Copper Mirror Lake.
Lin Zhao took out a golden Water Cloud Stone and two silver Water Cloud Stones. These were enough to nourish the water luck in Copper Mirror Lake and ensure that Han Yurou and Luhu's cultivation would be worry-free after their current level. As for Zhang Xicheng, he was a Mountain God of Mount Ziyun, enfeoffed by the Great Shang Dynasty. He only needed to be diligent and bring blessings to the common people under his jurisdiction, and Lin Zhao did not need to bestow anything upon him.
In return, Zhang Xicheng and Han Yurou happily gave Lin Zhao all fifty jars of their aged peach blossom wine. Lin Zhao accepted them all without hesitation. After all, he had many friends in the martial world, and their peach blossom wine was never enough. Moreover, at the Mountain Peak Villa, Huang Tingyu, Tang Guangjun, Mu Zha, and others were all wine-lovers, wishing Lin Zhao would issue wine as salary. Without good wine, things wouldn't work.
After bidding farewell to Zhang Xicheng, Han Yurou, and Luhu, he returned to the Snow Region Heavenly Pond.
The moment he stepped into the Mountain Peak Villa, a bell sound echoed in Lin Zhao's ears. Finally, this trip south to the Shu Prefecture for the strategic maneuver had a mission reward –
"Ding!"
System prompt: Congratulations on completing the "Shu Prefecture Chaos" plot. You have received plot compensation rewards: Current level experience +400%, Charm +12, Golden Mullet Coins +100, Reputation +50000, and an additional reward: [Return to Origin Helmet] (Saint Artifact)!
…
Streams of golden rain descended. With a 400% experience reward for the current level, he advanced three levels. However, Lin Zhao's attention was not on this; he was more interested in the additional reward.
A Saint Artifact was rewarded!
He quickly opened his inventory and saw a tea-white helmet lying quietly in a corner. He took it out and held it in his arms. A warmth permeated his entire body. He brushed his hand over it, and the stats did not disappoint –
[Return to Origin Helmet] (Saint Artifact)
Type: Armor
Defense: 5850
Strength: +225
Stamina: +220
Agility: +218
Spiritual Power: +216
Special Effect: Damage Reduction +10%
Special Effect: Precision, Hit Rate +145%
Special Effect: Damage Increase, User's Attack Damage +100%
Special Effect: Resilience, increases user's HP by 45000 points
Additional: Increases user's attack power by 95%
Additional: Increases user's defense by 93%
Required Strength: 5000
Required Level: 170
…
With a "clink," he equipped it directly, and his combat power instantly approached 80,000, making him an absolute top-tier on the national server. As for the stacking of basic equipment attributes, it was naturally very important. Although in the version updates of "Tian Xia," realm and magic treasures were the true kingmakers, to deal high damage with magic treasures, one still needed to boost the basic attributes. Therefore, even though the Return to Origin Helmet had no special skills or overly exaggerated effects, it was sufficient for Lin Zhao.
He wanted that 10% damage reduction, that 100% damage increase, and the 95% attack power boost. With these attributes stacked together, his survivability would be stronger, and his flying sword damage would be higher.
Furthermore, there were 100 unbound Golden Mullet Coins, which also made Lin Zhao extremely delighted. This was equivalent to 100 million universal coins!
Tian Ran Ju.
"Young Master!"
Liu Liying was the first to greet him. Seeing that Lin Zhao was safe and sound, her pretty face was filled with joy. A few seconds later, Dong Cang also arrived, followed by Tong Yu, Chen Ben, Zhuang Yirong, Zhang Luobai, and others who had heard the news. Lin Zhao introduced the Sect Master Wei of the Daoist Ancestral Hall to them one by one and reserved the best guest rooms for Wei Huarao.
Night.
Dong Cang, Liu Liying, and Tong Yu were cooking and stewing in the kitchen, preparing dinner to welcome everyone back from the south and to greet Wei Huarao. Lin Zhao went to the edge of the lotus pond. After a moment of thought, he took out a golden Water Cloud Stone and ten silver Water Cloud Stones from his inventory and threw them all into the depths of the lotus pond. This would make the spiritual energy of the lotus pond even more concentrated and would, in turn, nourish the entire Mountain Peak Villa.
"Hmph..."
Gu Yanshu, clad in a dark purple long gown, stood shoulder to shoulder with Lin Zhao at the edge of the lotus pond. He glanced at the women in the kitchen and sneered, "Lin Zhao, you brought me back to the Mountain Peak Villa to let me witness the mundane life you cherish, and then tell me that the world does have warmth, but I, Gu Yanshu, chose a crooked path. Then, you use this preachy approach to achieve your goals, both to open my mind and to enhance your own cultivation, giving yourself a chance to break through?"
Lin Zhao turned to look at him and smiled, "Yes, I do want you to see what true mundane life looks like. You've lived alone in the mountains since you were young and suffered too much, so your state of mind has many flaws. Bringing you back to the Mountain Peak Villa is also an opportunity for you."
"What opportunity?"
"Atonement."
Lin Zhao frowned, "In the Shu Prefecture battle, you killed Xiao Cong, Liu Xingshu, He Shufan, Li Chuyun, and others. The karma you've accumulated is too much. I should have killed you with a single sword, but you are the owner of the Deer Seeking Sword and are at the twelfth realm. If your state of mind's flaws can be remedied and the戾气 within you eliminated, perhaps you can become a top-tier cultivator who draws his sword against demons for the human race. The more demons you kill, the more you atone."
Gu Yanshu let out a cold laugh, "Do you really think you are the arbiter of heavenly law? Can the affairs of the world be dictated by you, Lin Zhao?"
"I will do my best."
Lin Zhao sighed, "If it really doesn't work out, it's not too late to kill you then."
Gu Yanshu sneered, "As you wish."
He frowned, "How do you plan to arrange for me?"
Lin Zhao pointed to the apricot grove in the distance and said, "There is a room in the apricot grove that is usually used for storing things. Later, I will have Dong Cang clean it up for you. I will also give you a broom. From now on, you will sweep the mountain paths in the Mountain Peak Villa."
"Hmph!"
Gu Yanshu snorted coldly, neither confirming nor denying.
…
Lin Zhao got up and took Yu Wannian up the mountain. He chose a small building that Yu Wannian liked, and it would be her residence from now on. After the battle at Ling Que Lake, Yu Wannian indeed qualified to be a resident of the Mountain Peak Villa.
Soon after, the Tian Ran Ju was filled with the aroma of food. As usual, Lin Zhao invited "Wine Immortals" like Huang Tingyu, Su Shanjun, and Han Buyu to the mountain. He himself accompanied Wei Huarao. At this moment, Wei Huarao finally understood the ethos of the Mountain Peak Villa. Status was not determined by cultivation realm. Tang Guangjun, a twelfth-realm Grand Sword Immortal, had a very low status, while Dong Cang, an intermediate-realm apricot maiden, had a very high status. Even those at the twelfth realm like Su Qingjiu and Huang Tingyu treated Dong Cang with respect.
By the time they had eaten their fill, it was already late at night.
"Lin Zhao."
Slightly tipsy, Wei Huarao looked even more charming and beautiful. After calling Lin Zhao's name, she said, "Let's go, take me for a tour of your Mountain Peak Villa."
"Okay!"
Lin Zhao happily accepted the order and then led Wei Huarao from the foot of the mountain to the peak, touring the bamboo forests and lotus ponds. Finally, they arrived at the summit. Upon reaching the peak, Lin Zhao's expression became serious. He clasped his hands in respect towards the mountain wind with a solemn demeanor. He had returned to the martial path here with the help of Mr. Bai, and Mr. Bai could be considered half his master, thus deserving of his utmost respect.
Wei Huarao stood beside him, a smile on her face, and said, "I wanted to stay a few more days, but there's unrest in the upper realm, so I have to return early."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao was slightly disappointed. "Cuner, you're leaving already?"
"Yes."
Wei Huarao was pleased with the disappointment on his face and smiled, "So, in this last moment, I want to talk to you alone. It's too crowded and noisy over there."
"Yes, that's true."
"Here..."
Wei Huarao waved her hand, and five ancient swords, each shrouded in a hazy aura, appeared in the air from her sleeve. Wei Huarao smiled at Lin Zhao and said, "These are gifts for you before I leave. There are five swords in total, all immortal swords. Moreover, they are ancient immortal swords I found during my exploration of the upper realm. Their names are, in order: Qinghuan, Xiling, Chisu, Jinse, and Xuanyue. These five immortal swords are all considered top-quality among immortal swords. If you break through in the future, you can refine them into mid-grade refinement items, which will also increase your cultivation significantly. Keep them for now; you'll naturally use them later."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao accepted them without much ceremony, putting the five immortal swords into his spatial ring one by one.
Wei Huarao took out a piece of dark, pitch-black wood and said with a smile, "This is a piece of lightning-struck wood that is very rare even in the upper realm. It is said to be the remnant of a thirteenth-realm Zitan spirit that failed its tribulation in ancient times. It contains immense spiritual energy, and the wood itself is a treasure. I'll leave it to you; use it as you see fit."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao gladly accepted and said, "Cuner, since you are returning to the upper realm, please help me deliver something to my third senior brother, Ding Muchen."
"Ah!?"
Wei Huarao's delicate mouth parted slightly. To be honest, if it wasn't absolutely necessary, she really didn't want to exchange half a word with that Weapon Saint. Even looking at him made her annoyed. He was not as easy to get along with as Lin Zhao.
"What, is there any difficulty?" Lin Zhao asked in surprise.
"No."
Wei Huarao chuckled, "Do you want me to bring some fine wine?"
"Yes."
"Alright, he's almost drunk all the fine wine from our Daoist Ancestral Hall."
"..."
Lin Zhao scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed for his senior brother. He then began to sort things out from his inventory, giving Wei Huarao a total of 3 jars of Purple Bamboo Wine, 5 jars of Red Bamboo Wine, and 20 jars of Green Bamboo Wine. Since his senior brother could drink a lot, he gave him a bit more.
…
Wei Huarao collected all the fine wine in a storage bag. Her beautiful eyes looked at Lin Zhao, and she suddenly let out a laugh, "What about you? Do you have anything to give me? Even a keepsake would be fine."
"Ah?"
Lin Zhao rubbed his hands, looking a bit embarrassed, "Anything I can give you, I'm afraid you won't find appealing."
"It's okay."
Wei Huarao said, "The hairpin you gave Xiao Jiu'er back then, can you make one for me too? No need to engrave it with the Han Niu Sword, just ordinary engraving is fine."
"Deal!"
Lin Zhao immediately took Wei Huarao down the mountain. In the peach forest, he found a piece of premium peach wood and began to carve and roast it. Soon after, a very beautiful hairpin was finished. Lin Zhao originally didn't understand the style, but he saw a similar hairpin on Shi Hanyin and thought it looked good, so he remembered it. When the hairpin was made, Lin Zhao summoned his flying sword, Xin Huo, and used the tip to engrave "Cuner" on the tail of the hairpin.
When he handed it to Wei Huarao, the corners of her mouth were filled with smiles.