Chapter 143 | After the Night’s Harvest

Chapter 143: 143 | After the Night’s Harvest

The three women rested quietly upon the thick beast-fur rug after the night’s demanding dual cultivation. Their bodies were exhausted, yet their spiritual auras remained calm, each foundation settling naturally after the long session.

Madam Shen breathed slowly, her Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation stable. The Yin Qi within her Dantian had settled into an even rhythm, no longer showing the strain that had accumulated before the session.

Aunt Lin rested nearby, her Qi circulating smoothly through her meridians. The foundation she had rebuilt and strengthened remained steady beneath the nourishment of the dual-cultivation energy.

Lady Yun lay close to Lin Tian, her Dark Yin energy calm and controlled, with no sign of the Dark Yin Backlash that had once troubled her. Her Middle Stage Foundation Establishment foundation also remained firm.

The three women slept peacefully.

The quiet within the pavilion gave him the rare chance to examine the changes without distraction. The energy no longer surged through him; it had settled into a stable rhythm that felt firm, controlled, and responsive to the slightest shift in his circulation.

Lin Tian, however, remained awake.

He sat upright on the rug and assumed a lotus position. Closing his eyes, he guided his consciousness inward and began consolidating the energy he had received from the night’s dual cultivation.

Within his Dantian, dense currents of spiritual energy moved in steady circles.

The [Mutual Cultivation Feedback] from Madam Shen, Aunt Lin, and Lady Yun continued flowing through his body. The combined Yin essence entered his spiritual center, carrying three different qualities that blended naturally within his cultivation.

Madam Shen’s Yin energy was deep and steady, nourishing his foundation without disturbance. Aunt Lin’s was rich and stable, while Lady Yun’s Dark Yin energy was colder and sharper, adding a distinct pressure as it circulated through his meridians.

Rather than suppressing those differences, Lin Tian allowed each stream to follow its natural path before guiding them into harmony with his own Yang Qi.

He circulated the cultivation tecnique.

He did not allow the incoming energy to simply increase the quantity of his Liquid Qi. More energy without sufficient refinement could leave his foundation unstable.

Instead, he guided the Yin essence around his golden Liquid Yang Qi, using its pressure to temper and refine his spiritual energy. Each cycle drew the opposing energies closer together, creating a steady balance inside his Dantian.

The circulation repeated again and again.

With every cycle, his Liquid Qi became denser. The opposing Yin and Yang energies maintained a controlled balance as the pressure spread through his Dantian and meridians.

A faint golden mist rose from his shoulders as the spiritual energy within his body grew increasingly concentrated. His breathing remained steady, and he kept his consciousness focused on every change within his foundation.

Hours passed in silent cultivation.

Lin Tian continued refining the energy until his Liquid Qi could no longer be compressed further. His foundation became increasingly stable and concentrated with every completed cycle.

The remaining feedback gradually settled into his meridians, leaving behind a refined reserve of energy that no longer threatened to disturb his circulation.

A System notification appeared within his consciousness.

[System Notification: Primordial Yin-Yang Synergy cycle complete. Mutual Cultivation Feedback fully integrated.]

[System Notification: Host’s Liquid Qi density has increased significantly. Host is now at the Peak of the Early Stage Foundation Establishment Realm.]

Lin Tian opened his eyes.

He took a slow breath and sensed the changes within his body. His Liquid Qi was denser, his circulation smoother, and his foundation more stable than before.

He could clearly feel that the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment was no longer far away.

The consolidation had succeeded.

Lin Tian then turned his attention toward the three women resting nearby.

The night’s dual cultivation had placed some strain on their bodies, so he activated the [Insight Eye] to examine their current conditions.

His gaze passed over Madam Shen first.

Her spiritual energy flowed calmly, and her foundation remained stable without any dangerous imbalance.

He then checked Aunt Lin.

Her meridians were clear, her Qi circulation smooth, and her foundation showed no sign of instability.

Finally, he examined Lady Yun.

Her Dark Yin energy remained controlled, while the foundation of her Middle Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation was firm.

Lin Tian carefully observed the three conditions before relaxing.

The cultivation feedback had settled properly. Their Qi was fuller, their foundations steadier, and the resonance between them had deepened through the night’s cultivation.

There was no hidden instability that required his attention.

Satisfied, Lin Tian remained seated beside them in silence.

After a moment, he reached out and gently stroked Madam Shen’s dark hair.

She stirred beneath his touch, her eyelashes trembling before her eyes slowly opened. Still softened by fatigue, she looked at Lin Tian and gave him a faint, warm smile.

**

"Master..." she whispered weakly, her body still trembling faintly from the intensity of the night’s dual cultivation. "Still sensitive..."

"I know," Lin Tian murmured, his deep voice calming her. "Your foundation is stable now, and the Yin Qi within you has settled. When you rise, don’t circulate your Qi too quickly. Let your meridians gradually adapt to your strengthened foundation."

"Yes, Master," Madam Shen breathed, leaning her cheek into his palm with quiet affection. The exhaustion in her eyes was obvious, but there was also a relaxed warmth that had not been there before the night’s cultivation.

Lin Tian shifted his gaze to Aunt Lin and gently brushed his thumb across her flushed cheek. "Lin."

Aunt Lin’s golden-brown eyes opened slowly. "I am so full, Master... your Yang Qi is still warming me."

"Your Qi circulation is stable, and your foundation has settled," Lin Tian said gently. "But you have just strengthened your cultivation, so don’t refine artifacts or activate the earth-fire furnaces tomorrow. Rest for a day and allow your new foundation to settle naturally."

"I understand, Master," Aunt Lin replied with a soft, contented sigh. She relaxed against the rug, allowing the lingering warmth within her to gradually settle.

Finally, Lin Tian looked down at Lady Yun, who was already awake and quietly watching him. Her usually cold expression had softened, and there was clear trust in her dark eyes.

"Your Dark Yin energy is stable," Lin Tian said, lightly touching her pale cheek. "The backlash is gone, so don’t force your Yin Qi tonight. Let it circulate naturally and maintain its balance with the Yang essence within you."

"I understand, Master," Lady Yun whispered, resting briefly against his hand before closing her eyes again. The faint curve of her lips showed that she was completely at ease.

Having checked all three women, Lin Tian rose from the rug.

The three women remained where they were, their spiritual states peaceful as the lingering effects of the dual cultivation continued nourishing their foundations. There was no need to interfere with their cultivation further.

The gains of the night simply needed time to settle.

Lin Tian walked to the side of the hall and summoned his obsidian robes from his spatial ring. He draped the dark fabric over his shoulders, secured the sash, and activated the [Abyssal Shadow Veil], concealing the pressure of his Peak Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

To anyone outside, he once again appeared to be a talented young disciple whose true cultivation was difficult to judge.

He then walked toward the grand balcony. With a subtle movement of Qi, he opened a small section of the isolation array and allowed the cold mountain wind to enter the hall.

Crimson Nimbus Sect lay beneath the silent darkness of late night, its distant peaks barely visible through the mist.

Lin Tian rested his hands against the cold stone railing and looked toward Alchemy Peak. From afar, the peak still appeared calm and orderly, its formations glowing faintly against the darkness.

But Lin Tian knew Elder Liu’s choices had been narrowing.

He calmly reviewed the current situation. Madam Shen had approved the requested supplies and allowed them to move through the slower Eastern Valley route, while the routine verification on the spirit stone request continued exactly as normal.

Lady Yun had found no suitable high-grade Yang herbs through the Ghost Market, while Elder Liu’s searches through external suppliers had produced only limited results. Feng’s investigation into Lin Tian had also reached Elder Liu, confirming his clean background and his connection to Aunt Lin.

That was enough.

There was no reason to apply further pressure now. Elder Liu still had private reserves and external suppliers to pursue, and pushing too hard would only create suspicion.

Lin Tian’s expression remained calm as he watched the distant peak.

The pressure was enough. Any further interference would only risk exposing the pattern.

Elder Liu had begun considering him as a possible source of help, but she had not yet made her choice. Lin Tian had no intention of forcing the matter or making the first move.

For now, patience was enough.

"Now," Lin Tian thought quietly, feeling the cold wind move through his robes, "we wait for her to come to us."