Back in the house, Lin Zhou did not immediately meditate. Instead, he first used miscellaneous items to temporarily block the damaged doors and windows.
After doing this, he sat down at the table, illuminated by the sparse moonlight filtering through the window, and began to inventory the gains from this battle.
He first picked up the tall, thin Cultivator's Storage Pouch and erased the lingering Divine Sense imprint.
Since the owner was already dead, the imprint was extremely faint.
The space inside the pouch was not large, and its contents were quite shabby:
23 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, two sets of ordinary clothes for changing, and a dog-eared copy of "Detailed Explanation of Basic Five Elements Spells".
Lin Zhou gently shook his head, took out the Spirit Stones and the book, placing them aside, and then merely glanced at the other items without further interest.
"It seems he was also a Loose Cultivator struggling to survive."
He mused inwardly, not surprised by this.
Next was the short, stout Cultivator's Storage Pouch.
Inside, there were only a pitiful 7 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, a heavily worn first-tier Low Grade Magical Artifact dagger, half a pack of leftover dry rations, and some other miscellaneous items.
Among them was a token; when his fingertip touched it, its texture was smooth and warm, distinctly different from the surrounding 雜物.
His expression shifted slightly, and he took it out.
The token, about two fingers wide and half a palm long, was dark green and felt slightly heavy in his hand.
The token was made of jade, with simple flowing cloud patterns carved along its edges. The front bore an ancient character for "Qingyang," and the back featured the outline of a majestic mountain Peak.
Spiritual light was contained within the token's surface; though not intense, it exuded a solemn aura, completely out of place with the crude items of the short, stout Cultivator.
"Qingyang Sect?"
Lin Zhou's pupils constricted slightly as his fingertips rubbed the token's cool surface.
"This is troublesome."
How could an identity token from a behemoth like the Qingyang Sect appear on a Low Cultivator Loose Cultivator?
Could this person be a Qingyang Sect Disciple?
He furrowed his brows, carefully examining the token, but found no obvious personal markings or special imprints.
If it were a token for a formal Disciple or an important figure, it would typically have more sophisticated anti-counterfeiting and identity verification methods.
This token's style was ancient and orthodox, yet it lacked detail.
It seemed more like... some kind of peripheral token that wasn't highly valued.
Perhaps an Outer Sect Utility Disciple.
With a general guess in mind, he placed the token on the table.
Lin Zhou's fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the tabletop as he began to ponder the events of the night.
Now that the people were dead, he could no longer obtain more information to confirm his suspicions.
"No matter what story lies behind this token, now that it's in my hands, it might be an opportunity."
When traveling outside, having an identity makes things much easier than being a Loose Cultivator.
Thinking of this, Lin Zhou put away the token.
His strength was still insufficient; he needed to improve his Cultivation first.
Cultivation is fundamental.
He needed to quickly improve his Cultivation; the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining was still too weak.
He took out a Low Grade qi gathering pill, consumed it, and began to Cultivate using the Blazing Fire Art.
Eight hours later, Lin Zhou looked exhausted as he checked the Cultivation prompts that appeared in his mind.
Blazing Fire Art proficiency +10
Blazing Fire Art proficiency +10
Blazing Fire Art Mastery (123/100→323/1000)
Fourth Layer of Qi Refining (11/60)
Roughly calculating, the effect of one Low Grade qi gathering pill lasts for one day, and each Cultivation session of four hours increases Cultivation by 0.5, allowing for 6 sessions a day.
This means one Medicinal Pill can bring about a 3-point increase in Cultivation.
If the Cultivation Technique Breaks Through, with the aid of Medicinal Pills, the Cultivation speed will be even faster.
"First, I'll go to the market's management office to pay next month's rent to avoid any complications. Then I'll return to continue Cultivating and try to draw more Talismans."
Lin Zhou made up his mind, put all his belongings into his Storage Pouch, tidied his robes, and pushed open the wooden door.
The morning light was faint, and sparse figures already appeared at the edge of the market. The air was cool, carrying the dampness of last night's rain.
Lin Zhou had only walked a few steps when his body paused slightly.
He sensed that there seemed to be someone within three zhang of his humble thatched hut.
Lin Zhou's Divine Sense quietly swept over.
It was an old man, with half-white hair and beard, a stooped figure, and a Cultivation of only the Second Layer of Qi Refining, with declining vitality and not much Lifespan left.
Lin Zhou remembered this old man; his surname was Wu, and he lived nearby, a neighbor.
When the original owner first arrived, unfamiliar with the place, Old Man Wu had kindly offered some guidance. Though they were minor things, they saved him some trouble.
He was an honest and simple old Loose Cultivator who had struggled at the bottom of the market for a lifetime.
What was he doing here at this hour?
And he was clearly waiting for him.
Thoughts churned in Lin Zhou's mind, but his expression remained calm. He pretended to have just noticed him and cupped his hands in greeting:
"Old Man Wu, good morning. Is there something you need?"
Old Man Wu looked up at the sound, and seeing Lin Zhou, his anxious expression deepened, mixed with a hint of apprehension and hope.
He shuffled a few steps closer to Lin Zhou, opened his mouth, as if unsure how to begin.
"Young Brother Lin..."
Old Man Wu's voice was hoarse, and he rubbed his hands, which were covered in calluses and cracks.
"That... I'm really sorry to bother you so early."
"Old Man Wu, you're too polite. If you have something to say, just say it."
Lin Zhou's tone was calm.
Old Man Wu hesitated again, secretly glancing at Lin Zhou. Seeing that his expression was normal and his aura was steady, seemingly different from yesterday, his guess became a little firmer.
He gritted his teeth and lowered his voice: "Young Brother Lin, last night... last night, was there some commotion over here? This old man is getting old and sleeps lightly. I seemed to hear some sounds and even saw some light and shadows from afar..."
"Young Brother Lin, last night... last night, was there some commotion over here? This old man is getting old and sleeps lightly. I seemed to hear some sounds and even saw some light and shadows from afar..."
Lin Zhou's eyes narrowed slightly, but he did not deny it, simply watching Old Man Wu quietly, waiting for him to continue.
Seeing that Lin Zhou did not refute or get angry, Old Man Wu grew a little bolder and continued: "Young Brother Lin, please don't blame this old man for being nosy. It's truly... truly something I need to ask of you. And seeing that Young Brother seems to have... seems to have made progress in Cultivation and possesses remarkable abilities, I've shamelessly come over."
"Young Brother Lin, please don't blame this old man for being nosy. It's truly... truly something I need to ask of you. And seeing that Young Brother seems to have... seems to have made progress in Cultivation and possesses remarkable abilities, I've shamelessly come over."
He paused, a bitter and pleading expression mixed on his face: "My good-for-nothing son, three days ago, went into the mountains with four other familiar Loose Cultivators from the market."
He paused, then continued.
"They said... they said they discovered traces of an 'Iron-Skinned Boar.' Although that beast is only a first-tier Low Grade, its hide is tough, and it's worth some Spirit Stones. If they could hunt it, everyone would get a good share."
"They said... they said they discovered traces of an 'Iron-Skinned Boar.' Although that beast is only a first-tier Low Grade, its hide is tough, and it's worth some Spirit Stones. If they could hunt it, everyone would get a good share."
Lin Zhou listened quietly.
The Iron-Skinned Boar is a first-tier Low Grade Yao Beast, with strength roughly equivalent to a Cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining.
Its hide is a Material for making Low Grade armor, and its tusks and certain parts can also be used in medicine or Artifact Refining.
It is indeed a worthwhile target for Loose Cultivators to risk.
"This morning, before dawn broke,"
Old Man Wu's voice began to tremble, and his eyes reddened: "Only three people returned, all wounded and in a sorry state. This old man hurried to ask, and they hemmed and hawed, finally saying... that boar, for some unknown reason, actually had the strength of the Middle Stage of Qi Refining! Its hide was incredibly tough. They were unprepared, and Li Laosan was killed by that beast in an instant!"
"My son... my son Wu Daniu, was lucky. When he was knocked flying, he rolled into a stone cave at the bottom of a hillside. The cave entrance was narrow, and the boar couldn't get in for a while, so it guarded outside. The three of them took the opportunity... took the opportunity to run back."
As Old Man Wu spoke, old tears streamed down his face.
"They said Daniu is temporarily safe, but that boar is guarding the cave entrance, and he can't get out. If too much time passes..."
He didn't say the rest, but the meaning was clear.
Trapped in a cave, a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator who hasn't reached Bìgǔ (Bìgǔ - abstention from grains) yet, how many days could he last without food and water?
Moreover, there was a Yao Beast lurking outside the cave.
"They came back to recruit more people, gather enough numbers, bring more powerful fellows, go back to rescue him, and by the way... by the way, see if they could kill that beast, recover their losses, and even make a big profit."
"They came back to recruit more people, gather enough numbers, bring more powerful fellows, go back to rescue him, and by the way... by the way, see if they could kill that beast, recover their losses, and even make a big profit."
Old Man Wu wiped away a tear, looking at Lin Zhou with earnest eyes, "Young Brother Lin, this old man knows this request is abrupt and dangerous. But I only have this one son, whose Cultivation is only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and his personality is honest and simple..."
"Old Man Wu wiped away a tear, looking at Lin Zhou with earnest eyes, "Young Brother Lin, this old man knows this request is abrupt and dangerous. But I only have this one son, whose Cultivation is only at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and his personality is honest and simple..."
"My ancestors were once a Cultivator Family, but due to a lack of successors, by my generation, it has declined. I am willing to offer an ancestral secret technique as a reward, only asking Young Brother to help, considering our neighborly bond and your abilities, to accompany them and bring my son back!"
As he spoke, he tremblingly pulled out a dark-colored Jade Slip to introduce it.
"This technique is the Spirit Refining Canon, which can open acupoints and enhance Divine Sense."
A Divine Sense secret technique? No wonder he could detect him from afar, yet he was completely unaware.
Lin Zhou's gaze fell on the Jade Slip; he really wanted it.
But he didn't agree immediately, instead asking:
"Old Man Wu, where are the three who returned now? What are their Cultivations? When do they plan to go again? Do they have a detailed plan?"
Seeing that Lin Zhou didn't flat-out refuse but instead asked for details, Old Man Wu's spirits lifted, and he quickly said: "They are meeting and discussing at 'Old Sun's' tea stall at the east end of the market. The leader is named Tiger Wang, at the Peak of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, wielding a thick-backed saber, and has some reputation among the Loose Cultivators here. The other two, one is at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and the other is at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. They said they need to find more people today and will depart tomorrow morning at the latest; there's no time to delay."
"They are meeting and discussing at the east end of the market at 'Old Sun's' tea stall. The leader is named Tiger Wang, at the Peak of the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining, wielding a thick-backed saber, and has some reputation among the Loose Cultivators here. The other two, one is at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, and the other is at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. They said they need to find more people today and will depart tomorrow morning at the latest; there's no time to delay."
Lin Zhou pondered.
Tiger Wang, he had some impression of this name; he was indeed a somewhat famous and reputable figure among the Loose Cultivators in this area.
The other two's strength was ordinary.
Such a team, facing an abnormally strong Iron-Skinned Boar, suspected to have reached first-tier Medium Grade (Middle Stage of Qi Refining), had little chance of success, no wonder they needed to find more people.
"Old Man Wu," Lin Zhou slowly began, his gaze candid, "I do have some ability to protect myself, but Yao Beasts are fierce, especially when they are enraged and guarding their 'territory' or 'prey,' they are even more dangerous. I need to consider this matter carefully, and also meet with Tiger Wang and the others to understand the specific situation before I can decide."
"Old Man Wu," Lin Zhou slowly began, his gaze candid, "I do have some ability to protect myself, but Yao Beasts are fierce, especially when they are enraged and guarding their 'territory' or 'prey,' they are even more dangerous. I need to consider this matter carefully, and also meet with Tiger Wang and the others to understand the specific situation before I can decide."
He neither made grand promises nor outright refused, giving a reasonable answer.
Old Man Wu nodded repeatedly: "That's right, that's right! If Young Brother is willing to consider, this old man will be eternally grateful! Then... then shall we go to 'Old Sun's' tea stall now? They're most likely still there."
"That's right, that's right! If Young Brother is willing to consider, this old man will be eternally grateful! Then... then shall we go to 'Old Sun's' tea stall now? They're most likely still there."
"Good."
Lin Zhou nodded.
The two walked one after another towards the east end of the market.
Along the way, Old Man Wu chattered on about how filial and honest his son, Wu Daniu, was.
Lin Zhou mostly listened in silence, but his mind was rapidly calculating.
To go or not to go?
The Yao Beast's strength wasn't particularly strong; with his Fourth Layer of Qi Refining and Perfection in Spells, he could easily handle it, and even if he couldn't defeat it, he could escape.
The accompanying Loose Cultivators were the biggest variable; anything could happen deep in the mountains.
In fact, Lin Zhou had a bad premonition that he didn't tell Old Man Wu.
Lin Zhou made up his mind. "First, I'll go see the quality of Tiger Wang and the others, and ask for details about the Yao Beast."
The path of Cultivation cannot always be one of avoidance.
One must contend when necessary, and fight when necessary, but one must plan before acting and act within one's means.
Before long, the two arrived at a simple tea stall at the east end of the market. A few worn wooden tables and long benches.
At this time, three or four people were sitting inside the shed. Three of them at one table had fierce auras and newly bandaged wounds; they were Tiger Wang and his group.
Old Man Wu quickly led Lin Zhou over.
After a brief chat, Tiger Wang narrowed his eyes as he assessed Lin Zhou, then agreed to Old Man Wu accompanying them into the mountains tomorrow morning.