked malice from the Ge Family through those two cold remains.

Lin Chen stood in front of the spirit tablet without a word, his gaze falling on Chen Dashan's honest face, which had lost all its Life Qi.

This guard, one of the first to follow him, was always quiet and sullen, but always charged to the front.

The roar he made like a mad tiger before he died seemed to still echo in his ears.

His right index finger subconsciously rubbed the stone ring on his thumb, the rough texture constantly coming through, his knuckles turning slightly white from excessive force.

Su Qingyao stood quietly by his side, clearly feeling the suppressed, slightly trembling anger in his body.

That was not fear, but a volcano about to erupt.

Han Ji stood to the side, reporting everything that happened in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp in detail with a hoarse voice.

From discovering the insect nest, to the traces of the suspected heart-condensing flower, to the ambush by Hermit Duxin, and that captured Jade Slip with the ambush location drawn on it.

Every word caused the temperature in the ancestral hall to drop by another degree.

Just as the memorial service had just ended and everyone was feeling heavy-hearted, a steward rushed to report that a Cultivator wearing the attire of the Alchemist Association was outside asking to see him, claiming to be sent by Master Chiyang.

Lin Chen frowned, suppressed the emotions in his heart, and met the messenger in the side hall.

The messenger's attitude was respectful. After saluting, he directly took out two things.

"Clan Head Lin," the messenger said, "Master Chiyang heard about the Lin Family's encounter outside and expressed deep concern, specially ordering this Junior to send this letter. The Immortal Master said that some dirty methods cannot be brought to the table, but they are troublesome after all."

He mentioned this with an implication, obviously referring to the pulse-corroding powder incident at the Alchemist Conference, but did not say it explicitly.

Lin Chen took the letter sealed with red wax and opened it to read.

In the letter, Master Chiyang first expressed subtle concern and support for his previous encounter, then changed the subject to formally inform him about the change in the "heart-condensing flower" bounty.

After further investigation, the Alchemist Association confirmed that the area deep in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp was indeed the habitat of the heart-condensing flower.

But there, a type of extremely difficult "spirit-devouring insect swarm" that even the Alchemist Association found thorny was entrenched, which was extremely dangerous.

Therefore, the Alchemist Association decided to significantly increase the bounty.

Anyone who successfully collects the heart-condensing flower can receive two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, plus three opportunities for Alchemy from Master Chiyang, or a promise of a favor of equal value.

At the end of the letter, there was also a rough piece of intelligence compiled by the Alchemist Association from ancient records regarding the weaknesses of the spirit-devouring insect swarm and possible methods of restraint.

"In addition," the messenger took out a delicate small jade bottle and offered it with both hands, "This is the 'Heart-Clearing Poison-Repelling Pill' personally gifted to the Clan Head by Master Chiyang, a total of three pills. The Immortal Master said it might be used just in case."

After sending the messenger away, Lin Chen immediately summoned Su Qingyao, Liu Ruxu, and Han Ji to unfold the intelligence in the study.

Liu Yuan was still unconscious, so Liu Ruxu could only temporarily represent him in the discussion.

The intelligence was marked with several key pieces of information in cinnabar: The spirit-devouring insect swarm fears fire, fears strong light, and is extremely sensitive to certain specific frequencies of sound or spiritual power fluctuations.

But its most terrifying aspect is that it is numerous, fearless of death, and can actively absorb the spiritual power of Cultivators.

Once surrounded, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would have their spiritual power quickly drained and become insect food.

Master Chiyang's attitude was subtle.

He was both showing goodwill by providing key intelligence and precious Medicinal Pills, and also seemingly fueling the fire, using the high bounty to encourage everyone capable to take risks in that dead land.

This was more like a test, testing the Lin Family's determination, and also testing Lin Chen's strength and hidden cards.

Two paths were clearly laid out before Lin Chen.

One is to endure temporarily.

Digest the heavy losses this time, use the Medicinal Pills gifted by Master Chiyang to treat Liu Yuan with all his might, stabilize the interior of the Family, and plan the revenge against the Ge Family in the long run.

The second is to accept the bounty.

Take the risk to explore the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp again.

If successful, not only can he solve Su Qingyao's pill essence problem, but he can also obtain the heavy reward of the Alchemist Association and the favor of Master Chiyang, which is crucial for the fledgling Lin Family.

Even, he could find more ironclad evidence about the connection between the Ge Family and the Gu insects from the insect swarm's nest.

But the risk is ten times higher than the last time.

Liu Yuan is seriously injured, Chen Dashan sacrificed, and the Lin Family's only high-end combat power has already been damaged.

"This pill is of extremely high quality," Su Qingyao picked up the jade bottle, pulled out the stopper, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance instantly filled the study.

After careful identification, she pondered, "It has miraculous effects on various insect toxins and miasma. With this pill to protect the body, it might help us resist the poison miasma on the periphery of the insect swarm and go deep into the core area."

She put down the jade bottle, her gaze turned to the intelligence, and there was no retreat in her eyes, but a ray of firm light lit up instead.

"Husband, Dashan and the others' revenge must be avenged. The clues of the Ge Family and that poison master Hermit Duxin are likely deep in the insect nest. The Alchemist Association's bounty and connections are too important to our current situation."

She looked up, looked straight into Lin Chen's eyes, and said word by word: "However, we cannot rush in blindly like this time."

Lin Chen looked at Su Qingyao's pale but determined face. She had been worried for days, and coupled with her previous pill essence damage not yet fully recovered, she had lost a circle of weight.

He thought of Chen Dashan's unwilling roar before he died, and Liu Yuan's frowning brows even in a coma.

A mouthful of turbid Qi was slowly exhaled from his chest.

His right index finger stopped rubbing and pressed heavily on the rough stone ring.

"Revenge must be had, and the flower must also be found," his voice was low and powerful, "But we cannot be in a hurry."

He looked at the crowd and began to issue instructions: "Ruxu, your task is only one: save Mr. Liu at all costs. Han Ji, you must seize the time immediately to try to make some Talismans or simple Magical Artifacts against the weaknesses of the insect swarm based on this intelligence, especially those related to strong light and special sound waves. Qingyao, you and I will sort out all the clues again and study the habits of the insect swarm and all possible response strategies. We need a more comprehensive and ruthless plan."

He paused, his voice becoming colder: "In addition, notify the steward that the compensation for the families of Dashan and Wang Wu (the sacrificed guard) will be doubled, and from today, they will be officially included in the Family's core support sequence. Their descendants will be enlightened and taught by the Family."

"Yes, Clan Head," everyone responded in unison, their fighting spirit rekindled.

After the meeting, everyone dispersed to take action.

Lin Chen stayed in the study alone, unfolding the insect swarm intelligence given by Master Chiyang and the map of the periphery of the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp copied by Han Ji.

His gaze, like a falcon, was locked onto the "insect nest" position marked with a red circle.

With the Lin Family's current strength, rushing into the insect nest is no different from throwing an egg against a rock.

He needs external help, he needs helpers, he needs... a knife sharp enough.

A thought gradually became clear in his mind.

Revenge does not necessarily have to be done by oneself.

He thought of the Loose Cultivator alchemist, Wu Iron-Mouth, who had lost face because of the Ge Family at the Alchemist Conference and seemed upright but actually had a deep grudge against the Ge Family.

He also thought of those forces within the Alchemist Association who also disliked the Ge Family's style of doing things but suffered from having no evidence.

What if... the news about the "spirit-devouring insect nest" and the "heart-condensing flower" deep in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp, as well as the clue that the Ge Family's poison master Hermit Duxin had appeared nearby, were leaked in an "accidental" way?

Let the enemy gnaw on that hardest bone.

A bone-chilling cold light flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.

He picked up a pen and began to draft several "anonymous" messages with different contents on blank animal skin paper, all of which clearly pointed to the insect nest in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp and the suspicious points of the Ge Family.

Outside the window, the night was getting deeper, and the killing intent was spreading silently.

Lin Chen finished writing the last draft and carefully put it away.

He rubbed his swollen brows, forcefully suppressed the discomfort caused by his injuries, and got up to walk towards the Alchemy room.

The damage to Su Qingyao's pill essence had always been a thorn in his heart. The heart-condensing flower must be obtained, but right now, he needed to refine some Medicinal Pills first to stabilize his injuries and also to regulate Su Qingyao's body.

He sat cross-legged in front of the Pill Furnace, his Divine Sense sinking into his Storage Pouch, and began to count the medicinal herbs.

Suddenly, his movements paused.

In the corner of the Storage Pouch, a Jade Slip lay quietly. It was one of the rewards gifted to him by Master Chiyang at the previous Alchemist Conference.

On the Jade Slip, a four-grade Pill Formula called "chi yang bone-tempering pill" was imprinted.

This Medicinal Pill was extremely overbearing and could temper a Cultivator's bones, significantly increasing the strength of the Physical Body.

It was just that its refining method was extremely complicated, and the requirements for controlling the heat were harsh to the extreme.

At the time, he only treated it as a treasure, but now it seems... perhaps, it is the right time.