The aftermath of the confrontation was profound. The mercenaries of Jade Peak Town had witnessed a Golden Core (hidden as Early Immortal Foundation) instantly cripple a Nascent Soul Elder. Fear of the Jade Lake Palace was momentarily eclipsed by awe and terror of the man they now served.
Ling Tian did not allow any celebration. He immediately took Lin Yue to a secured room in the headquarters, intending to claim his reward.
Lin Yue, though terrified by the sight of the Elder's collapse, quickly regained her composure. She sat before Ling Tian, the severe injuries from her previous escape attempts still evident, but her eyes sharp and intelligent.
"You saved me, Master Ling Tian," Lin Yue said, adopting a formal and respectful address. "The Jade Lake Palace will send stronger experts now. What are your terms for my continued protection?"
Ling Tian stared at her, his violet gaze cold. "Your life is irrelevant. I require two things: information regarding this realm's cultivation structure and access to the Jade Lake Palace's high-grade cultivation resources."
Lin Yue nodded, recognizing the absolute authority in his voice. "I will give you everything. My life is yours, Master."
Cultivation and the Palace's Secrets
Lin Yue began to explain the structure of the Nine Immortal Realms, confirming Ling Tian's suspicions:
Lower Tier Realms: Dominated by the Immortal Foundation (equivalent to Spirit Foundation) and Nascent Soul (equivalent to Soul Transformation).
Middle Tier Realms: Ruled by the Spirit Severing, Soul Formation, and early Transcendent Stages.
Upper Tier Realms: Where true Immortal Emperors resided.
"Your strength is terrifying, Master," Lin Yue confessed. "Even crippled, that Elder was Mid-Nascent Soul. To shatter his Nascent Soul with a single strike... Your power quality is unheard of. It must be the legendary Primal Qi—the source of true power in the Upper Realms."
Ling Tian remained silent, letting her speculate correctly about the Primordial Chaos.
Lin Yue then detailed the Jade Lake Palace: "They are the hegemons of this region, led by the Great Elder of Jade Lake, Su Tao, a terrifying expert in the Early Spirit Severing Realm. Their main source of wealth is the cultivation of Tier-6 and Tier-7 Immortal Herbs, and they possess several crucial, low-level Immortal Veins."
Tier-7 Immortal Herbs and Immortal Veins, Ling Tian thought. That is the energy source I need to rapidly accelerate my Perfect Golden Chaos Core.
The Healing Miracle
Lin Yue paused, clutching her injured side. "I am sorry, Master. My injuries prevent me from detailing the resource structure further. The Jade Lake Palace used a specialized Immortal Suppression Thorn on me. It is slowly corroding my Dantian."
Ling Tian scrutinized her injuries with his spiritual sense. The Immortal Suppression Thorn was indeed a nasty, energy-draining artifact. Conventional healing would take months.
"A crude method," Ling Tian scoffed.
He pulled out a simple, Tier-3 pill from his spatial ring—refined from the Jade Peak mine waste but enhanced with a heavy dose of Primordial Chaos essence.
"Swallow this," Ling Tian commanded. "Your repayment for the information starts now."
Lin Yue was hesitant; the pill looked simple, yet its aura was intensely pure. She trusted Ling Tian's power and swallowed it.
The pill immediately dissolved. The Primordial Chaos essence did not heal the wound; it brutally attacked the Immortal Suppression Thorn and the surrounding corrupted Immortal Qi.
HISSS!
A column of black smoke erupted from Lin Yue's chest. She gasped, but the pain vanished instantly. Her Dantian, previously sluggish, began churning with renewed vitality. In moments, her injuries were completely purged.
"My Foundation... it's completely purified!" Lin Yue exclaimed, jumping up, her eyes wide with shock. "The corrosion is gone! Master, that pill... it is the work of a Pill God!"
Ling Tian merely shrugged, his expression returning to cold disdain. "Mere purification. Now, continue the information transfer. I want the exact location and defenses of the nearest Jade Lake Palace resource outpost."
Lin Yue, now completely devoted and terrified by his power, immediately pulled out a detailed map of the region. She knew she had allied herself with a power that could shake the very foundations of the Nine Immortal Realms.