Chapter 795 - 77: Kindness Must Demand Recompense
Chapter 795: Chapter 77: Kindness Must Demand Recompense
Inn at the backyard bedroom.
After Lin Chen closed the door, he took out the dark red Dragon Blood Bodhi.
The Bodhi Fruit produced by an ordinary tree has only a hint of red, much like the tip of a Peach of Immortality, but the Dragon Blood Bodhi, the entire fruit presents an enticing red color, just looking at it evokes a mouthwatering impulse.
The fruit felt warm to the touch, and inside it seemed like a magma of vitality was flowing. Lin Chen sat cross-legged and without hesitation swallowed the fruit into his belly.
The moment the Bodhi fruit broke open upon entry, a surge of scorching heat flowed down his throat, rushing madly along his meridians, causing subtle explosive sounds in muscles, bones, and sinews.
Lin Chen grunted, feeling a bloated sensation as if he had overeaten, and immediately operated the "Azure Wave Technique", creating a vortex of Innate Power in his dantian to forcibly guide this violent energy into his bloodstream.
Soon, his skin began to show crimson lines, and waves of Qi and blood rose from his pores, filling the entire room with the rich scent of Qi and blood.
The entire process of absorption lasted for more than a two-hour period. When the sky turned completely dark and everything fell silent, the energy of the Dragon Blood Bodhi was fully absorbed, transforming into pure Qi and blood that nourished his internal organs, constantly washing and widening his meridians.
When the last trace of energy was entirely integrated into his bloodstream, Lin Chen opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air, his eyes shining like electricity, and with every move, his Qi and blood surged like a mighty river.
It’s indeed a divine item reputed to increase Qi and blood levels, as the effects of this Bodhi fruit are truly astonishing.
Lin Chen had a look of delight on his face, even without checking the panel, he could feel that his Qi and blood had significantly increased compared to before. What satisfied Lin Chen the most was that the faint discomfort he had in the three acupoints where the Innate Fire was stored in his body was gone.
The Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique refines the Innate Fire, and this Innate Fire energy is hidden within the acupoints. Although this Innate Fire has already been refined and tamed by him and will not harm his body.
But the inherent characteristics of Innate Fire can affect the bones and Qi and blood of the acupoints. This is why most people only refine Innate Fire after reaching the Innate Realm, because with Innate Power, they can envelop the Innate Fire, preventing harm to their body.
This prevention of harm is only relative, not equivalent to none. In the Jade Scroll given by Elder Zhuang, it’s clearly recorded that Innate Fire hidden in the body will expend internal Qi and blood, although it’s minimal.
For martial artists under fifty, reaching the Innate Realm, their Qi and blood are continuously growing and can offset this. Only after seventy, if they haven’t broken through to the Innate Third Realm, will Qi and blood start to deplete faster.
However, the Jade Scroll from Elder Zhuang states that the Innate First Realm absorbs one Innate Fire, the Innate Second Realm absorbs two Innate Fires, but he already has three while his Qi and blood level remains at the Innate First Realm level, hence he must catch up quickly.
"It seems that this Dragon Blood Bodhi tree is worth taking some risks for, as even instructions about time urgency have been given, indicating that my body can’t quite keep up with my Divine Soul and Realm now."
In the Flame Dynasty, there are many Innate Realm powerhouses, but Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouses are so rare. Apart from the reason stated by the Supreme Elder that every Myriad Phenomena Realm powerhouse is unique with no path to follow, Lin Chen believes there’s another reason.
It’s because in the process of cultivation, many Innate Martial Artists fail to achieve balance in various aspects, and even a slight weakness in one can affect the final step into the Myriad Phenomena Realm.
...
The next morning.
When Lin Chen walked out of the courtyard gate, he saw Qiao Shishuang.
"I can cooperate with you, but if there are fewer than two Dragon Blood Bodhi fruits on that Dragon Blood Bodhi tree, I want to take them all. If there are more than two, we will split them equally."
Achieving a Qi and blood level of four is the immediate priority.
Qiao Shishuang’s eyes narrowed slightly, and after a while, she nodded and said, "Agreed, a Dragon Blood Bodhi tree won’t just have two Bodhi fruits, there will be at least ten."
"Now, show me the map."
"Young Master Gu, I was afraid that the map might be discovered by the people of the Seven Stars Sect on the road, so I burned it. However, I’ve memorized the entire map in my mind and won’t make a mistake."
Qiao Shishuang smiled slightly. Lin Chen gave her a deep look but didn’t say anything.
Whether she truly burned it or it’s a precaution against him, with his own strength, as long as he remains vigilant, Qiao Shishuang won’t have a chance to play tricks under his watch.
"It’s better to start sooner rather than later. If Young Master Gu has no other matters, we should set off now."
"Alright."
...
...
Profound Dragon Mountain Range.
The vast mountain range spanning the Fulong Domain and the Profound Yellow Domain, filled with numerous precious herbs, is a favored exploration site for martial artists from both domains.
However, ordinary martial artists only dare to venture on the outskirts of the Profound Dragon Mountain Range; venturing deeper inside risks encounters with Innate-level Demon Beasts.
Even Innate Powerhouses dare not roam freely within the mountains, as rumors have it that Demon King-level Demon Beasts have been sighted within.
In the Flame Dynasty, Demon King-level Demon Beasts are equivalent to humans of the Innate Sixth Realm in existence.
Outside the mountain range, two figures swept across the sky, and many Martial Artists below had envious looks on their faces.
"Which sect does the Profound Dragon Mountain Range belong to?"
Sweeping past the outskirts, Lin Chen asked Qiao Shishuang with some curiosity.
"Young Master Gu hails from the Canglan Sect and probably isn’t very aware of the situation among the lower-level Martial Artists of the Flame Dynasty. Some herbs that Young Master Gu wouldn’t even look at would be enough to cause a scramble among the lower-level Martial Artists."
Qiao Shishuang had already determined in her heart that this Gu Fei must have always stayed in the Canglan Sect, rarely venturing out, and usually only interacted with fellow high-status Martial Artists, unaware of the hardships faced by the lower-level Martial Artists.
The herbs on the outskirts of the Profound Dragon Mountain Range could also fetch quite a few Flame Coins, and many Martial Artists would come to try their luck. Some nearby sects and families joined forces to block off the outskirts. However, these sects and families weren’t strong enough to forcibly prevent other Martial Artists from entering because provoking public outrage could result in being attacked by groups.
In the end, these sects and families charged a transit fee for entering the mountain range, and to make the adventurers willing to pay this money, or rather, to avoid losing face too much, they used selling maps of the Profound Dragon Mountain Range as a reason to collect the fee.
Lin Chen understood that the so-called maps must be extremely rough, and most of the adventuring Martial Artists came from ordinary families and had no choice but to pay the fee to enter the mountain.
As for Innate Martial Artists, these families and sects dared not obstruct them.
"Miss Qiao seems very knowledgeable about the Profound Dragon Mountain Range."
As Lin Chen spoke, Qiao Shishuang’s delicate body paused for a moment. She explained, "Young Master Gu, please don’t misunderstand. It’s not that I’m familiar with the Profound Dragon Mountain Range; rather, this situation is the same throughout the entire Flame Dynasty. Super Sects control a domain, and they wouldn’t engage in such practices."
"Take the Fulong Sect from the Fulong Domain, for example. Half of those entering the Profound Dragon Mountain Range are Martial Artists from the Fulong Domain. These Martial Artists, if fortunate enough to discover precious herbs in the mountain range, mostly sell them to the Fulong Sect. Even if they use them for their own cultivation, improving their Martial Arts Realm would also be seen as enhancing the Martial Path strength of the Fulong Domain, which is exactly what the Fulong Sect is happy to see."
"I suppose your sect is also the same, treating the Martial Artists within the domain equally."
Lin Chen smiled. Indeed, Qiao Shishuang’s words were not wrong. The Canglan Sect treated the Martial Artists in the Canglan Domain equally, allowing the dynasties within the domain to rise and fall without interference, unless they negatively impacted the Canglan Domain.
The two continued forward, and along the way, Lin Chen spread out his Divine Soul, sensing many Martial Artists within the dense forest below. Some were traveling alone, some in groups, and others were engaged in battles—between Martial Artists and between Martial Artists and Demon Beasts.
During this time, Lin Chen made two moves. He intervened when he sensed that someone was about to lose their life to a Demon Beast, stepping in to kill the creature.
"Thank you, sir, for your assistance."
"I will remember your life-saving grace, and I hope you can tell me your name so I know who my savior is."
"I am Gu Fei of the Canglan Sect. It was just a small effort, no need to pay it any mind."
After saving someone, Lin Chen made an appearance, left a remark, and departed.
"Young Master Gu truly has a kind heart."
When Lin Chen returned to Qiao Shishuang, her eyes were reflecting on something. She found Gu Fei increasingly unfathomable.
As an Inner Sect Disciple of a Super Sect, he showed no airs. In such situations, other disciples from Super Sects might not lend a hand, as countless Martial Artists fall prey to Demon Beasts in various mountain ranges daily.
"If they die, they can only blame their lack of strength."
"As fellow Martial Artists, if I can help, I would lend a hand—it’s just a small effort after all."
Lin Chen explained simply. He didn’t tell Qiao Shishuang that he himself had come from the lower-tier Martial Artists and knew just how arduous life could be for them. Though he didn’t go out of his way to expand his Divine Soul Perception to specifically rescue those in danger, if he encountered them, he would help when he could.
As for making an appearance rather than quietly leaving after killing a Demon Beast, it was his principle.
Giving aid without expecting anything in return seems noble, but he didn’t subscribe to that notion.
If one does good deeds, they should seek a return.
The majority of the Martial Artists he saved would likely never be able to repay him. After all, there was a disparity in strength, and any recompense they could offer wouldn’t make a difference to him.
But what if one of them really made a fortune later on?
Even if it doesn’t happen in this generation, perhaps the next or the one after might produce a genius.
If they remember the kindness, they might pass on his name to their descendants to repay the favor. Although he had given them a false name, if they sought out the Canglan Sect to inquire, he would still be known.
An old saying goes, "Never underestimate a young person for being poor."
This was his way of not underestimating second or third generations for being poor.
The two continued on, and five two-hour periods later, they had already passed the outer region of the Profound Dragon Mountain Range. Lin Chen was entirely on guard as his Divine Soul sensed the presence of several powerful Demon Beasts.
Here, the number of Innate Level Demon Beasts significantly increased.