344: Recruiting Half-Immortals

On the Middle Peak’s summit, as Lin Xiao stepped out of the Sect Great Hall, he saw a lavish spread of dishes already laid out on a stone table not far away. Various aromas mingled and wafted into his nose, greatly whetting his appetite.

“Palace Revered Master, Ling’er.”

Zhou Meng appeared out of thin air, holding a basin of soup in her left hand. As she placed it on the table, she smiled and said, “Come quickly and try the new soup I created. I added seasonings from the Xuanjian Continent, and it tastes wonderful.”

“Is that so? Then we must certainly give it a good try.”

Lin Xiao responded as he walked to the table and sat down. Just as he was about to feast, he seemed to remember something. He turned to look beside him, raising an eyebrow and asking, “Ling’er, where did those little ones go?”

“Hmm… let me see.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Ling’er’s face broke into a radiant smile after a brief perception.

“Found them.”

As Yun Ling’er spoke, she waved her hand in front of her, and a spatial portal instantly appeared. The next moment, two small faces peeked out from within—it was none other than Aotian and Zhao Feiyan.

Upon seeing Lin Xiao and Yun Ling’er, their expressions brightened, and they successively passed through the spatial portal. At this point, their figures fully revealed themselves.

The two little ones each held an even smaller child in their arms, and a small white dog squatted nearby, circling around them.

Aotian held a little girl in a red bellyband. Her small face looked meticulously carved, and she appeared to be asleep. It was none other than Bone Cultivator’s precious daughter, Gu Xin Yin.

Zhao Feiyan, on the other hand, held Yun Xiao’s son, Yun Hao An, who also had his eyes closed and occasionally smacked his lips, seemingly sleeping soundly.

Following at their feet was none other than the ancient beast, the Snow Mastiff, which Lin Xiao had given as a gift.

“I’m telling you two,” Lin Xiao said with a chuckle, picking up a piece of food and putting it in his mouth as he looked at the scene before him, “you have a real talent for taking care of children.”

“Grandmaster, please stop,” Zhao Feiyan’s small face immediately filled with resentment. Even Aotian, who was more introverted, sighed as he looked at the little one in his arms.

Since their Revered Master Qin Wudao and Hu Qianxue had gone to the Xuanjian Continent to fight, the two of them naturally stayed in Wuji Palace to be looked after by their Grandmaster.

Besides them, the two little treasures, Yun Hao An and Gu Xin Yin, were also left behind. Their parents had all gone to the battlefield for their honeymoon.

Because Lin Xiao found it troublesome, he resorted to this tactic, directly leaving the two young children for the two older children to look after, which led to the current scene.

Facing the two young children, Zhao Feiyan and Aotian, who had no experience with childcare, didn’t think much of it and readily agreed.

But by the very next day, Aotian and Zhao Feiyan felt like they were on the verge of collapse.

It was then that they realized they were still too young.

“Oh, don’t mind these small details,” Lin Xiao said with a smile, casually picking up two pairs of serving chopsticks and using them to bring a shrimp to each of their mouths.

“Come, try the garlic butter red demon shrimp your Aunt Meng made.”

“…”

A moment later, the two little ones also sat at the dining table and began to feast, clearly exhausted.

As for the two even smaller ones, Lin Xiao had casually sent them with his spiritual power to the sleeping White Tiger nearby. The tiger’s body, covered in so much soft fur, was not just for petting; it also made an excellent pillow.

While eating, Lin Xiao didn’t forget to open the System Store and check his gains from this time.

He had to admit, the System was truly generous this time, giving him everything he had been longing for.

The first Divine Ability was Fusion. Just by its name, Lin Xiao had already guessed its general meaning, and when he checked it, it was indeed as he thought.

This Divine Ability could completely fuse two worlds, and this instantly made Lin Xiao think of the Tianxuan Continent and the Xuanjian Continent.

Connecting them with spatial passages all the time was not ideal; it was too troublesome and inconvenient to manage.

Now with the Fusion Divine Ability, he could directly merge the two into one, and perhaps even the world’s standing would elevate as a result.

As for the massive spiritual power required as mentioned above, Lin Xiao wasn’t worried about it at all.

What a joke! He didn't even know how much spiritual power he had within him; it was practically endless.

Anyway, every time he used a Divine Ability or fought, all the consumed spiritual power would recover in the blink of an eye, which was equivalent to being endless.

Moreover, Lin Xiao had other ideas. Besides these two great worlds, the numerous Secret Realms they controlled could, by logic, also be pulled into the main world and fused together.

If that were also possible, then the utility of this Divine Ability would be immense.

Next up were two Half-Immortal Realm Summoning Cards.

Lin Xiao, already familiar with the process, directly ordered the System, “System, use two Half-Immortal Realm Summoning Cards.”

As soon as Lin Xiao finished speaking, the System’s mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

“Ding! Half-Immortal Realm Summoning Card successfully used. Congratulations to the Host for obtaining Half-Immortal Realm powerhouses Lin Ye and Ghost City.”

The next moment, a spatial passage appeared beside the stone table. Immediately after, two figures emerged from it, one after another, and knelt before Lin Xiao, respectfully saying, “Subordinate Lin Ye (Ghost City) greets the Palace Revered Master!”

The two had very distinctive appearances. Lin Ye wore a large red robe that looked like a theatrical costume. He appeared to be of a similar age to Lin Xiao, also in his youth, with a calm expression, suggesting his personality was likely the same.

Ghost City, on the other hand, wore a black outfit with peculiar black patterns on his face, adding a unique handsomeness to him. He looked similar to Lin Yan and also had a taciturn personality.

Lin Xiao also sensed the same aura from them as he had from Ancient Yuan Xuan earlier.

However, the System did not give off a sense of danger as it did last time, after all, these were all his own people summoned from the System.

“Alright, don’t be so formal.”

After regaining his composure, Lin Xiao casually used his spiritual power to lift the two from the ground, nodding and smiling, “First, sit down and eat.”

“Yes!”

Upon hearing this, the two responded and then consciously walked to the opposite side of the stone table and sat down. Zhao Feiyan and Aotian, who were eating, paused their movements and looked at the newcomers sitting beside them, their faces filled with curiosity.

Yun Ling’er, after a quick glance, withdrew her gaze. She had witnessed such things countless times and was long accustomed to them.

“Let me introduce them to you,” Lin Xiao said with a slight nod, smiling as he looked at the two puzzled little ones.

“These two are Elders of my Wuji Palace, Lin Ye and Ghost City. If you have any questions about Cultivation in the future, you can ask them.”

Upon hearing Lin Xiao’s introduction, the two also turned their gaze to the two little ones, then both forced out a smile, though it looked somewhat stiff.

“Hello, Uncle Lin! Hello, Uncle Ghost! X2”

The two little ones, seeing this, were not shy and greeted them in unison.

Immediately, the more outgoing Zhao Feiyan moved closer to Lin Ye. Looking at the large red robe on him, her eyes instantly lit up.

“Uncle Lin, your clothes are so beautiful!”

Not just her, even Aotian beside her looked on with curiosity. After all, the clothing before them seemed somewhat different from the robes they had seen.

But exactly how it was different, they couldn’t quite articulate.

“This is a theatrical robe.”

Facing the two little ones, Lin Ye’s originally indifferent face softened a bit. He raised his hand and spread out his sleeve, revealing the embroidery on it.

“So cool…”

The two little ones were quickly captivated by this novel item, especially Zhao Feiyan, who had no resistance to embroidery. After watching Lin Ye for a while, she looked at him with anticipation, her eyes sparkling.

“Uncle Lin, what is opera?”

Not just her, even Aotian and Yun Ling’er beside them looked over with curiosity.

In this world, almost everyone Cultivates Immortals, so the scarcity of entertainment was imaginable. Among them, there was no concept of drama or opera.

Although Lin Xiao knew about it, he also turned to look with great interest, listening as the latter began to explain what opera was. After all, he didn’t know much about it in his previous life, and now that there was a professional, he could listen and broaden his horizons.

After listening, the few people suddenly understood. During this time, Lin Ye also gave an impromptu simple demonstration. The dancing red theatrical robes, coupled with unique lines and constantly changing facial makeup, made the eyes of everyone present sparkle.

After Lin Ye finished his performance, Lin Xiao even took the lead in applauding. Aotian, who was usually uninterested in anything, also had sparkling eyes. Zhao Feiyan, the little girl, clapped the most enthusiastically, her face filled with admiration.

“Uncle Lin, can you teach me to sing opera?!”

As soon as Zhao Feiyan finished speaking, Aotian beside her slowly raised his hand.

“Um… I want to learn too.”

Lin Ye’s performance completely ignited the enthusiasm of the two little ones. At this moment, their minds were filled with the image of his red theatrical robe fluttering up and down, and his posture like a swimming Dragon.

“This…”

Upon hearing this, Lin Ye did not agree immediately, but instead cast an inquiring look towards Lin Xiao.

“If they want to learn, then teach them.”

Lin Xiao naturally expressed his support for this. After all, this was a national treasure culture from his previous life, not some crooked path. So, why not learn it?

Furthermore, the two little ones were also quite bored every day besides Cultivation. Learning opera could be an expansion of their hobbies, and a way to enrich their lives.

“Ling’er.”

Lin Xiao seemed to remember something, turning to look beside him and smiling, “Do you want to learn?”

“No, thank you.”

Yun Ling’er shook her head slightly. Although she was also very intrigued by his performance just now, she had no interest in it. Besides Cultivation, she was also Cultivating Puppet Arts, so she didn't have much time to expand her hobbies.

Just like that, Lin Ye, who had just finished eating, was pulled away by the two little ones to be their teacher. Yun Ling’er returned to her Immortal Cave to Cultivate Puppet Arts. For a time, only Lin Xiao and Ghost City remained on the entire mountain peak.

Out of boredom, Lin Xiao raised his hand and conjured a chessboard on the table, then looked at Ghost City opposite him, smiling, “Do you know how to play chess?”

“No,” Ghost City replied, shaking his head slightly, then added, “But this subordinate can learn.”

“Hahaha, don’t worry, it’s very simple.”

Having nothing to do, Lin Xiao set up the chessboard and began to play with Ghost City. As expected, after one game, Ghost City declared that he had learned it.

In the next few games, Ghost City's understanding of chess was incredibly fast. After three games, he was already able to play back and forth with Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao also became interested, and the two played game after game. When they came back to their senses, the sky had already darkened, and countless stars twinkled overhead.

"Phew, it's already so late."

Lin Xiao raised his hand and stretched, sighing. Indeed, happy times are always short; he hadn't even noticed that half a day had passed.

"You can pick any of the empty Immortal Caves on the mountainside of Middle Peak as your Immortal Cave."

"Yes."

After watching Ghost City's figure disappear on the mountaintop, Lin Xiao also yawned and flashed back to his hammock. After lying down, he didn't immediately fall asleep but opened the System warehouse to check the remaining rewards he hadn't looked at earlier.

In addition to the Divine Ability Fusion Realm and the Half-Heavenly Immortal Realm Summoning Card, the System also rewarded him with two treasures.

The first was the familiar Tongtian Immortal Scroll. This item was a must-have for the current Lin Xiao; no amount was too much.

One Tongtian Immortal Scroll represented a brand new world and massive resources.

Although Wuji Palace had already conquered two worlds and its strength had greatly increased, at the same time, the consumption of resources also increased.

So many people needed Cultivation resources, and the higher the Realm, the more they needed. At this time, it was only by constantly fighting to support war that they could continue.

Each additional world conquered meant an extra bit of strength to contend with the Great Yuan Dynasty. Therefore, such good things were naturally the more, the better.

Finally, Lin Xiao's gaze fell upon a golden-yellow staff, and his eyes immediately lit up. He reached out, and his hand felt heavy.

The item that was just in the System store was already in his hand.

Lin Xiao brought it closer and examined it carefully.

The staff had two golden hoops at each end, with a section of dark iron exposed in the middle. Intricate patterns covered it, with Dragon lines and Phoenix seal carved on it. Near the golden hoops, five large characters were horizontally carved.

"Ruyi Golden Cudgel..."

Lin Xiao murmured. He was not unfamiliar with this staff; in fact, he was incredibly familiar with it.

He had never expected that he would have the chance to touch this item in his life.

After a quick look, Lin Xiao put it away. Although he really wanted to try it, it was late at night, and he didn't want to bother.

He would leave it for now; there would be plenty of opportunities to use it in the future anyway.

Just like that, Lin Xiao hummed a tune and drifted off to sleep. When he woke up again, what greeted his eyes was a huge tiger face, full of human-like resentment.

"Hmm?"

For a moment, even Lin Xiao was startled. After coming to his senses, he propped himself up from the hammock and said unhappily,

"Xiao Bai, what are you doing? Are you trying to scare me to death so you can inherit the Palace Revered Master position?"

"Who's scaring whom?"

Hearing this, White Tiger rolled his eyes directly, then continued to complain with resentment on his face,

"Can you please control these two little ancestors?"

White Tiger said, stepping aside. Only then did Lin Xiao see a cradle behind him, where two tiny figures were embracing each other and sleeping soundly. It was indeed Yun Hao An and Gu Xin Yin, and in their arms, they held a sleeping snow mastiff.

"They were noisy all night and didn't sleep."

White Tiger complained to Lin Xiao as if reporting him.

"I took these two little ancestors to play in the sky all night, and they just fell asleep now. It's simply..."

For a moment, White Tiger didn't know how to describe the situation.

Perhaps because both parents of the two children were powerful, they were born with divine abilities, and they had pestered White Tiger all night before finally falling asleep.

Now, White Tiger just wanted to quickly send these two little ancestors away. Wasn't this bullying a tiger?

And when he roamed around Wuji Palace, whether it was Zhang Liang, Li Ming, or Zhou Meng, Bai Jie, they all directly expressed their inability to help with this matter.

Clearly, they also knew how hard it was to take care of children, so they naturally refused to take on this difficult task.

In desperation, White Tiger could only come to Lin Xiao, hoping that he would grant him freedom.

But very quickly, the other party's dodging gaze made an uneasy premonition rise in his heart.

"Oh, you just need to hold on a little longer."

Lin Xiao patted the other party's tiger body and laughed dryly.

"Bone Cultivator, Yun Xiao and the others should be back in a few days. You..."

"A few, few days?"

After hearing half of it, White Tiger didn't hesitate at all and directly broke through the shackles that had been suppressed in his body for quite some time. The next moment, thunder rumbled above his head.

"Oh dear, it's the Great Emperor Lightning Tribulation!"

White Tiger's tiger body flashed and disappeared from the spot, only his voice echoing in place.

"Palace Revered Master, I'm going to undergo Tribulation. Please take good care of the children."

"..."

Watching the thunderclouds move towards the outside of Wuji Palace, Lin Xiao's face immediately showed black lines.

He didn't expect that his own mount would rather undergo the Great Emperor Lightning Tribulation earlier than take care of children. Are children more terrifying than Lightning Tribulation?

"Oh, Bo... Bo!"

"..."

Hearing the sound from behind him, Lin Xiao's body trembled slightly, then he slowly turned around. Upon seeing the scene before him, his scalp immediately tingled.

In the cradle not far away, the two little ones had woken up at some point. At this moment, they were both staring at him with wide, round eyes. Oh, and there was also a dog.

Looking at those six curious gazes, Lin Xiao's mouth twitched, then he forced a smile, but only one thought remained in his mind.

How should a tiger be castrated?

Don't be angry, don't be angry...

Lin Xiao continuously suppressed his emotions, then took a few deep breaths. Instantly, a brilliant smile appeared on his face, and he slowly spoke in the gentlest tone of his life.

"Come, be good, Xin Yin..."

Lin Xiao originally thought, isn't it just taking care of children? Just bear with it, and it will pass.

But half an hour later, Lin Xiao completely lost his composure. The smile on his face was already stretched to the extreme. He took a deep breath, then tremblingly pulled out an audio-visual stone from his embrace and injected spiritual power into it.

...

Xuanjian Continent, Black Horn City. Hu Qianxue and the others, who had finished their battle, returned here to rest and enjoy the peace after the war.

In the City Lord's courtyard, Hu Qianxue, who was chatting with others, suddenly felt a vibration in her embrace. She subconsciously took it out, and the others' attention also shifted to it.

"This is Revered Master calling."

Hu Qianxue murmured as she injected spiritual power.

"What's wrong?"

Under normal circumstances, Lin Xiao rarely communicated with them through audio-visual stones, but now he was suddenly requesting a call.

"Does that even need to be said?"

Qin Wudao, sitting on a huge rock nearby, grinned and said,

"He must have known that we conquered Xuanjian Continent and is here to praise us."

Saying that, Qin Wudao jumped off the huge rock, then took the audio-visual stone from Hu Qianxue's hand and hummed,

"Then I shall deliver the acceptance speech."

Seeing this, Hu Qianxue's face immediately darkened.

"Give it back to me!"

Just as Hu Qianxue was about to raise her hand to snatch back the audio-visual stone, a light blue screen had already appeared before her, and her Revered Master's face also appeared.

"Revered Master, are you here to..."

Qin Wudao, seeing the other party, was about to claim credit, but he was interrupted halfway by an angry roar.

"Qin Wudao, get out of my sight!"

"..."

Qin Wudao was instantly stunned. Not just him, but Hu Qianxue, You Bao, and the others around him looked at each other, as if they hadn't expected their usually easygoing Revered Master to suddenly lose his temper so badly.

Hu Qianxue silently retracted the hand she was about to use to snatch back the audio-visual stone, then unconsciously moved dozens of meters backward, reaching the wall.

And not just her, You Bao, Shi Hao, and the others did the same, all flashing to the farthest place from Qin Wudao, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

And just as Yun Xiao stood firm in the corner, he heard his Revered Master's angry roar again from the big screen.

"Where's Yun Xiao? Where's Bone Cultivator? Tell them to come over!"

"I'll go get them!"

Hearing this, Qin Wudao immediately put down the audio-visual stone, then fled to find Bone Cultivator. The remaining Yun Xiao shivered, then quickly stepped forward, looking at Lin Xiao on the screen, and laughed dryly,

"Here, Revered Master!"

"You quickly get your ass back here!"

At this moment, Lin Xiao no longer had his usual elegant composure. He casually lifted Yun Hao An, who was babbling on his back, to the front of the camera, looking as if he was gritting his teeth, and said fiercely,

"If you don't come back, I'll throw your precious son into the Bone Spirit Mountain Range!"

"Ah?"

Hearing this, Yun Xiao was also stunned. Looking at his son, who was constantly flailing his limbs and babbling in his Revered Master's hands, his mouth also twitched twice. He seemed to suddenly understand why the other party was so angry.

"Please calm down first..."

Just as Yun Xiao was trying to appease his Revered Master, a figure suddenly appeared beside him and spoke to the large screen in front of him.

"What's wrong, Palace Revered Master?"

The person who appeared was none other than Bone Cultivator. At this moment, he was looking at Lin Xiao with a confused expression. He had been meditating when he was suddenly interrupted by Qin Wudao, who said that Lin Xiao had an urgent matter to discuss with him, so he rushed over in a hurry.

"Bone Cultivator!!!"

Upon seeing Bone Cultivator appear, Lin Xiao immediately exploded. He violently lifted the audio-visual stone upwards, and a small figure immediately came into everyone's view.

"Xin, Xin Yin?"

Everyone was naturally familiar with the little one in front of them; it was none other than Bone Cultivator's precious daughter, Gu Xin Yin. But at this moment, the little one was lying on Lin Xiao's head, gripping handfuls of his hair. After seeing Bone Cultivator through the screen, she looked quite excited.

"Dad, Daddy!"

"..."