Feeling the warmth emanating from Lin Chen's palm, Zhao Xiaowen's heart was thrown into chaos.
Lin Chen's heart felt as sweet as if he had eaten honey, and he escorted Xiaowen all the way home. Only then did the two of them part reluctantly.
As soon as Lin Chen got home, several large vats had already been set up in the courtyard.
"Chen, I've prepared the vats and herbs you requested."
His father had prepared several large vats and had gathered the herbs early as per Lin Chen's instructions.
"Good, I'll start making the medicine now," Lin Chen nodded.
Following the Shennong Secret Technique's procedure, Lin Chen pinched off the leaves of the Gintian herb, only keeping the root part with whiskers, from the mulberry leaves he only kept the petiole, and from the locust tree bark, he only kept the innermost layer.
Lin Chen prepared the herbs and then added them to the vats in order, covered them with lids, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Hai, watching his son work with complete focus, couldn't help nodding his head. He felt that his son had truly changed. Not only was he unfathomable, but his personality had also become much steadier than before.
However, thinking of the responsibilities Lin Chen would have to bear in the future, Lin Hai's brows furrowed slightly.
Actually, Lin Hai had already planned to let Lin Chen live an ordinary life, but destiny always has its way. Unknowingly, it thrusts you into the whirlpool of reincarnation.
Sweating, Lin Chen turned to his father standing behind him and smiled, "Dad, let me take your pulse!"
Lin Hai was taken aback at first, then nodded his head and stretched out his wrist to Lin Chen.
Feeling Lin Hai's pulse, Lin Chen was stunned.
Lin Hai's condition was due to the accumulation of internal injuries. With his current cultivation level, he could only temporarily stabilize the condition but healing it was very difficult.
However, having seen some hope, Lin Chen smiled and said to his father, "Dad, your illness should be due to the accumulation of old injuries. I will prescribe some medicine for you. If you take it regularly, it should relieve your condition. As for a complete cure, I will need some more time."
Hearing Lin Chen's words, Lin Hai was stunned.
Originally, he had received severe injuries from an expert of the Chen family while avoiding a chase, which then developed into this chronic condition.
Over the years, he had also sought many famous doctors, but all of them had just shaken their heads after examination.
Even the esteemed Divine Doctor Hua Zhong, upon reviewing his condition, could do nothing and even told him he could only live until fifty-three.
This year was indeed his fifty-third, and as expected, his condition had worsened. Lin Hai had already been in despair, but today his son said not only could he stabilize the condition, there was even a chance to cure it.
Lin Hai's gaze fixed intently on Lin Chen. He suddenly realized that although his son was still the same, he himself could no longer see through him.
"Dad, why are you looking at me with that kind of expression?" Lin Chen said with an awkward smile.
Lin Hai came back to his senses and said earnestly, "Chen, whatever happens to you, do not tell anyone, including me, understand?"
Lin Chen nodded, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart.
"I'm heading back inside now. You should get some sleep too," Lin Hai said, standing up and walking towards the house, a proud smile on his face.
"System, how can I quickly increase my strength?"
Lin Chen was eager to grow stronger to heal his father and protect his loved ones.
"Host can purchase 'Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid' from the store to increase strength."
The store actually had such a thing! Lin Chen was ecstatic.
He had coveted the efficacy of the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid when reading novels before; he had never imagined he would have the chance to benefit from it.
"How many popularity points are needed?" Lin Chen asked impatiently.
"20 popularity points are required for exchanging Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid."
"Exchange one bottle," Lin Chen said excitedly.
"20 popularity points can only exchange for one drop."
Damn, that's expensive! Lin Chen's face stiffened.
"Would you like to exchange 20 popularity points for a drop of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid?"
"Exchange, exchange! But wait a moment."
With that, Lin Chen ran outside, brought a large basin inside, and then stripped naked before sitting in it.
"You can make the exchange now," said Lin Chen with an expectant look.
"Congratulations to the host 'Lin Chen' for obtaining a drop of Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid, deducting 20 popularity points, balance 110."
"Ding!" From somewhere, a drop of emerald liquid fell from mid-air, and the previously clear water in the basin instantly turned blue.
Full of expectation, Lin Chen sat in the basin, but half an hour passed and, aside from feeling a bit cold, he felt nothing.
A breeze wafted by, causing Lin Chen to shiver. "System, why is there no reaction at all? Your product isn't fake or inferior, is it?"
"All products in the system store are genuine. However, to cultivate, you still need a cultivation technique."
"Damn it, System, are you playing with me? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"The system does not delight in playing with males—even if you strip, the system won't be interested."
"Ah-choo, System, quickly recommend a fast cultivation technique for me!"
"Ding, the system recommends the 'Sunflower Manual,' the best shortcut to your success!"
"You gotta be kidding me." Lin Chen was so angered he felt like he was going to ascend to heaven.
"Forget it, I'll choose myself." Lin Chen felt like the friendship with the system had capsized.
Eventually, Lin Chen selected a cultivation technique also from a popular novel, 'Taiji Xuanqing Path.'
This technique is divided into three realms: Jade Pure, Upper Pure, and Supreme Pure. It is said that at the highest realm, one can harness natural forces and use the power of heaven and earth to vanquish enemies.
This technique, through the absorption of natural forces, perfectly matched Lin Chen's training environment. Though the spiritual energy on Earth was thin, he had the enhancement from the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Liquid!
"Ding, would you like to exchange 100 popularity points for 'Taiji Xuanqing Path'?"
"Yes!" Lin Chen responded.
"Ding, congratulations to the host 'Lin Chen' on learning 'Taiji Xuanqing Path,' deducting 100 popularity points, balance 10"
Lin Chen felt a buzz in his mind, and the cultivation method of Taiji Xuanqing Path suddenly appeared.
Following the cultivation method, Lin Chen sat cross-legged in the basin, formed hand seals, and began to cultivate.
In the basin, streams of faint blue spiritual energy rose up, entering his body with the changing hand seals and replenishing his bones and cleansing his meridians.
All night, Lin Chen spent in cultivation, and when the first rays of morning sunlight entered through the window, he finally opened his eyes.
Slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air, Lin Chen felt the rich spiritual energy inside him and, delighted, quickly checked the system
Host: Lin Chen
Realm: Initial Stage of Body Refinement
Skills: Shennong's Hundred Herbs
Divine Skills: None
Cultivation Techniques: Explosive Step, Eight Extremes Collapse, Taiji Xuanqing Path (Initial Stage of Jade Pure)
Popularity Points: 10
"Phew"
Finally taking the first step in cultivation, Lin Chen felt the power contained within him and his lips curled into a slight smile.