Chapter 216: I Hope You Will Consider Your Path Wisely

The intent of the spear, the intent of the sword, the intent of the blade—these things sound mysterious, and they truly are.

When the intent is partially perfected, it grants the advantage of striking first; when the spear intent is fully perfected, within a zhang’s range, none can stand against you.

The Jianghu folk have sharp eyes—they saw the Iron Dan Dragon Spear still far off, yet a pale purple “qi” on the paper spear pierced straight through their hearts.

They watched the Iron Dan Dragon Spear fall, their eyes filled with horror.

The entire area fell silent; over a hundred people stood motionless, not a sound uttered.

Only the young woman from Qingcheng Sect gazed at the elegant young master before her with burning eyes.

Spiritual energy extending two zhang away—though not reaching one yin’s distance—this was undeniably the full perfection of spear intent.

Even if only newly attained, it is still full perfection.

Especially this young hero; judging by his age, he was surely under twenty-five.

Truly a prodigy.

After a long pause, Ji Feng finally spoke, his face grave as he bowed and asked: “Young Master Li, what is this…?”

“If it isn’t Great Hero Ji—again we meet,” Li Lin held his spear in salute and smiled openly: “I never imagined our reunion would be under such circumstances.”

“Didn’t you say you had no interest in the Linglong Jade Box?”

“I never came for the Linglong Jade Box—I came for something else,” Li Lin explained with a smile. “It’s just unfortunate our goals coincided.”

Ji Feng naturally did not believe him; he sighed: “I never thought I’d be deceived by a youth.”

He felt his sincerity had been wasted—had he known days ago at the inn, he never should have warned this young man.

Now he had become his opponent.

Li Lin smiled but said nothing; he looked around at the Jianghu folk and said: “Let me say it again—this area is forbidden. I ask you all for your courtesy.”

The big-bearded leader of the Black Blade Sect snorted: “A boy with no beard dares to throw his weight around here?”

He said it, but his body kept retreating step by step.

The others weren’t fools—someone so young who had perfected spear intent was no ordinary person.

Slowly, the group began to withdraw.

The Jianghu folk are greedy, but not stupid.

To directly challenge a spear intent master in full perfection? First, weigh your own worth.

Yet they didn’t retreat far—only to what they deemed a safe distance.

This suddenly exposed the Qingcheng Sect.

Because the Qingcheng Sect did not retreat.

Li Lin smiled: “Great Hero Ji, show some courtesy.”

Ji Feng glanced behind him, then left and right.

At that moment, Ji Rongrong, dressed in black and masked, stepped before him, tugged his sleeve, and whispered: “Da, let it go.”

Her eyes kept flickering toward Li Lin’s face across from them.

Ji Feng thought for a moment, then began to step back.

Ji Rongrong exhaled in relief, then looked at Li Lin with an air of triumph.

But she saw Li Lin’s gaze was not on her at all—and felt a pang of disappointment.

With the Qingcheng Sect now retreating, everyone had withdrawn beyond Li Lin’s warning line.

He bowed and smiled: “Thank you all for your courtesy. The green mountains remain, the clear waters flow—should we meet again, I shall repay you properly.”

Saying this, Li Lin slowly stepped backward.

As Li Lin was about to vanish into the darkness, the Black Blade Sect’s big-bearded leader suddenly shouted: “Let him just walk away? So what if he’s perfected spear intent—we’re many. We charge together, how many can he handle?”

The moment he spoke, they saw Li Lin drive his paper spear into the ground.

Then he formed the hand seals.

Li Lin’s hand seal speed was now extremely fast, and with the artifact “Shagou Zhou,” it was nearly instantaneous.

A purple thunderbolt struck down.

The lightning came too fast.

Though all the Jianghu folk sensed the shift in spiritual energy, only a few managed to dodge.

Among them, the big-bearded leader of the Black Blade Sect did not.

The purple heavenly thunder struck the big-bearded man—he exploded with a thunderous boom, reduced to fragments.

Splattered everywhere.

The essence of heavenly thunder is essentially an energy “bomb”—the stronger the spiritual power, the greater the destructive force.

It is no ordinary lightning.

The flying body fragments caused the Jianghu folk to scream and retreat even farther.

Ji Feng stared at Li Lin, his eyes filled with disbelief.

‘Daoist thunder art!’

No one dared approach further; more and more people were already leaving.

This murky water was beyond their reach.

Just as these people prepared to depart, another group entered from outside.

Their black robes were torn, some bore superficial wounds.

Yet… their expressions were calm.

They had even removed their black face cloths and head wrappings.

Each bald head stood out sharply in the darkness.

“Amitabha. If I’m not mistaken, sir, you are Li County Warden of the Southern Road Cavalry Supervision in Yulin County.”

The speaker was Master Kurong.

His white beard flowed elegantly; his left hand performed the Buddhist greeting, his right held a golden staff, appearing most benevolent.

If not for the blood dripping from his face.

At these words, everyone froze.

Ji Feng’s forehead broke into cold sweat.

The title of “County Warden” was already alarming enough.

Add to that the rank of “Cavalry Supervision”—that was outright lethal.

More people began to flee.

This was a man they could not touch.

He was powerful—hard to defeat. Even if they could defeat him, killing a government official was no small matter.

The imperial court might send an army to crush their sect or gang.

Liu Fang stepped beside Ji Feng and said: “Husband, we must leave—this matter is suspicious.”

Ji Feng now understood; he turned to leave.

But the moment he turned, screams echoed from outside.

More monks emerged from the roadside, surrounding them—the Jianghu folk who had left earlier now lay wounded, hands and feet broken, moaning in the forest.

Ji Feng whirled on Master Kurong: “What is the meaning of this, Shaolin Temple?”

“Amitabha,” Master Kurong smiled. “The Prince of Yue requests your presence in the city.”

Ji Feng gritted his teeth: “Apologies, but the Qingcheng Sect avoids entanglement with imperial affairs.”

“Hahahaha! Impossible!” Master Kurong laughed. “Chaos is coming—the whole world is a chessboard. You are either white, or black. Do you think you can remain gray?”

At these words, Ji Feng’s face turned green.

Master Kurong then turned to Li Lin and said: “County Warden Li, please come with us. The Prince of Yue also wishes to meet you.”

Li Lin had already been placed on the Qin Prince’s Army’s “attention” list.

After all… Li Lin had repeatedly thwarted the Qin Prince’s Army’s espionage operations—how could they ignore such a man?

Li Lin said nothing.

His fingers moved—and another heavenly thunderbolt struck down.

Master Kurong flung his crimson jewel-embroidered robe over his head; the spinning robe intercepted the purple thunder.

The robe then fell, and Master Kurong caught it, glanced at it, and winced in pain.

For the robe now bore a small black hole.

Clearly burned through by the thunder.

Li Lin understood—this robe was an artifact.

“County Warden Li, I never enjoy persuading others. I hope you consider your path wisely!”

(End of Chapter)