Longevity: Starting with an infant's innate growth potential

Chapter 217 Eight Hundred Military Merits and Wang Qingchang's Request

Evening, in the Zhou family hall.

Zhou Ling's family sat around the dining table.

The table was set with four dishes and a soup, all delicious spiritual food, steaming hot.

"Father, these are three high-grade blood crystals."

Zhou Ling handed the three high-grade blood crystal stones that had been refined today to his father.

"High-quality blood crystal stone!"

Zhou Shan looked at the blood crystal stone that shone with dazzling blood-red light with surprise.

Top-grade blood crystals are extremely valuable, containing pure blood essence, and are virtually unseen on the market.

“Now that my cultivation is being tempered by medicinal baths every day, my cultivation is progressing steadily, so I don’t need this blood crystal.”

"Ling'er, you need this blood crystal stone even more as you cultivate the Three Yang Technique!"

Zhou Shan thought for a moment and then said.

"Yes, Ling'er, you are now an inner courtyard disciple, and you may have to go to the outside world to participate in the pioneering battle at any time, so you should improve your cultivation as soon as possible!"

Li Rusheng prepared a bowl of chicken soup and handed it to Zhou Ling, saying with a slightly nervous expression.

Although I know my son's cultivation level is already very high.

However, disciples of the inner academy can be dispatched to participate in the boundary-opening war at any time.

That would be too dangerous.

"Mother, don't worry, I won't be sent to participate in the pioneering battle while I'm in the Taoist academy."

Zhou Ling took a few sips of chicken soup and said with a smile.

Although many disciples of the Xuan Yuan Dao Academy's inner court participate in the mission of the Realm Opening War, given his Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment status, it is generally not his responsibility.

Hearing this, Li Rucai breathed a sigh of relief.

"Father, I have my own way of cultivating the Three Yang Technique. You can keep this blood crystal stone!"

Zhou Ling smiled.

He absorbed six Blood Fiend Crystals, which allowed him to advance from the mid-stage of the second level of Body Refinement to the late stage.

He believed that these blood crystals would also be of great help to his father.

Seeing his son's insistence, Zhou Shan did not refuse any further.

After putting away the blood crystal, he said to Zhou Ling, "Your Uncle Chu sent a letter a few days ago, planning to come to Qingyang Immortal City."

"Uncle Chu has come to Qingyang Immortal City?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling was also taken aback.

Since hearing that Uncle Xu's foundation-building attempt failed, my father hasn't mentioned it again.

I never expected him to come to Qingyun Immortal City.

"Brother Chu is not willing to give up. Although he failed to establish his foundation last time, he is only in his early forties now and still has a chance. Naturally, he is unwilling to give up easily!"

Li Ru spoke up.

Zhou Ling nodded; this was normal.

Many cultivators over the age of sixty are unwilling to give up Foundation Establishment easily.

Then Zhou Shan seemed to be talking to Zhou Ling about some things in Lingxia Immortal City.

Of course, these things were also told to him by his uncle.

Zhou Shan spoke with great emotion, revealing his lingering nostalgia for his neighbors and friends in Lingxia Immortal City.

Zhou Ling understood this point; he recalled how, back in Lingxia Immortal City, neighbors would come over to visit every evening.

Set up a table and chairs outside the courtyard, pour a bowl of spirit wine, and a plate of fried peanuts.

A few people can talk for half a day.

However, after arriving in Qingyun Immortal City, he spent his days running the winery and his evenings cultivating at home.

This is clearly not the kind of life parents want.

"Sigh, if it weren't for the fact that the spiritual energy in Lingxia Immortal City is so thin, it would be better to let them go back!"

Zhou Ling felt quite helpless.

······.

"Zhou Ling, I have already reported to the higher-ups of the Xuan Ting Division about the matter of eliminating the Blood Soul Sect's stronghold. I appreciate your outstanding performance."

"The higher-ups also gave their approval, making you a second-rank Evil-Slaying Guard."

"At the same time, I've done the tally this time, and you've earned 830 military merits. Do you have any objections?"

In the main hall of the Demon Slayer Department, Wang Qingshang handed a jade token to Zhou Ling and said with a smile.

It should be noted that Zhou Ling had only just entered the Demon Slayer Division and was not yet a First-Rank Demon Slayer Guard, but in this battle, he not only killed the leader of the Blood Soul Sect, but also completely eliminated the Blood Soul Sect's stronghold in Qingyun Immortal City.

His contribution was significant.

Wang Qingshang also applied for a promotion for him that bypassed his usual rank, directly upgrading him to a second-grade Evil-Slaying Guard.

"Second-Rank Evil-Slaying Guard!"

"More than 800 military merits!"

Zhou Ling spoke up, somewhat surprised.

This was something he hadn't expected.

The Xuan Ting Si and the Tian Gong Si are quite different.

He became a second-rank Heavenly Craftsman Guard because he passed the second-rank examination and also received help from Qin Zhizheng.

To become a second-rank Xuan Ting Guard, one needs sufficient military merits.

Of course, Wang Qingchang's ability to secure the second-rank Evil Slayer Guardian position for Zhou Ling was also related to his military achievements.

Eight hundred military merits at once seems a bit too much.

Zhou Ling had also calculated in his mind that this time's military merits would be around four hundred, and probably not more than five hundred.

Is this 800 military merits an extra reward?

Zhou Ling looked puzzled.

Seeing Zhou Ling rise to prominence, not only gaining so many military merits but also becoming a second-rank Demon Slayer Guard so quickly, Mu Jianshi and He Zijian were filled with envy.

Of course, they also knew that Zhou Ling's strength in this battle qualified him to become a second-rank Evil-Slaying Guard.

Moreover, Mu Jianshi knew in his heart that being able to return alive this time was already a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

Of course, the two of them also earned a lot of military achievements.

But compared to Zhou Ling, it was much less.

Seemingly noticing Zhou Ling's confusion, Wang Qingshang smiled slightly and said, "Eight hundred military merits isn't much."

"This time we destroyed an important stronghold of the Blood Soul Cult."

"Moreover, the Blood Soul Sect has also set up two Blood Fiend Soul Arrays. If it weren't for the fact that you had five spiritual flames and were able to find the core of the array and break through it..."

"Even a Golden Core cultivator would find it difficult to escape from this third-tier Blood Fiend Soul Array."

At this point, a look of fear appeared on Wang Qingshang's pretty face.

If Zhou Ling hadn't broken the Blood Fiend Soul Array's core, the three of them would have been trapped and died inside.

Just thinking about this outcome is terrifying.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling realized just how terrifying the Blood Fiend Soul Array was.

Because of the spiritual flame within him, the Blood Fiend Soul Array did not pose a significant threat to him.

Furthermore, finding the core of the formation was achieved through [Intermediate Observation] and [Intermediate Analysis].

Therefore, he felt that the power of the Blood Fiend Soul Array was not as strong as Wang Qingshang had described.

However, when it comes to military merits, the more the better.

"Thank you so much, Sister Qingshang!"

Zhou Ling bowed to Wang Qingshang again.

If Wang Qingchang hadn't applied to the higher-ups, even with great merit, becoming a second-rank Evil-Slaying Guard wouldn't have been so easy.

The treatment of a second-rank Evil-Slaying Guard is completely different from that of a first-rank one.

"You deserve this."

"Also, this is the Tier 3 Fire Sword Grass I promised you!"

After Wang Qingshang finished speaking, she took out a jade box from her storage ring and handed it to Zhou Ling. The Fire Sword Grass was quite useful to the Spirit Flame; after being integrated into the Spirit Flame, it could help the Spirit Flame condense a fire sword for attack.

Increase the attack power of Spirit Flame.

"Sister Qingshang, these are your personal belongings, how could I possibly take them!"

Zhou Ling took the jade box, but spoke very politely.

The spiritual flames consumed a lot of energy this time, and various spiritual medicines are needed to aid in recovery.

Moreover, this Fire Sword Grass can also enhance the attack power of Spirit Flame.

This is something you'd be hard to find even with a lantern.

Zhou Ling was extremely satisfied with this third-tier fire sword grass.

"I promised to give it to you, so just accept it."

"After all, you have five spiritual flames, so the Fire Sword Grass can only be used to its fullest potential when it is in your hands."

“Like this time, if it weren’t for the five spiritual flames on your body, we would have been in great danger if we had encountered the Blood Fiend Soul Array and the Blood Corpse!”

Looking at Zhou Ling, Wang Qingshang said calmly.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Ling had already put the jade box into his storage ring.

"Sister Qingchang, do you still have any of this Fire Sword Grass?"

Zhou Ling, who had been being polite, asked again.

Wang Qingshang glared at Zhou Ling with her beautiful eyes. It turned out that this kid was just being polite to me.

He immediately shook his head. "Third-tier Fire Sword Grass takes a hundred years to harvest, it's not easy to find!"

Zhou Ling nodded, realizing that he had been somewhat greedy.

After receiving their military merit rewards, He Zijian and Mu Jianshi went about their own business.

"I heard that you and Xin'er are going to the Wang family next month to help her fuse with the family's spiritual flame?"

After personally pouring Zhou Ling a cup of spiritual tea, Wang Qingshang thought for a moment and then asked Zhou Ling directly.

"Yes, Aunt Wang said that the new spark born in your Wang family can help Xin'er achieve the Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment, so naturally I want to help Xin'er take it!"

Zhou Ling said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Although he knew that Wang Qingshang was also participating, this matter concerned whether Xin'er could achieve the Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment, so he had no reason to hide anything.

"Oh, with you assisting Xin'er, the probability of obtaining the spirit flame will be much higher!"

Wang Qingshang nodded and said.

They witnessed the power of Zhou Ling's five spiritual flames.

She knew that the rest of the clan, including herself, would have a hard time competing with Wang Xin.

However, due to the unique nature of the family's spiritual flame.

He is in harmony with the flames of his clan, so even if Zhou Ling is able to suppress the spiritual flames, he will be able to overcome them.

However, Wang Xin was unable to fuse with it due to her bloodline, so it was of no use.

"I can only do my best; whether it succeeds or not is hard to say!"

Zhou Ling also spoke modestly.

He was naturally very confident in suppressing the spiritual flames, even in the ancestral land of the Wang family.

Hearing this, Wang Qingshang pursed her red lips, thought for a moment, and said, "Zhou Ling, I also have something to discuss with you!"

"Sister Qingshang, you say so!"

Zhou Ling nodded and said.

"I suppose you are aware of the situation of my Wang family's ancestral flame. It only produces a flame once every few decades, sometimes it may be one, sometimes two."

"Only clansmen who have gained the approval of the Ancestral Flame can receive the fire seed."

"But if none of these disciples can collect the fire seed, then the fire seed will leave my Wang family and return to heaven and earth."

Wang Qingshan looked at Zhou Ling with her beautiful eyes and said softly.

Zhou Ling listened attentively; Wang Xin had already mentioned the matter of the Wang family's ancestral flame to him.

He didn't know why Wang Qingshang was telling him all this.

"But the Ancestral Flame Seed is extremely important to our royal family."

"When I was building my foundation, the Ancestral Flame had not yet produced a seed of fire, so now I must also fuse with that seed of fire."

"This will greatly help my bloodline and physique, and will improve my quality when I condense the Golden Core and achieve the Nascent Soul stage in the future."

"But the Ancestral Flame is an eighth-grade spiritual flame, and the fire seed it was born from is already a third-grade spiritual flame. It is not easy to suppress it."

"Therefore, I also hope that you can help me suppress the fire!"

Wang Qingshang looked at Zhou Ling with her beautiful eyes and said softly.

"This?" Zhou Ling was stunned for a moment upon hearing this. He hadn't expected that a peerless genius like Wang Qingshang would lack confidence in suppressing the spiritual flame.
However, upon reflection, it became clear that the ancestral flame's seed was a third-grade spiritual flame, demonstrating its extraordinary power.

It should be noted that before a spirit flame develops sentience, it is easiest to subdue and suppress it.

However, once they reach the third rank, many spirit flames already possess a certain degree of spirituality.

Suppressing it again would be much more difficult.

If not controlled properly, the spirit flame might even self-destruct, which would be dangerous.

Zhou Ling possesses five spiritual flames, and his ability to suppress other spiritual flames with these flames is a unique advantage.

In this way, even if the spiritual flame is suppressed, it will not choose to self-destruct.

This is also why Wang Qingshang asked Zhou Ling for help.

Zhou Ling couldn't help but say, "Sister Qingshang, but I've already promised Xin'er, and Xin'er is my fiancée!"

The implication is clear: he's going to help his fiancée, not you.

"If you help me suppress the fire seed, I have a secret method that uses spiritual flames to assist in condensing a Heavenly Grade Golden Core. You can take a look at it then."

Although they hadn't spent much time together, Wang Qingshang's intelligence allowed her to grasp a bit of Zhou Ling's personality.

This kid looks like a gentleman, but he has a nature that's driven by self-interest.

Therefore, Wang Qingshang directly administered a strong medicine.

"It can be used with the aid of spiritual flames to achieve a Heavenly Grade Golden Core!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Ling's eyes lit up.

His ability to reach the Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment was entirely due to the Five Elements Spirit Flame.

Therefore, he naturally had no doubt that the Five Elements Spirit Flame could assist him in achieving a Heavenly Grade Golden Core.

Moreover, Aunt Wang also said that if Xin'er obtains the Ancestral Flame Seed, there is a high probability that she will be able to achieve the Heavenly Rank Foundation Establishment.

After thinking for a moment, he shook his head decisively and said, "But I've already promised Xin'er, so I won't be able to help you then!"

Undoubtedly, this secret technique that can assist in the production of Heavenly Grade Golden Elixir is very attractive to Zhou Ling.

But we still need to help Xin'er achieve the Heavenly Foundation Establishment first.

Moreover, he is still far from achieving the Golden Core stage, and he may have the opportunity to find other Heavenly-grade Golden Core methods in the future.

Upon hearing this, Wang Qingshang frowned slightly and said, "I think we should do this."

"If the Ancestral Flame only produces one seed of fire, then I have nothing to say."

"If there are two flames, I hope that after you help Xin'er suppress them, you will also lend me a hand."

Since the probability of the number of fire seeds generated by the Ancestral Flame is relatively random, it is possible that there will be one, two, or even three.

Hearing this, Zhou Ling thought for a moment and said, "Since Sister Qingshang has said so, then I have no problem with it."

"However, let's make it clear first: I will only take action after helping Xin'er completely suppress the fire seed."

In any case, he can only suppress the spiritual flames; he can't help with fusing them.

Therefore, if there is still energy left after suppressing the fire, then helping Wang Qingshang would naturally not be a problem.

"Alright, that's settled then!"

Upon hearing Zhou Ling's agreement, Wang Qingshang nodded with a slight smile.

With Zhou Ling's help, the probability of obtaining the fire seed would undoubtedly increase significantly.

Of course, we also hope that this time the Ancestral Flame will give birth to two flames.

Otherwise, she had absolutely no confidence in defeating Zhou Ling, who possessed five spiritual flames.

(End of this chapter)