Chapter 8: The Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir, Beginning the Cultivation of Internal Energy

Watching Lin Heng’s swordsmanship evolve from clumsy to proficient, Xiao Rang’s face was filled with pride and satisfaction. This was his disciple; such peerless talent brought great honor to him as a master. After watching Lin Heng’s focused form for a while, he turned and walked to the edge of the training grounds.

Standing there were several experts of the Cloud Sword Palace, all dressed in elder robes. Each possessed at least the cultivation level of a Grandmaster, and two were even Great Grandmasters. Like Xiao Rang, they had witnessed the entire process of Lin Heng learning the "Nineteen Styles of the Cloud Sword," observing his formidable martial talent—learning instantly upon instruction and mastering each move with a single practice. Consequently, their faces were etched with shock.

Although they had long known that the little disciple taken in by their sect leader was a genius who could learn anything at a glance, they had not expected him to maintain this level of performance after beginning formal martial arts training. Moreover, his intense passion for martial cultivation was truly astonishing. It indicated that Lin Heng was not only brilliant and gifted but also possessed an exceptional temperament. With these qualities combined, provided he did not fall prematurely, Lin Heng would surely become a true powerhouse in the future, extending the glory of their Cloud Sword Palace.

"I intend to prepare a Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir to aid his cultivation," Xiao Rang announced, satisfied with the astonishment on the faces of his fellow sect members.

Initially, he had prepared a ten-year curriculum for Lin Heng, covering everything from humanities and history to medicine, poisons, social conduct, and the fundamentals of cultivation. According to Xiao Rang’s plan, Lin Heng would have completed this by the age of fifteen or sixteen, achieving at least a mid-to-high-level innate cultivation or even reaching the Grandmaster stage, while understanding the rules and taboos of the martial world. Only then would he be ready to venture out.

Yet, everything Xiao Rang had intended to teach over ten years, Lin Heng had mastered in just half a year, and with excellence. Lin Heng had already satisfied all the prerequisites for cultivation and was a qualified successor to Xiao Rang’s legacy. However, Lin Heng had been poisoned by the toxic, body-depleting concoctions of the Lihen Pavilion, leaving him frail and weak—a condition that had not fully recovered even after half a year. Normally, while practicing the Nineteen Styles of the Cloud Sword would help consolidate his foundation, it would still take Lin Heng about two years to restore his health enough to practice internal energy. For a genius like him, those two years—especially at such a young age—were incredibly precious. While there was no harm in taking it slow if there was nothing else to learn, wasting such valuable time was not an option.

Therefore, Xiao Rang planned to provide him with a Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir. This pill, refined from various rare and spiritual herbs, possessed the power to harmonize the body’s Yin, Yang, and Five Elements, achieving a state of primal unity. It would resolve Lin Heng’s current deficiency at the root and help him build an optimal foundation for cultivation.

Such a potent medicinal treasure had many virtues, but its only drawback was its cost. A single Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir cost 270,000 taels of silver in raw materials; if sold on the market, the price would at least double. Previously, Xiao Rang had intended for Lin Heng to consume spiritual rice and food while practicing foundational swordsmanship to slowly restore his vitality. A child would not consume much, costing less than 5,000 taels a year—a reasonable expenditure for cultivating a sect leader’s personal disciple. The treatment of other elders’ disciples was not much different.

However, using a 270,000-tael pill for a child was clearly an extraordinary expenditure. Even for an elder of the sect to obtain such a precious item, they would need to trade years of accumulated merit. This was why Xiao Rang had insisted on calling all the other elders to observe Lin Heng’s training today—to convince them. He intended to use the exceptional talent Lin Heng displayed to ensure everyone agreed that he was worthy of this investment and high regard from the sect. After all, the sect belonged to everyone, not just him. For the sake of unity, he had to persuade the elders to avoid future troubles for Lin Heng.

By now, the other elders understood Xiao Rang’s intent. Looking at the handsome youth on the training ground—with his red lips, white teeth, and jade-like appearance, resembling a fallen immortal—and recalling the past six months of interaction, they felt a natural fondness for his humility and maturity. Combined with the talent he had demonstrated, they made their decision and agreed with Xiao Rang’s plan. Everyone was convinced that this youth was the future of the Cloud Sword Palace and worthy of the sect’s heavy investment.

"We follow the Sect Leader’s decree," they said one after another.

Once the decision was made, the elder in charge of the sect’s financial affairs gritted his teeth and said, "That cursed Lihen Pavilion, harming our sect’s genius! We must find a time soon to settle the score." The other elders nodded in agreement. Indeed, if not for the Lihen Pavilion’s treachery, they would not have needed to spend this massive sum on a Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir. Several elders resolved to head down the mountain together soon to deal with the pavilion and recoup their losses.

On the very day Lin Heng began his formal swordsmanship training, the entire Cloud Sword Palace busied itself for his sake. Various treasures were retrieved from the warehouse, and the Elder of Spiritual Elixirs, who managed the pharmacy, began the refining process. After seven days—by the time Lin Heng had brought the Nineteen Styles of the Cloud Sword from initial practice to the pinnacle of mastery—the Dragon-Tiger Golden Elixir was finally completed.

"Disciple, come and consume this elixir so I may teach you the supreme internal cultivation technique of our Cloud Sword Palace."

Having just finished his sword practice and bathed, Lin Heng was preparing to rest when he saw Xiao Rang enter his room. Xiao Rang opened a jade bottle, poured out a golden pill the size of a pigeon egg, and fed it to him. Having studied under Xiao Rang for half a year, Lin Heng recognized the elixir immediately and grew excited. This was the true value of having a "Family Background" score of 20!

"Thank you, Master, for your nurturing grace." Lin Heng bowed respectfully before accepting and swallowing the elixir. After chewing a few times, he felt a sweet taste transform into a rich, nectar-like substance that flowed into his abdomen. A warm current then surged from his core, circulating throughout his entire body. Instantly, the fatigue accumulated from his sword practice vanished. The chronic depletion of his vitality, which had troubled him for so long, dissipated within a short time, leaving him feeling remarkably energized.

"Sit cross-legged, with your five hearts facing the heavens, and listen as I recite the Cloud Sword True Manual, the supreme internal cultivation technique of our sect," Xiao Rang directed.

Seeing Lin Heng comply, he began to recite the internal cultivation formulas. Although the verses were profound and esoteric, Lin Heng understood them with ease. This was the result of his accumulated learning over the past six months, which had already enlightened him on all the foundational knowledge of cultivation. As the entire manual was recited, Lin Heng entered a state of deep meditation.