Chapter 123

Chapter 123: Suspicion

Zhou Luo had originally considered the appearance of the Spiritual Planting Technique useless.

Only when the massive amount of knowledge became a memory and was deeply imprinted in his mind did he realize how narrow his view had been.

For example, regarding the harvesting of Dragon Blood Grass, it was specifically noted to first arrange spiritual stones around it to prevent the dissipation of spiritual energy.

Then, one must manipulate spiritual energy to carefully separate the roots from the soil, avoiding any breakage of the root fibers.

Once the root fibers broke, the entire plant’s medicinal efficacy would be greatly diminished.

Moreover, after harvesting, it must immediately be placed in a sealed space abundant with spiritual energy; only then could it be preserved for a longer time.

Before this information surfaced, neither he nor Wang Yu Wei had ever imagined that a small plant of Dragon Blood Grass would require so much meticulous care.

No wonder it was so rare and precious as one of the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Dan.

It was fortunate he had obtained this information in advance; otherwise, even if he found the Dragon Blood Grass later, he probably wouldn’t have been able to bring it back successfully.

At that moment, Zhou Luo profoundly understood that although these seemingly boring techniques served him little purpose, the knowledge and information they brought could greatly benefit him.

Indeed.

In this world, there are no weak techniques—only weak practitioners.

Thinking this, Zhou Luo’s previously disheartened mood gradually eased.

He even began to look forward to the knowledge and information other techniques might provide.

The third day.

After breakfast, Zhou Luo planned to head to the city’s auction house.

"Shi Yi, where’s Little White?"

Seeing his daughter playing with his sister, Zhou Luo squatted down and asked softly.

"Daddy, Little White is still sleeping," little Shi Yi crouched on the ground, looking up with her cute little voice.

"Still sleeping?" Zhou Luo murmured to himself.

Ever since he bought that Snow Heart Fruit for Little White (the pet) last time and fed it to him, he had been in constant slumber.

This was already the third day.

He gently patted little Shi Yi’s head. "Play nicely, Daddy is heading out."

"Stay safe, Daddy."

Little Shi Yi nodded obediently, waving her small hand in farewell.

Zhou Luo stood up and went to check on Little White first.

He wasn’t a beast tamer, so he didn’t know what condition Little White was in now, but since all physical signs seemed normal, he left reassured.

Upon stepping out of the Lin Family home, he looked up at the clear blue sky.

After his status and position had risen within the family, he was no longer restricted in his movements.

However, leaving Maple Leaf City still required reporting beforehand.

All the way to the auction house, that round-faced middle-aged man had been waiting for a long time.

"Master Zhou, you’ve arrived."

He greeted Zhou Luo with a smile, standing respectfully before him.

Though manager of this auction house, his status was considerably lower than that of Zhou Luo, a top-level Pill Master.

"Manager An, do you have the item I requested?" Zhou Luo inquired.

Lin An nodded cheerfully. "Master Zhou, everything is arranged. Please come this way."

With that, he led Zhou Luo into the auction house’s storage warehouse and directed a subordinate to bring a wooden box.

Opening the box revealed the final main ingredient needed for the Gathering Spirit Potion.

Zhou Luo nodded in satisfaction, retrieving spiritual stones. "Manager An, this is for you."

Lin An’s face lit up instantly, brimming with eagerness. "Master Zhou, should you need anything else, simply tell me. I will do my utmost to acquire it for you."

Hearing this, Zhou Luo pondered for a moment before naming several other rare celestial treasures.

These were all required for the third stage of the Colossal Bear Body Refinement Technique and were virtually unavailable on the open market.

Upon hearing the list, Lin An’s smile faltered; he looked slightly embarrassed. "Master Zhou, I might be able to locate the first few, but the last one… the Earth Shattering Bear Gallbladder… that’s beyond my abilities."

"Oh? Why is that?" Zhou Luo voiced his confusion.

The Earth Shattering Bear Gallbladder was one of the most crucial materials for the third stage. If it couldn’t be found in Maple Leaf City, he truly didn’t know where else to look.

"Well, even the weakest Earth Shattering Bear possesses strength equal to a cultivator at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement. Moreover, they invariably travel in large groups. Hunting them is effectively impossible," Lin An explained, clearly troubled.

A fully grouped herd of Earth Shattering Bears posed an immense challenge for cultivators of the secular world. Surviving a chance encounter demanded swift flight; hunting them was practically unthinkable. Only an Immortal Sect like the Qinyuan Sect likely possessed the ability to tackle such a task.

Zhou Luo understood immediately.

Clearly, he wouldn’t achieve the third stage of the Body Refinement Technique before venturing out.

He couldn’t help feeling a tinge of regret.

"Then, once you gather the other materials, have someone deliver them to Zhou Garden," Zhou Luo instructed.

Materials for body refinement differed from those used in alchemy; secrecy was unnecessary.

Even if the family found out, they wouldn’t see any issue with it.

"Alright," Lin An responded readily.

Zhou Luo then departed.

Not long after Zhou Luo left, Lin An’s smile vanished. Assuming an expression of deep deference, he walked towards another room.

Pushing the door open, he revealed a black-robed man with a grim expression and sharp eyes – Lin Xuanfeng.

He sat upright on a chair, leisurely tasting spiritual tea.

"Hall Master, these are the materials he wants to purchase," Lin An offered, bowing slightly as he presented the list of material names.

Lin Xuanfeng gave the list a cursory glance. "Can you discern which Body Refinement Technique requires these materials?" he asked indifferently.

Lin Xuanfeng was fully aware of Zhou Luo’s body refinement training, but the origin of the technique itself remained unknown.

Ever since the spiritual mine incident, Lin Xuanfeng had felt a distinct interest in this family son-in-law.

Particularly intriguing was Zhou Luo’s consistent ability to escape seemingly impossible situations unscathed. It struck Lin Xuanfeng as remarkable.

This Elder Jiu, known for his meticulous thoughts, perceived a certain quality in the younger man.

A quality reflecting his own nature – cautious, decisive, and astute.

Like attracts like.

Lin Xuanfeng, notorious for his sinister disposition and brooding nature, encountered someone like this for the first time. It inevitably sparked his curiosity and attention.

He yearned to uncover Zhou Luo’s true motivations.

"Hall Master, my apologies, this lowly one’s knowledge is limited. I cannot identify the specific Body Refinement Technique. However, these main ingredients are all exceptionally rare, suggesting it must be at least an upper-tier technique," Lin An answered cautiously.

As the auction house manager, Lin An’s knowledge far exceeded the ordinary cultivator’s. If even he couldn’t identify it, the technique’s rarity was beyond question.

Lin Xuanfeng gave a slight nod. "Proceed."

Once Lin An had exited, he lifted the cup of spiritual tea from the table. He drained it in one full swallow, his brooding eyes gleaming with a sharp, piercing light.

"What is he afraid of?"

His murmured question lingered in the quiet room.

Body Refinement Techniques, typically focused on defence, were usually pursued as a means of self-preservation.

They were often the choice of cultivators who had relinquished hope of advancing further in Qi Refinement and who lived in unstable circumstances, seeking to bolster their strength and guard against imminent danger.

Yet Zhou Luo was a top-level Pill Master. He resided permanently within the family, protected by all its resources. Why would he invest effort in practicing such a demanding and potentially unrewarding technique?

Wouldn’t that time be better spent honing his Alchemy Techniques or cultivating within the family’s core area?

Lin Xuanfeng’s curiosity intensified.

His assessment was clear: Zhou Luo’s intense focus on body refinement was almost certainly preparation against some looming crisis.

But what crisis?

Suddenly, Lin Xuanfeng recalled his earlier visit to the Second Elder. His eyes instantly dimmed, a flicker of murderous intent emerging within them.

"I thought you were smarter than this…"

The corner of his mouth lifted slightly, forming a distinct, contemptuous smile.