Chapter 33 – New Hope

From that day forward, Lynn Naya noticed that the Dao Palace had begun paving the way for the beast cores.

First, the number of Qi-Blood Pills in the administrative hall quietly increased. Then, more Dao Palace disciples went out on patrols. Each time, they would bring back a large number of hunting trophies, which the mortals could trade for by helping the Dao Palace with their fields.

With an abundant supply of food and the nourishment of meat, the pale faces of the people gradually began to look better. They spent more than two months leveling the cracked ground at the foot of Mount Yu, and autumn harvest arrived in the blink of an eye.

It was a known fact that the grain harvest was greatly reduced this year. Only the farm that Scarface Qing was in charge of gave everyone a pleasant surprise.

The harvest there was bountiful. The total yield per acre was about 30 percent higher than in the safe zone. This was partly due to the high concentration of spiritual energy, but it was also likely because the land hadn’t been used in many years. The yield would probably not be so high next year.

When Scarface Qing first divided the land, a large portion of it was for the twelve hall masters and the head master. Now that many of the hall masters were dead, Scarface Qing naturally assumed that the land had returned to his control. He would wait until next year to re-divide it.

He and Lynn Naya had already discussed what to do with this year’s harvest. Aside from their own share, the rest would be loaned out at an extremely low price.

After so many years, Lynn Naya looked at her unchanging face in the mirror. She now mostly believed that she would truly live forever. If her lifespan was infinite, then her destiny would be tied to the fate of the human race.

Mankind is like a lake. Now this lake has become a small puddle. If it doesn’t change, it will eventually be evaporated by the scorching sun. If mankind becomes an ocean, and I hide among countless water droplets, I can travel anywhere I want.

And now, the Dao Palace and Yanxi had provided a relatively stable environment for humanity. The only thing she could do was add to it and help everyone live a little longer.

Fortunately, besides her, the Dao Palace also did not let things slide. Not only did they waive all harvest taxes this year, but they also assigned all Hall of External Affairs masters to a three-month task of opening up new land. They stated that anyone who participated in the reclamation would receive two meals a day.

When this news was announced, the clouds of worry that had been hanging over the mortal area immediately dissipated, and joy spread everywhere.

Lynn Naya was also very happy when she heard the news because after half a year, she had finally broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Condensation, entering the middle stage. And Scarface Qing had finally gotten her the ShapeshiftingTechnique and the Poison Canon she had been looking for.

It was mainly because everyone was short on food and clothes this year, so many people simply took out their family heirlooms to exchange for grain.

The Shapeshifting Technique was one thing, but the origin of the Poison Canon was a little sad.

The Poison Canon was the legacy of the old man who had entered the Peach Blossom Forest with Scarface Qing. He had not survived the disaster last year.

After he died, his children and grandchildren did not inherit his medical skills. They thought the books were just a pile of useless paper and sold the Poison Canon and all of his medical books to Scarface Qing.

This was the legacy of a generation of medical skills. Lynn Naya did not hoard it. She kept the dangerous Poison Canon for herself and put the medical books on the bookshelf next to their dining table so anyone could read them, as long as they didn’t damage them.

Because of this, Xue Yong realized that it was time to start the children’s education. If they couldn’t even read, they wouldn’t be able to learn a cultivation method even if they had a spiritual root.

Among the five adults in their courtyard, Lynn Naya didn’t have much time, and Xue Yong was not very literate. ScarfaceQing and Zhou Yuan were a little better, but not by much.

In the end, it was Xue Yong’s wife, who was usually the quietest and most gentle, who was the most educated due to her family’s academic background. So, everyone unanimously chose her to be their teacher.

“By the way, what’s your last name, Sister Xue?” Lynn Naya still didn’t know her full name.

“My last name is also Lin. My name is Lin Qingwan.”

“Then from now on, you should be called Teacher Lin.” Zhou Yuan teased.

Lin Qingwan’s face immediately turned red. “I don’t deserve such a title. I’m only teaching the children at home.”

Zhou Yuan had only said it as a joke, but what she didn’t expect was that after the news spread, people started coming to their house, asking if their children could also join in and learn to read.

No matter how much the world changed, the belief that “people must read and write” seemed to be ingrained in people’s bones. When the sounds of the children reading echoed in the air, it was as if something was being revived in their hearts.

Even though cultivators saw mortals as ants, the ants still had their own rhythm of life.

Working in the fields during the day and learning to read at night, time passed in a flash, and soon it was New Year’s Eve.

On New Year’s Eve, after the regular spiritual root testing, the Dao Palace issued a notice: After the Lantern Festival, the Dao Palace would select ten able-bodied young people to become outer-sect disciples.

When this news came out, all the mortals were surprised.

People who didn’t know the truth thought this was a great opportunity. If they could become an outer-sect disciple of the Dao Palace, they would at least have enough to eat and drink for the rest of their lives.

But Lynn Naya, who knew the inside story, understood that this was the next step in the beast core process. This was the “guinea pig” stage.

These ten so-called “outer-sect disciples” were the test subjects the Dao Palace was looking for.

“Healer Lynn, what do you think?” Scarface Qing and Xue Yong were also interested in this opportunity. But ScarfaceQing was more cautious. He thought the Dao Palace wouldn’t suddenly recruit normal disciples for no reason. And thinking back, Healer Lynn had told them to start strengthening their bodies several months ago, he felt there was a subtle connection between the two.

“This is indeed an opportunity for mortals.” Lynn Naya didn’t deny the benefits.

Scarface Qing paid attention to her expression and saw that she wasn’t surprised, so he knew that Healer Lynn had probably known about this for months.

Healer Lynn is so kind. She never forgets us when something good happens.

“Then should we all try?” They had been body-strengthening technique for the past half-year, and their energy and complexion were much better than ordinary people’s.

“I’m not going.” Lynn Naya said. Even if she was a normal person, she wouldn’t be a guinea pig. The first stage of anything was always the most unstable. Just because they hadn’t found any problems didn’t mean there weren’t any. It wasn’t worth the risk.

“As for you, I won’t stop you if you want to go. I can only tell you that there’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. While you want to eat the pie, you must also be ready to take the risk. And that risk can be anything, including death.”

When the word “death” came out, the eagerness on Scarface Qing’s and the others’ faces vanished.

If they thought about it calmly, a person with a spiritual root could cultivate, and the Dao Palace could increase its strength by recruiting them. But they, who couldn’t cultivate, weren’t even fit to be a servant. Why would the Dao Palace want them to be outer-sect disciples?

There had to be something going on behind the scenes, and the risk was extremely high. Otherwise, Healer Lynn wouldn’t be hinting at it like this.

“If only Feibai was here. Maybe we could ask for his opinion.” Zhou Yuan couldn’t help but mutter.

“Yeah.” Scarface Qing agreed. But in his heart, he still felt that Healer Lynn was right. There was no such thing as a free lunch. Even if Zhou Feibai himself was here, his opinion wouldn’t change.

However, no matter how much Zhou Yuan muttered, Zhou Feibai never appeared.

Fifteen days passed quickly. Scarface Qing and the others had also thought about it for half a month. In the end, on the sixteenth day of the first month, they all stayed home. In the evening, news came that the cultivators on the mountain had chosen ten people to go up.

When the news was confirmed, the four people in the room, regardless of their feelings, all let out a sigh of relief.

No matter what, it was done. Now, they just had to wait and see what happened.

“By the way, why isn’t Healer Lynn back yet?” It was already dark outside. She should have been back by now.

“I don’t know. Maybe something held her up.”

In fact, Lynn Naya had been held up.

Ever since Yun Xian and she had exchanged names, Yun Xian had been visiting her more and more frequently. For the past half a month, she came at noon and in the evening. She didn’t do anything; she just sat under the herb forest, sighing, which made Lynn Naya have to hold herself back from chasing her away.

“I’m done here and ready to go down the mountain.” Lynn Naya finished her work. Before, to save time, she would soak in the cold water in the herb forest before going down. But now that Yun Xian was here, she would usually go home to soak.

“Go on,” Yun Xian said in her usual wistful tone. “Let me have one last look at you.”

Lynn Naya: “…”

“If you’re not sick, talk properly. What do you mean ‘one last look’? Are you not coming tomorrow?”

“No, I’m not coming tomorrow. And I probably won’t be able to come after that either,” Yun Xian said without waiting for Lynn Naya to ask. “I’m going to be a test subject tonight. I don’t know if I’ll come out alive.”

“You’re going to be a test subject?” Lynn Naya was surprised. “Didn’t they already choose ten people?”

“Yes, I’m going with them. I volunteered myself.” Yun Xian smiled at her. “Naya, I’m so scared I’m going to die.”

“If you’re scared, why are you going?” Lynn Naya frowned.

“If I’m scared, does that mean I shouldn’t go?”

“If you’re scared, you don’t have to go.”

“That won’t work.” Yun Xian shook her head. Her gaze went past Lynn Naya and looked to the distant north. “No one longs to leave this small place more than I do. I know if I waited a little longer, it would be safer, but I’ve been waiting for almost ten years. I don’t want to wait anymore.”

“If I’m unlucky, can you do me a favor? If you ever have a chance to go to Suiyun Mountain, can you help me collect the bones you see and bury them? So many people died there. I don’t even know which two are my parents.”

Lynn Naya was silent for a moment. “You probably didn’t just tell me this, did you?”

“Oh, come on,” the emotions in Yun Xian’s eyes instantly dissipated. “It’s better to cast a wide net and get more fish. What if one of them succeeds?”

“That’s something you should do yourself,” Lynn Naya refused. “And don’t be scared. Isn’t your senior brother there? He’s so powerful. How can he let something happen to you? You can have no confidence in yourself, but you can’t have no confidence in him. Who is he? He’s a future Core Formation True Lord. With a Core Formation True Lord protecting you, I guarantee you’ll go in and come out with three heads and six arms.”

“…Wouldn’t that be a little ugly?” Yun Xian said with a hint of disgust.

Lynn Naya said earnestly, “Others can only fight one person at a time, but you can fight six.”

“I guess that’s not so bad.” Yun Xian seemed to be encouraged. She stood up proudly. “It’s about time. I’m leaving. You’d better wait and be surprised.”

Lynn Naya waved. “My neighbor had a famous winemaker help him brew a jar of excellent wine last year. The next time we meet, I’ll steal it for you to drink.”

“Deal!” Yun Xian left in a carefree manner.

Looking at her disappearing back, Lynn Naya muttered “Suiyun Mountain” again, memorized the name, and then went down the mountain.

Without Yun Xian to disturb her, Lynn Naya’s days were very peaceful. In fact, it was a little too peaceful. She felt that this couldn’t go on, so she turned her attention to the three carefree children at home and added a special “body-strengthening class” for them.

Listening to the children’s wails every day, Lynn Naya finally took a comfortable sip of water.

See? Now it’s lively.

A month passed in a flash. Some of the people who had gone up the mountain in the first month started to come back down, and the news that mortals could cultivate swept through the entire mortal area like a hurricane.

When the news spread, Scarface Qing and the others looked at Lynn Naya in shock, wanting to say something but couldn’t. Lynn Naya only told them to wait calmly.

Another month passed, and everyone who had gone up the mountain came back down. Seven out of the ten people had become mortal cultivators. One of the three who didn’t make it was given a management position by the Dao Palace, and the other two were buried.

The mortal area started to get restless. Everyone’s eyes were filled with fervent hope, as if they had seen a path to the heavens.

Scarface Qing and the others were also eager to try, but they still cared about Lynn Naya’s opinion and wanted to hear what she had to say. Lynn Naya only frowned and told them to keep waiting because Yun Xian still hadn’t appeared.

Spring turned into summer. The dried-up grapevine from last year grew new buds. As Lynn Naya pruned the tree, she couldn’t help but think of Yun Xian.

As she was thinking, she felt something and turned to look at the courtyard wall. A moment later, a red-robed girl jumped onto the top of the wall. Their eyes met, and the girl on the wall grinned at her. “I’m here to keep my promise. Is the wine ready?”