Lin Qinghen’s warmth still lingered on his face.

His lips were soft.

Sadly, before Yin Jiuxiao could savor that lingering warmth for long, he saw Lin Qinghen make a move.

He probably feared that Yin Jiuxiao would stir up something, and wanted him to rest properly after the scare. So, he took out a small bottle from his pocket and waved it a few times under his nose.

It was that same sleep aid Yu Yinyin had used on their wedding night. Used at a time like this, it could also have a hypnotic effect.

Using this thing on me again, huh.

Yin Jiuxiao was at a loss, torn between laughter and exasperation, but his first reaction was to follow Lin Qinghen’s intentions. He slowly lay down on the bed, pretending to fall asleep.

Even though he softened for a moment and played along, that feeling of resentment inside him hadn’t disappeared.

Lin Qinghen’s mind was all about experiments, all about those few pots of soil! At a time like this, he was still thinking about them!

But on the other hand, Yin Jiuxiao also felt strangely comforted, a little thought blooming quietly in his heart—he’s doing this for me.

For the first time, someone was rushing forward to protect him. Even though Lin Qinghen was so weak, someone still cared, someone who’d fiercely promised to stand up for him.

Lin Qinghen had already left. Yin Jiuxiao lay on the bed, thinking for a long time before he couldn’t resist reaching out to touch his own cheek, as if he’d successfully convinced himself.

He wanted to know what exactly Lin Qinghen planned to do. So, Yin Jiuxiao restrained the more malicious ideas in his heart, continuing to lie there obediently, listening.

Yu Yinyin would definitely be coming by to deliver the materials Lin Qinghen had requested.

She immediately noticed the slight bruise at the corner of his eye, and the first thing she checked was the necklace she’d given him. Sure enough, it had been used.

“Did the Yin family dare bully you?”

Yu Yinyin flared up instantly. “Die Meng Medicine Hall offered to bail out Yin Hengxie, and this is how he treats you? What trash!”

“It wasn’t Yin Hengxie,” Lin Qinghen, having received the items, was calm. “It was someone else.”

Yu Yinyin was still fuming. “Who? I’ll skin him!”

Awake, Yin Jiuxiao heard her words and felt the same. He, too, wanted to flay the person. But it was clear Lin Qinghen had other plans.

“Skin them, yes, but not like that.” Lin Qinghen glanced at Yu Yinyin. “No rush.”

It should only be a matter of days now.

There were many ways to take revenge, but if it was just temporary, it might only end up backfiring.

Lin Qinghen knew how to endure; he knew how to strike at the heart.

Yu Yinyin, too, was swayed by him, calmed down with just a few words.

Since that discovery about the Red Round Wheat, she had gradually started listening to Lin Qinghen’s advice. There was no need to put on airs as his master anymore. These days, Lin Qinghen was practically the one in charge.

She took the latest batch of elixirs produced by Lin Qinghen’s system before leaving. She was already so accustomed to this routine, keeping it well hidden from others.

Compared to wondering how Lin Qinghen crafted this Homeostasis Powder, she was more concerned with what he was working on now.

He’d requested various materials, and his room was still filled with soil and some withered spirit plants. It was unclear what kind of experiment he was running.

By the looks of it, it might be something even more powerful than the Red Round Wheat.

Lin Qinghen noticed her curiosity, but he wasn’t ready to explain; his primary results weren’t even complete.

“Master, just trust me,” he said, thinking for a moment before adding, “Come back the day after tomorrow if all goes well.”

He had a certain amount of confidence.

After Yu Yinyin left, Lin Qinghen threw himself into his intense research once again.

His recent inspiration came from spirit devices and simulacrum.

In truth, there were many materials for copying, but fully copying demonic qi was pointless.

The material in his hand was tricky to use, weak in effect, but that very weakness was what made it ideal for this moment.

When he first discovered this formula, he tested it. It couldn’t fully replicate anything; it only briefly produced a faint shadow, a shallow illusion, but this illusion could trick certain spirit plants. Yellow-tier spirit plants had limited discernment.

Now, if he used it to mimic demonic qi, it could only replicate a bit of the appearance—an empty shell, really. But somehow, it could combine with real demonic qi to confuse the spirit plants, triggering a unique state.

But this copied aura didn’t carry demonic qi’s corrosive effects. When the actual demonic qi fell below a certain threshold, it allowed his spirit plants with more robust meridians to survive it.

The problem Lin Qinghen had been facing could now be solved.

Though he hadn’t revealed all of this to Yu Yinyin, in truth, he was pretty confident.

Now it was just a matter of adjusting the soil’s proportions to balance with the medicine, allowing the demonic qi and the deceptive imitation to blend, activating the spirit plants’ latent power. His task would then be complete.

Once inspiration struck, it was only a matter of time.

After the Trial Grounds incident, Lin Qinghen seemed to be in a real state of seclusion, barely leaving his room, especially at night.

When Yin Jiuxiao couldn’t hold back and went to find him, he was politely yet firmly turned away again, Lin Qinghen’s eyes not even glancing at him, all focus on his pots of soil and jumbled plants.

Yin Jiuxiao: He’s brushing me off again!

And that one night, when Lin Qinghen wasn’t beside him, he couldn’t sleep at all.

But Lin Qinghen had a way to handle him.

He’d noticed that a single kiss could quiet Yin Jiuxiao down considerably.

Since it worked, Lin Qinghen didn’t mind using it repeatedly to achieve his goal.

While feeling brushed off, Yin Jiuxiao still found himself following along.

The scent of herbs was strongest when Lin Qinghen leaned in close, his slender frame pressing against him. And he’d soothe him, whispering, “Jiuxiao, listen to me. Once I finish this, no one will dare bully you again.”

Yin Jiuxiao’s anger melted instantly, his heart softening as he followed his lead.

Although Lin Qinghen was in seclusion and researching, Yin Jiuxiao didn’t stay idle. That night, he didn’t sleep at all and focused on cultivation instead. Perhaps it was his state of mind, but his dual meridian fusion progressed faster than he’d expected.

When the complete fusion took place, it felt like returning to his previous life.

That faint shadow of ultimate supremacy flickered, and he caught hold of a sliver of it.

Before his meridians fused, based solely on his past life’s techniques, he could already tell that Lin Qingshuang was no match for him.

Demonic qi had an innate corrosive effect on spirit qi, and once it fused, he could manipulate it. This unique foundation was truly unmatched.

Now, with the fusion complete, the dual meridians became both a key and a boundless source of power.

Estimating his current level, Yin Jiuxiao figured he was around Earth-tier six stars in Spirit Master rank. With his modified Nine Heavens Exquisite Cloud Sword technique cultivated to the sixth level, he was still far from his peak.

But in terms of raw power, no one in Lei City could be his match, so long as he struck swiftly.

Even Yin Hengxie might not be able to best him in a head-to-head fight—this was his confidence.

Ah, when he’d reached this state in his past life, he’d already crawled out of the abyss, hidden his identity, and was ready to strike down his enemies. Now, however…

Yin Jiuxiao’s thoughts were interrupted as he opened his eyes to see Lin Qinghen sitting before him, watching.

In those eyes—the only part of him not marked by birthmarks—there was a clear weariness, but also a bright, shining light.

“Were you cultivating?” Lin Qinghen softly asked as he noticed him awake.

“Mm,” Yin Jiuxiao nodded. “Nothing much came of it, but with you gone, I didn’t have anything else to do.”

The reborn Sword Master, who’d once “swept across his enemies,” was now so adept at playing the pitiful that it came naturally.

Especially in front of Lin Qinghen, he was so used to it that even if he could dominate Lei City, he still felt the need to act meekly in front of him.

“Are you done now?” he asked hopefully.

Lin Qinghen, as if granting his wish, leaned over to embrace him, resting his head on his shoulder with a long, drawn-out sigh, finally relaxing. “Yes, I’m done.”

His advancement task was a success.

He’d met the system’s requirement of improving five spirit plants, even exceeding the goal. All the spirit plants he’d modified had now broken through their current stars.

The reward included the ability to select three mid-grade Yellow-tier pill recipes, which Lin Qinghen chose with ease: the Spirit Nurturing Pill, Vitality Enhancement Pill, and Gale Powder, all perfectly suited to his modified plants.

As for the Healing Pill, he deemed it too similar to the Homeostasis Powder and set it aside.

Lin Qinghen was calm upon receiving these recipes. He’d already counted on them, but the advancement task granted him an unexpected extra reward.

This bonus even surprised Lin Qinghen.

The system had unlocked a second production line for him, allowing him to craft two types of medicine simultaneously.

Lin Qinghen’s Homeostasis Powder was in continuous production, having supported Die Meng Medicine Hall for over twenty days now. He’d even managed to reduce the production time per bottle to about a minute.

Despite some breaks due to limited supply from Die Meng’s Garden, his speed advantage had quickly secured a market for Homeostasis Powder in Lei City.

But that wasn’t enough.

Lin Qinghen planned to use the newly unlocked production line to make five bottles of medicine. Although the system classified each based on ingredients, resulting in varying production times, the first batch was Gale Powder.

Originally a mere Yellow-tier six-star pill, it now emerged as a light green elixir after two and a half hours of production, each bottle containing ten pills.

Lin Qinghen lacked appraisal abilities, so he couldn’t be sure of its exact potency. Still, with the system’s required 100% boost, a star-level breakthrough was inevitable.

To confirm the bonus, he tested it himself.

Upon consuming a pill, his body felt lighter. He ran a few steps, noting an increase in speed, though he couldn’t pinpoint anything extraordinary.

When he leaped, though, he felt his body as light as a feather, with a distinct floating sensation that gradually faded as the pill’s effect wore off. Unlike before, there was no fatigue afterward.

Not only did it boost his speed, but this pill granted a brief ability to float or even fly, broadening its combat applications.

One little Yellow-tier pill now had the effect of a Mysterious-tier elixir.

And unlike the supporting Homeostasis Powder, this pill’s explosive effect varied depending on the user.

With his thin spirit qi and lack of combat instincts, Lin Qinghen could still reach such a level, meaning others could use it to even greater effect.

Confident, Lin Qinghen tested the elixir as Yin Jiuxiao entered the final fusion stage, so focused that he barely noticed his surroundings until he opened his eyes and found Lin Qinghen before him.

After holding him close, Lin Qinghen took a step back, and Yin Jiuxiao looked down into his eyes. In them, he saw an unshakable resolve and confidence, a fearless light softened by tenderness.

“I can stand up for you now,” Lin Qinghen promised, as firm as ever.

This side of Lin Qinghen softened even Yin Jiuxiao’s indomitable spirit. He drew him into a close embrace and replied, “Alright.”

So be it. For him, everything for him.