Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 351 – Acting Skill

Qin Yu began the sacrifice. The process continued the same as the first time. If there was a difference, it was that the Good Fortune Tablet, or rather the Southshine Nation’s Old Ancestor, returned an even richer magic power to him! Soon the Five Element Nascent Souls erupted with a divine light. They had reached their limits and could no longer absorb any magic power.

But with the dark golden light as a medium, pure magic power continued to pour into his body. Qin Yu’s eyes flashed with surprise but he didn’t feel any sense of fear, because he was absolutely certain that whether it was the Good Fortune Tablet or Southshine Nation’s Old Ancestor, neither would harm him at this time.

And indeed, as magic power continued to pour into his body, an invisible power of imprisonment started to join in through the dark golden light. The power of imprisonment fell atop Qin Yu’s Nascent Soul like layers of shackles, twining around him and giving him a strong bearing capacity.

So, as magic power continued to pour into his Nascent Souls, in a situation where his Nascent Souls were already fully saturated but were prevented from exploding due to the imprisoning power, what happened was that the magic power started to concentrate. This was a good thing. As the magic power began to concentrate, its quality started to substantially increase. Moreover, the Nascent Souls were able to ‘free up space’.

But to Qin Yu himself, this was an ‘enjoyable’ yet sour feeling. It was like eating until you were no longer able to eat any more, but then a giant hand opened your mouth and shoveled food down your throat anyways. And not only could you not stop it, but you even found that for some strange reason, you were able to eat even more.

Almost a full hour passed before the dark golden light scattered. When Qin Yu was gently sent 30 feet away, he staggered and almost fell down. The ground started to crack beneath his feet. He turned and vomited, only stopping after a long, long time.

Chief Steward Qin revealed a look of sudden awareness. He had already guessed the Old Ancestor’s thoughts. As his eyes fell on Qin Yu’s back, they immediately became warm and intimate.

“Little friend, it must have hurt to eat so much, but as a man above men, your harvests today are enough to make countless young elites envious of you!”

Qin Yu cupped his hands together and wearily nodded. He naturally knew that was said was a fact.

Because, he was still at the ninth level of Nascent Soul.

But this ninth level Nascent Soul, compared to how it was before the sacrifice, was as different as the heavens and earth.

In terms of pure magic power quantity, there was at least twice as much as before!

This was because the Good Fortune Tablet had rammed his foundation together, completely consolidating it. If Qin Yu later told someone that he took the path of eating pills, there was no one that would believe him.

What nonsense. With such a vigorous foundation that was as hard as stone, how could that be formed by piling up hills of pills? That wouldn’t even work to trick a ghost!

But ignoring everything else, just with solidity of this foundation alone, Qin Yu could stand on par with the top young elite cultivators of the Land of Divinity and Demons. And the deeper his foundation was, the greater his background became, then once he broke through to the Divine Soul realm, he would experience an even greater increase in combat strength.

This was simply a lucky chance that countless cultivators yearned for in their dreams. Unfortunately, those that had the qualifications to enjoy such treatment were only the most prized juniors of the greatest super influences. This was because it required at least a peak Blue Sea realm super powerhouse to personally take action to accomplish this. And, such actions would have certain effects on their own cultivation too.

The Southshine Nation Old Ancestor’s repayment was rich…unfortunately, he didn’t do this with any good intentions in mind.

After he completed the sacrifice, his cultivation increased and the pain in his body vanished. But, his soul still felt exhausted. Qin Yu couldn’t help but endure the discomfort and say, “Lord Chief Steward, this junior is tired so I will leave first.”

A look of hesitation appeared in his eyes.

Qin Wushang silently furrowed his eyebrows. “Ning Qin, is there a problem?”

Qin Yu forced a smile. “Of course not.”

After watching him leave, Chief Steward Qin’s thoughts raced. He always felt there was something wrong with Ning Qin’s performance.

White Fengfeng was waiting outside the entire time. When Qin Yu emerged, his eyes flashed and he said, “Since you were waiting here, just follow me.”

Without a single word exchanged, the two returned to Qin Yu’s residence. When he closed the door and took out Ninth Province, Qin Yu sprawled back against a sofa and smiled. “Sit.”

White Fengfeng’s eyes were red. “Big Brother Baoyu, your hair…wuwu…how could it be like this…”

Qin Yu was moved by her words. Although it was still inexplicably strange that White Fengfeng was so close to him, he could still judge whether someone was sincere or not. He laughed and said, “It’s fine. I may have lost some lifespan momentarily, but I will heal over time.” He hesitated and said, “Miss White, what I’m about to tell you now, whether you believe it or not, I hope you will keep it a secret.”

Seeing her vigorously nod, Qin Yu slowly said, “If you haven’t yet refined the Revival Good Fortune Pill, then it's best that you not finish. This is my advice.”

White Fengfeng nodded. “Okay, then I won’t refine it!”

Qin Yu had a surprised look.

White Fengfeng sincerely said, “I believe that Big Brother Baoyu definitely won’t harm me no matter what.”

Qin Yu revealed a gratified expression. Although this girl’s gaze towards him gave him a headache, it was nice to be trusted by someone. To talk with such a beautiful girl who fully trusted him, even if he had no other thoughts towards her, it still made him feel a bit happy. But what a pity, Qin Yu really needed to rest in his current state. He forced a smile and said, “That’s about everything. I need to rest for now.”

White Fengfeng reluctantly parted ways. And before she left, she vowed that she would find a treasure that could restore his lifespan and make it so that his hair turned black again.

What a pure and na?ve fellow.

As he thought about how he was still speaking to her using a fake name, he awkwardly rubbed his nose. However, now was not the time to be feeling awkward. What he needed to do was rest well.

He leaned back and fell into the soft sofa. Choosing a comfortable position, Qin Yu let out a light breath and closed his eyes, dozing off to sleep. This rest continued for one day and one night. When he woke up, it was in the middle of the night. His pupils glinted in the dark.

He looked at the clock hanging on the wall. The time wasn’t wrong; in other words, he had six days at most before the world killing tribulation arrived. Although he already knew this, he still couldn’t help but feel an intense sense of worry rise in his heart. He took a deep breath and started to further contemplate his plan.

Four hours later, Qin Yu stood up and walked to the bathroom. After washing and putting on a new set of robes, he stood in front of the grand windows and pulled open the shades. A dim light entered. The eastern skies were white and a new day was about to begin.

Soon after, there was a knock on his door. Qin Yu opened it, and without accident, it was precisely Qin Wushang.

The Lord Chief Steward had a warm smile. “I heard the maid say little friend opened the window blinds, so you must have awakened. I hope I didn’t disturb you?”

Qin Yu cupped his hands together. “Chief steward speaks too seriously. Please, enter.”

He stepped to the side and allowed him in. When the door closed behind him, a sharp light flashed in Qin Yu’s eyes. Now was the time for his acting skills to make an appearance. Although he was still lacking when comparing the thickness of his facial skin to these old things, he had still experienced enough plots and schemes and snobbery that when it came to acting alone, he was quite confident in himself. Moreover, the play and the stage had already been prepared for him. In a situation where Qin Wushang was unaware, he already had the advantage.

After asking Chief Steward Qin to sit down, Qin Yu was silent for a moment. Then he said, “If Chief Steward Qin came here today to convince this junior to continue refining another Revival Good Fortune Pill, then there is no need to speak any further.”

Qin Wushang’s complexion was calm as if he had already expected this. He nodded, “200 years of life. For a Nascent Soul cultivator, that is almost a fourth of their lifespan. That is indeed not a negligible amount. But, once you break into Divine Soul and sense the rules of the Great Dao, the passing of your life will slow down according to how deeply and how greatly you perceive the Great Dao. Divine Souls live for 1600 years, but there are many who can live for 3000 years or longer.”

When 200 years was placed in front of 3000 years, it naturally seemed tiny.

Qin Yu had a bitter expression. He slowly shook his head. “In truth, it isn’t because of my lifespan…”

Qin Wushang’s eyebrows knitted together. Qin Yu’s reply was actually unexpected. Although he came here today ready to offer conditions that this junior couldn’t refuse, he still couldn’t help but feel a sense of restlessness.

“Then why?”

Qin Yu shook his head, his complexion turning white. “Chief steward, please don’t ask. No matter what, this junior will not refine another Revival Good Fortune Pill.”

Qin Wushang took a deep breath. “What if I tell you that the Old Ancestor has prepared a Deva Soul for you?”

Qin Yu’s pupils shrank. He never thought that the Southshine Nation Old Ancestor would actually be willing to pay such a steep price.

Deva Soul…it was said that if a Nascent Soul refined it, they could directly ascend to Divine Soul.

This temptation was unimaginably great to any cultivator below the Divine Soul realm!

Qin Yu’s breathing quickened. After gnashing his teeth for a long time he shook his head and said, “Chief Steward Qin, I cannot agree no matter what.”

Qin Wushang had no expression. “Ning Qin, do you feel that my Southshine Nation isn’t sincere enough? What do you want? Feel free to state your conditions.”

Qin Yu forced a smile. “On that day, this junior already obtained so many astonishing treasures, so how can I dare express any dissatisfaction? It’s just that this Revival Good Fortune Pill absolutely cannot be refined again!”

Seeing that he didn’t seem to be faking it, Qin Wushang frowned. He stood up and said, “Good, then I will give you some more time to consider it.”

He turned and left.

Chief Steward Qin thought back to when Qin Yu finished refining the pill yesterday. Something seemed different, and he didn’t appear too happy.

Could something really have happened?

He didn’t dare to delay. He took his private car straight to the royal palace and went to see the Old Ancestor atop the altar in that underground temple. He reported Qin Yu’s response.

The Old Ancestor’s eyebrows wrinkled together. The air in that dim underground chamber seemed to suddenly thicken like a swamp. “Ning Qin rejected the Deva Soul?”

Qin Wushang knelt on the ground, saying, “Yes, this old servant has carefully observed him. He seems sincere.”

“You are saying that Ning Qin really doesn’t want to refine another pill?”

“That should be it.” Qin Wushang hesitated for a moment and then said, “Old Ancestor, Ning Qin kept wavering and hesitating. It seems like he feels apprehension.”

The more he thought about it, the more he determined this was true. “Thinking about Ning Qin’s current actions and behavior, it seems he is vaguely afraid of something.”

A bolt of light seemed to flash in the Old Ancestor’s eyes. Without any movement from him, a phantom walked out from one of the oil lamps around him. In the blink of an eye, this phantom condensed into reality. It was one of the avatars that Qin Yu had seen before, one that looked the same as the Old Ancestor himself.

“I really am curious about just what he is thinking.”

Qin Wushang returned, this time bringing back a person that Qin Yu couldn’t help but reveal awe and panic towards. The Old Ancestor had a light expression, “Ning Qin, I didn’t come here to force you to refine a pill. Rather, I want you to give me a reasonable explanation.”

Qin Yu’s white face paled even further and he swept his eyes around again and again. “It isn’t that this junior wishes to refuse you, but I really dare not continue refining another Revival Good Fortune Pill.”

The Old Ancestor narrowed his eyes. “Is someone threatening you?”

Qin Yu quickly waved his hand. “No, no, it is just a truly horrifying feeling.” The crucial moment in this play had finally arrived. Qin Yu diligently recalled the aura of the world killing tribulation and what he felt. Slowly, fear dawned on his face. “When this junior refined the second Revival Good Fortune Pill, it seemed as if there were a pair of eyes staring closely at me. This junior has never felt anything like that before. It was like those eyes could see through me, peering past all my secrets. This junior has no idea why, but I suddenly understood that it was a warning. If I dared to refine another Revival Good Fortune Pill, I would certainly die! Yes, there is no way to escape, I will definitely die!”

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