New and dark light years

Chapter 402 Red Phoenix, Take Action

The wails of these souls transformed into a massive, visible wave of sound that assaulted Li Lin.

Just as it was about to strike Li Lin, a faint golden dragon aura surged out, blocking the waves of sound.

Time passes little by little.

The golden dragon aura gradually faded.

After a long time, the dragon's aura finally disappeared.

Similarly, the wailing weakened because they could no longer cry.

Only faint sobs remained.

Li Lin ignored all of this. He simply kept his eyes closed and circulated his spiritual energy to ensure that the medicinal effects of the Foundation Establishment Pill were evenly distributed throughout his body, preventing them from 'merging' again.

The Foundation Establishment Pill has a side effect: it makes spiritual energy easier to bind together. This is a good thing, since it makes cultivation easier if spiritual energy is easy to gather.

But this becomes a disadvantage when it comes to making a breakthrough.

Therefore, when breaking through, one should be distracted to evenly distribute spiritual energy throughout the meridians, maintaining a relatively balanced state.

It sounds simple, but it's very difficult to do.

The breakthrough requires the practitioner to have an extremely high level of control over their own spiritual energy.

But Li Lin... can do it.

The spiritual energy generated through dual cultivation is inherently pure, with yin and yang in harmony. Moreover, dual cultivation itself is a form of training in control.

To achieve extreme happiness, one must control the input and output of spiritual energy between the man and woman. Moreover, this is a very forgiving thing; as long as you do it more and for a longer time, you can gradually develop the ability to control spiritual energy.

Li Lin and his wives had been practicing dual cultivation for over a year.

His control over spiritual energy has reached an extremely high level.

Breakthroughs are progressing steadily.

First, spiritual energy expands the meridians, then spiritual energy thickens and strengthens them, and finally, spiritual energy flows rapidly through the meridians to cleanse the body.

The last step, in particular, which involves cleansing the body, is even more difficult.

It requires a continuous supply of spiritual energy, and ordinary people cannot provide such a large amount of spiritual energy during a breakthrough.

This is why Foundation Establishment Pills are needed.

The most important ingredient in Foundation Establishment Pills is spirit rice. After purification, the spirit rice will become Inari Golden Embryo. Each one contains the spiritual energy of one hundred catties of spirit rice. Although there is some loss, it is not significant.

With such a large amount of spiritual energy, even if Li Lin ate it freely, it would take him at least fifteen days to finish it.

Li Lin's body was in excruciating pain, yet it was also a strangely pleasurable pain.

Pain is not scary; what is scary is that there is no benefit after experiencing pain.

Li Lin was focused on breaking through his limits and had no time to pay attention to what was happening outside the space.

The souls floating on the white ocean gradually stopped crying when they realized their wailing had no effect on Li Lin.

But their eyes were filled with despair.

Except for a very small number of people, the way these people looked at Li Lin was full of encouragement and joy, and they hadn't 'cried' before.

At that moment, another huge icicle fell from the silver moon hanging in the sky, heading straight for Li Lin.

Li Lin, with his eyes closed, was focused on fighting the pain within his body and controlling the flow of spiritual energy, completely unaware of the impending danger.

Just as these icicles were about to hit Li Lin, a giant illusion of a peach tree suddenly appeared behind him, protecting him.

The icicles struck the peach blossom illusion, instantly scattering ice crystals as if blocked by an invisible wall.

After the long icicles finished attacking, the illusion of the peach blossom tree disappeared.

The souls on the sea, witnessing this scene, wept in despair.

This time, however, the crying was silent; all that could be seen was their mouths wide open and tears streaming down their faces.

……

Li Lin has been inside the minor spiritual vein for six days.

Li Yanjing and Chu Rengong stayed in the backyard the whole time and didn't go anywhere else.

At night, they would sleep on a makeshift bed on the floor in the hall, with one person on night duty and the other sleeping.

They were worried that someone might come and disturb Li Lin while he was in seclusion.

Aside from occasionally taking Hongluan out to chat with other noblewomen and make some elixirs, Huang Qing spent most of her time at home.

The four women were all watching the door of the small spiritual vein almost constantly, hoping that Li Lin would come out from inside.

"The longest it could take is ten days... six days have already passed." Hongluan looked somewhat worried.

Huang Qing said, "Hong Luan, don't dwell on these things. Often, the good things don't come true, but the bad things do."

"Oh."

Chu Rengong came out of the side room. She had been on night duty last night and went to sleep this morning. She had just woken up and then took a bath.

She sat on the side of the hall, looking at the little spiritual vein, and smiled happily.

Compared to the other three, she had more confidence in Li Lin.

At this moment, Zhang Afu's voice came from outside: "Madam, a constable has come by and says he wants to invite the master out for a meeting."

Huang Qing stood up, somewhat puzzled.

Generally speaking, Li Lin was, after all, a military commander. If outsiders wanted to see him, they would have to send someone to inform him first and wait for the host to set a time when he was available. In such cases, it was usually an urgent matter.

"Hongluan, come with me to the front hall." Huang Qing looked at Chu Rengong: "The two of you stay here. Even if something happens in front, you are not allowed to leave the backyard even half a step."

"I understand," Chu Rengong nodded.

After all... luring the tiger away from the mountain is a very common tactic.

If there were any villains, protecting her husband would be her priority. Huang Qing led Hong Luan outside and they soon sat down in the front hall.

"Uncle Zhang, who are these people from outside?"

"I don't know, it was a large group of people, I couldn't quite understand them."

"Then please let them in."

Huang Qing frowned slightly and said, "Arrange for some people to hide nearby, then invite them in."

Zhang Afu immediately did as instructed.

Not long after, the gates of the Li residence opened, and a pale-faced, beardless man led a dozen men dressed in black armor.

Upon seeing such clothing, Huang Qing frowned slightly.

This type of black armor was typically worn by the Imperial Guards.

These people came from the capital... or rather, from the palace?
The leading man entered, looked around, and, noticing Huang Qing sitting in the main seat, said with some surprise, "Why isn't it Commander Li?"

His voice was high-pitched, and one could tell he was a eunuch just by listening to it.

"My lord is in seclusion for cultivation at a crucial time and it is inconvenient for him to receive guests." Huang Qing bowed slightly and said, "Please forgive me, sir."

"This is an imperial edict drafted by the Grand Secretariat on behalf of His Majesty." The eunuch raised the yellow edict in his right hand high and said solemnly, "Even if there is a matter of utmost importance, one must accept the edict first."

Huang Qing took a deep breath: "My lord, my husband is truly unable to receive guests, Steward..."

At this moment, Zhang Afu walked over from the side, carrying a tray covered with a blue cloth. However, from the shape of the cloth, one could vaguely see what was inside.

Zhang Afu brought the tray to the eunuch and respectfully handed it over.

"My lord, please grant me a few more days, would that be alright?" Huang Qing said.

The eunuch did not take it. He looked Huang Qing up and down and said with a smile, "Madam Huang, I don't want to make things difficult for you, but... this matter really can't be delayed any longer. This is the Emperor's decree, and there is nothing more important in the world."

Huang Qing smiled and said, "But if you forcibly interrupt your cultivation at this time, it will seriously injure your body."

"I don't believe it," the eunuch laughed.

At this moment, the dozen or so imperial guards behind the eunuch burst into laughter.

One of the young imperial guards stepped forward and chuckled, "We know all too well about seclusion. It's true that interrupting it isn't good, but it's not to the extent that Madam is suggesting. Or perhaps... Commander Li is treating the imperial decree as nothing?"

Huang Qing looked at the young man and found that the man had an arrogant look on his face.

"Absolutely not, but it is truly inconvenient for you to appear, sir. Please grant me a few more days."

"Why don't you take it?" the young imperial guard suggested.

Upon hearing this, the eunuchs beside him were startled for a moment, but then their expressions immediately returned to calm, as if nothing concerned them.

Huang Qing squinted at the other person for a moment and said, "Young master, do you want to harm my Li family?"

"How dare I!" the young man laughed.

Huang Qing naturally didn't believe it.

Imperial edicts are never received by someone else on their behalf. To say something like that indicates that the other party has ulterior motives.

Huang Qing said, "Eunuch, you've come to read the imperial edict. Why don't you rest for a few days? My Li family will surely repay you handsomely."

Huang Qing clapped his hands again, and at that moment two maids came over and brought two more trays.

Looking at the three trays in front of him, the eunuch's eyes were filled with longing.

Most fathers-in-law love money.

He was very tempted.

This amount of money was something he had never possessed since entering the palace.

But... he subconsciously glanced at the young man next to him.

"Envoy Zhaoxuan, please accept this. After all, it is a token of Madam Huang's goodwill."

The eunuch's surname was Wu, and his given name was Gan.

Wu Gan looked at the young man: "Commander Fang, how about you accept the two bribes?"

“I don’t lack money…” Fang Junshi looked at Huang Qing and smiled, “Since Madam Huang is so sincere, we can extend the time by a few days, but Madam Huang has to satisfy me first, after all, you help me and I help you.”

Huang Qing asked, "Military envoy, what do you desire? Anything the Li family can provide..."

"I'm a man who can't live without women, so it took me more than ten days to come all the way from the capital..."

Huang Qing's expression immediately turned somewhat displeased, but he still said, "The Li family will cover all the expenses incurred by the military envoy in the brothel district."

"I don't like those filthy places," Fang Junshi laughed. "There should be some decent-looking maids in the Li residence, right? Send me one or two. The one standing next to you is quite nice..."

In fact, considering the prevailing atmosphere in the officialdom of the Great Qi, Commander Fang's request was 'reasonable'.

In this world, concubines are worthless and have no status; they can be exchanged.

As for the maids in the household, they had even less status.

Giving things away is a normal and common thing.

Fang Junshi also felt that his request was very considerate.

Huang Qing disagrees.

Beside her was Hongluan; the two had grown up together since childhood and were as close as sisters.

It was no longer possible to give Hongluan away.

Moreover, she knew even better that Li Lin was very protective of his own and had a strong possessive streak.

If they dared to give Hongluan away, then the bond between husband and wife might be completely severed.

Huang Qing said coldly, "Steward Zhang, close the door. Hong Luan, make your move!"

(End of this chapter)