Lin Ye had already prepared himself to endure that bone-deep pain once again, but surprisingly, this energy was exceptionally gentle.
The white energy clung to the surface of his Three Thousand Six Hundred Meridians throughout his body, then slowly seeped into them, enhancing their flexibility while widening them.
When the last wisp of white energy merged into his meridians, the spiritual power within Lin Ye seemed to be drawn by the energy in their eyes and suddenly surged like a tide into the Spiritual Power Sphere in his dantian.
As all the spiritual power in his body poured in, the fist-sized Spiritual Power Sphere in his dantian began expanding rapidly. It gradually grew from the size of a fist to the size of an infant’s head, and it continued to expand.
When all the spiritual power in Lin Ye’s meridians had flowed into the Spiritual Power Sphere, it had already grown to the size of a rubber ball.
Immediately afterward, the enormous Spiritual Power Sphere suddenly emitted a layer of crystalline light, while the system notification voice once again appeared in Lin Ye’s mind.
“Ding!”
“Congratulations, host. You have successfully advanced to the martial master realm. You have received one Advancement Gift Pack. Would you like to claim it?”
“Claim it!”
“Ding!”
“Congratulations, host. You have obtained 1,000 spirit card essence!”
“Ding!”
“Congratulations, host. You have obtained a tier-two perfect-quality Light Spirit Card!”
“Ding!”
“Congratulations, host. You have obtained a tier-two perfect-quality Dark Spirit Card!”
“Ding!”
“There has been a major change in the host’s personal information. The host’s current basic information is as follows.”
Host: Lin Ye
Age: 15
Spiritual power talent: level five
Martial artist rank: one-star martial master
Cultivation technique: 《ancient spirit cultivation art》
Spirit cards: tier-two perfect-quality Light Spirit Card, tier-two perfect-quality Dark Spirit Card, tier-two perfect-quality metal spirit card... ten cards in total
Spirit card essence: 24,700
System upgrade requirement: 24,700/50,000 spirit card essence
Hearing the notification in his mind, Lin Ye was suddenly stunned. Then, a deep look of astonishment appeared on his face. “Light and dark spirit cards among the Elemental Spirit Cards? Haven’t these two types of spirit cards already become extinct?”
In fact, the Elemental Spirit Cards of the Divine Card Continent consisted not only of the eight elements of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, lightning, and thunder. The reason he had previously said that the eight cards he obtained at the Treasure Pavilion were all the Elemental Spirit Cards was that the methods for producing the other Elemental Spirit Cards had already been lost.
Lin Ye had not expected the System to be able to produce even these rare spirit cards whose methods of production had been lost.
“Ding!”
“System mission: Find a second-grade marrow-tempering herb. Mission reward: The System will perform Meridian Cleansing and Marrow Tempering on the host at the martial master realm. Mission Time Limit: Before the host advances to the great martial master realm. Failure Penalty: The host’s cultivation will remain permanently at the martial master stage. This is a mandatory quest. Host, please complete it as soon as possible.”
The system mission notification suddenly appeared in Lin Ye’s mind. Before he could recover, a slightly displeased shout suddenly came from outside.
“Lin Ye! Come out here!” Before Lin Ye could carefully examine the two spirit cards whose production methods had been lost, Lin Hai’s voice came from outside the door.
Hearing Lin Hai’s voice, Lin Ye’s heart suddenly tightened. Mu Rou must not have gotten into trouble!
Without the slightest hesitation, Lin Ye rose. Ignoring the stench caused by the Meridian Cleansing and Marrow Tempering, he quickly walked out of the side chamber.
He first looked at Mu Rou on the bed. Her complexion had once again returned to its usual pallor, and she seemed to have been frightened by Lin Hai.
A barely perceptible killing intent flashed through Lin Ye’s eyes. His gaze fell on Lin Hai as he spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly.
“Father hasn’t come here in who knows how many years. What brings you to my humble home today?”
“Hmph!” Lin Hai snorted unhappily. He wanted to find a chair in the room and sit down, but discovered that this shabby room did not even have a seat. The disgust in his gaze toward the three of them grew even stronger.
Yet he did not consider who had arranged for them to stay in such a room.
“If nothing had happened, I naturally wouldn’t have come to a place like this. I came today to tell you that at the sacrificial ritual in Cold Night City nine days from now, you will be the Lin Family’s sacrificial offering. Prepare yourself properly!”
“Also, stay here and pray for the family over the next few days. Don’t leave the house!”
Lin Hai spoke as though treating Lin Ye as a sacrificial offering were a reward to him. After saying this, Lin Hai no longer wished to remain in such a room for even another second and turned to leave.
“No! How can my Ye’er become a sacrificial offering? Lin Hai, how can you be so heartless? He is your own flesh and blood!” Hearing Lin Hai’s words, the usually gentle Mu Rou used a questioning tone with him for the first time in her life.
Panic also appeared on Lin Xue’s face, but she quickly calmed down. She immediately stopped Mu Rou, who was about to get out of bed, and gently shook her head, telling Mu Rou not to move and to try to trust Lin Ye.
“If I remember correctly, aside from Lin Feiyang, who has already been confirmed not to be your biological son, I have seven younger brothers.” Lin Ye stood in front of Lin Hai as he spoke.
Lin Hai glanced at Lin Ye impatiently. However, considering that he would hardly see him again in the future, he still nodded slightly and let him finish.
“Since I have so many younger brothers, why has such an honorable matter fallen to me?”
“I decide who goes. Do you have an objection to my decision?” Lin Hai’s eyes were filled with deep displeasure as he looked at Lin Ye.
“I’m not going!”
“Hmph! It’s not up to you!” A cold smile tugged at the corner of Lin Hai’s mouth.
“Spend these eight days saying your farewells to your mother. On the morning of the eighth day, I’ll send someone to pick you up. If you suffer any injuries during these eight days, I will take the lives of these two lowly women.” Lin Hai pointed at Mu Rou and Lin Xue.
After saying this, he walked out without looking back.
The Yuntian Dynasty had regulations regarding sacrificial offerings. Once a sacrificial offering suffered any injury, it had to be replaced. Thus, to prevent Lin Ye from resorting to self-harm, Lin Hai threatened him with the lives of Mu Rou and Lin Xue.
“You’d rather protect a bastard and sacrifice your wife and biological children?” Lin Ye murmured softly, not knowing whether he was speaking to the original host’s soul, which had long since dispersed, or to himself.
“Cough, cough... Ye’er... Hurry and tell him that your mother will go in your place...” After Lin Hai left, Mu Rou could no longer remain lying down and struggled to rise from the bed.
“Mother, don’t move...” Lin Ye hurried back to the bedside and helped Mu Rou settle down.
“Cough, cough, cough...” Before Lin Ye could finish speaking, Mu Rou suddenly began coughing violently. Blood surged up and slowly trickled from the corner of her lips.
Lin Ye’s heart suddenly tightened as he watched Mu Rou.
“Mother!” Lin Xue’s eyes widened in terror as she cried out.
Lin Ye immediately reacted and hurriedly tapped several acupoints on Mu Rou’s body with his fingers.
A moment later, Mu Rou finally stopped coughing, but she looked as though she had aged more than a dozen years. Her complexion was even paler than before she had taken the medicine, and she appeared to be on the verge of death at any moment.
“Mother, rest assured. That sacrificial offering will absolutely not be me in the end. You must live well and see who will ultimately become the chosen sacrificial offering!” Lin Ye looked seriously into Mu Rou’s eyes as he spoke.
“Really, truly?” Looking at the determination and confidence filling Lin Ye’s eyes, Mu Rou began to genuinely believe that he had a way to resolve this crisis.