229: Chapter 229 Reunion with Ling Yuling! Heaven-Mending Pill in Hand!

Chapter 227: Seeing Ling Yuling Again! The heaven mending pill is Obtained!

Liulian Residence, Main Hall.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Xin Ruyin sat before a desk, holding a green communication talisman in her hand, her expression somewhat solemn.

Her fingers lightly brushed the edges of the Talisman, her brows slightly furrowed, as if she were contemplating something.

Seeing Lu Qiu emerge from the Quiet Room, she quickly stood up and handed him the communication talisman.

"Husband Lu, this is a message from the Liulian Hall Headquarters. It was sent by Nangong Hai using a unique communication talisman; it should be something important."

Lu Qiu took the communication talisman, his brows furrowing slightly.

This was a communication talisman unique to Nangong Hai, engraved with his personal mark. Its spiritual energy fluctuations were subtle and distinct, making it impossible for others to forge.

Clearly, something had happened on his end, and he had specifically come to ask for instructions.

Back then, Lu Qiu had instructed that if the Nixing Alliance made any moves, Nangong Hai should send word immediately.

Over these years, he had been law-abiding and had never initiated contact.

Now that he had reached out, the Nixing Alliance must have issued new instructions, and the situation was likely urgent.

With a thought, he injected magic power into the Talisman.

The communication talisman glowed faintly, and a message flooded into his Sea of Consciousness.

A moment later, a flash of surprise crossed Lu Qiu's eyes.

The information inside was indeed about the Nixing Alliance.

The high-level members of the Nixing Alliance had ordered Nangong Hai to find an Opportunity to replace the Hall Master of the Six Link Hall and take complete control of the organization.

At the same time, the Nixing Alliance promised that once successful, they would provide a large amount of resources to help him break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, and even promised him a higher position afterward.

"It seems the Nixing Alliance has already begun their covert operations."

Lu Qiu knew clearly that although it would still be several decades before the Nixing Alliance openly went to war with the Star Palace, they had been accumulating power for over a hundred years prior to that.

Winning over various forces, planting moles, stockpiling resources, and training personnel—every step was carried out in the shadows, silent and unnoticed.

Among the forces recruited by the Nixing Alliance, some had completely defected, some were still observing, and others, like Nangong Hai, were being coerced into compliance.

Over the years, the Nixing Alliance's tentacles had reached every corner of the Chaotic Star Sea, waiting for the right moment to erupt in full force.

After all, the Star Palace's strength and its title as the hegemon of the Chaotic Star Sea were not mere empty words.

Its reign of so many years was deeply rooted and possessed profound foundations; shaking it was certainly not the work of a single day.

If the Nixing Alliance wanted to succeed, they had to proceed steadily, without a single mistake.

They had accumulated power for over a hundred years just for that one battle.

Lu Qiu pondered for a moment, took out a blank Jade Slip, probed it with his Divine Sense, and began to reply.

He told Nangong Hai to follow the Nixing Alliance's instructions.

If Nangong Hai became the Hall Master of the Six Link Hall, it would also benefit Lu Qiu himself.

By then, the entire Liulian Hall would be under his control, making it much more convenient to collect resources or gather intelligence.

Although the Liulian Hall could not compare to the Four Great Merchant Alliances, it was still a significant power in the Chaotic Star Sea with its own network and channels.

He instructed Nangong Hai to act cautiously, not to be overly hasty, and not to reveal any flaws.

He had to handle the Nixing Alliance while also keeping the Hall Master steady; the balance between both sides had to be maintained perfectly. Once successful, he was to send word immediately.

He handed the Jade Slip to Xin Ruyin, asking her to send it back through the Liulian Hall's channels.

Xin Ruyin took the Jade Slip, nodded, and turned to leave.

Her back was still elegant and her steps composed, but Lu Qiu could see a hint of worry in her eyes.

She knew a bit about the Nixing Alliance and understood the dangers involved.

...

Time flew by, and another year passed.

During this year, besides his daily Cultivation, Lu Qiu waited for news from Xin Ruyin regarding the cracking of the Ancient Restriction.

He refined his magic power every day, stabilizing his Pseudo-Nascent Soul Realm to the utmost limit.

The Golden Core in his Dantian had become perfectly rounded. Every time he circulated his Cultivation Technique, he could feel a surge of power about to break through its shell, as if something were being nurtured inside.

He also took some time to visit Xia Xinyan.

After reaching Core Formation, she had been stabilizing her Realm in the Heavenly Fragrance Cave and was quite diligent in her Cultivation.

Seeing his arrival, a joyful smile appeared on her face. She personally brewed tea for him and played a piece on the zither.

The music was as melodious as ever, yet it possessed a bit more stability and restraint than before.

He left a batch of Medicinal Pills required for Cultivation in the Core Formation Stage, told her to Cultivate well, and then departed.

One day, as he was closing his eyes to regulate his breathing in the Quiet Room, he suddenly heard Xin Ruyin's voice from outside, carrying an uncontrollable excitement:

"Husband Lu, I've succeeded!"

Her voice was full of excitement, quite different from her usual gentle and calm tone.

Lu Qiu snapped his eyes open, and with a flash of his body, he arrived in the main hall.

Xin Ruyin stood before the desk, holding the Jade Slip that contained the replicated Ancient Restriction, her face lit with an excited smile.

Her eyes sparkled with light—the joy of overcoming a difficult problem and the pride unique to a Formation Genius.

Her cheeks were slightly flushed and her breathing was a bit hurried; she had clearly run all the way over.

"Husband Lu, I have completely cracked the Ancient Restriction on the jade box!"

She quickly walked to Lu Qiu and handed him the Jade Slip, her voice carrying an unmistakable pride: "The method to crack it is all inside. Every step has been deduced countless times to ensure nothing goes wrong. I also added many notes on the side, explaining the principles of each step and potential issues you might encounter. Just follow it."

Lu Qiu took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense, reading it carefully.

The cracking method recorded inside was extremely detailed, covering everything from the structure of the Formation to the meaning of the runes, and from the flow of spiritual energy to the nodes of the Restriction. Every step included detailed explanations and deduction processes.

Under Xin Ruyin's brush, those runes and Restrictions became clear and understandable, like a complex mechanism that had been disassembled.

Even someone like him, whose attainment in Formations was far inferior to Xin Ruyin's, could understand it.

He looked up at Xin Ruyin, his eyes full of praise: "Ruyin, it's been hard on you. You've been researching these Ancient Restrictions for the past few years without taking a proper rest."

Xin Ruyin shook her head and smiled slightly, her smile gentle and bright: "Being able to help Husband Lu is enough for me. Besides, researching these Ancient Restrictions is also good for me; every time I crack one, my attainment in Formations improves. The intricacies of that 'Nine Revolutions Soul-Locking Formation' have benefited me greatly."

For the next three months, Lu Qiu devoted himself to studying the cracking method left by Xin Ruyin.

He shut himself in the Quiet Room every day, repeatedly studying the Jade Slip and deducing the process in his mind over and over again.

The meanings of the runes, the nodes of the Restrictions, and the flow paths of the spiritual energy were all committed to memory.

He even drew structural diagrams of the Formation on paper, marking every node and deducing them repeatedly.

Xin Ruyin would come by from time to time to offer guidance and answer his questions.

She would sit beside him, patiently explaining the complex runes and Restrictions, occasionally tracing a few strokes in the air to visually demonstrate the changes in the runes.

Her voice was soft and clear, like a spring breeze.

True Person Ling Yun would also offer a few pointers from the side. With his over a thousand years of experience, he could always point out details that Xin Ruyin had overlooked.

His spectral image floated in mid-air, wisdom gleaming in his cloudy old eyes as he occasionally interjected, giving Lu Qiu sudden realizations.

Three months later, Lu Qiu finally mastered the cracking method completely.

He put the Jade Slip containing the replicated Ancient Restriction into his Storage Pouch and left the Liulian Residence.

...

Fengle Alliance.

Lu Qiu wore the Heaven-Veiling Mask and presented his Guest Elder Token. Someone soon led the way, bringing him to the grand hall of Alliance Leader Ling.

The hall doors were wide open, and he stepped inside.

Inside the grand hall, sandalwood incense curled in the air, creating a peaceful and elegant atmosphere.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattices, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Those shadows shifted slowly with the movement of the sun, like the silent footsteps of time.

Alliance Leader Ling was seated at the head of the hall, holding a ledger, seemingly processing some affairs.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, and her finger lightly traced over the ledger, clearly verifying some accounts.

Hearing footsteps, she looked up. Seeing it was Lu Qiu, she put down the ledger, stood up to greet him, a gentle smile on her face.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, it's been a long time. What brings you here today? Do you need something?"

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, with a hint of warmth.

Lu Qiu didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "Alliance Leader Ling, I am now confident in cracking the Ancient Restriction on that jade box. I wonder if Enforcement Envoy Ling is currently in Tianxing City? I would like to see her and fulfill the promise I made back then."

Upon hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Alliance Leader Ling's eyes. It was fleeting, but it did not escape Lu Qiu's notice.

She knew all too well about the Ancient Restriction on that jade box.

The Formation Masters of the Star Palace had studied it for hundreds of years without success. Those people were all top-tier Formation Masters of the Chaotic Star Sea, some having spent over a hundred years in the field, and others coming from renowned Formation clans.

Xuan Kongzi had even stated bluntly that it was impossible to crack, saying that the subtlety of that Ancient Restriction was far beyond what current Formations could reach.

Had this Fellow Daoist Zhou before her actually found a way to crack it?

She sized Lu Qiu up, her gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny, a hint of curiosity, and a hint of disbelief.

Just how many more abilities did this Fellow Daoist Zhou have that she didn't know about?

His previous ability to crack the Restriction on the black treasure chest had already left her astonished.

Now that he could even crack this jade box, his attainment in Formations was likely far beyond her imagination.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, please wait a moment. I will send a message to Yuling right away.” She set aside her look of surprise, took out a communication talisman from her Storage Pouch, whispered a few words into it, and activated it.

The Talisman transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the depths of the main hall.

Lu Qiu sat down in the guest seat, and Alliance Leader Ling personally poured him a cup of spiritual tea.

Her movements were elegant and composed; the tea poured out like silk threads, its fragrance curling up and refreshing the mind.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, please have some tea. Yuling should arrive shortly,” she said with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of expectation.

Lu Qiu picked up the teacup and took a sip, the tea's fragrance spreading between his lips and teeth.

He waited quietly, though his heart was somewhat apprehensive.

The heaven mending pill was right before him; his hope for Nascent Soul Formation was one step closer.

But he also knew that the heaven mending pill was only an aid; whether he could reach the Nascent Soul Stage depended on himself.

After waiting for about an hour, a light sound of footsteps came from outside the hall.

The footsteps were neither hurried nor slow, each step landing on a certain rhythm, letting one know the newcomer was no ordinary person.

Ling Yuling walked in.

Today, she was still dressed in the white attire unique to the Star Palace, her robes embroidered with faint cloud patterns, the material luxurious and the cut well-fitted.

Her ebony hair fell like a waterfall to her shoulders, and she wore that emerald-green jade-inlaid headband across her forehead, making her skin appear even more white and jade-like.

On that stunningly beautiful and androgynous face was a lazy smile; as her phoenix eyes moved, her gaze was shimmering and Soul-stirring.

Seeing Lu Qiu, she nodded slightly as a greeting.

The gesture was casual and easygoing, yet it exuded an innate pride.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou, I heard you found a method to crack the Ancient Restriction?” she asked, her voice clear and pleasant, like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

Lu Qiu nodded and met her gaze, his tone calm and confident: “Indeed, I have an eighty percent certainty that I can crack the Restriction on that jade box.”

He didn't speak with absolute certainty, leaving himself some leeway.

An eighty percent certainty would neither make people think he was boasting nor make them feel he lacked confidence.

After all, the complexity of this Ancient Restriction was far beyond ordinary imagination; no one would dare claim a hundred percent certainty.

A flash of brilliance crossed Ling Yuling's eyes, and the corners of her mouth curled into a smile.

That smile carried a hint of appreciation and a hint of expectation.

She didn't waste words either, directly taking the jade box from her Storage Pouch and placing it on the table.

“Then please crack it now, Fellow Daoist Zhou. If you succeed, the heaven mending pill will be presented with both hands.”

Lu Qiu took the jade box, took a deep breath, and began to crack the Restriction according to the method taught by Xin Ruyin.

His fingers slid gently over the jade box, and one incantation after another flew from his fingertips, sinking into the densely packed runes.

Under the pull of the incantations, those runes began to change; some dimmed, some brightened, some began to move slowly, some fused together, and some split into even smaller runes.

His movements were very slow and meticulous; he was careful with every step, not daring to be the least bit careless.

There were too many runes and they were too complex; the slightest error could mean all previous efforts were wasted.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead, but his fingers remained steady and his gaze remained focused.

Ling Yuling and Alliance Leader Ling watched quietly from the side, not daring to disturb him.

Within Ling Yuling's phoenix eyes, a light of expectation flickered.

Alliance Leader Ling, however, frowned slightly, seemingly worried about something.

Time passed minute by minute.

One hour, two hours, three hours...

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Lu Qiu's forehead, sliding down his cheeks and dripping onto his collar.

His fingers remained steady and his gaze remained focused, but his breathing had become somewhat rapid.

After a full day of high-intensity Restriction cracking, even he felt a trace of fatigue.

But he did not stop.

A full day later.

When the final incantation was struck into the jade box, the runes on the box suddenly brightened, then receded like a tide.

The runes peeled away layer by layer, turning into specks of spiritual light that dissipated in the air.

The layer of Ancient Restriction that had shrouded the jade box for untold years finally completely dissipated.

With a soft "click," the Restriction on the jade box was completely broken open.

Lu Qiu didn't look at what was inside the jade box; instead, he raised his head, looked at Ling Yuling, and cupped his hands:

“Enforcement Envoy Ling, fortunately, I have not failed my mission.”

His voice carried a hint of fatigue, but even more of it was a sense of relief.

Ling Yuling stepped forward quickly, picked up the jade box, and glanced inside.

Within those phoenix eyes, a flash of uncontrollable pleasant surprise appeared.

The corners of her mouth curled up into a bright and radiant smile.

She closed the jade box, carefully put it into her Storage Pouch, and turned to look at Lu Qiu, her eyes full of admiration.

“Fellow Daoist Zhou's attainment in Formations is truly admirable.”

She praised him sincerely, her tone full of earnestness. “The Formation Great Masters in my Star Palace studied this for hundreds of years and were helpless; Xuan Kongzi even said it was impossible to crack. I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Zhou to find a way in just a few years. This ability, if placed in the entire Chaotic Star Sea, few could compare.”

Lu Qiu shook his head: “Enforcement Envoy Ling overpraises me. I was also lucky; if not for the help of a master, it would have been impossible to crack it so quickly.”

Ling Yuling smiled slightly and said no more.

She took out a jade bottle from her Storage Pouch and handed it to Lu Qiu.

The jade bottle was emerald green throughout, warm as jade, with the words "Heaven Mending" carved on the bottle in an ancient and elegant script.

“This is the heaven mending pill I promised you.”

Lu Qiu took the jade bottle, his fingers trembling slightly. He took a deep breath to calm his excited heart and opened the bottle cap.

A clear medicinal fragrance wafted out, instantly filling the entire hall.

The fragrance was so thick it felt almost substantial; taking a single breath made one's mind clear and eliminated stray thoughts, even making one's magic power more active.

The scent carried a hint of sweetness and coolness, like a clear mountain spring, refreshing the heart.

Inside the bottle lay a pill the size of a longan, emerald green throughout, with faint cloud patterns flowing on the surface, emitting a warm light.

The light was soft and not dazzling, as if it could pierce straight into one's heart and illuminate the depths of the Soul.

The heaven mending pill! A real heaven mending pill!

An uncontrollable excitement surged in Lu Qiu's heart.

Back then, he had consumed the Remnant Pills of the Heaven Mending Pill; those five remnant pills had raised his Spiritual Root from Three Spiritual Roots to the level of Dual Spiritual Roots.

But those were remnant pills after all, with limited effects; they were just medicinal power remaining in bones, far inferior to a real heaven mending pill.

Now that he had obtained a real heaven mending pill, his Spiritual Root might be able to go a step further and reach the level of a Heavenly Spiritual Root!

At that time, his cultivation speed would increase again, and his certainty of Nascent Soul Formation would also greatly increase!

He took a deep breath, suppressed the excitement in his heart, carefully put the jade bottle into his Storage Pouch, and cupped his hands:

“Thank you, Enforcement Envoy Ling. Thank you, Alliance Leader Ling.”

Ling Yuling waved her hand, her tone indifferent: “This is what you deserve. As agreed, you crack the Ancient Restriction, and I give you the heaven mending pill. A fair trade, each getting what we need.”

Lu Qiu exchanged a few more pleasantries before rising to take his leave.

...

After Lu Qiu left, the main hall fell into silence.

The sunlight still spilled in, and the tea fragrance still curled, but without that person, the atmosphere seemed to have changed.

Alliance Leader Ling looked at Ling Yuling, her eyes filled with thought.

She spoke slowly, her voice carrying a trace of emotion:

“Yuling, do you think this person can successfully form a Nascent Soul?”

Ling Yuling stood with her hands behind her back, looking in the direction where Lu Qiu had disappeared, and shook her head.

In her phoenix eyes, light flickered as if she were pondering something.

“Regarding the matter of Nascent Soul Formation, who can guarantee it?”

She said softly, her voice carrying a hint of emotion, “How many brilliant and talented Cultivators are stuck at the Late Core Formation Stage for hundreds of years, unable to take that step until death. Those Geniuses with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, those powerful ones with exotic treasures, those Disciples with support from great Sects—all have the possibility of failure. Although he has the heaven mending pill, Nascent Soul Formation relies on more than just external items.”

She paused and continued: “State of mind, Opportunity, and Comprehension Ability—none can be missing. He has ambition, methods, and a foundation, but whether he can cross that threshold depends on himself. External items can only increase the chance by ten or twenty percent; what truly determines success or failure is himself.”

Alliance Leader Ling nodded and said no more.

The two stood in the main hall, silent for a long time.