Chapter 257: True Intent Seed (I)

On Heavenly Blade Peak, Lin Zheyu and Li Mengxi slowly descended from over two thousand meters. Their pace was unhurried, as if they were strolling through their own courtyard. Not far away, Tang Weizhong stared at Lin Zheyu with a haggard, battered, and twisted expression. Appearing in such a wretched state under the eyes of so many spectators had utterly disgraced him.

"Zhentao, kill him. Help me kill him!" Tang Weizhong rasped hoarsely, his voice nearly hysterical. Unless Zhao Hao died, his thoughts would never find peace.

"Uncle, let us go back. We cannot completely tear our face with the Li Family yet," Tang Zhentao said, shaking his head calmly.

"But..."

Tang Weizhong still had something to say, but Tang Zhentao said softly, "Someone from the Soulcall Tower has already taken the mission. Their assassin is likely already nearby. Let them handle Zhao Hao's life."

"

Hmph!

"

Tang Weizhong shot Lin Zheyu a vicious glare before turning to leave with Tang Zhentao.

"Uncle, you were too reckless this time. You should not have used the secret art. After we return, you must recuperate properly. If you don't rest well after burning your essence, qi, and spirit twice in such a short span, you may not even be able to advance to the Force Transformation realm in the future," Tang Zhentao advised softly.

"Alright," Tang Weizhong replied after taking a deep breath.

With his anger settling, some regret also surfaced. Sacrificing his cultivation future just to vent his fury had been utterly foolish.

***

"Brother Zhao, you must be careful in the coming days. Based on the Tang Family's methods, they will likely issue a kill order through the Soulcall Tower. Why not stay at the Li Family estate for a while? Their assassination missions have time limits, you see. If the assassin fails within half a year, the mission is void. As long as you remain inside the Li Family, even Soulcall Tower assassins will not act rashly," Li Mengxi advised after seeing the murderous look in Tang Weizhong's eyes.

After witnessing Lin Zheyu's talent and potential, he had the intention of forming ties with him. His future achievements would be limitless once he grew. The Li Family, being an esteemed merchant family, understood the importance of connections. Even if Zhao Hao did not wish to join them, extending goodwill and forming a relationship now would make that favor extremely valuable when he rose to prominence.

They had investigated Lin Zheyu. Though they found no information about his true identity, they uncovered the alias Zhao Hao. According to the gathered information, Zhao Hao had a decent character. The fact that he had risked his life for a pet showed he was someone who valued feelings. Martial artists who treasured relationships were the best people to befriend.

"Soulcall Tower? Is it strong?" Lin Zheyu asked curiously. He had been in the Central Plains for quite some time, yet this was his first time hearing the name.

"Very strong. Soulcall Tower has many assassins, and it is said that even martial artists in the Martial Innate realm work for them. But they have rules. If someone survives their assassination attempt for half a year, or if someone kills three of their assassins consecutively, then the mission becomes void, and they will no longer accept assassination missions targeting that person. So, Brother Zhao, there is no need to worry too much. If the Tang Family truly issues an assassination order, just hide within the Li Family estate for half a year, and there will be no problem," Li Mengxi said with a smile.

He did not think much of Soulcall Tower's assassinations. For esteemed families like theirs, even if someone landed on Soulcall Tower's kill list, hiding within the family's heavily guarded territory for a period was enough to stay safe.

"A killer organization actually follows rules?" Lin Zheyu said in surprise.

"They have no choice. Soulcall Tower also needs to survive. Even with a powerful backing behind them, if they did not have such rules, they would have been wiped out long ago. Besides those two rules, there is another one: Only martial artists of the same major realm as the target can accept the mission. Because of these rules, Soulcall Tower dares to accept assassination missions on anyone."

"For esteemed families and sects, avoiding assassination is easy. They just stay within the family's inner grounds for half a year. As for those who still dare wander outside while being targeted by Soulcall Tower, most are using the assassins to temper themselves. Some sect geniuses even issue assassination missions on themselves to create pressure," Li Mengxi said with a smirk.

Lin Zheyu was speechless upon hearing that. He blinked slowly, feeling that his horizons had broadened.

"But do not underestimate Soulcall Tower. Even with their restrictions, their assassins are exceedingly powerful. Every one of them is a top existence within their realm. The weak ones were eliminated long ago. The ones who remain are terrifying martial artists," Li Mengxi added.

"Understood. Thank you for the reminder. Then, for the next half year, I will likely have to rely on you, Young Master Li," Lin Zheyu said.

The strength he had shown outwardly placed him in the Marrow Refining realm. The assassins Soulcall Tower would send would certainly be top experts of that realm, and perhaps even on the level of Tang Zhentao.

Lin Zheyu had fought Tang Zhentao before. Even while using a secret art, he had almost been severely injured. The level of strength those assassins would possess would be frightening. Hiding within the Li Family estate for half a year was the perfect opportunity to cultivate in peace and raise his strength. He had spent too long wandering and enduring hardship without focused cultivation. Moreover, he intended to build a good relationship with the Li Family.

Li Mengxi's invitation was an excellent opportunity. By forming a connection with him, Lin Zheyu would be able to obtain information about higher-level circles and opportunities. Otherwise, alone with no background, he would remain blind to many things and not even be able to purchase complete martial arts manuals.

"You are too modest, Brother Zhao. If not for your intervention, my sister might not have returned alive this time," Li Mengxi said with a smile.

The two of them slowly headed down Heavenly Blade Peak. Lin Zheyu did not descend quickly. Along the way, he continued comparing the Dominance true intent within the saber intent and his newly transformed fist momentum. He occasionally swung his fist, his blood qi surging as he stirred up that powerful momentum, causing a terrifying aura to rise from his body.

Puff, puff, puff.

His punches blasted out, striking the air with soft, popping sounds.

"The Barbaric Ox Fist has reached its limit. Even with the enhanced momentum, it can at most explode with three times the usual power," Lin Zheyu murmured with slight regret. The Barbaric Ox Fist matched extremely well with the Dominance true intent, but without a higher-level technique to follow up with, he could not continue developing it.

"Young Master Li, have you ever heard of the Heavenly Sage Sect?" Lin Zheyu asked, hoping to gather information from Li Mengxi.

"The Heavenly Sage Sect was once a top sect. Of course I have heard of it, though it has long vanished. Only a branch lineage remains, which established the Bull Demon Sect in Wu'an City. If Brother Zhao wishes to seek the Heavenly Sage Sect's techniques, there are only two methods. One is to join the Bull Demon Sect, and the other is to enlist in the Great Wei military, earn merit, and exchange that merit for techniques. It is said that when Great Wei destroyed the Heavenly Sage Sect, all of their martial texts were seized," Li Mengxi explained.

"Then there is nothing to be done," Lin Zheyu said, shaking his head.

He had no intention of joining the military. It was a rigid environment full of restrictions. As for the Bull Demon Sect, it was merely a branch of the former Heavenly Sage Sect and not particularly powerful. Among the many sects in the Central Plains, it belonged to the second-rate tier. Their techniques likely would not be exceptionally strong.

The reason he asked about the Heavenly Sage Sect was to see whether there was any way to obtain their martial arts. The Heavenly Sage Sect specialized in Dominance true intent. As a once top-ranking sect, their techniques would undoubtedly be of the highest caliber. If he could acquire them, it would greatly benefit his future martial cultivation.

"It is just as well not to join the Bull Demon Sect. They are far inferior to the Heavenly Sage Sect. Their inherited technique is called the Bull Demon True Technique, also known as the Bull Demon Fist. It is powerful, but compared to the Heavenly Sage Fist, it is worlds apart. If Brother Zhao is willing to join my Li Family, I can guarantee that I will find you a technique no weaker than the Bull Demon True Technique," Li Mengxi offered with a smile, having seen through Lin Zheyu's intentions.

At Heavenly Blade Peak, he had sensed Lin Zheyu's true blood qi strength. This was a genius who had reached seven blood qi transformations before entering the Marrow Refining realm. Brother Zhao also excelled in leg techniques and had cultivated his movement arts to a flawless level. Not only that, but he had also displayed astonishing comprehension just moments ago.

Although Li Mengxi's realm was too low to determine exactly what Zhao Hao had comprehended, Li Guoyao had already told him that Zhao Hao likely formed a true intent seed from his earlier realization. A true intent seed was a primer that formed within the martial artist's spirit after comprehending a true intent diagram. It allowed the martial artist to skip the stage of tempering their martial conviction and directly condense true intent. The hardest part of a true intent diagram was precisely forming this seed.

Once the seed was condensed, half the journey toward forming true intent was already complete. As long as no issues occurred later, most would naturally complete the transformation. In other words, barring accidents, Brother Zhao was almost guaranteed to achieve the Dominance true intent.

"I am used to freedom and dislike restraints," Lin Zheyu said, shaking his head as he refused.

"You think too much, Brother Zhao. Even if you join the Li Family, you may live as freely as before," replied Li Mengxi, assuring him.

This was essentially his personal guarantee. Their first meeting had been mainly to repay a life-saving debt, and the recruitment back then had been merely a gentle probe. But after witnessing Lin Zheyu's talent and power today, he was willing to offer a concrete promise.

"My apologies. I do not wish to join any faction for now. Young Master Li, thank you for the thought," Lin Zheyu said, still shaking his head.

"

Haha

, it is alright. There is plenty of time. Brother Zhao may consider it slowly over the next half year. The doors of the Li Family are always open to you," Li Mengxi replied with a carefree smile.

He had already expected Zhao Hao to refuse and had prepared his countermeasure. As the saying went, those near the water tower got to see the moon's reflection first.[1] If Brother Zhao stayed in the Li Family for half a year and happened to take a liking to one of the Li Family's young women, affection might develop naturally.

Before long, the two reached the foot of Heavenly Blade Peak.

1. 近水楼台先得月 "those near the water tower get to see the moon's reflection first" means those who are close to a person, place, or opportunity have the advantage and benefit first. ☜