Chapter 135

Chapter 135: Lifespan Pill

In Zhou Garden, when Zhou Luo and the group of Pill Masters finished refining all the antidotes, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

He who had not stopped for a moment also felt quite exhausted at that time.

During that period, news occasionally arrived.

The originally chaotic Maple Leaf City gradually restored order after the family cultivators recovered.

The troublemaking disciples of the Hehuan Sect fled in panic, but still, one-third of them were hunted down and killed.

As for the losses incurred, they were still being calculated, estimated to be substantial.

But fortunately, the important industries of the Lin Family suffered only minor damage, within acceptable limits.

The only matter that worried Zhou Luo a little was his Master Lin Zhi Shou.

According to what Lin Ze said, the Hehuan Sect’s primary target this time was actually the family’s young disciples with spiritual roots.

Therefore, his master and his group definitely received special attention.

The family had already sent people to provide support, but there was still no news back yet.

Lin Ze told him not to worry.

After all, the flying boat was equipped with a top-quality formation, so even facing a siege, it could hold out for a long time.

Zhou Luo nodded.

In such a situation, there was nothing he could do except wait.

That evening, news about his master finally came back.

The situation was even more serious than Zhou Luo had imagined.

He hurriedly came to Shouchun Garden.

Inside Shouchun Garden, the family’s important figures were all present.

The family head, Lin Tian Xiong, along with several elders, were treating his Master Lin Zhi Shou’s injuries in the room.

Zhou Luo couldn’t enter for the time being and could only wait outside the room.

"Master was severely injured," Lin Xin, who was standing beside him, said with a serious expression.

"Wasn’t there a top-quality formation?" Zhou Luo slightly furrowed his brow.

Lin Xin’s face darkened as she said coldly, "Song Qing Shu is a member of the Hehuan Sect."

As soon as those words came out, Zhou Luo’s heart clenched.

That guy belonged to the Hehuan Sect?

No wonder there was such a large-scale poisoning incident in the family; it turned out someone had infiltrated them.

To seek revenge on the Lin Family.

The Hehuan Sect spent a great cost to send Song Qing Shu into the Spiritual Pill Conference, where he successfully stood out and earned the favor of the major long-life families, then deliberately joined the Lin Family to find an opportunity for poisoning.

This scheme was indeed terrifying.

The main point was that the Lin Family thought they had gotten a big bargain and didn’t ponder over it much.

Looking back now, how on earth could a loose cultivator without foundational backing pass the written examination and grow to his present level?

Unless they were a cheat-like genius such as Zhou Luo.

Moreover, Song Qing Shu successfully forced the Lin Family into a dilemma.

In the end, if Lin Xuanfeng hadn’t made the most correct judgment, Lin Zhi Shou and the others might not have returned.

Creak—

The door opened as Lin Tian Xiong and others emerged with grave expressions.

"Family Head, how is my master doing?" Zhou Luo inquired.

"Not well at all. If Elder Jiu hadn’t taken a sword strike for him at the last moment, he might never have returned."

"His life is preserved for now. But as you know, he was already advanced in age—his lifespan was nearly exhausted. This ordeal has worsened his condition. I fear he won’t hold on much longer."

"Currently, he remains unconscious. How long until he wakes is unknown."

Lin Tian Xiong’s words were tactful, yet they described the brutal truth.

At least fate had been kinder to him than to that Seventh Elder, who had passed from incurable wounds.

"May I see him?" Zhou Luo’s voice was heavy.

Lin Tian Xiong nodded. "Go. This time you saved the entire family. I’ll later send your rewards to your manor."

Such a monumental contribution by Zhou Luo would inevitably be rewarded.

Upon finishing, he departed silently alongside the others.

For now, Zhou Luo had no mind for rewards. He stepped alone into the chamber.

On the bed lay Lin Zhi Shou. His pallid face was sallow and deeply wrinkled, eyes tightly closed.

Zhou Luo sat wordlessly beside him, resting a hand over his wrist.

Under his control, a stream of pure spiritual energy flowed within.

As Lin Tian Xiong had attested, Lin Zhi Shou was simply too aged. Every bodily function was decaying.

Having exhausted himself in that great battle and damaged his foundation, his wounds could never swiftly heal.

Though sustained by spiritual energy from several Elders and healing elixirs, his injuries posed no immediate threat of mortality.

Yet after this battle, perhaps no more than half a year of life remained to him.

Gazing upon this teacher who’d treated him as his own child, Zhou Luo felt somber.

To watch his master die before his eyes was unthinkable.

Moreover, he’d yet to secure his true foothold within the family. Were Lin Zhi Shou to pass now, more troubles would arise.

Foremost among them: succession over the now-vacant title of Sixth Elder.

The factions of the main family and the Great Elder would inevitably clash fiercely to claim his allegiance.

"Seems I must brew the Lifespan Pill," Zhou Luo contemplated.

The Lifespan Pill was a top-quality grade-one potion. Its refinement would pose little challenge—only the ingredients would prove exceptionally rare.

But crucially, its formula belonged solely to the Immortal Sect.

After all, potions capable of directly extending one’s lifespan were subject to restrictions by the Immortal Sect and would not be casually circulated.

At most, the long-life families would only refine some mystical potions that preserved health and enhanced bodily functions.

Accessing a true Lifespan Pill remained utterly impossible.

Given Lin Zhi Shou’s current state, only a Lifespan Pill could prolong his life.

But Zhou Luo currently lacked the necessary materials on hand and would have to purchase them.

Yet now, Maple Leaf City had just suffered plundering, and acquiring anything worthwhile seemed unlikely in the short term.

He would simply have to wait for some time to pass.

He walked out of the room.

Lin Xin still stood outside, her gaze complex as she unflinchingly addressed Zhou Luo, "If Master really passes away, what would you do?"

Zhou Luo did not answer, merely stating, "Let’s wait until Master awakens."

…

Three days later.

Due to Lin Xuanfeng’s timely intervention during the last assault, Liu Fu Chen and his forces had been taken by surprise, suffering heavy casualties.

It would likely be difficult for them to reappear in Maple Leaf City anytime soon.

Thus, the situation within the city had now eased.

This allowed Zhou Luo to venture out again.

Despite the recent ravages, as the largest city for thousands of miles, Maple Leaf City’s vibrancy remained undiminished.

Zhou Luo first headed to the market to procure some basic supplies.

As for the remaining main ingredients, he chose to proceed to the auction house.

To avoid suspicion, just as he had done before in the Qinyuan Sect, he deliberately added several types of materials used for refining other potions.

"Master Zhou, surely you could find these materials at the market?" Lin An said with an awkward chuckle.

He privately thought his auction house wasn’t a marketplace, handling only rare valuables.

A few medicinal herbs were acceptable, but why were there even commonplace materials?

"Just conveniently. Is that not permissible?" Zhou Luo retorted coolly.

Listing these materials wasn’t truly for convenience.

His real purpose was to send a message to the family—a signal that he intended to refine an upper-level pill.

"Permissible! Yes, absolutely permissible!" Lin An dared not offend this rising star of the family; currying favor was imperative.

"Master Zhou, give me three days at latest, and I shall gather all these materials for you," Lin An pledged.

"Good. Please have them delivered to Zhou Garden in three days," Zhou Luo gave a slight nod and left.

As expected, the moment he departed, Lin An promptly reported this news to Lin Xuanfeng.

Currently, Lin Xuanfeng had no mood to consider such matters.

Hearing it was merely for pill refinement, he paid it little mind.