Chapter 229

Chapter 229: Dire News

The process of repairing the top-grade magical artifacts wasn’t very difficult, so it only took a short two hours for Zhou Luo to complete all the repairs.

Among these three top-grade magical artifacts, the Xuanying Tower primarily functioned for defense against enemies and could also initiate proactive attacks.

The golden-threaded jade robe emphasized defense more, similar to the effect of a magic gown.

However, it possessed several additional functions too. For instance, when encountering danger, it could passively trigger a protective light barrier capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a cultivator at the later stage of Qi Refinement.

This delighted Zhou Luo immensely.

Truly befitting a top-grade magical artifact; with this feather-like aid, he need never worry about close-range ambushes by other cultivators again.

He immediately donned the jade robe.

The golden-threaded jade robe could automatically adapt to the wearer’s physique. The moment it was worn, it transformed into an ordinary undergarment.

Wearing the jade robe, Zhou Luo turned his attention to the small bell.

This bell, named the Clarity Bell, lived up to its name by protecting against the erosion of Illusionary Power and safeguarding mental strength.

Additionally, it could release soundwave attacks, inflicting mental shock on enemies. It was an excellent magical artifact with both offensive and defensive capabilities.

Zhou Luo stowed it away and left the third floor with Little White.

With the three damaged magical artifacts fully repaired, he could now peacefully focus on making babies and dual cultivation.

…

Seven months later, Li Ying successfully gave birth to a boy carrying fifth-grade spiritual roots. Zhou Luo named him Chang Liang.

Simultaneously, his progress toward the next stage of talent points had already reached the halfway mark.

This filled Zhou Luo with immense encouragement.

During these seven months, Lin Qing Han also became pregnant. Zhou Luo once again drew the special physique named Water Spirit Body.

Like little Chang Le’s Wind Spirit Body, it offered immense benefits for cultivating water-attribute techniques and accelerated cultivation speed…

Without hesitation, Zhou Luo bestowed it upon the only third-grade spiritual root holder among his children, little Shiling.

Little Chang Liang’s birth also brought great joy to the Li Family.

Their original purpose in sending over a concubine was to swiftly produce an heir, thereby sustaining a long-term connection with Zhou Luo.

This was intended to ensure that after Zhou Luo became a second-level Pill Master, out of regard for the child, he might assist them in refining Foundation Establishment Dan.

A second-level Pill Master with the capability to refine Foundation Establishment Dan was indeed a precious asset.

Presently, there were numerous cultivators within these long-life families at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, or even the half-step Foundation Establishment stage.

Yet, lacking Foundation Establishment Dan, they remained stuck at that bottleneck.

Now that their objective was achieved, they instantly sent lavish congratulatory gifts.

Zhou Luo did not refuse them. He had spent substantial money at the previous auction; this time, a replenishment was necessary.

One day, Zhou Luo came to the courtyard plot where spiritual plants were cultivated.

Ever since Xu Changsheng became a Spiritual Planter, Zhou Luo had entrusted him with tending this plot.

So much time had passed that these spiritual plants had now completely proliferated and flourished.

However, without the support of Illusionary Power, maintaining their vitality required placing spiritual stones inside.

This incurred a substantial expense every month.

"No expansion needed," Zhou Luo spoke out.

Currently, these illusion-enabled spirit plants were nearly sufficient, and further expansion would only be wasteful.

"Master, should we deploy an illusion formation to supply Illusionary Power?" Xu Changsheng respectfully inquired.

Zhou Luo contemplated briefly before shaking his head in refusal.

Not being Second Level Formation Masters, they couldn’t sustain the formation permanently; it demanded periodic maintenance and energy replenishment.

That, too, would consume spiritual stones, offering no real advantage.

Nevertheless, a more promising idea had taken root within him.

That afternoon, he carried Little White directly into this plot of land.

This little creature was now a Second Level Spirit Beast, capable of absorbing the world’s spiritual energy and converting it into Illusionary Power by itself.

Zhou Luo planned for it to release Illusionary Power daily, ensuring these spirit plants wouldn’t perish.

He didn’t expect them to thrive vigorously—since their purpose was combat support, mere adequacy sufficed.

After completing this task, Zhou Luo went alone to the grove where the Dragon Blood Grass grew.

Following this extended period of cultivation, the plant had finally produced several seeds.

Though not yet sprouted, the seeds pulsed with vital force; given enough time, multiple new Dragon Blood Grass plants would emerge.

This development greatly uplifted Zhou Luo.

If, in the future, he could locate the habitats of the other two main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Dan and transplant them here, securing materials would no longer be a concern.

In the days that followed, Zhou Luo didn’t step outside his home again.

As he and Lin Xi grew more adept with their dual cultivation technique, both of their training speeds accelerated significantly.

While Zhou Luo still only possessed Eighth Grade spiritual roots, The Fusion of Dragon and Phoenix Technique had elevated his training speed to rival that of a Seventh Grade spiritual root bearer.

Should he manage to enhance his spiritual roots by one more tier, his cultivation speed would advance even faster.

Thus, while practicing dual cultivation, he also took care to distribute his affections evenly.

Luckily, The Fusion of Dragon and Phoenix Technique was potent, incorporating numerous methods to stabilize yang energy and preserve vitality, allowing Zhou Luo such license.

Three months later.

Lin Jin Xuan and Bai Zhi Yan each gave birth—one a boy, one a girl—both endowed with fifth-grade spiritual roots.

Zhou Luo gained another one hundred and twenty years of lifespan.

At this point, his total lifespan bonus had reached a staggering six hundred plus years.

This figure rivaled that of a Nascent Soul cultivator; an ordinary Golden Core master couldn’t possibly outlive him.

Seeing such longevity, Zhou Luo’s resolve for Changsheng cultivation solidified; he withdrew deeply into seclusion, scarcely ever appearing in public.

If family matters demanded his attention, he tried to stall; when unavoidable, he delegated it to Lin Xi.

Consequently, family disciples buzzed with speculation about this prominent top-level Pill Master.

Some believed he dodged family duties and lacked loyalty to the Lin Family.

Others suggested he was amassing his strength in secret.

But most perceived him as merely lustful—why else acquire so many wives and concubines and father so many children?

Regardless of the gossip, Zhou Luo remained inwardly unaffected.

He knew the rumors stemmed from his imminent ascension as Sixth Elder.

Everyone knew the current Sixth Elder, Lin Zhi Shou, approached the end and likely had little time left.

Naturally, intense curiosity arose about whether Zhou Luo would indeed inherit the position.

Aside from the lifespan bonus, Zhou Luo felt elated by the increase in talent points.

Two fifth-grade spiritual roots yielded forty talent points.

Added to his previous fifty-five talent points, this totaled ninety-five—yet still far short of promoting himself to Seventh Grade spiritual roots.

Promoting from Ninth to Eighth Grade required only a hundred talent points, but advancing from Eighth to Seventh demanded a full five hundred.

The revolution remained incomplete; comrades must strive harder!

Perhaps this surge in talent points explained why so many mid-grade spiritual root descendants had been born.

Zhou Luo remained unfazed, adhering steadfastly to his rhythm.

After a year of dual cultivation, he successfully reached the late stage of the sixth layer of Qi Refinement.

This pace was remarkably swift—far exceeding what Eighth Grade spiritual roots typically allowed—and owed largely to The Fusion of Dragon and Phoenix Technique.

While life progressed steadily, Zhou Luo’s most dreaded event transpired regardless.

His Master Lin Zhi Shou’s life force reached its limit…