Chapter 189: Insight (II)

Time passed slowly. After three hours, Lin Zheyu exhaled a long breath of turbid air and collapsed onto the ground. He had surpassed his limit. In the weighted state, the time needed to reach his limit was greatly reduced.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 1]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 85%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

When I raise the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual to Perfection, I'll need to retrain the Golden Goose Technique to improve my control over more violent bursts of blood qi.

The Mountain Shattering Palm's blood qi burst technique was extremely brutal, and the more blood qi it unleashed at once, the more violent it became. He needed to set a tenth stage for the Golden Goose Technique to adapt it to even more violent blood qi bursts.

After resting for a while, Lin Zheyu rose and retrieved two sets of Absolute Dust Blood Coagulating Powder from inside the house. He poured out one and a half sets' worth of herbs and put the remaining half away for next time. To raise the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual using Origin Force, a single unit required only that bit of powder.

Use 1 unit of Origin Force to improve the Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual.

The thought spread out, followed by a familiar sensation. His exhausted body, having just surpassed its limit, recovered rapidly as a vast wave of mysterious energy swept through him. His muscles, tendons, skin, and bones underwent rapid transformation under the refinement of the mysterious energy.

A few breaths later, Lin Zheyu opened his eyes that were filled with deep fatigue.

[Heaven Rewards the Diligent]

[Name: Lin Zheyu]

[Origin Force: 0]

[Skills: Raging Wind Slash (Perfection), Golden Goose Technique (Ninth Stage: 100%), Hundred Refinements Treasure Manual (Third Stage: 92%), Tortoise Breath Grand Method (Third Stage: 100%)]

"92%. I still need 2 more units of Origin Force to reach Perfection," Lin Zheyu muttered to himself.

With 1 more unit of Origin Force, he could reach 99%, but the remaining 1% would require over a month of hard training if he did not use Origin Force. Since he could accumulate 1 unit of Origin Force roughly every three days, there was no need for that.

In the morning, sunlight spilled down and it brought a hint of warmth. Lin Zheyu sat in the courtyard to study poisons and toxicology. Even though his strength now matched that of a Marrow Refining Realm martial artist, he still had not abandoned his study of the Toxicology Codex.

The Toxicology Codex was merely the accumulated knowledge of the Medicine King Village near Songyi City, passed down through many generations of herb gatherers. Since no powerful martial artist had ever emerged from the Medicine King Village, its knowledge was limited, though it did record poisons capable of affecting Marrow Refining Realm martial artists.

But such poisons were rare, difficult to produce, and their effects were not as impressive as expected. What Lin Zheyu valued were not the poisons themselves but the toxicology theories, poison identification methods, and techniques such as making tracking powders. These pieces of knowledge could serve him greatly.

***

At noon, inside a restaurant on Xingluan Street.

"Brother Lin, you finally came," Jia Yanyong said with a smile.

Lin Zheyu would be leaving Bafang City in a few days and used this excuse to resign from his position in the Feihong Gang. Since then, he had asked Jia Yanyong and the others to call him Brother Lin. Being addressed as Lord Lin always felt strange and uncomfortable.

"How's the information gathering going?" Lin Zheyu asked.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The Central Plains were extremely far from Bafang City, and without a guide it was easy to get lost. Thus Lin Zheyu asked Jia Yanyong to gather information and check if any caravans were heading toward the Central Plains.

"Hey, I found something. The Central Plains are too far, so there are no caravans that go there directly. But since Bafang City is the largest city in this region, many people travel to the Central Plains for various reasons. The next departure is in twenty days. They'll gather at Xuanning Gate in Bafang City," Jia Yanyong said with a grin.

"Thanks. This meal is on me," said Lin Zheyu.

"

Sigh

. Once Brother Lin leaves for the Central Plains, no one will treat us at the Spring-Filled Pavilion anymore. I'll miss those days wandering there with you," Xie Jiang lamented.

"I wonder if Bafang City can even hold against the rebels. I trust Great Wei, but I still have a bad feeling," said Ning Hui. "If Bafang City falls, we'll have no choice but to head to the Central Plains and rely on Brother Lin," Ning Hui added.

As one of the major cities of the Southern Barbarian Region, Bafang City held a crucial position. If even it fell, the entire region would be in grave danger.

"Don't overthink it. I heard the rebel army is a righteous force. Even if Bafang City falls, they won't kill civilians," Jia Yanyong said casually.

Lin Zheyu could not help but think of old Chen Peijun and Manager Wu back in Songyi City, wondering how they were doing.

"

Tch

. If there's no danger to your life, why did you migrate to Bafang City with everyone else?" Xie Jiang retorted disdainfully.

"I was born a Feihong Gang man and I'll die a Feihong Gang spirit. The Feihong Gang fled here, so of course I followed!" Jia Yanyong chuckled as he spoke.

"

Heh...

" Xie Jiang let out a mocking laugh, clearly unimpressed.

After eating, Lin Zheyu treated Jia Yanyong and the others to a carefree time at the Spring-Filled Pavilion. The expenses at the Spring-Filled Pavilion were nothing to him, and since he would be leaving soon, he was extremely generous toward Jia Yanyong and the others. It wasn't because he wanted entertainment but rather to thank them for their help.

By the time they returned from the pavilion, night had already fallen. Lin Zheyu walked down the dark alleyways feeling refreshed. Visiting the Spring-Filled Pavilion once in a while was good for the body and mind.

Tap, tap, tap.

Crisp footsteps echoed. The corner of Lin Zheyu's mouth curved upward slightly. He had sensed someone following him earlier, which was why he deliberately chose this secluded route.

"You're Lin Zheyu, right? Come with us."

Three burly men stepped out from the alley, speaking coldly with unquestionable authority.

"Not bad. They finally sent Blood Qi Realm martial artists, eh? I wonder if killing a few more waves will force them to send Marrow Refining Realm fighters."

Lin Zheyu looked at the leading man and smiled faintly. After he had killed several waves of minions, the Forest Net Temple finally decided to send fighters of the Blood Qi Realm.

"

Hng!

"

Hearing that, the man's expression changed drastically, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart. He clutched his weapon tightly and reached for the signal flare with his left hand, intending to release it. But it was already too late.

Lin Zheyu's figure vanished in an instant. Several silver streaks flashed like lightning under the moonlight.

Puff, puff, puff.

Soft slicing sounds followed. A small dagger cut through the minions’ necks like tofu, leaving smooth and clean wounds.

Splat.

The three men widened their eyes as blood sprayed out before collapsing with a thud. Three heads rolled across the ground.