Chapter 162: The Immortal-Slaying Assembly in the Local Chronicles

Recently, he indeed had not seen Ding Yingqiu or Zhao Xiaohu.

He did not expect the two to have run off to Tianjin for a date.

Li Lin saw them, and they also saw Li Lin.

Ding Yingqiu immediately felt shy, while Zhao Xiaohu ran over.

"Lin Ge, why have you come here too?"

Li Lin was somewhat surprised: "Why are you still here? Have you not returned since last time?"

After becoming a County Commandant, Li Lin met with the Spirit Hunters less frequently.

After all, he now held an official post, and many Spirit Hunter tasks were inconvenient for him to undertake.

Zhao Xiaohu waved his hand: "No, this is our third time here. We came to buy her some jewelry."

Oh, that works.

If the two had been staying here continuously for the past two months, they would likely be preparing for an unwed pregnancy.

Li Lin looked at the woman beside him: "Ding Xunshou, I have already had someone change Xiaohu's age to twenty-two; you can rest assured."

Hearing this, Ding Yingqiu's face turned even redder.

Actually, Li Lin also knew why Ding Yingqiu had suddenly decided to be with Xiaohu.

Previously, she had been quite concerned about Xiaohu's age.

Thirteen was indeed too young.

But now she was willing; the reason was simple: Ding Yingqiu wanted her offspring to possess a better bloodline.

Li Lin saying her meridians were narrow had truly provoked her.

Ding Yingqiu's meridian width was already notable within her family, yet Li Lin had disparaged it.

Ding Yingqiu walked over, suppressing her shame, and clasped her fists to say: "Thank you, Brother Li."

"Xiaohu is my younger brother, and you are my friend; why be so polite?"

Zhao Xiaohu chuckled beside them, very happy.

"When will you marry?" Li Lin asked. "Do you need me to propose on Xiaohu's behalf to the Ding family?"

Zhao Xiaohu's family background was average, with no powerful figures backing him; Li Lin felt that, as a County Commandant, he possessed some status and rank, so helping Xiaohu propose should pose little problem.

Ding Yingqiu shook her head: "No need; my Ding family does not place much weight on family background."

That was true; after all, they rose to prominence through Dual Cultivation arts, so as long as the son-in-law's 'aptitude' was qualified, there was no issue.

They did not fuss over such trivialities.

"Then I shall not disturb you," Li Lin smiled. "I have traveled for five days and am somewhat tired; I will go up and rest first. If anything comes up, come find me at this inn; I will stay for two more days."

"Alright, Lin Ge!"

Ding Yingqiu also clasped her fists in thanks.

Li Lin then went up to the inn, booked a room, and lay down to sleep.

Then he slept until the next morning.

He was not in a deep sleep, but rather in a state between sleeping and waking.

Upon waking the next day, he washed his face, ate something to fill his stomach, and then went to the Tianyi Gate.

After giving his name, he soon met the Tianyi Gate's eldest senior brother, An Xin.

"Brother Li, I did not expect you to come to my door of your own accord; An is truly deeply honored."

Li Lin smiled and said: "This time there is a troublesome matter; I wish to ask for your help."

"Please speak," An Xin smiled.

"Have you heard the rumors of the Immortal-Slaying Assembly?"

An Xin nodded and said: "I have heard. In fact, any sect with some foundation knows of the Immortal-Slaying Assembly."

"Can you tell me about it?"

An Xin smiled: "What I know is not much; I only saw this record in the sect's local chronicles. I have not actually encountered it myself, so Brother Li should merely listen; I dare not assert the truth or falsehood of the record."

"Please, speak freely."

"According to the records in our Tianyi Gate's local chronicles, the Immortal-Slaying Assembly first appeared sixty years ago."

Li Lin instinctively frowned: "Sixty years ago? The incident of stripping on the Empress's city wall?"

"Indeed, it has some relation to that," An Xin nodded and said. "After the Three Great Clans and Five Surnames vanished, the Immortal-Slaying Assembly emerged. Do you know the Three Great Clans and Five Surnames?"

Li Lin nodded, then shook his head: "I have heard of them, but I am not very clear on the specifics."

An Xin looked at Li Lin with a strange gaze for a few breaths, then laughed heartily: "The so-called Three Great Clans are the Kong and Bing clans of Lu Commandery, the Fang and Huang clans of Shu Commandery, and the Li clan of Tianjin. As for the Five Surnames, naturally, it is the collective name for these five families."

The Kong and Bing clans, and the Fang and Huang clans, were all in-laws and could be counted as one Great Clan.

Li Lin nodded lightly.

"After the Five Surnames vanished, the Immortal-Slaying Assembly emerged; thus, some say the Immortal-Slaying Assembly was jointly created by the remnants of the Five Surnames." An Xin took a sip of wine and continued: "After all, the Empress's childhood name was Kou Xian'er! The so-called Immortal-Slaying Assembly sought to slay the Empress. Had they not been implicated by the Empress, the Five Surnames would not have been forced into extinction."

Li Lin frowned.

Li Lin simply felt this seemed somewhat far-fetched.

An Xin observed Li Lin's facial expression very carefully; seeing that Li Lin did not seem to agree, he formed his own thoughts.

But he still said: "This is merely a legend among the people, but in our Tianyi Gate's local chronicles, there is also recorded another matter few know."

"What matter?"

"Outer Realm Heavenly Demons."

"Hmm?" Li Lin was stunned for a moment.

"A Heavenly Demon came from the Outer Realm, raging violently and devouring countless people. The Immortal-Slaying Assembly appeared in response to the calamity; three years later, the Heavenly Demon perished, and the Immortal-Slaying Assembly vanished from sight."

Hearing this, Li Lin asked curiously: "What did the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon look like?"

"The Local Records state that the Heaven-Demon has a pair of fierce horns on its head, stands one zhang tall, possesses a human body with a strange appearance, and falsely bears the countenance of an immortal."

Hearing this, Li Lin couldn't help but say, "Why does this sound so much like a Gowned Apparition to me?"

An Xin smiled and said, "I feel the same way."

"Thank you, Brother An, for clearing up my doubts," Li Lin said with a smile, clasping his fist.

"No need for thanks, no need for thanks," An Xin waved his hand. "Besides, I should be thanking you. The Fallen Thunder Incantation you gave us is truly useful. It explains how to guide Qi through the meridians with extreme clarity; it's practically Shoubashou Sect teaching us. Now, my junior sister has successfully summoned lightning, though her accuracy still needs work. Additionally, three junior brothers are about to learn it as well. From now on, the Tianyi Gate has gained another supreme art. I am endlessly grateful."

Li Lin waved his hand. "Mutual benefit; I haven't lost out either."

"Originally, I was thinking of going to Yulin County to find you, but I didn't expect Brother Li to find me first," An Xin looked at Li Lin and said expectantly, "How about we trade another technique?"

"Sure," Li Lin said with considerable interest. "What do you want to learn?"

Li Lin very much enjoyed exchanging intelligence and sharing resources.

He possessed special learning methods; he feared neither failing to learn nor learning slowly.

No matter what, the one who profits the most will always be him.

Moreover, trading requires no fighting; it is much safer.

An Xin instinctively licked his lips and said, "I heard Brother Li has a skill with Paper Men. The little paper men he creates are not only numerous, but they can also run around during the day, which is quite miraculous."

Guide Paper Men?

Li Lin said in confusion, "But this Paper Man technique indeed requires a Yin-natured mental cultivation method to learn. Your Tianyi Gate specializes in Yuan Qi and martial arts; acquiring this technique would be a bit of a loss for you."

An Xin knew, "The Tianyi Gate now has a new idea. We no longer recruit only martial artists; we are also willing to accept several disciples with the talent of Spirit Hunters."

Li Lin looked at him and asked slowly, "What are you preparing for?"

An Xin raised an eyebrow, his expression surprised.

(End of this chapter)