NOVPUBZhou Qinguldn't help but burst into hearty laughter upon hearing this, saying, "Brother Huang, rest assured, as long as you're willing to eat, Zhou would never let you go hungry."
Eventually, the small group arrived at the dwelling of Daoist Yun, who had a newlynstructed thatchedttage beside his abode.
Tian Lin was somewhat surprised and heard Zhou Qing say to him:
"Ten years ago, Daoist Yun saved my life. At that time, I thought to myself, how wonderful it would be if one day Iuld build a hut next to his and live in seclusion among the mountains and waters, away from thenflicts of the Cultivation World."
While he was speaking, Daoist Yun walked out of the thatchedttage.
He gave Tian Lin a glance and was startled, clearly not rgnizing Tian Lin.
Zhou Qing hurriedly stepped forward to introduce Tian Lin to Daoist Yun butncealed the fact that Tian Lin was a Blood Sect Devotee.
Knowing that Tian Lin had saved Zhou Qing's life, Daoist Yun treated Tian Lin with greater warmth.
Soon, a young woman, holding an infant, got down from the carriage.
After theachman left with the baby, the young woman started took personally, washing rice and vegetables.
In only about half an hour, dishes of fish, meat, shrimp, and crab were quickly set on the table. Indeed, as Zhou Qing said, his wife's culinary skills were truly impressive.
Tian Lin looked at the steaming pot of ordinary rice placed beside the table, and his good mood for the day dissipatedmpletely.
Zhou Qing placed a bowl of mortal rice in front of Tian Lin with a smile, saying, "Brother Huang, you've beenmplaining about being hungry on the road, why don't you start eating now?"
Tian Lin came to freeload Spirit Rice, so howuld he stomach a pot of ordinary rice?
He began to suspect that Zhou Qing was reluctant to share Spirit Rice. However, out of all the dishes served, only a fewntained hints of being special, and even those were just ordinary exotic ingredients.
Tian Lin forced a smile and said, "Brother Zhou knows that I have been 'living in seclusion' in the deep mountains for years, and it's been a long time since I have enjoyed such a sumptuous meal. I just don't feel ready to start eating it right away."
Aware of Tian Lin's identity as a Blood Sect Devotee, Zhou Qing guessed that Tian Lin's diet in the valleynsisted of Blood Pills and raw meat.
However, Daoist Yun did not have such suspicions, he asked, "Mortal rice andmmon meat, even if one can cultivate and rear these in the deep mountains, they don'tmpare to Spirit Rice and Spirit Meat — howuld Brother Huang possibly be unable to obtain them?"
Zhou Qing, not wanting to embarrass Tian Lin by revealing his identity, quickly changed the subject:
"Speaking of which, this hospitality is indeed a bit humble. If my spirit field were still here, Iuld have then offered Brother Zhou Spirit Rice and Spirit Meat."
Tian Lin wanted Spirit Rice and Spirit Meat, but now it seemed that Zhou Qing's spirit field was no longer there.
"Was Brother Zhou's spirit field taken away by someone?"
As soon as he asked, Daoist Yun nearby immediately said:
"Isn't it all due to the Tong Family's misdeeds? That girl, Tong Yao, is now a master of Foundation Establishment. Everyone says she's sure to attain Golden Core within a hundred years, hence there are people bullying my son to curry favor with the Tong Family."
Theachman who had taken the child away came over and said this indignantly.
Tian Lin pondered upon hearing these words.
Two years ago, the Zhou Family's spirit field was still there!
But for him to enter the illusion from two years prior, he would have to re-enter the stone steps going down from the seventeenth level.
However, to descend the steps below the seventeenth level, howuld he ask Zhou Qing for Spirit Rice when there was nonnection between them?
He ate the meal without relish; since the Spirit Stoneuld not be obtained for the time being, he inquired about another matter: "Brother Zhoumes from the Wendaos Sect, so you must have done extensive research on swordsmanship. I wonder, what exactly is Sword Intent?"
This time, it was Daoist Yun who spoke instead:
"Sword Intent is a thing of the Sword Cultivators — Sword Cultivators do not practice other Spells, but only cultivate Sword Intent and Sword Qi. Sword Intent is the will of the Sword Dao for Sword Cultivators, while Sword Qi is the power of the Sword Dao.
But since ancient times, the Sword Dao has been difficult to cultivate, and such profoundncepts are usually indescribable and can only bemprehended intuitively."
Zhou Qing also nodded in agreement, he stately spoke, "Our Wendaos Sect does have Sword Cultivators, yet none has developed a Cultivation Technique for Sword Intent. This shows that such ancept can only be grasped through personal understanding."
Tian Lin was extremely frustrated upon hearing this. Having spent so much effort on this trip, he not only failed to acquire Spirit Rice, but he also received an ambiguous answer about Sword Intent, which was indeed displeasing.
To leave the illusion, Tian Lin would have to kill Zhou Qing. Killing Zhou Qing now wouldn't be difficult, Tian Lin was just waiting for Zhou Qing to fall asleep at night,nfident that, with his own movement technique and a Thunder Talisman in his possession, heuld definitely kill him.
As evening gradually fell, and Daoist Yun also returned to his own dwelling, Tian Lin waited for more than an hour still not seeing theuple retire to bed, bming somewhat impatient.
He wasnfident in his surprise attack using the Thunder Talisman, but if Zhou Qing refused to sleep, the attack might not be successful.
Even armed with a Thunder Talisman, Tian Lin was not keen onnfronting Zhou Qing directly.
He heard the noise from next door growing louder and decided to use the Wind Walking Skill to stealthily ascend the roof.
He heard Zhou Qing lower his voice and say, "Since I've moved my home from Pingyang County to settle here, it is because I don't want Yao'er to bme a Cultivator anymore. Holding onto this Heart Inquiry Skill is a bane; it's better to leave it for Brother Huang."
He heard the young woman say, "Big Brother Huang saved our whole family's life; I have no objections if you give him the Heart Inquiry Skill. But what about this Heart Inquiry Pill, what will we do about Yao'er's future if you give it to him?"
"Well, if Yao'er is to bme a mortal, what use does he have for the Heart Inquiry Pill? Giving the Heart Inquiry Pill to Big Brother Huang, to help him achieve the Heart Inquiry Skill sooner, is also our way of repaying him for saving our lives."
As soon as the words fell, Tian Lin on the roof heard the sound of the door opening.
With his mastery of the Wind Walking Skill, he was able to return to his room silently without being noticed.
Therefore, when Zhou Qing knocked on Tian Lin's door, not only had Tian Lin returned to his room, but he had also poisoned the wine in the room.
