Chapter 8: The Secret Layer
Chapter 8: The Secret Layer
At Haitang Manor on Green Screen Mountain in the outskirts, Lin Yuan quietly appeared. Outside the house, dawn was breaking, and a strand of Purple Qi emerged at the edge of the sky.
Lin Yuan focused his mind, and an invisible vortex seemed to form around him, forcibly capturing a portion of the morning sun’s Purple Qi.
Lin Yuan looked inward. Deep within his mind and soul, a continuous surge of dense magical power flowed into his limbs and bones. The superior Cangshan inner energy within him, which had already reached its peak, instantly transformed into a viscous magical power tinged with lightning!
A moment later, this magical power was swiftly refined.
This magical power was still rapidly expanding. Lin Yuan could sense that the essence of the Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo was beginning to steadily integrate into his body, gradually breaking free from that peculiar suppression.
However, after integrating one-tenth of it, the magical power suddenly condensed and retreated.
Lin Yuan opened his eyes and gazed at his palm, where a faint golden lightning flickered into view.
Evil-Warding Golden Thunder!
Lin Yuan couldn’t hide the excitement in his eyes.
He had finally transformed the superior inner energy within his body into a much more powerful magical force!
Achieving this step of Dao Attainment was truly not easy!
However, he hadn’t fully refined all the essence of the Evil-Warding Golden Bamboo yet. If he could refine it completely, his magical power would undoubtedly be even greater.
A continuous stream of essence poured into his body, but it didn’t increase his cultivation level further. Instead, it tempered his meridians, bones, and nourished his soul!
He was Reversing to the Innate State!
That was the profound mystery of the Taixiao Dao Ming Scripture!
If news of this change spread, even those immortal prodigies who had reincarnated multiple times would be immensely envious!
Reversing to the Innate State was endlessly profound.
Many seasoned cultivators, after achieving some success in cultivation, would go to great lengths to reverse their bodies to the Innate State. Once such cultivators succeeded, they would possess various profound abilities that many cultivators would covet dearly!
Cultivating certain supreme Celestial Books required unique physical constitutions, most of which demanded the body of an Innate Being.
Through a thousand years of contemplation, although Lin Yuan hadn’t completely succeeded in Reversing to the Innate State, he had grasped some subtleties within it.
But achieving the status of an Innate Being was only the first step!
Attaining the foundation of an Innate Being, or even the foundation of an Innate Divine Demon—Lin Yuan believed that once he succeeded, it would provide him with incredible assistance.
After briefly adapting to the magical power within him, Lin Yuan left the study.
In the early morning, the entire Haitang Manor was already bustling with activity. Many tenant farmers were heading up the slopes, carrying hoes and baskets on their backs.
The plan for the day lies in the morning!
Many tenant farmers spotted Lin Yuan on the slope and approached to bow, addressing him as “Fifth Young Master.”
Lin Yuan wore a slight smile and nodded gently to each of them. After a moment, however, his expression turned thoughtful. With a flicker of thought, he soon summoned the manor’s steward.
It was an elderly man dressed in a long gown, who appeared very respectful upon seeing Lin Yuan.
“Fifth Young Master, what are your instructions?”
Lin Yuan looked at the old man and said calmly,
“Steward Lian, in the next few days, help me purchase a batch of medical books!” After a slight pause, Lin Yuan added,
“By the way, if you can find rare family manuscripts or personal notes, I am willing to pay a high price for them!”
“Medical classics?” The old man hesitated slightly.
Lin Yuan watched the old steward, aware of his concerns—likely worried that Lin Yuan might “stray into an unorthodox path” and be unable to explain it to Lin Chengzong.
In truth, this matter really couldn’t be directly discussed with Lin Chengzong!
In many scholars’ eyes, compared to the imperial examination path, the medical path was merely a diversion.
“Do not worry. It’s just that our grandmother hasn’t been well lately. I wish to study a bit, perhaps to find a way to nourish her health and prolong her life!”
Filial piety is the foremost virtue—this was the excuse Lin Yuan had prepared early on!
Lin Yuan turned his gaze and said with a smile, “However, you must not let the family head know about this. I wish to give grandmother a pleasant surprise!”
“Young Master is naturally filial and pure-hearted. If the Old Ancestor knew, she would be immensely delighted!” The old steward was moved and immediately agreed wholeheartedly.
Lin Yuan asked another question, “Is there still no news about that scholar?”
“No news yet!”
The old steward knew who Lin Yuan was referring to and inwardly shook his head.
Lin Yuan frowned, and suddenly an idea struck him. He said,
“Change your approach. From now on, focus on monitoring a person from the Yang Family for me!”
The old steward looked over. A cold glint flashed in Lin Yuan’s eyes.
“A maid—Yumei, Yang Miaozhen’s personal maid. She might know the whereabouts of that scholar!”
“However, this maid may have some tricks up her sleeve. You’ll need to find a few capable people to investigate carefully!”
Hearing this, the old steward’s eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly.
“Rest assured, Fifth Young Master. I will handle this matter properly for you!”
The Lin Family had flourished for four generations, with vast wealth and influence. Among their retainers, they had recruited many skilled individuals—tracking a maid would be no trouble at all!
“Does Young Master have any other instructions?”
Lin Yuan waved his hand. Seeing this, the old steward bowed slightly and quietly withdrew. Lin Yuan watched the old man’s retreating figure with a subtle expression. If he hadn’t cultivated magical power, he wouldn’t have noticed earlier that this old man was actually an internal martial arts expert.
But with this adjusted investigation target, Lin Yuan believed news would come soon.
…
Casually flipping through the thread-bound ancient books piled on the red nanmu desk, Lin Yuan’s eyes flickered slightly.
Over the span of a few days, under the old steward’s generous payments, many valuable items had been collected.
“Young Master, are these enough?”
The old steward looked at the youth sitting boldly in the pearwood chair and then at the thread-bound ancient books, feeling a slight pang of heartache.
Acquiring these ancient books had cost the Lin Family a considerable amount.
It was only because this young master, in previous years, had contributed many ideas to the Lin Family—methods like composting, pruning fruit trees, or building reservoirs for fish farming—that had significantly increased the family’s assets. His monthly allowance was several times that of an ordinary young master; otherwise, he truly couldn’t afford these medical ancient texts.
The youth in the chair shook his head. “These are probably still insufficient. Many of these notes are rather messy—just manuscripts from ordinary physicians. Even notes from hereditary medical families are rare here, lacking much substantial value.”
Standing in the center of the study, the old steward’s face immediately fell. Obtaining these manuscripts from ordinary doctors and physicians was already difficult.
Notes from families with generations of medical practice were not easily obtained. Each such note was as priceless as gold and jewels!
Leaning lazily in his chair and observing the old steward’s expression, Lin Yuan inwardly chuckled. He casually tossed the thread-bound book titled Essential Arts of Healing onto the desk and said with a smile, “Never mind. Being able to acquire these within a short time is already quite remarkable. Just pay attention in the future!”
However, as his fingertips brushed past the last page of this incomplete thread-bound text, Lin Yuan’s heart skipped a beat—he sensed something unusual.
Was there a hidden layer in this book?
Lin Yuan glanced at the old steward but didn’t act immediately.
Hearing this, the old steward relaxed slightly. Lin Yuan added, “However, from now on, keep an eye out for any valuable ancient texts for me.”
A peculiar gleam flashed in Lin Yuan’s eyes. If there was one thing Lin Yuan desired most, it was undoubtedly cultivation texts from the Main World.
Not only did he want to understand what level his current magical power belonged to, but he also aimed to seize the initiative when the Mystic Gate Immortal Path of the Primordial World was established, to claim a share of its Fortune!
Moreover, the Taixiao Dao Ming Scripture was newly created and needed refinement.
Fortunately, the Lin Family was wealthy and not short on gold and silver—otherwise, things would indeed be troublesome!
The old steward’s heart tightened again. This senior steward of the Lin Family immediately wanted to advise the young master not to neglect his proper duties due to such pursuits. Seeing this, Lin Yuan promptly composed his expression and asked,
“Any news from the Yang Manor?”
Seeing that Lin Yuan avoided the topic, the old steward wanted to persuade him but, after frowning for a moment, replied, “No discoveries at all.”
Under Lin Yuan’s sharp gaze, the old steward paused slightly and added,
“However, our people have noticed something strange. That maid named Yumei has made several trips to a place called Shilang Village over the past half-month!”