Shi Xiaochun, who had been by Miss Huang's and Lii Xiaolan's side for many years, naturally knew the value and usage of the precious Ghost Frog Pouch. She walked to the tree and picked up the Ghost Frog Pouch. Upon probing it with her Qi Blood, her expression instantly changed.

She saw that the Ghost Frog Pouch was filled with layers upon layers of Demon Flesh, probably amounting to over one hundred thousand catties!

Shi Xiaochun, being quite knowledgeable, naturally knew the value of Demon Flesh. Upon seeing so much of it at once, her hands couldn't help but tremble.

She looked around continuously, but there was no sign of Lin Xuankong in the backyard...

「In the hall of the Feng Family Mansion,」

Li Er (in the guise of the Feng Family's Second Patriarch), Yang Mountain (as the Guo Family Patriarch), Han Lu (the Guo Family's Second Patriarch), 'Hu Shuo' (as the Black Tiger Gang's Hill City Hall Master), Liy Ruofeng (Hall Master of the Black Tiger Gang Great Marsh Hall), and Liy Ruoqing (Law Enforcement Hall Master) all stood in the hall. They looked towards Lin Xuankong, who was seated in the seat of honor.

Yang Mountain cupped his hands respectfully and said, "Saint-Protector General, you've summoned us here today. What are your orders?"

Lin Xuankong looked at them. "For the past three-plus years, you have all toiled to gather Geng Metal Crystals and Li Fire Crystals for me. Without your arduous efforts, achieving what I have today would have been far more challenging! I thank you all!"

Hu Shuo shook his head repeatedly, his gaze fixed on Lin Xuankong with excitement.

"General Lin, you are not only the Saint-Protector General of the Great Xia Dynasty but also the Supreme Elder of the Yin Talisman Sect—a genius unseen in a thousand years!

To work for General Lin is a privilege. I only regret that I cannot do more for him. There's no need for thanks!"

Yang Mountain also grew visibly excited. "Indeed, General Lin, you're too kind! If it weren't for you, the grass on my grave would have grown and withered several times over by now!

Such a heaven-defying, life-altering act of grace! I'd willingly slave away for you, General Lin, for the rest of my life. How could I dare expect any thanks!"

Han Lu slapped his thigh.

"Since I started working for General Lin, my legs haven't been broken even once! Hahaha! Serving you is a great blessing, General. We wouldn't dare expect your thanks!"

Li Er and the Liy Family Brothers also shook their heads and waved their hands, insisting that Lin Xuankong was being far too formal.

Seeing their earnest expressions, Lin Xuankong couldn't help but smile.

These people, including the "reformed" Liy Family Brothers, are indeed the most dependable individuals aside from Little Hu, and the ones I can fully trust!

After all, these individuals have been tested over several years!

Throughout these years, no matter what tasks I assigned, they always carried them out diligently, never slacking off in the slightest!

Thinking of this, Lin Xuankong's expression grew solemn. He said:

"To be frank with you all, I will soon be leaving the Great Xia Dynasty. I am heading to the Central Divine Dynasty to participate in the disciple acceptance ceremony of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect.

Once I leave, I don't know when I'll be able to return. It could be three to five years, perhaps several decades, or even three to five centuries! We may not have another opportunity to see each other again.

Since we are to part ways, it's only right that I thank you for your assistance over these many years. I have a few elixirs here; they are treasures capable of extending one's lifespan by over a hundred years each!

Each of you take five.

These five elixirs should allow your maximum lifespans to extend to six or seven hundred years.

With such long lifespans, as long as you are cautious in your future endeavors and avoid bringing disaster upon yourselves... our chances of meeting again will be significantly greater!"

Everyone present glanced at the Dharma-tier Turtle-Poria Elixir in Lin Xuankong's hand.

Elixirs that could extend life by over a hundred years?

They had never even heard of such a thing.

The best life-extending elixir they knew of was the Turtle-Poria Elixir, but that was only said to increase one's lifespan by two or three years at most. Moreover, it was exceedingly rare; even members of the Yin Talisman Sect seldom obtained any!

An elixir that extended life by a mere two or three years was already so precious and difficult to obtain. How incredibly valuable must an elixir that extended life by over a hundred years be? A mortal lifespan was barely a hundred years!

If Lin Xuankong himself hadn't said it, none of them would likely have believed it!

While they stood there, astonished, Lin Xuankong placed the elixirs on the table and smiled. "What's this? No one is coming forward to take them? Do you not believe in the efficacy of these elixirs, or do you think I'm boasting?"

They glanced at each other and then nodded in unison. Hu Shuo then spoke up:

"General Lin, how could we possibly not believe your words? And we are even more convinced of the effects of your elixirs!

It's just that... we don't want these elixirs!"

Yang Mountain and the others also chimed in:

"That's right, General Lin! I don't want the elixirs either!"

"Indeed, General Lin! Please take the elixirs back. None of us want them; not a single one of us will accept them!"

"No, no! Even if my right leg were to be broken, I couldn't accept them! Absolutely not!"

Lin Xuankong observed their determined expressions, somewhat taken aback. "None of you want them?"

The effects of this Dharma-tier Turtle-Poria Elixir are truly miraculous. It was thanks to it that I gained a lifespan of five thousand years!

And yet, despite such incredible effects, these fellows don't want them?!

Hu Shuo stated firmly:

"That's right. We absolutely do not want them!"

Lin Xuankong couldn't help but laugh. "Alright then, tell me why you don't want them. And why so certain?"

Hu Shuo, his face flushed with emotion, looked at Lin Xuankong. "Firstly, General Lin, you have shown us immense kindness—a favor as vast as the heavens. We've only done minor things for you; how could we possibly accept any reward!

Secondly…"

At this point, he paused, glanced at the others, and didn't continue.

At that moment, Yang Mountain suddenly dropped to one knee, respectfully cupping his hands towards Lin Xuankong. He declared:

"The second reason is that none of us wish to leave you, General Lin!

I, Yang Mountain, am not a man of great talent. If I hadn't met you in this life, General Lin, who knows what obscure corner I'd be languishing in now. Perhaps I'd still be a mere late First-Layer cultivator!

But you, General Lin, with a wave of your hand, defied fate and altered my destiny, nurturing me into a peak expert at Fifth-Layer Perfection!

Though I may not be the sharpest, I realized long ago that the greatest fortuitous encounter, the greatest blessing of my life, was meeting you, General Lin!

I only wish to be able to follow you always, General Lin, and continue to serve you!"

"As do I!"

"My thoughts exactly!"

"I, Han Lu, raise both hands and both feet in agreement! I'm the same!"

As they spoke, their expressions grew increasingly fervent, until finally, all of them were kneeling on one knee!

Lin Xuankong had originally intended to give them some precious elixirs and then part ways. However, seeing their resolute determination, he fell silent for a moment before speaking:

"Very well. Since you all hold me, Lin Xuankong, in such high esteem, then let us venture to the Central Divine Dynasty together! We shall strive for immortality, establish our legacy, and carve out a vast domain for ourselves!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Mountain, Han Lu, Li Er, Hu Shuo, and the Liy Family Brothers—all six of them—were instantly overjoyed, their faces beaming with delight.

Han Lu was so ecstatic he couldn't contain himself and even began to jump for joy...

Lin Xuankong, watching their jubilant reactions, suddenly recalled something. He said,

"However, there's one major problem. The place I'm going to is the Central Divine Dynasty. Over there, even a casually chosen cultivator is likely to be at the late stage or even Perfection of the Ninth-Layer Realm!

The strength of you six... is frankly rather insufficient. If you follow me there, you'll just be six burdens holding me back!"

The six, who had been ecstatic just moments before, felt their expressions crumble upon hearing Lin Xuankong's words.

Indeed, Lin Xuankong was correct. While their collective strength might allow them to dominate the Great Marsh Prefecture, it was already somewhat lacking in places like the Great Xia Capital.

As for the Central Divine Dynasty? That was a different league altogether! It was a place where countless top geniuses from thousands, even tens of thousands, of dynasties gathered. The six of them... they wouldn't even register. The difference was like that between a stray mongrel and a celestial hound!

Just as they were feeling utterly dejected, Lin Xuankong suddenly burst into hearty laughter.

"Look at the lot of you, all looking as dejected as withered leaves! Relax. Since I've promised to take you to the Central Divine Dynasty, I've naturally made preparations!"

With that, he retrieved six Demonic Cultivator bodies from his Ghost Frog Pouch.

"These six bodies all belonged to experts at Ninth-Layer Perfection. My original plan was to save them for when I reached the Central Divine Dynasty, to recruit some new allies to help me. However, since you fellows are so determined, they're all yours!"

"What? Bodies of Ninth-Layer Perfection Realm cultivators? Ninth-Layer Perfection? D-did I hear that correctly?!"

Han Lu exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief.

It wasn't that he was overreacting. It was simply that Lin Xuankong's gift was too astounding—he had actually prepared such powerful bodies for the six of them to reincarnate into or possess!

These were the bodies of terrifying Ninth-Layer Perfection experts, after all!

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