The reason Lin Dongming was worried was because Bai Zhiqing told him she planned to swallow thunder for the second time tonight.
“This interval is too short.”
Lin Dongming was a bit concerned, warning Bai Zhiqing that her body hadn’t fully recovered and not to take unnecessary risks.
“But if I don’t swallow the thunder, it’s impossible to break through to mid-Core Formation before the Forbidden Land Trial.”
Bai Zhiqing’s expression was very determined at the time.
“You know it too—the Forbidden Land Trial of the Ancient Kingdom of Jiangnan will be even tougher than we imagined. It’s always better to have more chips in hand.”
“Even if you break through by swallowing thunder, you’ll still be a weak mid-Core Formation.”
Lin Dongming shook his head.
Indeed, the transition between early and mid-Core Formation wasn’t dangerous, easy to cross, but the injuries from swallowing thunder were very real.
“It’s fine. I have this.”
Bai Zhiqing took out a jade-green pill, silencing Lin Dongming.
It was a Nine-turn Resurrection Pill.
The Nine-turn Resurrection Pill, said to bring the dead back to life and regrow flesh from bones.
With this, of course, there was no need to worry. At most, she’d feel weak for the first few days of the Forbidden Land Trial, but it wouldn’t be a problem.
Still, it was such a waste.
Originally, just taking a Yuan Nurturing Pill and resting for ten days to half a month would have solved the problem, but now she was directly using a Nine-turn Resurrection Pill of far higher quality—truly wasteful.
This pill was meant to save dying cultivators on the brink of death.
So, Lin Dongming didn’t say much more, at most complaining about her being rich and willful.
But he still planned to go guard Bai Zhiqing tonight, in case anything happened to this little rich lady.
As a result, he was just a little late, and Bai Zhiqing was already covered in blood.
Seeing the thunder aura enveloping her, Lin Dongming knew she had no idea when he would arrive, so she had simply gone ahead and swallowed thunder first—after all, the moon phase would start to wane tomorrow, and Thunder Dragon Xuanting probably wouldn’t come by the next night.
Lin Dongming quickly cast a Liaoyu Spell on her to stop the wounds from worsening.
Then he gently patted her cheek.
“Are you still conscious? If not, I’ll have to feed you the medicine by mouth.”
Bai Zhiqing, who had been near death, immediately opened one eye.
“…Don’t take advantage of people in their weakness, you bastard.”
“As long as you’re alive. See, you woke up, didn’t you?”
Lin Dongming teased, taking the Nine-turn Resurrection Pill Han Xiangjun had given him from his chest and stuffing it into her mouth.
“Remember to pay me back.”
However, for the Nine-turn Resurrection Pill given by Han Xiangjun to end up in Bai Zhiqing’s mouth—if she found out, she’d probably die from anger.
Not long after Bai Zhiqing swallowed it, her wounds began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Soon, all surface injuries disappeared.
However, the damage to her dantian and qi sea would still need a few days.
“Go meditate and rest. I’ve never seen anyone as impatient as you.”
Lin Dongming tossed Bai Zhiqing aside and began his own meditation.
He was only a step away from mid-Core Formation, and with the support of various pills and thunder, he would make it in time.
Unlike Bai Zhiqing, normal cultivation would never have sufficed.
After a while, Lin Dongming finally opened his eyes.
“…I estimate I can break through in about two days. Let’s stop here for now.”
Bai Zhiqing opened her eyes at just the right moment. The two looked at each other.
Lin Dongming said,
“…Why are you in such a rush? Even if you break through now, you’ll only be a weak mid-Core Formation.”
“It’s still mid-Core Formation.”
A slight smile appeared on Bai Zhiqing’s pale face.
“A weak aura can be solidified over time. Wounds can be healed with the Nine-turn Resurrection Pill. But in the Forbidden Land, there’s no safe place to break through.”
“I understand.”
Lin Dongming said,
“You have a reason you must break through, don’t you?”
“That’s right.”
Bai Zhiqing nodded, but didn’t elaborate.
Lin Dongming wisely didn’t ask further.
Otherwise, he’d get nothing and only lose favor.
However, for someone as strong and courageous as Bai Zhiqing to be this flustered, it must be something serious.
But Lin Dongming couldn’t guess what.
Among peers in the Jindan stage, aside from a few like Yuan Jianyi and Qin Feng who far surpassed the rest, no one could claim a certain victory over Bai Zhiqing.
Moreover, in the Secret Realm, using talismans and tools wasn’t restricted.
Bai Zhiqing alone could smash her enemies to death with talismans, just like Han Xiangjun and Song Yumian once did.
“Forget it.”
Lin Dongming stood up and walked slowly toward Bai Zhiqing.
Bai Zhiqing looked a bit confused and somewhat alarmed.
In her current condition, she couldn’t resist anything Lin Dongming might do.
“You… What are you trying to do?”
Lin Dongming heard the fear in her voice and deliberately curled his lips.
“What do you think?”
Bai Zhiqing’s small face turned red.
“Don’t take advantage of people in their weakness. It’s not allowed yet…”
“Then it will be allowed later?”
Lin Dongming stepped closer.
“Not even later!”
Bai Zhiqing, face red as a tomato, kicked at him.
Lin Dongming dodged easily.
“Idiot. I’m going to transfer some Lingqi to you. Follow its circulation and it will help you recover faster.”
Lin Dongming sat behind Bai Zhiqing.
“With such a scrawny little body, I don’t find you appealing for now. Work hard and grow, little fox.”
Hmm, except for earlier.
Bai Zhiqing was shocked.
Bai Zhiqing was furious.
Bai Zhiqing, in a fit of anger, flared up.
“Who are you calling a scrawny little body! I’m your employer!”
Lin Dongming rolled his eyes.
“That’s exactly why I help you heal and teach you to swallow thunder—because it concerns a hundred thousand spirit stones a month. Otherwise, I would have tossed you aside long ago.”
Previously, Lin Dongming felt his attitude toward Bai Zhiqing was a bit casual, not as respectful as he was toward Han Xiangjun and Yun Shuying.
But now, he found this attitude made their interactions more interesting.
“You heartless bastard!”
Bai Zhiqing wanted to continue cursing, but Lin Dongming’s Lingqi had already entered her body, so she had to shut up and focus on following its circulation.
After a cycle, Bai Zhiqing felt much better.
On one hand, Lin Dongming’s Lingqi was much richer than she imagined, repairing many of her wounds as it entered.
On the other, his Lingqi circulation method was somewhat special.
“This cultivation technique for circulating Lingqi—where did you get it?”
Bai Zhiqing asked in confusion.
“This isn’t the Sword Doctrine Outline of the Sky Extreme Sword Sect, right?”
“No.”
Lin Dongming shook his head.
“I obtained it by chance while exploring the Secret Realm. Remember this method—using it will greatly benefit healing and cultivation.”
“Such a useful cultivation technique, and you’re just giving it to me?”
Bai Zhiqing was surprised by Lin Dongming’s generosity.
She was more used to transactions of mutual benefit.
In this respect, she and Lin Dongming were very similar.
“It doesn’t matter. You already paid for it.”
Lin Dongming helped Bai Zhiqing up.
“I’ll take you back to the Dongfu.”
Several days later, Bai Zhiqing and Lin Dongming both broke through to mid-Core Formation, preparing to enter the perilous Secret Realm Trial of the Ancient Kingdom of Jiangnan.