Chapter 640: Lin Ruoyi

Lin Ruoyi hailed from a cultivation family known for its expertise in alchemy. Their ancestor, a former disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, founded the family a thousand years ago after realizing their path to the Great Dao was unreachable.

Lin Ruoyi's ancestors included a second-tier alchemist, and the Lin family itself boasted numerous alchemists. Before joining the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Lin Ruoyi was already a high-grade, first-tier alchemist. Her solid foundational knowledge of alchemy caught the attention of a third-tier alchemist after she joined the sect, leading to her being accepted as a registered disciple.

After over a century of diligent cultivation, Lin Ruoyi advanced to the Core Formation stage. Leveraging the extensive cultivation resources of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, she subsequently became a third-tier alchemist.

Presently, Lin Ruoyi has reached the fifth level of the Core Formation stage and is a mid-grade, third-tier alchemist.

Decades ago, Lin Ruoyi journeyed to the Coral Sea region of the South Sea.

As a mid-grade, third-tier alchemist with an fervent passion for alchemy, she was rarely disturbed during her cultivation.

One day, a sound transmission talisman flew into her residence.

Lin Ruoyi crushed the talisman, and a clear, bell-like female voice chimed, "Great-grandmother, your grandchild has come to see you."

Lin Ruoyi's face lit up with joy. She was already married, and the visitor was her beloved great-granddaughter, Liu Hongshang.

Lin Ruoyi emerged from her secluded chamber to find two young women awaiting her: a maiden dressed in white and a woman in a red gown.

"Oh, Junior Niece Su, you're here too," Lin Ruoyi said with a soft exclamation as she noticed the maiden in white.

"This disciple, Su Bingbing, greets Senior Aunt Lin," the white-clad maiden replied.

The red-clad maiden stepped forward, gently taking Lin Ruoyi's arm. "Great-grandmother," she said with a smile, "I met Senior Sister Su on the way. She coincidentally had something to discuss with you, so we came together."

"Something to discuss? Please, come inside," Lin Ruoyi invited.

Lin Ruoyi ushered Su Bingbing and Liu Hongshang into the room. She then sat down cross-legged, while the two younger women remained standing.

"Please, speak plainly about what you need," Lin Ruoyi prompted.

Lin Ruoyi's tone was indifferent.

"Senior Aunt Lin, my uncle wishes to meet with you about something. Would it be convenient?" Su Bingbing asked with a hint of nervousness. Ever since Lin Ruoyi's cultivation partner had passed away, her temperament had grown increasingly eccentric. Fortunately, Su Bingbing knew Liu Hongshang; otherwise, she might not even have been able to secure an audience.

Wang Changsheng had approached Su Bingbing, asking her to introduce him to a third-tier alchemist. Wang Changsheng had always been exceptionally kind to Su Bingbing over the years, consistently preparing a birthday gift for her since she was a child. On his last visit to the Taiyi Immortal Sect, he even entrusted Xu Zihua to deliver a significant quantity of cultivation resources to her.

Since Su Bingbing's master was a Core Formation cultivator, she knew many descendants of high-tier cultivators. Liu Hongshang, being Lin Ruoyi's great-granddaughter and also a close friend of Su Bingbing, was the ideal person to ask for help.

"Your uncle? Is he a disciple of our sect?" Lin Ruoyi asked.

"No, he's a Core Formation cultivator, and he's also currently in the Coral Sea region," Su Bingbing clarified.

Liu Hongshang smiled faintly and added, "Grandmother, Senior Sister Su mentioned that her uncle treats her very well. Moreover, Wang Mingren, Junior Uncle Xu's junior brother from the Deacon Hall, comes from the same lineage as Senior Sister Su's uncle. Perhaps you could grant him an audience?"

"Very well. I will meet him this once, but don't expect it again," Lin Ruoyi said after a brief moment of contemplation.

"Thank you, Senior Aunt Lin. My uncle is currently outside Taiyi Palace; he isn't permitted inside."

"Just go and bring him in. Once your business is concluded, he can leave."

Su Bingbing breathed a sigh of relief and replied with a smile, "Yes, Senior Aunt Lin."

Wang Changsheng stood at the entrance of Taiyi Palace, looking somewhat nervous.

If Su Bingbing couldn't secure the meeting, he would have no choice but to seek assistance from Chen Yilong or Fairy Ziyue.

He had also brought Mo Caiyun and Ye Lin with him this time, hoping the third-tier alchemist would be willing to help.

Mo Caiyun and Ye Lin stood beside him; Mo Caiyun looked tense, while Ye Lin remained composed.

Su Bingbing emerged, her face beaming. "Uncle, it's done," she said. "Senior Aunt Lin is willing to meet you. Please follow me."

Wang Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief and followed Su Bingbing to Lin Ruoyi's dwelling.

"I am Wang Changsheng. It is a pleasure to meet Fellow Daoist Lin," Wang Changsheng said politely, cupping a fist in greeting towards Lin Ruoyi.

"You are Junior Niece Su's uncle? Speak your mind," Lin Ruoyi said, her tone flat and her demeanor distant, as if keeping everyone at arm's length.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, two of my relatives have been afflicted by a potent toxin, and I humbly request your aid in their treatment. Regarding compensation, I assure you it will be more than satisfactory. Please accept this small token of my sincerity; there will be a further substantial reward once the matter is resolved."

As he spoke, Wang Changsheng produced two red wooden boxes and pushed them across to Lin Ruoyi.

Lin Ruoyi opened the boxes to find a low-grade, third-tier demon core in each. Together, these two demon cores were worth tens of thousands of spirit stones.

Lin Ruoyi mused for a moment before stating, "Where are your relatives? Bring them here; I'll examine them."

"They are just outside," Wang Changsheng replied.

"Hongshang, please bring them in. I'll examine them."

Shortly after, Ye Lin and Mo Caiyun entered.

Lin Ruoyi meticulously examined the pills used to alleviate the poison's onset, then asked Mo Caiyun a few questions before nodding. She then turned to Ye Lin and inquired, "What is your situation? Are you also poisoned?"

"My vital energy and essence are severely depleted. Consuming pills that replenish vital energy and essence will be sufficient," Ye Lin replied truthfully, his tone still polite.

Lin Ruoyi's brow furrowed slightly. Ye Lin was merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet his tone of voice implied a cultivation level superior to her own.

She produced a red mirror and aimed it at Ye Lin. A swathe of red ethereal light flew forth, enveloping him.

The next moment, the red mirror emitted a piercing shriek.

A hint of surprise flickered in Lin Ruoyi's eyes as she put away the red mirror.

She could now confirm that Ye Lin was indeed a Core Formation cultivator, but he had used a powerful secret technique that caused his cultivation to regress to the Foundation Establishment stage, resulting in a severe depletion of his vital energy and essence.

"Her poison is not difficult to resolve, but curing him will be quite troublesome."

"I am aware of my condition; consuming third-tier pills that replenish vital energy and essence will suffice. Fellow Daoist Lin, you needn't exert yourself," Ye Lin stated flatly. The Nine Nether Fiend-Ghost Seal was a unique secret technique of the Nine Nether Sect, and its caster, Shangguan Wei, was a Nascent Soul cultivator. A Core Formation cultivator would be unable to undo it; it would merely be a waste of effort.

Wang Changsheng had already informed Mo Caiyun that Ye Lin was a rogue cultivator he had recruited, so she didn't question it further.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, I implore your assistance. As for compensation, I, Wang, guarantee your satisfaction," Wang Changsheng said politely. Any cost would be worthwhile if Ye Lin's lost lifespan could be restored.

"I can help, but I'm not in need of common items. I require a high-grade, third-tier lightning-attributed demon core. How you acquire it is your concern. If you can provide that, I will offer my assistance. Otherwise, you should seek help elsewhere. Of course, exceptionally rare alchemy materials would also suffice."

Wang Changsheng frowned. High-grade, third-tier demonic beasts were already rare; adding the condition of a lightning attribute made it exceptionally difficult to find. Lin Ruoyi was demanding an exorbitant price.

Wang Changsheng had initially planned to offer a first-tier magical artifact as payment, but Lin Ruoyi's demand for a high-grade, third-tier lightning-attributed demon core was a request he would find extremely challenging to meet.