31: To be honest, I am actually an orphan.

"I ask that you keep this matter a secret, little friend. I'll sell this Qili Flower to you for five hundred Spirit Stones."

The Middle-aged Man's voice transmission rang in Qin Dong's ear, but Qin Dong shook his head. He couldn't take advantage of someone in danger, because he was a man of principle.

"I want you to give it to me for free."

"Oh? It turns out Fellow Daoist is also a Great Cultivator. My apologies, my apologies."

"But giving it to you for free is impossible. You know as well as I do, Fellow Daoist, that five hundred Spirit Stones is already practically giving it away."

"Otherwise..."

The Middle-aged Man left his sentence hanging, his gaze gradually sharpening.

"Sigh, then just pretend I didn't say anything."

Qin Dong shrugged.

"It's a pity. I originally had a method that could resolve the drawbacks of the Demonic Path Cultivation Technique you practice."

After saying that, Qin Dong took Qin Zixuan's hand and prepared to leave.

The Middle-aged Man's expression didn't change, but he only thought for a brief moment.

Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the Qili Flower and stuffed it into Qin Dong's hand:

"Hahaha! I felt like old friends with you the moment we met, little friend. This item is a gift for you."

"No, I can't. This won't do. One shouldn't receive rewards without merit."

"You must, you must! It's a shame we didn't meet sooner. You should accept this, little friend."

After a round of pushing and pulling, Qin Dong "reluctantly" accepted the Qili Flower—which usually sold for two thousand spirit stones—under the Middle-aged Man's insistent attitude.

"Fellow Daoist, you've accepted the item. I wonder what method you have to resolve the drawbacks in my body?"

The Middle-aged Man's voice transmission drifted over again, carrying a hint of pleading.

"Bring the Cultivation Technique over first."

"This..."

"You are already terminally ill. If nothing goes wrong, you should already be feeling your Meridians being obstructed, difficulty breathing, a dry mouth, and your cultivation level is dropping."

The Middle-aged Man frowned, but his brow soon furrowed even deeper.

He didn't know if it was psychological, but just as the other party finished speaking, he actually started experiencing the symptom of a dry mouth.

"Alright."

The Middle-aged Man looked at his spatial ring. At this point, he could only treat a dead horse as if it were alive.

Besides, how could the other person possibly learn his High Grade Yellow Rank Cultivation Technique in such a short time?

"This technique cannot be exposed. I'll have to trouble this Fairy to watch my stall for a moment while you follow me to a secluded place."

"Easily done."

Qin Dong briefly explained to Qin Zixuan that the man's technique had flaws that needed improving, then followed the Middle-aged Man to a remote corner.

Not far away, Qin Zixuan would occasionally glance toward the direction where Qin Dong had gone.

"Alright, take out the original manual of the technique."

The Middle-aged Man nodded, swiped his spatial ring, and took out a tattered manual with its cover torn off.

Qin Dong took it and looked; he could feel a hint of unease from the ominous aura it emitted.

"System, will anything happen if I Cultivate this technique?"

To be safe, Qin Dong still asked the System.

[Ding! No. When the System deduces a technique, it only transmits the most correct experience of the technique, ensuring there are no defects.]

So only the insights and experiences are transmitted, not the direct effects of practicing the technique... After getting the System's explanation, Qin Dong immediately felt relieved.

"Bring another five hundred Spirit Stones over."

"Ah?"

"Do you want Spirit Stones or your life?"

"My life, my life."

Although the Middle-aged Man was somewhat confused, he still obediently complied, taking out five hundred Spirit Stones and handing them to Qin Dong.

Qin Dong put the Spirit Stones into the system space, then pretentiously flipped through the manual while whispering mathematical formulas like a charlatan.

"Odd stays, even changes; signs depend on the quadrant."

However, his rough way of flipping through the book made the Middle-aged Man's heart ache.

Ouch, Fellow Daoist, flip slower, my heart hurts.

[Ding! Detected one Top Grade Yellow Rank Cultivation Technique. Can spend fifty points to exchange for Beginner Level comprehension.]

[Ding! Host has successfully exchanged for Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art: Beginner Level. Consumed fifty points.]

[Ding! Host has successfully exchanged for Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art: Proficient Level. Consumed fifty points.]

[Ding! Host has successfully exchanged for Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art: Major Achievement. Consumed fifty points.]

[Ding! Host has successfully exchanged for Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art: Perfection. Consumed fifty points.]

Close eyes, open eyes, close the book.

Twenty-some breaths of time had passed, and Qin Dong had organized all the content of this Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art and come up with the optimal solution for the Middle-aged Man's current condition.

"How do you understand the passage: 'Soul remains untainted, blood hides in spirit, assisted by the clear void'?"

Hearing this, the Middle-aged Man was secretly shocked.

The passage Qin Dong just spoke was a very hidden and crucial point of the Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art, even though it was only a few words.

After decades of cultivation, he naturally knew that those words were not as simple as they appeared.

"This sentence means to swallow one's own kin alive and refine their Divine Souls."

"Did you really do that? Is your surname Han, and your name Hannibal?"

"Uh... No, no. Fellow Daoist, please see clearly. This humble one's name is Han Yunting, my surname isn't Han... wait, it is Han, but not that Han."

Han Yunting shook his head frantically:

"Such a thing is far too contrary to the Heavenly Dao. If I really did that, I would be spurned by the Heavenly Dao in the future."

"I didn't do it, so I suffered the backlash of the Cultivation Technique."

"Ah? Is your character really that noble?"

"Cough, cough, cough. To be honest, I'm actually an orphan."

"That's great then!"

Hearing this, Qin Dong couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, completely failing to notice the drastic change in Han Yunting's expression.

"Cough, cough, sorry, Fellow Daoist Han, I didn't mean it that way."

The thought of being with someone like a certain Hannibal who was 'good with people' made his skin crawl.

"Since that's the case, you just need to practice three more Righteous Path Mind-Cultivation Techniques. When the techniques reach Minor Achievement, use the lacquer bone jade flower and a Turtle Breath Pill to fake your death."

"When the lacquer bone jade flower has completely withered, circulate the three Righteous Path Mind-Cultivation Techniques with all your strength. At that time, the turbid energy of heaven and earth will be completely dissipated."

"Of course, if you were hiding something just now, the solution would actually be much simpler. You would only need to..."

After listening to Qin Dong's explanation, Han Yunting already believed eighty or ninety percent of it.

Sixty percent of that belief came solely from the four words: lacquer bone jade flower.

This Soul Slaughtering Demonic Art was a technique passed down through generations in his Han Family, and every generation had suffered from its torment.

However, his ancestors had left word that future descendants must practice this technique.

Because this technique involved a great secret.

The lacquer bone jade flower, a common Spirit Medicine that grew on bones in deep places, was a key Spirit Medicine for practicing this technique and also the life-extending item passed down by word of mouth in their Han Family.

Han Yunting had relied on the suppressing power of the lacquer bone jade flower to get through these years; otherwise, his condition would be even worse.

"No more questions, then? In that case, I'll be going."

"Fellow Daoist, wait. May I ask for your name?"

His name... Qin Dong subconsciously almost said the three words Zhang Yizhi, but after thinking about it, he quickly gave up on the idea.

As for his own name, he didn't dare say it carelessly. Who knew if there was some strange technique that could cast a curse just by knowing a name?

After a moment of silence, Qin Dong replied.

"I am Lin Hong."

"So it is Fellow Daoist Lin Hong. My apologies, my apologies."

"Since that's the case, this Han must return home as soon as possible to handle this matter. If this trouble is truly broken, this Han will naturally offer a great gift in the future."

"Easily done."

After a while, the two returned together.

Qin Zixuan looked at the two with a strange expression. Needless to say, Qin Dong still had that carefree appearance.

But that Middle-aged Man was glowing, his expression alternating between melancholy and joy, and even his complexion had visibly recovered quite a bit.

He looked a bit like a flower that had been nourished.

Cold with anger and shaking!

"Don't overthink it. I'll explain it to you after we get back."

Qin Dong patted her small head. He naturally knew what she was thinking. Having spent so much time with Qin Zixuan, he had long seen that she was a bit of a fujoshi.

"Let's go, let's keep looking around."

After wandering for fifteen minutes, the two decided to head to the most famous restaurant in Tianjian City to taste some fine food and wine.

The two walked arm-in-arm for another stretch.

Before long, they arrived in front of a magnificent, tall pavilion. On the pavilion was written: Golden Wind Jade Universe Tower.

[Ding! Outstanding Grade Prodigy discovered. System has recorded the information.]

Grade: Outstanding Grade

Age: 20 years old

Root Bone: 42

Cultivation: Eighth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm

Physique: None

[Ding! Outstanding Grade Prodigy discovered. System has recorded the information.]

Grade: Outstanding Grade

Age: 22 years old

Root Bone: 40

Cultivation: Ninth Layer of the Qi Refining Realm

Physique: None

...Directly in front of Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan, a man and a woman slowly walked out.

The man was quite handsome, with well-defined features and a tall stature. He wore a black silver-patterned robe and appeared very spirited.

Between his brows was a hint of confidence and resolve, and his eyes were bright and piercing.

His facial lines were sharp, and his chin was slightly upturned, giving off a sense of decisiveness and determination.

The woman's demeanor was elegant, and her steps were light, as if she were untainted by the dust of the world.

She wore a long red dress, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and her face was exquisitely beautiful, like a Fairy's. In terms of looks, she was only slightly inferior to Qin Zixuan.

However, because Qin Zixuan had currently disguised herself, she appeared much worse than the other woman by comparison.

But if they were to be compared in their true appearances, they would each have their own charms.

The appearance of the two drew the gazes of many Cultivators, especially the male Cultivators, who one after another took off their hats and straightened their clothes.

Clearly, they were all distracted by Ji Lingshuang's beauty.

Both Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan understood that the other party was likely specifically looking for them.

Sure enough, the pair walked up to Qin Dong and Qin Zixuan, and the man spoke softly:

"Junior Brother Qin, Senior Sister Qin, I didn't expect to run into you here in Tianxing Market."

"Do you two have some time?"

At this moment, the cultivation Qin Dong displayed was at the Qi Refinement Stage, so it was reasonable for the other party to misjudge his Realm.

As for Qin Zixuan's Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment, it wasn't a secret either, as the Sect had records of Disciples exchanging for Foundation Establishment Pills.

In terms of address, they naturally had to call her Senior Sister.

However, Qin Dong was somewhat puzzled. He had no idea who these people were, yet they addressed him as Junior Brother as soon as they opened their mouths.

Moreover, since they had deliberately come looking for him, they must have some scheme, so he didn't intend to admit his identity.

"Sorry, you have the wrong person. This is Kentukkun."

"Junior Brother Qin, please don't take offense. We are also Core Disciples of the Cloud Heaven Sect. We have an important matter to discuss with you two."

The man lowered his voice again and whispered to the two.

"So it's the distinguished Disciples of the Cloud Heaven Sect! My apologies, my apologies, but I really am not surnamed Qin. You've mistaken me."

"We are just passing Loose Cultivators, honest and aboveboard, no deception for old or young."

Qin Dong spoke vividly, even making up an inspirational story on the spot about a Mortal couple's arduous pursuit of the Dao.

This guy... Ji Lingshuang couldn't help but complain in her heart for a while.

If she hadn't personally seen the two of them coming down from One Pillar Supporting Heaven Peak, she definitely would have been fooled by him.

"Little Sister? Look..."

Ji Lingyu also became a bit unsure, starting to doubt if his younger sister had recognized the wrong people.

"Junior Brother Qin, Senior Sister Qin, please come to the Golden Wind Jade Universe Tower for a talk."

"My sister and I will naturally have a generous gift to offer!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell silent... After a brief silence, Qin Dong's expression turned somber, he took a step forward, and whispered: "How generous?"