Chapter 125: Spear Intent: Minor Mastery

Li Lin took a break to return to Shangtikou Village.

Far off, he saw the Tree Immortal Lady floating by the village entrance.

When Li Lin drew near, she vanished again.

At the altar, Li Lin saw the dead tree… now fully grown into a normal form.

It had even bloomed.

Peach blossoms!

The flowers were beautiful, softly shaded, making one feel as if they wanted to pluck them and swallow them whole.

Li Lin smiled: “Lady, I’m back.”

The Tree Immortal Lady did not appear.

Li Lin took a deep breath and raised his voice: “Liu Zhe, I’m back.”

Only then did the Tree Immortal Lady emerge.

Li Lin extended his palm toward her.

The Tree Immortal Lady stared into Li Lin’s eyes for a long while, then bent down, as before, licking his palm.

That same pleasurable sensation made Li Lin close his eyes again.

Unlike the pleasure of sexual union, this was another kind of strange delight—no less satisfying.

After a while, the Tree Immortal Lady released his hand; her gaze lowered, as if slightly disappointed.

Li Lin pulled a small box from his robe: “I assume your previous rouge is gone. This time, I brought you one called Tanxin Qian—its color is peach blossom…”

Li Lin glanced at the blooming peach blossoms beside them and smiled: “It suits you perfectly.”

The Tree Immortal Lady took the box; her expression finally brightened.

“I’ve reached the Eighth Rank,” Li Lin said with a smile. “And I’ve acquired many Yin Spirit Stones—reaching the Sixth Rank won’t be hard.”

The Tree Immortal Lady looked at him, her face seeming slightly shy.

Li Lin continued: “I also obtained the Dual Cultivation technique from the Ding family. Once I reach the Seventh Rank, I can…”

“Third Rank,” the Tree Immortal Lady suddenly said.

Li Lin froze: “What? Third Rank?”

The Tree Immortal Lady nodded.

“Isn’t it said that you can dual cultivate once you reach the Seventh Rank?”

“Third Rank.”

After repeating it once more, the Tree Immortal Lady retreated into the altar.

Clearly, she was deeply embarrassed.

Li Lin took a deep breath.

Third Rank? What did that even mean?

In all of Da Qi, there weren’t twenty Third Rank Spirit Hunters.

And nearly all of them were old men.

Wait until I’m old, then have relations with the Tree Immortal Lady?

Wouldn’t I just get drained into a mummy?

Li Lin suddenly felt a chill run down his lower back.

No… I need to find a way.

Li Lin immediately returned to his room and found it spotless.

Someone had clearly been cleaning it regularly.

Li Lin sniffed—the air carried a cold, crisp Yin energy, faintly tinged with floral fragrance. He knew who it was.

The Tree Immortal Lady.

After putting down his belongings, Li Lin immediately crafted three Soul-Calling Paper Figures and sent them up the mountain to gather herbs.

He himself began practicing the Thunder Invocation.

When his Yin energy was nearly depleted, he resumed practicing spear techniques.

He trained for three hours, nearing dusk, drenched in sweat. After completing a set of spear forms, he was about to bathe and rest when a proficiency prompt suddenly appeared.

【Spear Intent: Minor Mastery】

Li Lin paused.

Spear Intent: Minor Mastery?

He hadn’t felt anything.

He performed the Yu Family Spear Form again—and finally noticed the difference.

In the countryside village, winter hadn’t arrived yet, and insects were plentiful.

When he held the spear, any insect passing nearby, he sensed immediately.

With a thought, the spear tip darted forward.

The flying insect split in two and fell.

In other words, “Minor Mastery of Spear Intent” meant greatly enhanced perception within a three-meter radius.

And his control over the spear’s force had reached the level of extending his own limbs.

After so long of training, he finally had clear progress.

Li Lin was overjoyed. He bathed, then went to eat.

The three Soul-Calling Paper Figures had returned from the mountain, bringing cooked blood rice.

After eating, Li Lin ordered the paper figures to clean the pot.

He lay on his bed to digest, then began cultivating pills.

Shengxi Pills, Qiangti Pills, Zhuyan Pills, Biding Pills.

One pot! Two pots! Three pots!

Until all the herbs gathered by the Soul-Calling Paper Figures were used up.

Watching his Pill Crafting proficiency surge, Li Lin felt deeply fulfilled.

He believed Pill Crafting must have its own realms—but he had not yet reached them.

The Shengxi Pills he made could be used by himself; Qiangti Pills and others could be gifted—or sold—to bring extra income to his household.

Now he had a wife; he was no longer alone.

He needed to learn how to bring money home.

After finishing pill crafting, he sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate internal energy.

First, the Huichun Yangsheng Technique, then the Yangyin Xinjing.

This was why Li Lin had come to the village.

At his home in the county seat, he had no time to spare for himself.

Especially at night—Hong Luan and Huang Qing both demanded their share; he had no personal cultivation time.

If he stayed in the village for three days, he could train for three full days.

Then he had to return to the county seat to “work,” since he’d only taken three days’ leave.

Before leaving, Li Lin visited the altar.

The peach blossoms seemed even more numerous. Li Lin looked up at the floating Tree Immortal Lady and asked: “Will these flowers bear peaches?”

“Yes.”

“When they do, give me one.”

“Mm.”

Li Lin waved to the Tree Immortal Lady, then returned to the county seat.

The Tree Immortal Lady went to the village entrance and stared steadily toward the county seat.

First, he returned home to report his safety to Huang Qing, then changed clothes and went to the county government office.

Upon arriving, a government office runner beside him said: “County Wei , the County Magistrate asks you to meet him in the back courtyard.”

Li Lin thanked him and went to the back courtyard.

There, he saw Huang Yan seated in a pavilion, beside him sat a young man.

Outside the pavilion stood Bai Zhiwei and several Spirit Hunters, a few Du Tous, and his brother-in-law Huang Ying.

Seeing Li Lin arrive, the crowd parted. Li Lin walked in, bowed, and said: “Magistrate.”

Huang Yan nodded: “Sit.”

Li Lin sat as instructed.

In the past, when Li Lin was still a Spirit Hunter, he had no right to sit in the pavilion—now he did.

He was County Wei .

Across from him sat another young man.

The man appeared around twenty-five, decent-looking, but far less handsome than Li Lin.

When he saw Li Lin, he seemed displeased—his eyes sharp as swords, radiating sternness as he scrutinized Li Lin.

“This is the newly appointed Assistant Prefect Jiang Jili, styled Yunshu.”

“Li Lin, styled Kunge!” Li Lin replied with a fist salute and a smile.

The man retracted his stern aura and smiled: “County Wei looks more like a scholar than a warrior or Spirit Hunter.”

“And in Assistant Prefect Jiang’s eyes, should County Wei look foolish?” Li Lin countered.

Either you’re a strong, muscular warrior, or a chillingly sinister Spirit Hunter—you’re neither.

Li Lin nodded and smiled: “I also think the Assistant Prefect doesn’t seem like a scholar.”

Jiang Jili’s expression darkened; that stern aura pressed down again: “Oh? You’re mistaken.”

“I think you’re the one who’s mistaken,” Li Lin chuckled. “You think I don’t look like a warrior or a Spirit Hunter—want to test it? Let’s exchange a few moves?”

Li Lin had just achieved minor mastery in his spear intent, and he was eager to test his mettle.

This Assistant Prefect before him seemed no weakling—perfect as a test subject.

Jiang Jili snorted: “Crude.”

“Thank you for the compliment—are you admitting I’m either a warrior or a Spirit Hunter?”

Jiang Jili’s expression froze.

(End of Chapter)