[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-dark-and-dawn-light-years":3,"chapter-dark-and-dawn-light-years-dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-125":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Dark and Dawn Light-Years",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2264725,4420,"Chapter 125: Spear Intent: Minor Mastery","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-125",125,"\u003Cp>Li Lin took a break to return to Shangtikou Village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Far off, he saw the Tree Immortal Lady floating by the village entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Li Lin drew near, she vanished again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the altar, Li Lin saw the dead tree… now fully grown into a normal form.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had even bloomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Peach blossoms!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flowers were beautiful, softly shaded, making one feel as if they wanted to pluck them and swallow them whole.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “Lady, I’m back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady did not appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin took a deep breath and raised his voice: “Liu Zhe, I’m back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did the Tree Immortal Lady emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin extended his palm toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady stared into Li Lin’s eyes for a long while, then bent down, as before, licking his palm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That same pleasurable sensation made Li Lin close his eyes again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the pleasure of sexual union, this was another kind of strange delight—no less satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a while, the Tree Immortal Lady released his hand; her gaze lowered, as if slightly disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin glanced at the blooming peach blossoms beside them and smiled: “It suits you perfectly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady took the box; her expression finally brightened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady looked at him, her face seeming slightly shy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin continued: “I also obtained the Dual Cultivation technique from the Ding family. Once I reach the Seventh Rank, I can…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Rank,” the Tree Immortal Lady suddenly said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin froze: “What? Third Rank?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Isn’t it said that you can dual cultivate once you reach the Seventh Rank?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Third Rank.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After repeating it once more, the Tree Immortal Lady retreated into the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, she was deeply embarrassed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin took a deep breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third Rank? What did that even mean?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all of Da Qi, there weren’t twenty Third Rank Spirit Hunters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And nearly all of them were old men.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wait until I’m old, then have relations with the Tree Immortal Lady?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wouldn’t I just get drained into a mummy?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin suddenly felt a chill run down his lower back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No… I need to find a way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin immediately returned to his room and found it spotless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone had clearly been cleaning it regularly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sniffed—the air carried a cold, crisp Yin energy, faintly tinged with floral fragrance. He knew who it was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After putting down his belongings, Li Lin immediately crafted three Soul-Calling Paper Figures and sent them up the mountain to gather herbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He himself began practicing the Thunder Invocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When his Yin energy was nearly depleted, he resumed practicing spear techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Spear Intent: Minor Mastery】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spear Intent: Minor Mastery?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t felt anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He performed the Yu Family Spear Form again—and finally noticed the difference.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the countryside village, winter hadn’t arrived yet, and insects were plentiful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he held the spear, any insect passing nearby, he sensed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thought, the spear tip darted forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flying insect split in two and fell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, “Minor Mastery of Spear Intent” meant greatly enhanced perception within a three-meter radius.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And his control over the spear’s force had reached the level of extending his own limbs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After so long of training, he finally had clear progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin was overjoyed. He bathed, then went to eat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three Soul-Calling Paper Figures had returned from the mountain, bringing cooked blood rice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After eating, Li Lin ordered the paper figures to clean the pot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lay on his bed to digest, then began cultivating pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shengxi Pills, Qiangti Pills, Zhuyan Pills, Biding Pills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One pot! Two pots! Three pots!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until all the herbs gathered by the Soul-Calling Paper Figures were used up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching his Pill Crafting proficiency surge, Li Lin felt deeply fulfilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He believed Pill Crafting must have its own realms—but he had not yet reached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he had a wife; he was no longer alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed to learn how to bring money home.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing pill crafting, he sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate internal energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, the Huichun Yangsheng Technique, then the Yangyin Xinjing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was why Li Lin had come to the village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At his home in the county seat, he had no time to spare for himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially at night—Hong Luan and Huang Qing both demanded their share; he had no personal cultivation time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he stayed in the village for three days, he could train for three full days.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he had to return to the county seat to “work,” since he’d only taken three days’ leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before leaving, Li Lin visited the altar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The peach blossoms seemed even more numerous. Li Lin looked up at the floating Tree Immortal Lady and asked: “Will these flowers bear peaches?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When they do, give me one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin waved to the Tree Immortal Lady, then returned to the county seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady went to the village entrance and stared steadily toward the county seat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First, he returned home to report his safety to Huang Qing, then changed clothes and went to the county government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon arriving, a government office runner beside him said: “County Wei , the County Magistrate asks you to meet him in the back courtyard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin thanked him and went to the back courtyard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, he saw Huang Yan seated in a pavilion, beside him sat a young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside the pavilion stood Bai Zhiwei and several Spirit Hunters, a few Du Tous, and his brother-in-law Huang Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Lin arrive, the crowd parted. Li Lin walked in, bowed, and said: “Magistrate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Yan nodded: “Sit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sat as instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the past, when Li Lin was still a Spirit Hunter, he had no right to sit in the pavilion—now he did.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was County Wei .\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Across from him sat another young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man appeared around twenty-five, decent-looking, but far less handsome than Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he saw Li Lin, he seemed displeased—his eyes sharp as swords, radiating sternness as he scrutinized Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is the newly appointed Assistant Prefect Jiang Jili, styled Yunshu.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Lin, styled Kunge!” Li Lin replied with a fist salute and a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man retracted his stern aura and smiled: “County Wei  looks more like a scholar than a warrior or Spirit Hunter.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And in Assistant Prefect Jiang’s eyes, should County Wei  look foolish?” Li Lin countered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Either you’re a strong, muscular warrior, or a chillingly sinister Spirit Hunter—you’re neither.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded and smiled: “I also think the Assistant Prefect doesn’t seem like a scholar.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili’s expression darkened; that stern aura pressed down again: “Oh? You’re mistaken.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin had just achieved minor mastery in his spear intent, and he was eager to test his mettle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Assistant Prefect before him seemed no weakling—perfect as a test subject.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili snorted: “Crude.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you for the compliment—are you admitting I’m either a warrior or a Spirit Hunter?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Jili’s expression froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1318,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","e406049a64c739e83f320622362e87009028d99e32934178e3e926f789f5e98f","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-126","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-124",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]