[{"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-217":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},2264817,4420,"Chapter 217: Fight Three Hundred Rounds Again","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-217",217,"\u003Cp>Listening to Master Kurong’s words, Li Lin laughed: “So the Fomen plans to defect to the rebel Qin. Aren’t you afraid the authorities will find out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong chuckled indifferently. “We’re afraid, of course—but some things can’t wait any longer. Besides, you’ve all joined the Prince of Qin’s side; the authorities won’t know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin turned his gaze toward the forest’s edge—no Daoists had entered. They must have lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether annihilated or driven off, he didn’t know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Li Lin Shouhui  his gaze and said: “Master, let these martial artists go. Let them leave, and I’ll come with you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The martial artists heard this and stared at Li Lin, puzzled or suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong’s expression froze, then darkened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t possibly let them go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were all names on the oath of allegiance—all tied to the Fomen’s karmic debts. How could he release them?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man wasn’t on the oath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His presence or absence made no difference to the Fomen’s grand scheme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking this, Master Kurong smiled: “If County Magistrate Li is willing to bind his own hands, we shall release all martial brethren.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin laughed: “No. I don’t trust Shaolin Temple. You release them first. Then I’ll bind myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shaolin Temple has a thousand-year reputation…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m the government!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s single sentence silenced their sophistry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong closed his eyes slightly—then opened them to find himself lunging forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ambush!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His speed was terrifying—in the blink of an eye, he was within a zhang of Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He brought down his golden-copper staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though they stood a zhang apart, a phantom image lengthened the staff’s reach instantly to a full zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, a purple spear pierced through, blocking the staff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their weapons shifted positions rapidly, reappearing elsewhere in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterimages flickered in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The force they generated rippled around them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither moved—only the phantom spear shadows and staff illusions clashed within the space between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the surging winds, both men’s expressions grew graver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After roughly ten breaths, Li Lin stepped back, wiping a bead of blood from his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong’s face turned ashen, his forehead slick with cold sweat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn’t retreated—but everyone could see he was worse injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because if you have time to wipe away blood from your mouth, you still have room to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two old monks stepped forward, flanking Master Kurong to steady his trembling body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong closed his eyes: “Heroes emerge in youth. Old monk has lost. Admirable. Admirable.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone stared at Li Lin in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong was famed in the martial world as a formidable fighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not the absolute peak, but a second-tier martial artist—in government terms, a fifth-rank expert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Master Kurong smiled: “But County Magistrate Li, you no longer hold a spear. Come with us now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His eyes gleamed with triumph.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, from the start, Master Kurong knew he could only match Li Lin evenly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first clash, he realized the man’s perfected spear intent was deeply “strange.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though only newly perfected, his spiritual energy was astonishingly vast—and unnaturally heavy!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t know what cultivation art Li Lin practiced, but it was terrifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had Li Lin wielded a normal spear, Master Kurong would already have lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin used a paper spear—and that gave him an opening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He deliberately used more “crushing” strikes, hammering Li Lin’s paper spear until it was riddled with “cracks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Li Lin’s paper spear was, as Master Kurong said, reduced to paper shreds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around them, not a single intact paper spear remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin looked at the martial artists: “Does anyone have a spear to lend me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the hundred-plus, a few carried spears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But… no one was willing to throw theirs to Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They believed they needed weapons for self-defense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Give it to him—what would they use?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the martial artists remain motionless, Master Kurong smiled wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“County Magistrate Li, please…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But at that moment, a rustling sound came from behind Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A paper figure with a human torso and serpent tail appeared beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone recognized it—the same paper figure that had rescued the mother and child veiled in the ghostly robe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impossible to forget—it was too unusual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong hadn’t seen it—he arrived later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, seeing the Tree Immortal Lady, his eyes widened: “What demon is this… a paper figure? How can a paper figure radiate such malevolent energy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady ignored Master Kurong. In her “hands,” she still dragged a large sheet of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She crumpled and rolled it—then it became a paper spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Longer and thicker than the previous ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She laid it horizontally before Li Lin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Immortal Lady.” Li Lin took the paper spear and smiled: “Monk, shall we have a second round?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong said nothing—but the two old monks stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, this time we two shall face you. Please, grant us your skill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Two against one? Unfair.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the two old monks ignored him, advancing together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a gust of wind swept past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The long serpent tail forced the two monks to halt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady moved to advance, but Li Lin raised his hand to stop her: “Immortal Lady, they’re living beings. You now receive incense offerings at the True Lord Temple—killing harms your spirit. Return and guard those two for me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Tree Immortal Lady stared at him, expression stubborn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin’s tone turned stern: “Good girl. Obey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frustrated and helpless, the Tree Immortal Lady slammed her long tail hard against the ground, then turned away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With her departure, the atmosphere eased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, the Tree Immortal Lady’s form was deeply “uncanny” to many.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin scanned the crowd: “Martial friends, I’ll keep Master Kurong and these two monks occupied. Whether you flee or stay—that’s up to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he slapped a yellow talisman onto his own body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he charged forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, Li Lin unleashed his full power—his paper spear, over a zhang long, whipped through the air in streaks of purple afterimages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each phantom shadow stretched nearly three zhang long, glowing brilliantly in the dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong and the two old monks were forced into steady retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How can this be… so powerful!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three monks fought desperately, but could only defend—no opening to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three zhang versus one zhang… advantage is mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After blocking a dozen strikes, one old monk was flung back by the spear, spitting blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the martial artists finally moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ji Feng gave Li Lin a long look, then led the Qingcheng Sect out first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing someone lead, the martial artists didn’t hesitate—they surged outward too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Master Kurong blocked another spear shadow, stepped back two paces, and roared: “Stop them! These people are needed by the Prince of Qin!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If all these martial artists escaped, Shaolin Temple’s reputation would be ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the martial artists ran even faster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t charge head-on—instead, they seized any opening to flee, hurling daggers and darting away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though their collective strength paled beside Shaolin’s two dozen experts, blocking a hundred determined escapees was still extremely difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After flinging one old monk away with a spear strike, Li Lin himself leapt backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had no intention of risking himself for these martial artists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helping them earlier was only to keep Shaolin’s men too busy to surround him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Plainly put—they were his bait.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Lin retreat, Master Kurong screamed: “County Magistrate Li! If you have the guts, come back and fight me three hundred rounds again!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1252,"2026-06-19T19:39:19.696Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","d14f9840371d79e34bb00bf756902e9186e552a5e6d3759438cb8dd27d464dc4","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-218","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-216",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]