Chapter 50

At the dining table.

The Ling family warmly entertained Qin Lie, frequently urging him to drink, expressing their gratitude for what he had done for the Ling family.

After a few drinks, Ling Xuanxuan gradually relaxed, her eyes sparkling brightly as she curiously looked at Qin Lie, suddenly becoming very interested in him.

"Everyone, stop drinking!" Ling Yushi called out, stopping everyone's enthusiasm and making them pause.

Ling Chengye, with a ruddy face, chuckled and nodded, saying, "Alright, no more drinking, everyone."

"Uncle Ling, I want to ask about my grandfather," Qin Lie put down his wine glass and suddenly asked, "You once said that my grandfather often talked to you... What did he say, and where did he go?"

Ling Chengye's expression was strange, and after a long while, he sighed, "Qin Lie, Uncle Ling isn't lying to you. I know nothing about your grandfather. The words I said at the engagement ceremony were just to appease the Du family; they were all lies. I'm not familiar with your grandfather at all. If you ask me, I really don't know how to answer."

The reason Qin Lie came with Ling Yushi this time, besides using the Boundary Stone, was to hope that through Ling Chengye, he could find out where his grandfather had gone. He didn't expect that after a full meal and drinks, he would get this result, which made him feel very down.

"My grandfather left me a letter, telling me he would be away for a few years and that he should return when I turn seventeen. If he doesn't come back by then, it's likely that something has happened... I'm not very clear about my grandfather's situation, but I don't want anything to happen to him," Qin Lie said, lowering his head.

Ling Chengye and his brother, Ling Kang'an, exchanged glances, both noticing the other's surprise.

Over two years ago, Qin Shan's death was quite mysterious. After Ling Chengye discovered the strange array inside the Medicine Mountain, he had already guessed that Qin Shan might have faked his death. Now, through Qin Lie's words, this was finally confirmed, which made them secretly amazed and increasingly felt that Qin Shan and Qin Lie were not ordinary.

"Qin Lie, why are you and your grandfather in Ling Family Town? Where were you before?" Ling Chengye asked.

"I don't know, I don't remember," Qin Lie shook his head, a bitter and dejected look appearing on his face. "I don't remember anything before I was ten. From the time I have memories, I've been with my grandfather in Ling Family Town. These years, I've been in a daze, practicing. I also want to find my grandfather and figure out what's going on."

Seeing his expression at this moment, Ling Yushi suddenly felt a pang in her heart. She stood up and said, "That's enough for today. Qin Lie, you must be tired. I'll take you back."

Unable to get any information from Ling Chengye, Qin Lie was also disappointed and didn't stay any longer. He left with a wooden expression, his mind heavy, following Ling Yushi.

Ling Yushi, worried that he had drunk too much, held his shoulder and walked with him in the night, heading towards his stone house.

Under the bright moonlight, their shadows gradually elongated, eventually seeming to merge into one...

At the door, Ling Chengye watched the two figures gradually disappear, a strange light in his eyes.

Ling Chengzhi smiled and said thoughtfully, "It seems that Little Shi is gradually forgetting that the engagement between her and Qin Lie was just a temporary arrangement. When Qin Lie turns seventeen, both you and he can unilaterally dissolve the engagement. In three months, Qin Lie will be sixteen..."

Ling Chengye was surprised, then frowned slightly, remaining silent.

Ling Xuanxuan stood to the side, looking at the two figures that had merged, a thought suddenly came to her: If I hadn't insisted on opposing it, the person with Qin Lie today would not be my sister, but me...

Thinking this, a sense of helplessness and bitterness welled up in her heart, making her feel inexplicably choked and her chest tight.

"Chengye, actually, Qin Lie is a good kid. He has helped the Ling family multiple times, and he seems to have feelings for Little Shi. I think there's no harm in making the engagement real. What do you think?" Ling Kang'an, a senior of the Ling family, smiled and said, "Only a few of us know the details. If we don't speak up or oppose it, I think this matter will be settled."

"Qin Lie is good in every way, except that his background is unknown... I'm afraid he might bring us big trouble in the future," Ling Chengye worried.

Qin Shan and Qin Lie had hidden their names in Ling Family Town, and he wasn't sure why. But he was certain that they were not ordinary and might have significant backgrounds.

However, the Ling family was just a small force and couldn't afford to get into trouble. If Qin Lie and Ling Yushi's engagement caused the Ling family to fall into an irredeemable situation, how could he explain it to the Ling family members?

As the head of the family, he had to consider all aspects and try to avoid danger for the family in advance, so he had to be extremely cautious.

"Your concerns are reasonable. Let's see how things develop and go with the flow for now," Ling Kang'an thought for a moment, also feeling a bit surprised, understanding that Ling Chengye's caution was necessary.

...

"My father is really something, insisting on making you drink. He treats you like one of them, hmpf."

In the stone house, Ling Yushi sent Qin Lie back. After entering, she was still complaining about her father making Qin Lie drink so much.

"Rest for a bit. I'll draw you a bath. You should have refused if you didn't want to drink. They can't force you, can they?" Ling Yushi muttered, and after Qin Lie sat down, she went to the bathroom to draw water. "Don't worry too much about your grandfather. He'll be fine. He'll definitely return to Ling Family Town when you turn seventeen. Don't worry."

Qin Lie sighed lightly, shook his head, and didn't know what to say.

"Qin Lie, I think... something must have happened to you when you were young. You might not remember those memories now, but they might suddenly come back to you. Then you can find your parents and know where your family is," Ling Yushi said softly, comforting him from the bathroom.

For some reason, listening to her gentle and soothing voice, Qin Lie's inner worries gradually dissipated, and the low mood caused by the alcohol also eased.

"The water is ready."

Ling Yushi came out of the bathroom, smiling, but her eyes were somewhat sad.

"I'll leave first. Take your time washing, and remember not to catch a cold." She lowered her head, walked to the door, paused, and said softly, facing away from Qin Lie, "You have so many contribution points in the Star Cloud Pavilion and the Star Cloud Token. You can immediately become a core member of the Star Cloud Pavilion. If you practice there, you will definitely progress much faster than in the Ling family... If you want to go to the Star Cloud Pavilion, just go. It's more suitable for your growth."

With that, Ling Yushi left the door, her back looking lonely.

Qin Lie was surprised, stunned for a while before reacting. After she had been gone for a long time, he shook his head and laughed, "Stupid, if I wanted to leave, I would have left long ago. Why wait until now..."

The next day, in the Medicine Mountain cave.

Qin Lie woke up from his practice, his spiritual consciousness entering the Soul Suppressing Pearl, observing the four complex and mysterious spirit array diagrams, and the bright, shimmering spirit lines.

Each spirit line had a different thickness, representing different levels of spirit energy, which made him suddenly recall his grandfather's words.

The creation of spirit array diagrams requires extremely precise control of spirit energy. When each spirit line is formed, the spirit energy must be extremely precise. A spirit array diagram may have tens of thousands of spirit lines, and the length, width, and amount of spirit energy in each line may not be the same. If just one spirit line is wrong, the entire spirit array diagram will be ruined.

Sometimes, several spirit array diagrams need to be overlaid and fused within a spirit artifact, which requires even stricter control of the spirit lines and an extremely high level of precision. One mistake could lead to irreparable damage, and the spirit artifact could be instantly scrapped.

"The spirit array diagrams are imprinted in my mind, but to create them, I need to be extremely precise! The spirit lines of different thicknesses and brightness mean special creation methods, just like techniques and cultivation methods. Knowing the technique alone, without understanding the accompanying cultivation method, won't allow you to unleash its true power..."

Contemplating the four spirit array diagrams in his mind, Qin Lie thought silently, feeling that he was gradually grasping the key.

By now, he had thoroughly memorized the four spirit array diagrams: Gathering Spirit, Amplification, Storage Spirit, and Solidification. He knew that what he had memorized so far was just the "technique."

To truly create the spirit array diagrams, he needed to master the precise length and width of the spirit lines and the amount of spirit energy in each line. This required repeated practice, not just meditation as before.

"Practice, practice, practice. Creating spirit array diagrams requires special 'spirit boards.' I don't have any practice 'spirit boards' in my hands, so I need to think of a way to get them... My grandfather is a spirit artifact master, and I should also become a spirit artifact master like him, one day creating a miraculous spirit artifact like a wooden carving. If my grandfather returns and finds that I can create spirit array diagrams, he would... be very pleased, right?"

In the evening, he left the Medicine Mountain, thinking all the way back to Ling Family Town.

At the dining hall, he ate dinner with the Ling family. He noticed that Ling Yushi seemed more downcast than usual, and her smile was somewhat forced.

"I need some 'spirit boards' for practicing spirit array diagrams. Where can I get them?" Qin Lie suddenly asked.

"Creating spirit array diagrams requires special materials. The Ling family doesn't have the resources to cultivate spirit artifact masters, so we don't have such things. Some shops in Ice Rock City that sell materials might have spirit boards, and the Star Cloud Pavilion definitely has them. Oh, right, you have contribution points in the Star Cloud Pavilion, so you can directly exchange them there," Ling Chengye was surprised.

Qin Lie's eyes lit up.

"Star Cloud Pavilion..." Ling Yushi's eyes dimmed, thinking to herself, "He's really decided to go there." Thinking this, she suddenly found that the food she usually enjoyed tasted like wax.

"Uncle Ling, I don't plan to go to the Star Cloud Pavilion for now. I want to stay in Ling Family Town and wait for my grandfather to return. Can you send someone to the Star Cloud Pavilion to exchange some spirit boards with my contribution points?" Qin Lie thought for a moment and asked with a smile.

"Of course, no problem," Ling Chengye agreed immediately. "This is very simple. I can send someone to the Star Cloud Pavilion in my name. As long as they recognize your contribution points, it will be easy to exchange for spirit boards, and it won't be troublesome at all."

"Thank you, Uncle Ling," Qin Lie said.

Then he glanced at Ling Yushi and noticed that her beautiful eyes were shining, and she seemed to have perked up, even giving him a sweet smile. Her beautiful and charming appearance was extremely captivating.

...

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