Chapter 136: Found a Way

Jiang Jili watched Li Lin leave, clutching his cheek, his eyes filled with rage.

But after Li Lin departed, his expression shifted from rage to panicked unease.

He spat out blood, mixed with a tooth.

Jiang Jili's gaze swept over the two family guards as he said, "Didn't you say an eighth-rank martial artist could easily defeat a seventh-rank Spirit Hunter? He is merely an eighth-rank Spirit Hunter, yet he effortlessly knocked you both down. What is going on!"

Jiang Asheng rubbed his face; speaking made his mouth hurt. "Young Master, that Li Lin is clearly abnormal. He has cultivated Spear Intent."

"Spear Intent? How is that possible!"

Although different fields are like different mountains, Jiang Jili had heard of some basic concepts and theories regarding martial techniques.

Whether it is Fist Intent, Sword Intent, Blade Intent, or Spear Intent, these are special realms that usually appear only after a master of martial arts has immersed themselves in a certain weapon or technique for a considerable number of years; they require not only time to temper but also sufficient talent to achieve 'enlightenment'.

Yet the opponent is clearly very young, no older than twenty-five.

"But it truly is Spear Intent." Jiang Aqiang walked over, rubbing his face as he said, "Eldest Brother truly did not misjudge."

Jiang Jili drew a breath, unsure if it was from fear or pain.

He sat down and said, "This person Li Lin is far more difficult to deal with than I imagined."

The two Jiang brothers remained silent nearby; at such a time, it was not their place to speak.

After pondering for a while, Jiang Jili said, "If I cannot even deal with Li Lin, let alone the scheming Huang Yan. You two, send a homing pigeon back to Jingcheng to have the family dispatch two or three fifth-rank martial artists here."

"Fifth-rank?" Jiang Asheng exclaimed in surprise, "Is that not using a large tool for a small job?"

"Li Lin, a mere eighth-rank Spirit Hunter, effortlessly knocked you both down. How dare you say a fifth-rank is unnecessary? That is Spear Intent, plus a two-rank strength advantage, and he also knows spellcraft, adding another rank of combat power. A fifth-rank martial artist... feels just right."

The two Jiang brothers exchanged a glance; they felt their young master had been thoroughly frightened by Li Lin.

Clearly, a sixth-rank martial artist would be sufficient; why would a fifth-rank be needed?

Yet they dared not say so.

At this moment, Huang Yan was handling official duties in the county government office's hall, listening as his son Huang Ying recounted the events.

Huang Yan nodded and said, "Not bad. It seemed reckless, but it utilized official regulations, had a legitimate cause, struck at Jiang Jili's reputation and prestige within the government office, and vented his own grievance. Truly an excellent tactic."

Huang Ying said, "Father, you did not see how ugly Jiang Jili's expression was at that moment. I can learn from this; in the future, if I encounter a similar situation, I can also..."

"You cannot learn it."

"Why?"

"Your eldest sister's husband possesses both an official rank and martial power." Huang Yan smiled, "He was only able to slap Jiang Jili after defeating those two Wu Lin experts. Can you defeat them?"

Huang Ying shook his head; of course he could not.

If he went up, let alone defeating the two, he could not even harm a single hair on their heads.

"Then that settles it. Do not overthink; just follow the path I gave you, and it will be safe. No need to do anything else."

Huang Ying nodded: "Good."

On Li Lin's side, he led a squad of government office Runners patrolling the streets.

Although the government office Runners all had bruises on their faces, each held their heads high and chests out, looking very proud.

Li Lin had been away for over ten days, and they had been depressed for over ten days; now, finally, bitterness had given way to sweetness.

Seeing the government office Runners patrolling under Li Lin's leadership again, the merchants in the market breathed a sigh of relief.

After all, under Li Lin's discipline and personal example, incidents of government office Runners beating and scolding merchants and commoners had become extremely rare.

If Li Lin were absent for a long time, the merchants believed the government office Runners would revert to their old ways.

After the morning patrol, Li Lin returned home.

No work was needed in the afternoon; as a Commandant, he was simply that leisurely.

Upon returning home, he saw several laborers exiting the house, with Zhang Afu seeing them off; they held some copper coins in their hands, looking utterly grateful.

Seeing Li Lin, Zhang Afu came forward to bow, smiling, "Master, you are back."

The laborers all bowed to Li Lin, then left with humble demeanors.

After all, Li Lin's appearance in official robes was too terrifying for commoners.

"Who are they?"

"The Eldest Lady obtained a smaller altar from her maiden home, and they were helping to transport it."

Oh!

Huang Qing had indeed mentioned this last night.

He went to the rear courtyard and saw Huang Qing and Hong Luan busy there.

And in the main hall, there was indeed a green stone altar.

He walked over and asked, "You obtained the altar from your father-in-law's home so quickly?"

Huang Qing nodded and said, "Mother decided to send it."

Li Lin nodded: "So this is the altar?"

He walked over and observed it for a while, feeling it was indeed no different from the altar at the staircase entrance.

It was just a smaller size.

Then he took out a talisman paper and released Sister Yan Jing.

Sister Yan Jing looked at the altar, then at Li Lin, and sighed, "I suppose I am about to sell myself to the Li family."

Huang Qing walked over, took Sister Yan Jing's hand, and said, "Don't say that... once you become a Taowu Zhenjun, we will be one family."

Li Lin smiled: "You still have a chance to change your mind. Once you enter the altar, I will have no way to release you again."

Sister Yan Jing is a Great Apparition; with Li Lin's skills, he could not subdue her.

Unless she volunteered.

Entering the talisman paper was one thing; Li Lin could still use the Spirit-Nurturing Art to return her freedom, but entering the altar, after the ritual, it would be almost impossible to break free from the bonds.

Sister Yan Jing's expression was somewhat hesitant, but upon seeing Li Lin, she instinctively licked her lips and said, "Very well, let it be so."

After having tasted Li Lin's white blood qi once, she already felt somewhat addicted.

If she did not join Li Lin now, there would absolutely be no chance to enter the Li family again in the future.

Even if Li Lin was unwilling to give her blood qi now, being close to the water meant one got the moon first... there would be opportunities later.

Hong Luan brought incense and candles, paper money, cinnabar, and other ritual implements, and also brought a large rooster.

"Then let us begin," Li Lin said.

Sister Yan Jing stood beside the altar.

Hong Luan grabbed the rooster by the neck and swiftly struck with a knife.

The rooster's blood sprayed onto the green stone altar, flowing into the grooves of the altar.

Very quickly, a most mysterious pattern formed.

Huang Qing placed the incense burner on top, then inserted the lit incense and candles.

Next, Hong Luan handed the three lit incense sticks to Li Lin.

"What should I do?" Li Lin asked.

"Just bow three times, then input yin qi."

Li Lin did as instructed.

When the yin qi was injected into the altar, the flowing rooster blood immediately evaporated, turning the grooves into red patterns.

At this moment, the entire altar emitted a mysterious scent.

Huang Qing walked to the side, sniffed, and said, "Eh, the yin qi the master input is somewhat different; this altar does not look very gloomy."

Generally speaking, altars are quite gloomy.

Yet at this time, Sister Yan Jing's eyes sparkled; she came to the side of the altar, sniffed, and immediately crawled inside.

Subsequently, the red patterns on the altar began to 'fade', and very soon they all vanished.

The two incense sticks in the incense burner burned out at a tremendous speed.

Finally, Sister Yan Jing crawled out from inside; at this time, the evil qi on her body was obviously much reduced.

"Not bad," she said with a smile: "From now on, I must change my name to Li Yanjing."

Huang Qing was very happy: "Sister Yan Jing, come down... I will take you to the backyard to play."

"Are you not afraid of me?"

"You are already a person of my Li family; what should I fear of you?"

Li Yanjing was somewhat stunned, then smiled and said, "Good."

Watching the three women go harmoniously to the backyard, Li Lin went to the study.

He took out that immortal artifact and began to study it.

The substance of the immortal artifact was like jade but not jade, translucent yet not glass.

When Li Lin touched this thing, he even felt it was somewhat like plastic.

Of course, it was not plastic; only the texture and feel were somewhat similar.

The black and white two qi slowly rotating within the immortal artifact looked exactly like the Taiji diagram.

This was not strange... Daoist Priests were the most skilled in cultivating immortality.

It was normal for a Daoist Priest to walk the path of immortality.

It was just, what use did this thing have?

Generally speaking, anything created has a purpose; at the very least, it possesses the attribute of 'appreciation'.

Li Lin attempted to inject yin qi... there was no reaction.

He then attempted to inject blood qi!

Still, there was no reaction.

Li Lin pondered for a while, then placed this thing before his eyes to examine it closely.

Then he saw that when the yin and yang two qi rotated, there were many dense tiny holes, very small... almost the size of a needle hole.

If not for Li Lin's good eyesight, he could not have seen them at all.

But... what purpose did these tiny holes serve?

Li Lin felt puzzled.

He attempted to close all doors and windows, making the room pitch black, then used candlelight to shine upon this immortal artifact.

In the darkness, many dense points of light appeared, looking exactly like an armillary sphere, with countless 'stars' slowly rotating on the walls and ceiling.

Li Lin sighed; could this thing have been crafted by immortals just to watch the stars?

After all, astrology... was also a craft.

He somewhat disappointedly placed the immortal artifact on the table, then left the study.

After all, the Ding family had studied this thing for several decades without discovering any secrets; studying it alone, he certainly would not produce results that quickly.

Li Lin put the immortal artifact away, then opened the doors and windows again.

At dinner time, Li Yanjing also sat at the table.

Although she was a ghost, she could still taste flavors; it was just that the food she ate would provide her with no 'energy' whatsoever.

Eating was merely eating in vain.

It was just that Li Yanjing quite liked the atmosphere of a family gathering around to eat.

By night, after the routine dual cultivation, Li Lin embraced his two wives to sleep.

Even before falling asleep, he was still thinking about what function that immortal artifact had.

Then, unknowingly, he fell asleep.

He had a dream, dreaming of his former world.

A world where neon lights shone brilliantly.

On top of a certain building, there was a three-bladed fan, with different light points flashing upon it.

Once this fan spun up quickly, those light points moved rapidly, creating special images.

People and scenery, all came to life and moved.

Then Li Lin suddenly woke up with a start.

"I know now, so that is how it is!"

The huge shout woke both women.

Li Lin jumped out of bed, threw on a set of pajamas, and then rushed toward the study.

(End of this chapter)