"Linyue Gu Family..."
Zhong Lin played with a black token in his hand. The token, made of profound iron, was palm-sized. One side bore the character "Gu" inscribed in intaglio, while the other displayed an image of an unknown animal.
At the Hundred Herbs Hall, Zhong Lin had spent some time intensively studying the various factions, including the Linyue Gu Family.
The Gu Family resided in Linyue City and began their rise through escort services. The Linyue Escort Agency they established spanned the entire Great Chen, wielding immense influence.
Due to their escort business, the family had many Martial Artists. The one with the highest cultivation was the current Family Head, Gu Xiaofeng, a Second Grade Meridian Passage Realm expert. As for whether there were any covert experts within the family, no one knew.
In simple terms, this was a very powerful family. This is why Zhong Lin was willing to accept their patronage. With the support of this family, future resources for cultivation would no longer be a concern.
With a flip of his right hand, the token was tucked into his sleeve.
"If they really keep their promise, what’s the harm in giving them a Breakthrough Pill once my cultivation succeeds?"
Zhong Lin murmured to himself.
Zhong Lin had never doubted that he would be able to refine a Breakthrough Pill after reaching the Upper Third Grades. With the System’s assistance, his future self would surely be invaluable. What he lacked now was merely time.
Hence, Zhong Lin accepted the Gu Family’s patronage with equanimity. It was merely a transaction, and he was entirely at ease, as others’ support was a gamble while Zhong Lin had already seen his own future. As long as he was given enough time, he was bound to reach supreme heights, surveying all beneath him.
Returning to the Hundred Fragrance Pavilion, Mei Weixuan was already waiting in Zhong Lin’s room, holding a large wine gourd.
Zhong Lin felt speechless. Today was again the time for the Five Poison Beast’s triennial feeding.
"Hurry up, we’re just waiting for you. If you take any longer, I’ll drink all the medicinal liquor myself."
Having gone out for an appointment, Zhong Lin didn’t have the Five Poison Beast with him. By this time, Mei Weixuan had already fed the Five Poison Beast, and the Five Poison Liquid it secreted had been soaked in wine, just waiting for Zhong Lin to return and drink together.
Mei Weixuan poured the liquor into two bowls that had long been prepared. The rich aroma of the wine instantly filled the room.
"This is the Clear Spring White Cloud Wine unique to Wuyun City that I specially bought today. I had a taste at noon; the flavor’s quite good, perfect for soaking the liquor, so we don’t have to drink the cloudy wine brought from the road anymore," Mei Weixuan said proudly.
"The flavor is indeed excellent, pure and with a lingering sweetness, offering a unique taste," Zhong Lin nodded in agreement.
Mei Weixuan froze for a moment, then reacted: "Seems you drank quite a lot at noon, huh! With whom?"
"The Linyue Gu Family."
"The Gu Family that runs the escort agency?"
"No wonder they’re so wealthy. The Gu Family is famously rich and quite arrogant. They didn’t trouble you, right?" Mei Weixuan asked.
"Not at all, they even gave me a token and promised to send a batch of materials to the Hundred Herbs Hall every month," Zhong Lin said with a smile.
"That’s a common tactic of the Gu Family. They like to sponsor talents everywhere. You, a young genius, catching their eye is quite normal. No need to worry about them deceiving you; with Master Yin around, they wouldn’t dare," Mei Weixuan casually remarked, before downing the bowl of wine in one gulp and then finding a spot to sit cross-legged and begin training.
Zhong Lin didn’t hesitate either, finishing his own bowl of medicinal liquor.
In an instant, the rich medicinal power in the liquor exploded, and Zhong Lin quickly sat down cross-legged, circulating his Qi-Blood, nourishing his five organs.
The five organs correspond to the Five Elements. Zhong Lin started with the lungs, which belong to metal. Metal produces water, so after the lungs, it is the kidneys.
Water generates wood, wood is the liver.
Wood produces fire, fire is the heart.
At this moment, what Zhong Lin needed to nourish was his heart.
The heart governs the blood and spirits and opens into the tongue, with its beauty reflected in the face.
The circulation of Qi-Blood depends on the heart. If he could nourish the heart completely, it would significantly increase his Qi-Blood.
Under Zhong Lin’s guidance, all the medicinal power from the wine converged in the heart. Instantly, Zhong Lin felt his heartbeat slow, vitality abundant, each pulsation like drumming, as if a mighty river roared with each surge of blood.
An hour later, Zhong Lin slowly opened his eyes, feeling the robust heartbeat within his chest, and his face showed a satisfied smile.
"Just two more times should finish the heart’s nourishment, leaving only the spleen. Before returning to Tianyang City, I should be able to complete the nourishment of all five organs. Then by utilizing the Heavenly Rose Essence Pearl, I can achieve the cultivation of the Middle Third Grades in one go."
The smile on Zhong Lin’s face grew more pronounced. To him, reaching the Middle Third Grades was now within easy reach, without the slightest obstacle.
Watching the two departing teams, Zhong Lin looked helplessly at Mei Weixuan beside him.
"When we arrived, we didn’t have a good tour because of the Five Poison Beast. Now I’ve prepared a whole month’s worth of food for it. Shouldn’t we take this chance to have a proper tour this time?"
Mei Weixuan patted several large gourds on the sides of his horse with a face full of pride.
"If you want to tour, do it yourself. Why drag me along? I have a bunch of beauties waiting for me at home. What’s the point of accompanying a rough guy like you?" Zhong Lin said speechlessly.
"You’re really heartless, leaving me here alone. I’m your beloved friend."
Zhong Lin playfully cursed, raised the horse whip in his hand, and with a loud neigh, his steed shot out like the wind, leaving a trail of dust.
Mei Weixuan also laughed heartily, waving his whip and following closely.
Unlike their rushed arrival, everyone now seemed at ease.
On the road, they enjoyed scenic spots, tea tasting, drinking, and even visiting pleasure quarters, feeling triumphant indeed.
Of course, cultivation was never neglected. On the sixth day of their journey, Zhong Lin completed the nourishment of his heart. As the heart’s nourishment completed, his Qi-Blood instantly surged severalfold, dramatically boosting his strength.
On the fourteenth day, the last organ, the spleen, also finished its nourishment. With this, he achieved Perfection in the Fifth Grade Inner Strengthening Realm.
With a cultivator’s inner strength, they would continuously produce Jadescent Nectar in their mouth. All impurities between their visceral organs would vanish, enhancing their physique, not only prolonging life but also preventing diseases.
Underneath his tongue and palate, Zhong Lin suddenly felt completely comfortable, his mouth full of saliva. Even with a slight movement, the nectar gushed out from between his tongue, enveloping his entire body like a gentle breeze, refreshing him inside and out.
"Zhong Lin, congratulations, congratulations."
"Congratulations to you too."
Zhong Lin and Mei Weixuan glanced at each other, then burst into laughter.
Within a day’s difference, both had completed their cultivation in the Fifth Grade Inner Strengthening Realm, a level that would make them unmatched Martial Arts experts anywhere.
"No, such an occasion must be properly celebrated. There’s a manor ahead; I’m treating."