DEMON EMPEROR

CHAPTER 8 : A Gift from Ling Tong

Wong An, who was drinking wine, nearly spat it out when he heard Ling Tong's words.

"Senior Ling...this..."

Wong An was speechless. He was certainly happy that Ling Tong thought highly of Ba Bel and wanted to betroth him to his granddaughter, but Wong An felt everything was happening too quickly.

Although Wong An was Ba Bel's master, they had only known each other for a few days, and he hadn't yet imparted any martial arts knowledge to Ba Bel. Wong An felt it wasn't appropriate for him to arrange Ba Bel's betrothal.

"Hmm! Do you think my granddaughter isn't good enough for Bel'er?" Ling Tong's expression shifted slightly; it was clear he deeply cherished his granddaughter and was very sensitive about anything concerning Zhu Rong.

"Oh, it's not like that, Senior Ling." Wong An could only scratch his cheek, finding it difficult to explain the situation.

Ba Bel felt it was unfair for his master to face such a situation alone. "Uncle Ling, it's not that little sister isn't good enough; perhaps it's *I* who am unworthy of little sister Rong." Ba Bel then recounted his background as an orphan who had only met Wong An a few days ago.

Hearing this explanation softened Ling Tong's expression, and at the same time, increased his admiration for Ba Bel. Ling Tong hadn't expected Ba Bel to have such a tragic background and not yet be an official disciple of the Earth and Sky Sword Sect.

It had briefly crossed Ling Tong's mind to take Ba Bel and make him his disciple in the Five Mountains Sword Sect, but he felt it would be inappropriate to do so to Wong An, who had helped him. Ba Bel even continued by saying he might not possess martial arts talent capable of matching Zhu Rong.

Ling Tong stroked his chin, pondering Ba Bel's words. Actually, in Ling Tong's opinion, with Ba Bel's maturity for his age, intelligence, and temperament, Ling Tong was confident Ba Bel would become a respected figure in the martial arts world, but it all came down to his martial arts potential.

"Senior Ling, both are still so young and naive; isn't it too soon to discuss betrothal? Let them grow older, and let Zhu Rong first understand the situation. Introduce them to each other. If they are truly interested in each other, it won't be too late to betroth them." Wong An finally managed to put together the words he wanted to convey to Ling Tong.

Ling Tong didn't answer immediately but looked Ba Bel over from head to toe. He rarely felt so drawn to someone, and Ba Bel had truly succeeded in making him want to make Ba Bel a partner for his granddaughter, or at least his disciple.

"I hope you can provide enough resources for Bel'er so that his martial arts can develop well." Ling Tong then took something out from his clothes, a small wooden box. "Since I can't betroth my granddaughter yet, I must at least repay your kindness."

Wong An accepted Ling Tong's gift and then examined its contents. He found three pink pills inside.

"Senior Ling, these..." Wong An immediately recognized the pills and understood their value.

"Don't refuse; if it weren't for Bel'er, I would have been in trouble." Ling Tong asked Wong An to keep the pills and give them to Ba Bel at the appropriate time.

Ba Bel recognized the gift Ling Tong had given as Lotus Flower Pills. These three pills possessed potent healing properties, and each pill could increase one's inner energy by up to two 'circles'.

In martial arts, inner energy is measured in 'circles' because the inner energy cultivated by a practitioner forms small circles within them. If a practitioner cultivates ordinary breathing techniques, they can form one 'circle' of inner energy by diligently training for two years, while a talented practitioner can form one 'circle' each year.

When someone trains using high-level inner energy cultivation methods, they can gain two to three circles each year, and those who are exceptionally talented can form five to six circles.

Ba Bel, who possessed the Demonic Nine Transformations Manual in his memory — a text regarded as the most formidable inner energy cultivation manual — could allow those who practiced its techniques to gain sixty circles of inner energy annually. Even Ba Bel, who was not particularly talented, could still form ten to twelve circles each year, despite training with the Demonic Nine Transformations Manual.

Of course, acquiring high-level inner energy cultivation methods was not easy in the martial arts world. That's why most martial artists sought elixirs, herbs, and miraculous items capable of increasing their inner energy, but the price of each such item was also extremely high and expensive.

The three pills Ling Tong gave were estimated to be worth as much as a luxurious mansion in a major city. That's why Wong An hesitated slightly to accept them, but this was also a stroke of luck for his disciple, Ba Bel. If Ba Bel consumed these pills, he would at least have more inner energy than equally talented children his age.

Wong An planned to find ways to acquire more such items to aid Ba Bel's future development.

Ba Bel, on the other hand, considered gifting the three pills to his master, as they could temporarily suppress his master's old ailment. For Ba Bel, the three pills could indeed provide three to six circles of inner energy. However, for someone like him, who had the Demonic Nine Transformations Manual in his memory, these three pills were not particularly enticing.

That night, Ling Tong invited Wong An and Ba Bel to talk all night after asking one of the inn's servants to put Zhu Rong to sleep and feed her. Of course, after witnessing Ling Tong's abilities, no servant dared to refuse or contradict his request.

Repeatedly, Ling Tong praised Ba Bel's intelligence during their conversation. Ling Tong even reminded Ba Bel to visit the Five Mountains Sword Sect when he had the chance.

Wong An also received some valuable pointers that would greatly aid the progress of his martial arts. After all, the opportunity to converse with and even exchange knowledge with a figure like Ling Tong was truly rare.

"Bel'er, don't forget to visit Zhu Rong in a few years," Ling Tong said.

When morning arrived, Ling Tong intended to continue his journey. After giving his parting advice to Ba Bel, Ling Tong, carrying Zhu Rong, left the inn.

Ba Bel could only click his tongue in admiration, seeing Ling Tong's incredibly advanced and formidable lightness skill. Wong An also reminded Ba Bel that the martial arts world was vast, and there was always a higher peak beyond the current one, so Ba Bel must mind his conduct and not seek unnecessary trouble.

Ba Bel nodded slowly at Wong An's statement. Both chose to rest until noon before continuing their journey towards the Earth and Sky Sword Sect.