Chapter 458 - 410: Family Crest

Chapter 458: Chapter 410: Family Crest

Back in his room, Zhao Lin stared at the design for a long time.

A crescent moon and three plum blossoms. The design seemed simple, yet it was quite elegant, possessing a unique aesthetic and beauty.

Zhao Lin already suspected that the robbery might not have been the work of rogue cultivators, and now he was almost certain that the culprit was someone else.

Rogue cultivators who owned a Spiritual Vessel were rare, let alone one with a special emblem.

The Li family of Three Mountains County was the prime suspect, but Zhao Lin had seen their family crest before: three mountains on the left and a stylized character for their name on the right. It was a far cry from the crescent moon and plum blossom design.

"Whoever you are, I swear I’ll drag you out!"

The next day, Zhao Lin went to the administrative office and found several managers, asking them if they had ever seen an emblem or family crest similar to the crescent moon and plum blossoms.

In the end, no one recognized it. Even the market master, Wei Zongchuan, said he had never seen it.

’Strange. This design wasn’t just casually carved onto the vessel for aesthetic reasons. It must be the emblem of some family or organization, so why doesn’t anyone recognize it?’

Zhao Lin couldn’t help but feel troubled. The administrative office dealt with all the shops, so if even they didn’t recognize it, it would be difficult to uncover the design’s origin.

"Shopkeeper Zhao, enjoying some downtime?"

A voice came from behind him. Zhao Lin turned to see Liu Chaoyuan walking over with a smile, holding several notice boards in his hand.

"Shopkeeper Liu!"

Zhao Lin’s heart stirred. Linglong Pavilion had shops in all the major market squares, and Liu Chaoyuan was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Perhaps he had seen this design before.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, he took out the piece of paper and asked, "Elder Liu, have you seen this design before?"

Liu Chaoyuan took it and glanced at it, saying in a slightly uncertain tone, "It looks like a family crest."

Then he shook his head. "I have traveled far and wide and dealt with many families, but this is the first time I’ve seen this design."

He handed the paper back to Zhao Lin and asked, "Where did you see this?"

Zhao Lin casually made up an excuse: "A few days ago, someone brought a magic treasure to the shop for appraisal. This junior happened to see it, got curious, and drew a copy to broaden my horizons."

Liu Chaoyuan said, "Oh," and pondered for a moment before speaking. "While I can’t make sense of it, there is an expert in our market square who is very knowledgeable about emblems and family crests."

"You’ve probably heard of him—Chen Yiliang of Zhen’an Hall. I happen to be acquainted with him. Why don’t we go and consult him together?"

Zhao Lin naturally agreed, and so the two of them went to Zhen’an Hall together.

Zhen’an Hall was a medical hall that specialized in the medical arts. It had a branch in almost every market square and had even expanded to outer sects.

The medical arts were one of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, ranking in the top ten in terms of importance. They covered a very wide range, including not only treating internal and external injuries but also health preservation and the pursuit of the Dao.

How a cultivator could break through a bottleneck, or how an elderly cultivator could maintain their realm as their cultivation declined—these all fell under the purview of the medical arts.

Zhen’an Hall was on Yunshui Street, not far from the administrative office. As Zhao Lin and Liu Chaoyuan arrived at the main entrance, they happened to see Gu An and Tang Zhengquan walking out.

"Shopkeeper Zhao," the two greeted with a bow.

"Brother Tang, how are your injuries?" Zhao Lin asked with concern.

"The physician prescribed a few pills and said I’ll be fully recovered after resting for half a month."

"That’s good. You two can head back first."

After giving them a few more words of instruction, Zhao Lin and Liu Chaoyuan walked into Zhen’an Hall.

Unlike other shops, the medical hall had quite a few customers, but it was remarkably quiet.

The hall was spacious and bright. A row of long benches lined both sides, on which a dozen or so cultivators were seated.

In the center was a table, and behind it sat two young cultivators. They wore square caps and moon-white robes, dressed as physicians, and appeared to be apprentices of the medical hall.

In the inner area was a row of stone rooms with signs like "A," "B," "C," and "D" hanging on the doors.

When Zhao Lin and Liu Chaoyuan entered the hall, the two apprentices saw that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had arrived and quickly stood up to bow. "Are you two here for treatment or for consultation?"

Liu Chaoyuan said boisterously, "Neither treatment nor consultation. I know your Master, Chen Yiliang, and I have business with him."

The apprentice on the left said, "The Master is currently seeing a patient. Please wait a moment, and I’ll go inform him."

"Fine, but don’t keep me waiting too long."

Liu Chaoyuan pulled Zhao Lin to sit on a bench and crossed his legs to wait.

After a short while, the apprentice returned. "My Master invites you both to go over. He’s in Room A."

Zhao Lin and Liu Chaoyuan walked to the door of the room, pushed it open, and saw an old man with a full head of white hair and a gaunt, clear-featured face sitting in the middle of the stone chamber.

The moment they entered, the old man’s sharp gaze shot over, swept past Liu Chaoyuan, and settled on Zhao Lin.

Zhao Lin felt a thread-like Divine Sense scan his body, but he wasn’t alarmed. Offensive magic was forbidden in the market square, and the old man’s technique was somewhat similar to the martial art’s Jade Illumination Skill.

Liu Chaoyuan smiled faintly and said nothing, simply stepping aside.

The old man’s Divine Sense swept over Zhao Lin’s meridians and Spiritual Acupoints, finally stopping on the Zhengshu Acupoint. He then spoke: "Young friend, your Qi and Blood are abundant, and your meridians are stable. What’s most commendable is that you don’t have a single hidden injury. Your foundation is solid!"

"If I’m not mistaken, you have already cultivated to the peak of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Once you break through the Zhengshu Acupoint, you will be able to enter the Qi Refining Seventh Layer."

Zhao Lin was slightly astonished. It was one thing for the old man to see his cultivation level, but to be able to accurately name the specific Spiritual Acupoint he was cultivating was truly impressive.

Each level of the Qi Refining Realm has twelve Spiritual Acupoints, and a cultivator can choose any one of them; there is no fixed requirement.

"Master Chen, your perception is truly remarkable. This junior is deeply impressed!"

Zhao Lin gave a deep bow. Without needing to ask, he knew this was the master of the medical hall, Chen Yiliang.

Chen Yiliang laughed heartily and turned to Liu Chaoyuan. "Younger Brother Liu, to what do I owe the honor of your visit today?"