Chapter 170: Each Has a Hidden Move

Li Lin stood on the rooftop, coldly watching the thin man.

In fact, the thin man had long seen Li Lin; he had even tried to approach him twice, but both times were driven back by the village militia’s archery and spear formations.

Both sides were currently evenly matched.

But the militia’s morale had been steadily declining; if a few more were wounded or killed, someone would likely try to flee.

At that point, even the battle formation would be hard to maintain.

Xiao Chunzhu stood in front of Li Lin.

Li Lin looked at the opponent and first threw down a pile of small paper figures.

These paper figures quickly turned pink and hopped around Li Lin.

Then Li Lin tossed a stack of pre-made Thunderfall Talismans onto the ground.

Immediately, small paper figures ran over and strapped the talismans to their backs.

The thin man saw these paper figures too; he didn’t know what Li Lin planned, but he knew he absolutely couldn’t let the man easily unleash a powerful technique.

He leapt high, aiming to charge at Li Lin.

Xiao Chunzhu struck—his sword tip flashed, and both men fell from the air simultaneously.

Xiao Chunzhu truly couldn’t break through the man’s outer defenses, but blocking him was still possible.

At this moment, Li Lin began forming hand seals.

Thanks to the effect of primordial energy and the artifact Shagou Zhou, Li Lin’s Thunderfall Spell cast at an absurdly rapid speed.

In the instant he formed the seals, the atmospheric energy above changed.

Then a purple heavenly lightning bolt descended from the sky.

Xiao Chunzhu panicked and dashed backward with all his strength.

Thanks to Lingxiao Sect’s refined lightness technique, Xiao Chunzhu retreated two zhang in an instant.

The thin man also retreated, but his speed was clearly slower than Xiao Chunzhu’s.

That was normal; those who cultivated external and hard arts had slightly slower reactions.

The purple heavenly lightning flashed and struck the thin man’s body.

He screamed in agony, his body turning charred black, yet he only stepped back twice and remained standing.

But his hair was destroyed.

It turned to ash; he became completely bald, not a single hair or eyebrow left.

The thin man felt his entire body numb and aching, unbearable; he roared and prepared to leap again.

But then he noticed a swarm of small paper figures had gathered around him, climbing up his tattered shorts.

He reached out to tear them off—then realized their backs were burning with talismans.

Immediately, a dozen purple lightning bolts descended, but each was much smaller than the one Li Lin had cast himself.

Their power was naturally far weaker.

After the thunderous crashes, the thin man’s pants also turned to ash, and his body turned a charred black.

Cracks spread across his flesh, bleeding profusely—his condition looked horrific.

Yet even so, the thin man still did not fall.

With no hair to hide them, his eyes were now visible to all.

They were blood-red.

Xiao Chunzhu exhaled slowly: “County Wei , this man has already achieved the Rakshasa Body.”

“What does that mean?”

“A special physique from the Earth Storehouse Fomen—on the surface it’s hard art, but in truth it’s internal and external cultivation.” Xiao Chunzhu’s expression darkened with anger: “It requires absorbing vast amounts of blood qi to achieve; after success, the eyes turn red.”

“So he’s completed it.”

“Yes!”

Li Lin snorted.

Rakshasa Body?

A demonic art, using blood qi—sounds powerful, but is it superior to spiritual energy?

Without hesitation, he prepared to cast another spell, summoning another heavenly lightning bolt.

Li Lin refused to believe that now, having begun cultivation, having practiced Foundation Establishment, and with his Thunderfall Spell greatly enhanced, he couldn’t kill this murderer.

He continued forming hand seals; the sky’s energy churned.

Finally, the thin man’s face showed fear.

In his blood-red eyes, there was a glimmer of retreat—he dared not stand his ground anymore.

At that moment, Li Lin suddenly felt a chill behind him; he immediately broke his hand seals, clenched his right hand into a tiger claw, and struck out.

Thwack!

Li Lin’s right hand met the palm of another man.

Both stepped back two paces, shattering countless roof tiles beneath them.

But both had excellent lightness techniques and neither fell.

At that moment, Li Lin clearly saw the newcomer.

A man with matted, filthy hair.

Lian Hua!

The man clasped his hands together, murmured a Buddhist chant, then smiled warmly: “County Wei , you’re impressive—not only do you understand Daoist spells, but your fist techniques are also so refined. I, a humble monk, deeply admire you.”

Only now did those around them react.

“You dared to ambush—cowardly!” Xiao Chunzhu immediately stepped in front of Li Lin, shouting angrily.

The government office runners and village militia abandoned their encirclement of the thin man and rushed to surround Li Lin, prioritizing the protection of their superior.

At this moment, Xiao Chunzhu’s heart pounded wildly with lingering dread.

He had just suggested letting this man go, to join them against the thin man—but Li Lin had refused.

He had privately thought Li Lin was overcautious.

And now… this man appeared here, clearly escaped from prison.

And he struck immediately at the County Wei —if not for the County Wei ’s quick reaction… he might have succeeded.

Li Lin paid no attention to Xiao Chunzhu’s inner turmoil; his gaze fixed on the man’s face.

“Lian Hua… you weren’t here to cleanse your sect—you came to guard!”

“You speak truly,” Lian Hua nodded gently: “My younger brother has reached a critical moment; naturally, I must guard him.”

“But he’s killing people.”

“I know,” Lian Hua nodded: “My brother is destined to become a Rakshasa Master. The blood and flesh of these people will merge with him, aiding his cultivation—isn’t that a great opportunity?”

Li Lin’s expression turned icy.

“Your officers may hold my brother, but now that I stand with him, you are no match.” Lian Hua smiled, his face radiating holy Buddhist grace: “Why not pretend you saw nothing? Let us go. That way, all benefit.”

“Let you go? The dead civilians won’t agree.” Li Lin took his red tassel spear from a nearby militia man.

“Then I must sadly send you to the Western Paradise to meet my Buddha,” Lian Hua smiled: “I once thought you had a karmic bond with the Buddha—I intended to guide you.”

Li Lin gripped the spear and spun it in a flourish.

This simple motion stunned not only Xiao Chunzhu, but even Lian Hua for a moment.

Then Lian Hua hissed: “Spear intent! County Wei , you truly conceal your depth.”

His expression grew grave.

Any weapon imbued with “intent” could relatively easily break through an opponent’s external defenses.

Then Lian Hua drew a deep breath, loudly—as if inhaling something.

Simultaneously, his face—or rather, his entire skin—turned a pale gold.

Xiao Chunzhu’s face paled further: “County Wei , this monk’s external art has reached the Sixth Rank. Perhaps you should retreat first—I’ll cover you.”

Xiao Chunzhu believed his lightness technique was good enough to escape easily.

But Li Lin sneered: “He has a hidden move—I don’t? Yan Jing, come out!”

Unseen until now, a beautiful woman in splendid robes appeared near Li Lin.

A faint incense fragrance spread through the air.

(End of Chapter)