[{"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-175":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},2264775,4420,"Chapter 175: Cannot Do This","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-175",175,"\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi leapt high into the air and saw a government office runner vigorously striking a yellow gong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the way that government office runner looked at him was as if he were staring at his father’s murderer, filled with hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he landed on the rooftop and saw four government office runners nearby, each with nearly the same expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why do these people hate me so much?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he wondered, the rapid gong sounds immediately drew the attention of government office runners in other areas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, gongs rang out from other directions, moving toward this location.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi immediately leapt swiftly across the rooftops.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His movement speed was fast, but still hampered by his internal injuries, much slower than before he was hurt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gong-beating government office runners were soon left far behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet at that moment, he suddenly heard whistling sounds—soo-soo-soo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He turned his head and saw archers already standing on the rooftops around him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is this really necessary?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed aloud and ran faster, ignoring the churning of his blood qi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the two external cultivation monks, Xuan Yangzi cultivated internal qi; his body was nowhere near as resilient as theirs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could withstand dozens of arrows with their flesh, but he couldn’t even block one or two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, he suddenly saw a man in government office uniform standing on the rooftop ahead, sword in hand, radiating a fierce aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi immediately changed direction and ran, but to his shock, the man actively chased after him at incredible speed—faster than him by a wide margin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This lightness technique… it’s from Lingxiao Sect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Damn it, how could that corrupt official recruit such a master to serve him?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cursed inwardly as arrows rained down from all sides; he had no choice but to stop and leap backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And at that moment, Xiao Chunzhu caught up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The silver longsword split into two streams, merging into a swirling mass of silver light, slicing toward Xuan Yangzi’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Li Lin sat cross-legged inside the small house he had built.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had given this small house a name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Yuan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Hong Luan had asked curiously: “Why this name?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Qing understood: “By the deep pool, envying the fish—better to go home and weave a net?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was his thought: rather than fighting and scrambling outside, better to stay home and cultivate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After sitting in quiet cultivation for three hours, he slowly opened his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two women were asleep on the large bed beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stood up and gently stretched his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was filled with joy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His earlier guess had been correct.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called Yu Jie Powder was in fact a special substance that filtered out “impure qi”; the spiritual energy here was at least thirty percent denser than outside, greatly increasing his absorption efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The effect was at least double what it had been before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did a thirty percent increase in spiritual energy lead to a doubling of efficiency? That involves the concept of efficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qi Refining is the practice of drawing in spiritual energy from heaven and earth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But during absorption, impure qi is also drawn into the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that point, the meridians instinctively expel the impure qi—a process that consumes efficiency “resources.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the more impure qi there is, the less noticeable the cultivation results, even if spiritual energy is abundant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when spiritual energy increases and impure qi decreases, fewer resources are needed to expel impurities, leaving more resources available for absorption.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore… the denser the spiritual energy, the greater the efficiency gains.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin personally believed that if spiritual energy increased by forty percent, his cultivation efficiency would rise by more than double.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He exhaled softly, glanced at the two women on the bed, pulled the covers over them, then stepped outside and closed the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, he saw Li Yanjing standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She bowed slightly to Li Lin: “Congratulations, Lord.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She could not enter the small house built with Yu Jie Powder bricks, but from Li Lin’s expression, she knew the endeavor had succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “Now I can spare some blood qi to feed you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Yanjing’s eyes brightened; she couldn’t help but laugh softly: “This is the best news I’ve heard since becoming a ghost.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guard this place. Huang Qing and Hong Luan are still resting inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin left home and rode his horse to the county government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A government office runner came to take his horse; Li Lin dismounted and said: “Take me to see that Daoist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately, a government office runner led the way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin soon reached the prison and saw Xuan Yangzi chained by thick iron links, with two iron spikes driven through his shoulder blades to prevent escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After last time, Lian Hua had escaped easily and even injured three jailers because no such measures had been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu was also there, his face pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin ignored Xuan Yangzi and said to Xiao Chunzhu: “Go rest for a few days. When your injuries heal, I’ll have a surprise for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Chunzhu’s eyes lit up; he bowed and said: “Yes, Assistant Prefect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he left happily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned and looked at the Daoist behind the iron bars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi’s face was ashen, his clothes dripping black blood, emitting a peculiar stench.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xuan Yangzi, you look anything but submissive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi opened his eyes, filled with bloodshot veins. He spat: “Corrupt official, attacking with numbers—what kind of skill is that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin smiled: “I’m an official. You’re a criminal. Don’t talk about outnumbering you—even if I executed you without trial, it would be perfectly justified.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Zhenxian Society walks for all living beings, speaks out against the world’s suffering. You call us criminals—you have no idea what you’re saying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin shook his head: “I’ve never seen anyone who slaughtered civilians claim they walk for all living beings.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignorant child, do you know how terrifying the Outer Demons are? We don’t wish to harm ordinary people, but we have no choice—it’s an unavoidable sacrifice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at the man’s resolute expression and knew he had already “fallen into demonic delusion,” convinced his actions were righteous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arguing further would be useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he asked: “I’m curious—how did you know the Outer Demons had arrived? Are there signs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!” Xuan Yangzi stared at Li Lin: “When the Outer Demons descend, great calamities strike heaven and earth. The expanding desert in the Southern Barbarian lands, the ten-month white disaster in the Northern Di lands—these are the signs.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin raised an eyebrow: “The desertification in the Southern Barbarian lands was caused by the Outer Demons? Then how do you find them?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why should I tell you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Someone else will know.” Li Lin turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you going to do with me!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Fuxin Village incident—you’re connected to it, aren’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi froze, then asked: “How do you know?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the entire Jincheng Commandery, only a handful of people could cleave a ritual altar with a single sword. None had opportunity, and none were near Yulin County.” Li Lin stared coldly at him: “So I logically deduce—you, who possess a celestial treasure… that immortal sword—could cleave the altar with one strike.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You… you’re right. I did it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s expression turned icy: “Hundreds in Fuxin Village died because of you. Go join them. In two days, your case file will be sent to the Prefecture Office. You will be beheaded at noon at the South Gate.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xuan Yangzi froze, then thrashed wildly: “You can’t do this! You can’t! Our Zhenxian Society serves all beings—we can’t die so unjustly, we can’t!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1296,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a34653296f423583e8bedd6dedc1048e97917897d96c983b20890a504c8ba5e9","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-176","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-174",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]