Chapter 130

Chapter 130: An Additional Junior Brother

The next day, Zhou Luo carried Zhou Chang Huan into his own room.

The little one was just over two months old, gazing at him with curious big eyes without crying or fussing.

Zhou Luo took out the Qi of Innate Origins obtained last night and used it.

A pure and mysterious power entered Chang Huan’s body, radiating a white light.

Amidst the glowing light, Zhou Luo distinctly sensed an inexplicable energy suddenly emerging within the child, quietly lying dormant in his Qi sea. It remained undetectable without careful examination.

Currently, this wisp of Qi of Innate Origins held no obvious effect for young Chang Huan.

Its true value would only manifest once he formally began cultivation, allowing him to comprehend and harness this power.

Much like Zhou Chang An, it could enhance his perception of spiritual energy and other benefits.

After completing this, Zhou Luo carried the child back to Bai Zhi Yan’s bedside.

"Husband, what did you take our child for?" Bai Zhi Yan asked curiously.

"Nothing much. Gave him a fine gift," Zhou Luo replied with a smile.

Leaving the room, he planned to resume cultivation within the spiritual vein next.

After all, all four wives and concubines were currently expecting, and the arranged departure remained ten months away. He urgently needed to reach the fifth layer of Qi Refinement for self-preservation capability.

Yet just as he stepped outside, his master summoned him.

Shouchun Hall

Lin Zhi Shou sat beaming in the hall’s foremost seat. Clad in his white alchemy robe, his mood had been exceptionally bright lately.

He had just accepted another exceptionally talented disciple.

Recalling this disciple’s performance at the Spiritual Pill Conference and his eldest disciple’s remarkable aptitude, Lin Zhi Shou envisioned the Lin Family standing supreme among the Five Great Long-Life Families after a century.

Not long after, Zhou Luo entered the hall.

Upon stepping inside, he noticed a visibly nervous youth seated to Lin Zhi Shou’s lower right.

The young man appeared about seventeen or eighteen, with fair features and clear eyes. Dressed in a pale blue alchemy robe, he kept his head bowed humbly.

"Master."

Zhou Luo glanced at him before bowing respectfully to Lin Zhi Shou.

Spotting his beloved disciple, Lin Zhi Shou chuckled warmly. "Qing Shu, pay your respects to your Senior Brother."

Hearing these words, the youth promptly rose and bowed deeply in salute. "Senior Brother."

Zhou Luo felt bewildered.

When had their master accepted another disciple?

"My disciple, this is Song Qing Shu, my newly accepted apprentice. You two should properly acquaint yourselves," Lin Zhi Shou stated unhurriedly.

Song Qing Shu?

A sudden sense of familiarity struck Zhou Luo.

Wasn’t this the name of a notorious character from a novel in his past life?

Hearing this name, he felt an uncanny sense that a novel was coming to life before his eyes.

Shortly after, he learned from Lin Zhi Shou that the young man named Song Qing Shu was a loose cultivator who had, by chance, discovered an ancient alchemy manual and thus embarked on the path of pill refinement.

As it turned out, he possessed exceptional natural talent. Relying on self-study, he successfully mastered the basics and was later fortunate enough to be discovered by an Immortal Sect elder who taught him more refined pill refinement techniques.

The reason he wasn’t formally accepted as a disciple was solely due to the grade of his spiritual roots being the lowest possible, Ninth Grade.

Later, Song Qing Shu used a manual left by that elder as reference and came to this year’s Spiritual Pill Conference, where he smoothly secured an opportunity to study within the Immortal Sect.

Such powerful talent naturally attracted fierce competition among the Five Great Long-Life Families.

In the end, Song Qing Shu chose to join the Lin Family.

Naturally, such a promising alchemy genius was taken in as a disciple by Lin Zhi Shou himself.

During this period, Zhou Luo had been staying at the manor and was completely unaware of this matter.

Only after fully understanding the background did Zhou Luo nod politely towards the other man.

"Since you two brothers have already met each other, Qing Shu, you may return to your pill refinement." Lin Zhi Shou dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, Master." Song Qing Shu bowed and respectfully withdrew.

Only after he left did Lin Zhi Shou turn his attention back onto Zhou Luo.

"My disciple, I summoned you today because I wanted to inform you that, before long, I will be taking Qing Shu and a few other juniors of the family to study at the Qinyuan Sect."

Following the conclusion of this Spiritual Pill Conference, the time to proceed to the Immortal Sects for study had arrived.

As expected, Lin Zhi Shou had become the principal leading figure chosen for this journey to the sect.

"Master, I wish you a safe journey."

Seated on the round chair, Zhou Luo expressed his concern.

Lin Zhi Shou gave a composed smile. "What’s there to be careful about? Who in their right mind would dare to make a move against the Lin Family?"

"It is you who should be cautious in the days to come."

Zhou Luo looked puzzled. "Why is that?"

Lin Zhi Shou’s expression turned serious. "Shadows of the Hehuan Sect have reappeared in Maple Leaf City recently. It seems likely they are seeking revenge against our family."

A little over a year ago, remnants of the Hehuan Sect wreaked havoc in Maple Leaf City, resulting in the death of Seventh Elder Lin Guangping. They were only driven out later under the leadership of Lin Xuanfeng.

Now, unexpectedly, just in the past few days, multiple women in the city have gone missing consecutively.

Lin Xuanfeng’s meticulous investigation revealed the unmistakable fingerprints of the Hehuan Sect behind these occurrences.

The reemergence of the Hehuan Sect after lying low for more than a year clearly signaled a vengeful intent.

Consequently, the key juniors of the family had all been confined to the estate for their protection, to guard against the Hehuan Sect’s deadly schemes.

Lin Zhi Shou had summoned Zhou Luo specifically to warn him not to venture out.

"Master, I plan to enter Closed-Door Training to advance in cultivation during this period. Please rest assured." Zhou Luo reported honestly.

As long as the Lin Family stood firm, residing in the core area of the spiritual vein shielded him from any real threat.

"What? You’re going to advance again?" Lin Zhi Shou was profoundly astounded.

He distinctly remembered his disciple possessed only Ninth Grade spiritual roots?

When he left the Immortal Sect back then, he was only at the fourth grade of Qi Refinement, right? Yet now, he had already broken through?

How could it happen so quickly?

Such speed was comparable to that of a cultivator with a mid-grade spiritual root.

"Master, not quite yet. I’m still striving diligently," Zhou Luo chuckled lightly.

Lin Zhi Shou didn’t press the matter further and merely reminded, "Pursuing cultivation is good, but your alchemy studies must not be neglected. You should never indulge in sensual pleasures simply for the allure of beauty."

Rumors had reached him recently that another of Zhou Luo’s Concubines was again with child.

Such relations between men and women disrupt the balance of Yin and Yang—persisting long-term would be detrimental to cultivation.

And since Zhou Luo represented the Lin Family’s hope on the path of alchemy, as his master, Lin Zhi Shou could only do his best to advise him not to lose himself in such matters.

Understanding his master’s concern, Zhou Luo could only nod in agreement.

"Hmm. When I depart later, I won’t be able to look after you. Take this spiritual symbol."

Lin Zhi Shou extended his right hand. A spiritual light flashed, and in the next instant, a yellow talisman manifested, hovering in the air.

With a slight push from him, the talisman settled onto the table before Zhou Luo.

"This symbol is called the Xuan Tu Symbol. Once activated, it can condense a shield of Xuan Tu spiritual light that even a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement cannot breach," Lin Zhi Shou explained.

As a first-rank spiritual symbol master himself, Zhou Luo needed no explanation of the spiritual symbol’s function.

In truth, he had intended to craft a few such top-tier first-rank spiritual symbols for protection.

Regrettably, the materials required for symbols of this grade were extremely costly and scarce, so he had temporarily shelved the plan.

He hadn’t expected his master to simply gift him one of these precious artifacts.

"Master, this is far too valuable. I ought not…" Zhou Luo began to refuse.

"No arguments. Take it as I tell you," Lin Zhi Shou cut him off directly.

Zhou Luo had no choice but to accept it, rising to salute solemnly. "Thank you for your profound favor, Master."

These words came wholeheartedly from the deepest part of him.

If one had to name the person within the entire Lin Family who treated him best, without doubt it was his master, Lin Zhi Shou.

Ever since their paths first crossed due to alchemy, this master had consistently shown him a unique form of partiality.

Whether it was overcoming opposition to take him as a disciple, or later, upon learning of his assignment to the spiritual mine, making firm declarations on his behalf, or now, presenting him with this top-tier spiritual symbol—

Each gesture moved Zhou Luo sincerely.

"Go then. Remember not to neglect your cultivation," Lin Zhi Shou said, raising a hand.

His instructions were complete.

Zhou Luo saluted once more before finally leaving the hall.