Chapter Sixty-Three: A Map

Lin Yi shook his head and said, “If you have other spirit herbs, I could trade with you.”

Clearheart Grass was of little use to him, but for other cultivators, it was a great boon.

“I don’t have any spirit herbs. How about I add another hundred million?” Feng Yuling took a deep breath as she spoke.

The Feng family did have an alchemist, but spirit herbs were rare even for them; how could they possibly spare one for Lin Yi?

“Then forget it,” Lin Yi replied, then simply hung up the phone.

Feng Yuling clenched her fists in anger, veins bulging on her forehead. It was the first time she had encountered someone so unmoved by threats or persuasion.

Two hundred million—enough to buy a mountain of cultivation resources—had been flatly refused.

“That brat!” Feng Yuling ground her teeth, hands balled into dainty fists.

Deng Chang, nearby, asked, “So, did he agree?”

Feng Yuling shook her head darkly. “No. I even raised the offer to two hundred million, but he didn’t budge. He wants spirit herbs in exchange.”

Deng Chang frowned. He’d thought Lin Yi was just a reckless youth, fearless only because of his own strength.

But now it seemed Lin Yi knew about spirit herbs—a detail with deeper implications.

Only alchemists were usually familiar with such things.

Could this kid actually be an alchemist himself?

...

Taking advantage of the fading daylight, Lin Yi and Angel searched the remaining stalactite caves.

Perhaps their luck had run out, for there was little of value left to find.

Lin Yi wasn’t disappointed—this expedition had already yielded more than enough.

After enjoying a meal of roast wild boar in the mountains, the two returned to their hotel.

Just as they were about to enter, a red Lamborghini pulled up beside them.

The door opened, and out stepped Zhang Xinyi, with the cold-faced Ling Yun by her side.

“Hi, Lin Yi, we meet again,” Zhang Xinyi greeted him with practiced familiarity.

“What is it?” Lin Yi asked coolly.

“Come on, Lin Yi, after all we’ve been through, there’s no need to be so distant,” Zhang Xinyi said in a slightly coquettish tone.

Yet Lin Yi could see a sly glint in her eyes. This girl was full of mischief.

Angel frowned, recalling how Zhang Xinyi had tricked her before. She snapped, “Hold it, don’t make it sound like we’re friends just because we fought. Don’t sugarcoat things.”

“Angel, others might be afraid of you, but I’m not,” Zhang Xinyi replied with a bright, unbothered smile.

Lin Yi shook his head and went straight to the point, “If you’ve got something to say, say it. Don’t waste time with all this nonsense.”

Zhang Xinyi’s eyes sparkled as she smiled radiantly. “Mr. Lin, you certainly are direct. Since that’s the case, I won’t beat around the bush. I do have something I’d like your help with.”

Lin Yi remained silent, waiting for her to continue. He was in a good mood today, so he was willing to hear her out.

Zhang Xinyi continued, “Mr. Lin, are you familiar with the Martial Arts Association?”

Lin Yi nodded. The Martial Arts Association was a loose organization, but a powerful one nonetheless.

Most of its members were independent cultivators, seeking some form of protection.

“To be honest, Mr. Lin, every five years the Martial Arts Association of Shan Province holds a resource competition. The first prize is the right to select three cultivation sites anywhere within the province,” Zhang Xinyi explained.

Lin Yi laughed. “You want me to fight for your family in this competition?”

“Yes. If you win, the Zhang family will reward you handsomely,” Zhang Xinyi said, her dimples giving her smile a sweet charm.

“What kind of reward?” Lin Yi asked blandly.

“A map,” Zhang Xinyi replied mysteriously.

Angel chuckled. “A map? That’s your so-called handsome reward?”

“Pfft.”

Zhang Xinyi shot Angel a glare and continued, “If I’m offering a map, it must be worth it. Mr. Lin, have you ever heard of the Sanqing Sect?”

Lin Yi’s brow furrowed. He certainly had heard of it. Even before he set foot on the path of cultivation, the Sanqing Sect had already existed.

But after the great upheaval of the world, even the once-renowned Sanqing Sect had declared its own demise.

He had visited the former site himself, but found nothing there.

Seeing Lin Yi’s silence, Zhang Xinyi thought he hadn’t heard of it and explained, “A thousand years ago, people were known as Qi Practitioners—their arts far surpassed today’s martial disciplines.”

“And the map I have records the location of a treasure vault belonging to one of those ancient sects.”

Angel curled her lip. “If you have the map, why not seek it out yourself?”

Zhang Xinyi sighed. “If I could, I would have gone long ago. But it’s too dangerous.”

Angel snorted. “If it’s so dangerous, why offer it to Mr. Lin and call it a reward? I think you have ulterior motives.”

“Don’t talk nonsense,” Zhang Xinyi glared back.

Ling Yun, sensing the tension between the two women, shrank back a few steps.

Lin Yi pondered for a moment, then said, “Can you let me see the map?”

Zhang Xinyi shook her head. “That won’t do.”

Martial artists had excellent memories—a single glance and they could remember everything.

Zhang Xinyi had no intention of revealing her trump card too soon.

Lin Yi considered it, then said, “Very well, I agree to represent your family in the competition.”

He mainly wanted to confirm whether the destination on Zhang Xinyi’s map matched the place he recalled.

A flash of delight crossed Zhang Xinyi’s eyes. “Mr. Lin, I’ll fetch it for you right away.”

She rummaged in her car for a bit, then produced a red brocade box.

“The map is inside. Please, have a look.”

Without a word, Lin Yi opened the box to find a golden scroll.

“Golden silkworm thread.”

Lin Yi was pleased. This material was exceptionally tough—immune to blades, fire, and water.

Only great sects would use such precious thread for a map.

Unrolling the scroll, Lin Yi found the map vividly lifelike, like a miniature Earth.

If he probed with his spiritual sense, he could see every blade of grass and tree marked on the map—such was the wonder of golden silkworm thread.

He skimmed through it. The location described was not the one he remembered.

“Well, Mr. Lin, is the map genuine?” Zhang Xinyi asked.

“Yes,” Lin Yi nodded, feeling a vague thrill of anticipation.

If he could obtain the Sanqing Sect’s treasure trove, his strength might soar to new heights.

He put the map away and asked, “When does the competition start tomorrow?”

“Noon. I’ll come pick you up,” Zhang Xinyi replied.

“Very well,” Lin Yi nodded.

Back in his hotel room, Lin Yi began to refine pills.

He first took out Clearheart Grass, then added a few drops of spirit marrow liquid with a touch of his finger.

Half an hour later, the room was filled with a rich medicinal fragrance.

With the addition of spirit marrow liquid, he produced thirteen pills in total.

Pills made from spirit herbs yielded fewer in number than those from ordinary medicinal plants, but the difference in quality was unmistakable.

He put away the Clearheart Pills and took out Purple Ginseng and Fire Ganoderma.

He planned to use half of each to refine Foundation Pills, and the other half to make Beauty Pills.

Foundation Pills could fortify one’s core. Cultivators whose foundations were shaky from pursuing quick breakthroughs could use these to stabilize themselves.

Moreover, they also treated certain deficiencies...

Soon, both types of pills were ready. The combination of the two spirit herbs had enhanced their potency.

He produced twenty-one Foundation Pills and twenty Beauty Pills.

A single Beauty Pill could preserve a woman’s appearance for a hundred years.

Lin Yi stowed the pills away and went to Angel’s door.

Knock, knock, knock.

Angel answered, her hair damp from a recent shower, looking even more enchanting than usual.

“Mr. Lin, is something the matter?” she asked, curiosity sparkling in her eyes.

“Yes, this is for you,” Lin Yi said, handing her a Beauty Pill.

“What’s this?” Angel asked, eyeing the pink pill in his palm.

“It’s a Beauty Pill—it will keep you beautiful for a hundred years,” Lin Yi replied.

Angel’s heart leaped. She hadn’t expected such a delightful surprise from him.

No woman could resist the promise of lasting beauty—let alone for a hundred years. If word got out, women everywhere would go mad for it.

Indeed, following Mr. Lin was the right choice. Otherwise, how would her cultivation have advanced so quickly, or how would she have enjoyed such rare pills?

“Thank you, Mr. Lin,” Angel said sweetly.

Lin Yi smiled faintly. “Don’t get too excited yet—I have another task for you.”

“What is it?” Angel trusted his words absolutely.

“I’ll give you another Beauty Pill. See if you can develop a simplified beauty product based on it,” Lin Yi said.

After all, he was the owner of Linda Group; he ought to do something practical for the company.

“Don’t worry, Mr. Lin, I’ll do my best!” Angel replied with newfound determination.

“All right, then I’ll leave you to it,” Lin Yi said.

“Mr. Lin, won’t you come in for a while?” Angel asked, her tone carrying a hidden meaning.

Lin Yi waved her off and returned to his own room.

...

The next day.

At ten o’clock, Zhang Xinyi arrived, this time in a white dress, looking particularly lovely.

“Lin Yi, let’s go,” she said.

“Mm.”

This resource competition was being held in Yuci City, Shan Province.

By the time they arrived, the place was already crowded with luxury cars.

Among them were Feng Yuling and Feng Ziyi, whom they had encountered the day before, speaking with some elders.

Upon seeing Lin Yi, Feng Yuling’s chest heaved with anger.

Never in her life had she been treated so rudely.

She tugged at Feng Ziyi’s sleeve and pointed at Lin Yi in the distance. “Brother, that brat is here too.”

“Heh, good. This time our Feng family’s grandmaster will be competing. After the contest, we’ll teach that kid a proper lesson—and take the Clearheart Grass for ourselves,” Feng Ziyi sneered.

They estimated Lin Yi’s strength to be at the peak of the innate stage—perhaps half a step into grandmaster territory. As for grandmaster level itself, they didn’t dare imagine.

As for the Feng family’s rise to power in recent years, it was all thanks to their grandmaster’s protection.