"I really didn’t want to come," Du Qiankun sighed. "But my daughter insisted on coming. She’s the only one left in my bloodline now. If anything were to happen to her..."
"..." Lin Hui’s expression was calm, his eyes closed as he cultivated the Great Yin Yang Time Reversal Sword Technique. This sword technique was extremely unique. It was an advanced version of the Star Breath Sword Manual. In essence, it involved absorbing a vast amount of special power converted from the stars, using it to radically strengthen his body and mind for the sole purpose of reaching the pinnacle of speed.
The power he absorbed was unlike any found in this world, and it was of an exceedingly high level. Furthermore, all of it was channeled into strengthening his body and mind, with not a single trace leaking out.
That was why even Du Qiankun, who was right beside him, couldn’t tell he was cultivating the entire time.
Even the radiant fluctuations naturally emitted by his enhanced body were completely absorbed by the Indestructible Sacred Eye.
This was the innate aura-concealment talent that Core Disciples of Qingfeng Dao were born with. With their radiant auras fully absorbed, all that remained were simple biological signs like a heartbeat and breath—things that any master even slightly above the Priest Level could perfectly control.
As a result, the disciples of Qingfeng Dao were naturally endowed with the supreme talents of an assassin.
The group traveled by ship on the Jade Sea for two months.
Flying the flag of a small merchant vessel, the ship maintained a moderate, inconspicuous speed, keeping its cover intact until it finally arrived at the Royal City of Biqiu.
Yuanhe and the other six posed as minor merchants who had come to procure goods. Their cover story was that they had risked their entire fortune, betting on a stroke of luck, to restock in Biqiu and hopefully stage a comeback.
The Royal City was monitored by a vast and intricate array, making it impossible for Lin Hui and his group to enter undetected. Thus, they all landed, assumed disguises, and entered the city as simple tourists.
"Hey, Brother Lin, this is my first time in the Taixu Imperial City. Are there any local customs or taboos I should know about? Could you give me a little rundown?" Still following Lin Hui, Du Qiankun glanced around at the massive, uniquely styled Imperial City.
The two of them floated through a series of square courtyards, passing continuously through tunnels bored into the walls.
These courtyards were formed by towering, airtight square pavilions that soared into the clouds—a completely urbanized landscape with no view of natural scenery whatsoever.
There were also vehicle tracks extending ten thousand meters high into the misty clouds.
The sight of it all left Du Qiankun completely dazzled.
Lin Hui, for his part, was also somewhat surprised. He hadn’t been here in some time, and now he was seeing a new type of steam-powered cargo vehicle on the streets of the Imperial City.
Except, this steam wasn’t produced by combustion. Instead, it came from a black rhinoceros that spewed fire from its mouth and nose. The beast was clad in a strange suit of heavy black metal armor, to which a dense network of tubes was connected, channeling scalding steam out from the rear.
These fire rhinos were penned in the middle section of the vehicle, and the steam they generated was continuously fed into the engines at the front and rear, converting it into motive power.
This scene left Lin Hui deep in thought.
’Perhaps it won’t be long before this world develops something akin to a steam engine.’
’The Limitation restricts the number of top-level masters. It seems to have also spurred the ingenuity of the common people to some extent.’
’Large numbers of ferocious beasts and mist monsters have been devolved into edible resources, greatly boosting population growth and development.’
*
*
*
「Inside Tingyuan.」
「At the edge of a bottomless, pitch-black vortex.」
Huang Weijun floated respectfully in mid-air, waiting for new instructions from the depths of the vortex.
"The Tianxin Gang’s party is insignificant, but the swarm of flies trailing behind them is rather nauseating. And I’m sure the Taixu have a hand in it." A low voice slowly drifted out of the vortex.
"However, according to my calculations, that Sheyuan Power Array gathers the power of the masses to forcibly increase the strength of those few from the Tianxin Gang by thirty to fifty times. The effect is quite impressive. The drawback is that it shortens their lifespans by over fifty years each. But for masters accomplished in the Martial Dao, a lifespan of several hundred years is an affordable price, as long as they don’t get polluted," Huang Weijun replied respectfully.
"No matter. That array must be another creation of the Taixu. It can even fuse several other types of Tainted Power. Not bad at all. The enhanced, concentrated power isn’t just poured into the vessel of a living being. Instead, it strengthens and expands the vessel itself, then uses an infinite infusion of Tainted Power to replenish their Inner Strength..." The voice from the vortex was clearly well-versed in the Sheyuan Power Array.
"That is powerful indeed. If so, perhaps we can acquire this array during this operation and use it for our breakthrough into that other Realm," Huang Weijun said, pondering.
"It’s worth a try," the reply came from the vortex. "Alright, I’m leaving this matter entirely to you and Dishuo to handle. Just like the last two times, don’t bother me unless it’s important."
The voice slowly subsided, leaving only silence.
"Yes." Huang Weijun bowed his head respectfully, remaining motionless until the voice had completely disappeared, then he slowly raised it.
The familiar, affable smile reappeared on his face.
"Dishuo, it’s just the two of us again." He turned and looked at a black figure that was slowly materializing in mid-air not far away.
The figure was entwined in black chains, concealing any hint of its face or form.
"What is it?" Dishuo looked at him coldly.
Huang Weijun normally wouldn’t speak to him unless he had a reason. Greeting him proactively like this obviously meant he had something to discuss.
"I was hoping we could make a small arrangement. Could you leave all the Insect People who are coming this time for me to handle?" Huang Weijun said with a sycophantic smile. "After all, it’s been a while since I’ve had a proper meal, and this is a rare opportunity."
"Suit yourself," Dishuo said coldly, his figure silently vanishing from sight.
"Hehe, my thanks." Huang Weijun said with a grin, cupping his hands in a mock gesture of gratitude.
With his colleague gone, he swiftly ascended, returning to the cliffs flanking the abyss.
He had just reached the top when he unexpectedly saw a familiar, white-haired old man standing at the cliff’s edge.
"Bai Lu? Don’t you have anything better to do than to come here again?" Huang Weijun asked with a smirk, licking his lips.
"Lord Huang... I have come to remind you that there are several youths from Qingfeng Dao in the Tianxin Gang’s party this time. I implore you, when you make your move, to please spare their lives," Bai Lu said, bowing deeply to Huang Weijun.
"Spare their lives?" Huang Weijun laughed aloud. It was a short, sharp sound that sent a chill down one’s spine.
"Old man, have you been hiding in your rat hole for so long you’ve forgotten your place? What makes you and your pathetic bunch from Taixu think you’re anything special? How dare you speak such words before me, Huang Weijun?"
"My lord, you misunderstand... I am not pleading for myself or my people. I am pleading for all life, for this entire decaying world!" Bai Lu replied, remaining bowed.
"You mean, that guy from Qingfeng Dao?" Huang Weijun instantly recalled the scene of his avatar being frozen and sealed, and he couldn’t help but lick his lips again.
’The taste of that crystal... It was so fresh, so unfamiliar, filled with some strange and powerful energy...’
"Precisely," Bai Lu said, straightening up. "Too many from Qingfeng Dao have come this time. On top of that, the Limitation has caused that individual’s friends and relatives to die prematurely. His anchors to this world are dwindling... I am worried..."
"Worried about what? I’ve been dying to find out what that one tastes like..." Huang Weijun’s eyes lit up.
"You’re always trying to talk me out of it. If eating this batch can lure him out, then that’s perfect... a two-for-one deal." His smile grew even wider.
"My lord... You mustn’t!" Alarmed, Bai Lu immediately prepared to lay out the dire consequences, but with a wave of Huang Weijun’s hand, his form vanished.
’A bunch of wastes, just repeating the same old lines over and over!’ Huang Weijun thought, paying it no mind as he flew straight toward the exit.
’He was sick to death of hearing Bai Lu’s spiel. It was always the same thing: whatever you do, don’t provoke that Lin Hui guy.’
’There’s a great danger hidden within him, ready to erupt at any moment.’
’But from his observations over the years, everything around Lin Hui was remarkably stable. If he were really as dangerous as Bai Lu claimed, Lin Hui couldn’t possibly conceal the spillover fluctuations of that danger with his own power alone.’
’Therefore, he concluded that Lin Hui had indeed been tainted by the aura of the Wind Calamity, but only superficially. Bai Lu’s repeated nonsense was just a ploy, using Qingfeng Dao as a front to save people from his clutches time and time again.’
’What a joke. Countless beings have been eroded and tainted by the Wind Calamity. Of all those in the Fusion Sect, the vast majority are on the same level as those who fuse with Hui Jing, Purgatory, or Extreme Cold.’
’The only difference is that the fused Disaster Power itself is a notch stronger, and that’s it.’
’If I have to yield every time I run into someone tainted by the Wind Calamity, how am I supposed to feed myself in the future?!’
’After this happening so many times, Huang Weijun was certain it was all just a bluff—a Wind Calamity front deliberately put up by Bai Lu and his Taixu cronies.’
’As far as he knew, a genuine victim of Wind Calamity corruption couldn’t possibly stay this quiet for so long without any incidents.’
’Bai Lu and his Taixu gang had pulled this little trick more than once. To think they’d fooled him three times in a row... it was his own fault for being careless, for not observing more closely. He’d missed out on so many delicacies...’
’Besides, even if there really was some Wind Calamity trouble backing him, he could just have Dishuo deal with it. It wouldn’t be a big issue. In theory, the fundamental Power of Decay and the Wind Disaster Power aren’t that far apart in strength. On our home turf, overwhelming it with sheer numbers won’t be a problem.’
’Huang Weijun made up his mind. This time, he wouldn’t give face to anyone. He was going to feast to his heart’s content!’
’That Lin Hui has repeatedly sheltered the bloodlines of Tingyuan’s traitors and even sealed the imperials sent to hunt them down. He’s utterly insolent. This time, I might as well convict and eliminate him along with the rest.’
At this thought, he waved his hand, shattering the illusory image of Bai Lu that was trying to rematerialize in the distance.
"Get back to your hole and stay there! Don’t ruin my appetite!"
In an instant, the entire spatial fabric of Tingyuan intensified, completely cutting off any projections from the Taixu for a short time.
「Meanwhile, in another mysterious space.」
Wisps of pale green mist permeated the air. Bai Lu leaned on his staff, his face pale with genuine panic.
He was trembling from head to toe.
"It’s over... we’re finished! I knew it! When he asked me about the Limitation, I knew something terrible would happen! And now... it’s just as I feared... just as I feared!"
From the mist beside him, a female figure composed entirely of verdant leaves quickly took shape. "Then what are we to do!? Can’t we go find Daoist Master Lin?" the Green Leaf Girl asked in a sorrowful voice.
"The problem now is that if those three from Qingfeng Dao are... dealt with... then no matter what we say, something is bound to happen with Daoist Master Lin!!" Bai Lu sighed. "This isn’t a situation that can be solved with a few simple words of persuasion!"
"Since it has come to this, what if we try to seal Daoist Master Lin away completely? Or even exile him?" the Green Leaf Girl suggested tentatively.
"It would be better to just snatch those three from the Tianxin Gang’s party," Bai Lu said.
"That’s one way to do it."
"But the key issue now is that Huang Weijun isn’t going to hold back anymore. Sending Daoist Master Lin away directly is the safest option," Bai Lu said grimly. The more he considered it, the better the idea seemed.
"But the problem now is, where is Daoist Master Lin?" the Green Leaf Girl asked.
"This..." Bai Lu was struck dumb.
Starting from a certain day five years ago, they could no longer sense Lin Hui’s aura. It was as if he had completely vanished from this world.
They could only meet him when he initiated the contact.
But now...
Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!
Use arrow keys (or A / D) to PREV/NEXT chapter