When he walked out of the treasury, Ling Xiao’s heart was still immersed in the joy of obtaining two treasures. Setting aside the shuttle-shaped Crystal Core of unknown origin, just the treasured tripod alone was the first magic weapon-grade treasure Ling Xiao had ever obtained!

Thinking back to his past life in the Cultivation Realm, where he had never managed to get a magic weapon and was instead struck by Celestial Tribulation Thunder and sent to this world, Ling Xiao couldn’t help but sigh. When he emerged onto the surface, he didn’t see the two old men again. As he and Song Mingyue left, they heard a rumble behind them, and the structure returned to its original state.

Song Mingyue went to see his grandfather and reported what Ling Xiao had chosen from the treasury. After listening, Song Qi’s two sword-like eyebrows twitched. "That tripod is clearly a fine item!" Seeing Song Mingyue’s eagerness to argue, Song Qi smiled faintly. "You silly girl, I never said he couldn’t have it. Since I promised the Song Family treasury was his to choose from, I naturally won’t go back on my word. But you... are you truly just worried about your father’s illness, or... do you have other ideas?"

Song Mingyue’s face turned beet red, but he stubbornly retorted, "Of course it’s because of my father’s illness! Besides, how would that guy know I’m a girl!"

Song Qi chuckled, his face creasing into a fond smile. He knew that while his granddaughter appeared outgoing, she was actually quite thin-skinned. She had enjoyed dressing as a boy since she was young, and with the Song Family’s secret techniques in disguise, no one had ever paid much mind to her antics.

He stopped teasing her and said, "Even if that tripod remained in our Song Family for another thousand years, no one would know what it’s used for. It’s better to give it to someone who can use it. However, this does suggest that Ling Xiao might truly be a descendant of a family passed down from the Ancient Era. Otherwise, no one would have any interest in that kind of Cold Iron Tripod Furnace."

Song Mingyue listened and replied, "When I entered the Mortal World, I investigated him. A year ago, he had truly accomplished nothing. And, how should I put it... he was quite pathetic. As the son of a noble family, he was tricked into having his engagement broken off by his merchant fiancée. The incident caused a huge stir in noble circles at the time. It seems that right after that whole engagement fiasco, he suddenly became a completely different person. His strength skyrocketed, and he has performed extraordinarily on multiple occasions. I heard that even before opening his Celestial Veins, he once scared a Demon Swordsman so badly that the man couldn’t even hold his sword, though I don’t know if that’s true. Also, the Beauty Pill... you saw its effect after Mother took it. This guy is really mysterious! His follower actually has the strength of a Sword Emperor, and yet he acts like Ling Xiao’s servant, keeping a very low profile."

Song Qi nodded. "It’s quite impressive that you’ve observed all this. *Sigh*... I just hope he truly has a way to save your father. As for his identity and background, that’s not important."

Song Mingyue nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

After returning to his room, Ling Xiao initially wanted to study the tripod. But on second thought, he restrained his curiosity. ’I’d better not let anyone walk in on me and make a fool of myself.’

With that in mind, he took out a Pill Furnace and began adding the medicinal ingredients one by one in an orderly fashion. Ling Xiao was becoming more and more adept at refining ordinary Elixirs. If his technique was still a bit rusty when he first started refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, fraught with the worry of failure, the current Ling Xiao had reached a state of complete mastery.

About two hours later, Ling Xiao opened the lid of the Pill Furnace. A slightly pungent smell wafted out. This wasn’t a sign of failure; it was simply the natural smell of an Elixir designed to repair the Sea of Consciousness.

If he had added ingredients to mask the smell, the Elixir’s effectiveness would have been reduced. To Ling Xiao, refining Elixirs was a very serious matter. It was like the medicinal soup he gave to Fengling. He could have made it sweet, but that would have greatly diminished its potency. Ling Xiao would rather personally coax Fengling into drinking it than compromise the medicine’s power.

A dozen or so Elixirs, each the size of a human eye, lay quietly at the bottom of the Pill Furnace. With a wave of his hand, the Elixirs appeared in his palm, still scorching hot. Ling Xiao took out a large porcelain vial from his ring and placed the gray Elixirs inside.

Just then, Song Mingyue pushed the door open and walked in. He frowned, wrinkling his nose. "What’s that awful smell?"

"Ah, Brother Song, you’re here."

Ling Xiao handed over the porcelain vial. "Perfect timing. Take these Elixirs. Have your father take one tonight with warm water. He should regain his senses immediately. There are a dozen or so pills in here. One pill a month should ensure he has no further issues for at least a year. However, he can only live as an ordinary person. He must not circulate his energy. If he does, the consequences will be dire. It could even cause his Dantian to collapse, and his body might explode."

Song Mingyue’s face was filled with delighted surprise. "Really? If my father takes this Elixir, he’ll really wake up and be like a normal person?"

"Aside from being unable to use martial arts or practice Cultivation Techniques... he’ll be just like a normal person in all other respects," Ling Xiao said.

"I wasn’t wrong about you, Brother Ling. Please, accept my bow!" Song Mingyue said, biting his lip. His eyes were a little red as he prepared to bow to Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao quickly stopped him. "Brother Song, you’re being too polite. If anything, I am the one who has been rewarded for no merit. Everything I’ve done is only what I should."

Song Mingyue’s eyes shone brightly as he smiled at Ling Xiao. "Over the years, I’ve met many physicians, but this is the first time I’ve met someone like you, Brother Ling, who is so unwilling to take advantage of others! In the past, some of the so-called medical experts from hidden families acted nothing like masters. They were even worse than the physicians in the mortal world. They’d come to the Song Family and demand payment before even determining the cause of my father’s illness. *Sigh*... If I hadn’t met you, Brother Ling, my father probably wouldn’t have lasted much longer."

Ling Xiao said, "Brother Song, your filial piety is as clear as the sun and moon. I truly admire it!"

Song Mingyue and Ling Xiao went to Song Yi’s room together. This time, Song Yi’s wife was present, and Song Qi had also rushed over after hearing the news. A dozen or so more people, both old and young, arrived one after another, but they all waited outside. Seeing the genuine tension on their faces, Ling Xiao’s admiration for the Song Family grew.

"Little friend Ling Xiao, will it really work?" At this moment, Song Qi’s expression was no different from that of any father in the mortal world, and he looked at Ling Xiao with a hint of nervousness.

Ling Xiao chuckled lightly. "Senior, please rest assured. My sect’s knowledge of the Dao of elixirs is quite profound. There is no need to worry."

Song Qi smiled, a little embarrassed. "I was overthinking things. Then hurry and give it to Yi’er!"

Song Mingyue held the Elixir and carefully helped his father up, letting him lean against his arm. He then placed the Elixir in Song Yi’s mouth. A Maid behind him handed over a cup of warm water to help wash it down. A few gurgling sounds came from Song Yi’s stomach, and everyone in the room watched nervously.

Madam Song, in particular, stared at her husband without blinking. She was much younger than him. Back then, Song Yi had spent all his days in cultivation, but she loved the man to her very bones, willing to spend her days in an empty room, her heart filling with joy just from the sight of him. After Song Yi collapsed, she felt as if her world had come crashing down. To her, nothing was more important than her husband being alive and well!

After a moment, Song Yi’s throat bobbed twice. His lips parted slightly, and he let out a soft groan.

"Husband! Husband!"

Madam Song hurried over, pushing Song Mingyue aside. She embraced her husband, gently rubbing his chest to soothe his breathing. Tears fell, pattering onto Song Yi’s chest as she choked out, "Husband, you’ve suffered so much!"

"Is that... Wan’Er?"

It seemed as though Song Yi hadn’t spoken in a very long time. His voice was faint, and he spoke with difficulty.

But to Madam Song’s ears, that sound was nothing less than the music of the heavens! She froze in stunned amazement.

The last time her husband had woken up was a year ago. The only thing he had said was heartbreaking: "Just kill me. I don’t want to live anymore." Then he had fallen back into a coma.

"It’s me, it’s me, Husband... You... how are you feeling?" Madam Song held her husband, her lips trembling slightly.

"You... don’t hold me so tight. I can’t breathe," Song Yi said with some difficulty.

"Ah... I’m so stupid." Madam Song quickly laid her husband back on the bed. Then she turned, saw her father-in-law, and her face instantly flushed as red as a cloth. "You must be very hungry. I-I’ll go get you something to eat!"

But the newly awakened Song Yi didn’t seem to mind his father’s presence. He said with difficulty, "Don’t go, Wan’Er... These past few years have been hard on you."

The moment Song Yi said this, Song Mingyue and his grandfather Song Qi immediately turned their faces away. Madam Song, however, burst into tears, crying, "It wasn’t hard! It wasn’t hard at all! As long as you’re alive, I’ll do anything!"

At this moment, Ling Xiao quietly slipped out of the room. Outside, he saw that a large crowd had gathered. He had met some of them yesterday, while others were unfamiliar. When they saw Ling Xiao, they all wore friendly smiles. Ling Xiao smiled and nodded back at them, then turned and left without a word.

Back in his room, it took a long time for Ling Xiao’s emotions to settle. He had gained a deep understanding from the affection within the Song Family. ’Even if one pursues immortality and desires eternal life, a heart can only be called human if it is filled with emotion!’

Just then, Ling Xiao suddenly remembered the shuttle-shaped Crystal Core. The reason he considered it a treasure was because he had probed it with his Spiritual Power back in the Song Family’s underground treasury. He hadn’t known before, but upon inspection, Ling Xiao had been utterly shocked.

This thing was actually the legendary... Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul!

A so-called Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Soul was a type of Crystal Stone that formed naturally, nurtured by Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi for tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of years until it developed a faint spirituality of its own!

In other words, this thing wasn’t a Magic Beast Crystal Core at all, but a genuine, Top-Grade Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure!

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*Phew*, my author dashboard is finally working. I was struggling for ages to upload earlier and had to ask a friend to upload it for me. There will be one more Chapter tonight, but it’ll probably be late. A bit tired, haha, hope you understand! (To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com for more Chapters and to support the author and legitimate reading!)