Chapter 36: Hunt-Spirit People Are Not Stupid

Li Lin patted Zhao Xiaohu's head a bit harder, smiling as he scolded, "Don't dream of eating a fat man in one bite; first master the Revival Technique. If you cannot quickly refine the Blood Rice, you are not qualified to learn the Yin-Nourishing Heart Method."

"Oh!"

Zhao Xiaohu rubbed his head and ran off to practice his spear techniques.

After all, with talent barely reaching the passing line, Zhao Xiaohu was quite average whether learning body techniques or cultivation.

In Li Lin's view, it was even 'slow'.

But Zhao Xiaohu had his own strengths: perseverance and persistence.

Although he spoke of learning this and that, he never slacked on the 'assignments' Li Lin arranged; he completed them solidly and often added extra practice.

Watching Zhao Xiaohu wield the long spear somewhat clumsily, Li Lin smiled and continued practicing his Fallen Thunder Incantation.

He could also feel that the Fallen Thunder Incantation had great power, but... the speed was very slow.

It required forming hand seals and drawing Qi... that single bolt of fallen thunder took about ten breaths from the start of the seals to successful casting.

In a duel between experts, such time was enough for oneself to die ten times over.

Therefore, increasing proficiency and speeding up the hand seals was the most important thing right now.

Not to demand 'instant casting', but at the very least, the Fallen Thunder Incantation must be unleashed within one breath.

Only a Fallen Thunder Incantation of such speed would carry deterrence.

He practiced the Fallen Thunder Incantation three more times; the hand seals were faster, but he felt a wave of emptiness in his body!

The Yin Qi was nearly exhausted.

He didn't know if the Fallen Thunder Incantation consumed so much, or if Li Lin's stored Yin Qi was too little.

However, he had prepared for this.

He popped a Life-Breath Pill.

Then he sat cross-legged to refine some Yuan Qi, and could practice the Fallen Thunder Incantation again.

Thus, in Shangtikou Village, clear-sky thunderclaps began appearing more than ten times a day.

At first, the villagers were quite afraid, but after hearing it many times and learning it was Li Lin practicing, they relaxed.

They would just sigh in idle chat that Li Xunshou was truly amazing.

They would also sigh that the boy Zhao Xiaohu had such good fortune.

Four days later, Li Lin shortened the hand-seal time to under four breaths; this was already quite an impressive improvement.

On this day, the Demon-Extermination Bureau personnel arrived at the village entrance.

They were heading to the Bobai Army Town Fortress to place the new 'Taowu Zhenjun' there.

Li Lin had to go along; this was a military order, and Huang Yan had agreed.

Accompanying the Demon-Extermination Bureau were Bai Liwei, Zhao Hao, and Su Huafang.

The Jincheng assembly had ended; Su Huafang and Zhao Hao had both returned from Jincheng. They seemed to have indeed encountered good fortune, as both wore joyful expressions.

Especially Zhao Hao; when looking at people, he always carried an air of superiority, only appearing normal when speaking with Deputy Commander Zhang Minsheng.

Li Lin sat on his warhorse, carrying his red-tasseled spear, mask, and Life-Breath Pill.

Riding slowly, he scanned the Demon-Extermination Bureau group and noticed Huang Xiu was not among them.

Su Huafang approached, saying, "Li Xunshou, I heard about the previous incident. I truly did not expect Old Xu to turn on his own people."

"It is a pity that even now, we do not know why Xu Saifeng betrayed us."

At this, Zhao Hao also approached, laughing loudly, "If you ask me, you are still too weak. If I had been there, so many people would not have died. Xu Saifeng and Old Hou, I could pin them down and beat them with one hand."

Hearing this, Li Lin, Su Huafang, and Bai Liwei, the three Hunt-Spirit People, smiled slightly, as if in agreement.

Li Lin looked around, pointing to a carriage behind, and asked, "The Taowu Zhenjun's altar is placed inside that?"

Su Huafang nodded, "Yes!"

Bai Liwei continued, "This Taowu Zhenjun seems somewhat different; I can feel its evil Qi is very heavy."

"Of course!" Zhao Hao leaned in again, speaking very proudly, "My uncle told me this Taowu Zhenjun was invited from a temple in Jincheng."

"Isn't that using a large tool for a small job?" Su Huafang said in surprise.

"Who knows?" Bai Liwei looked at the Demon-Extermination Bureau convoy behind, speaking with implied meaning, "Perhaps the problems in Bobai Town are more serious than we imagined."

Li Lin and Huang Huafang both had somewhat solemn expressions.

Zhao Hao laughed loudly, "Rest assured, I will protect the three of you. As long as I am alive, you will be safe."

He slapped his chest hard.

Li Lin and Bai Liwei both had strange expressions.

Su Huafang, being older and more smooth, clasped his fists and said, "Thank you, Young Master Zhao."

"Hahaha, no need to mention it, no need to mention it."

With Su Huafang acting as a lubricant, Zhao Hao and the two, Bai Liwei and Li Lin, could barely get along.

By evening, the Demon-Extermination Bureau camped and rested in an open area.

At this moment, the foundation of the Demon-Extermination Bureau was revealed.

They directly sprinkled three rings of 'protective barrier powder' around the resting spot, the range being particularly large.

At the same time, they carried the altar from the carriage out and placed it on the ground.

A great apparition with a human face, but a body of immense strength and covered in red fur, floated above the altar.

Its expression was quite cold; looking at the living people around, it had a somewhat... playful air.

But this also indicated that this 'Taowu Zhenjun' seemed quite formidable.

Under the protection of these two measures, let alone a wild apparition, even a great apparition would dare not appear.

Although all were within the resting area, the Hunt-Spirit People and the Demon-Extermination Bureau were clearly distinct groups.

The four Hunt-Spirit People sat in a corner eating dry rations, while the twenty-plus members of the Demon-Extermination Bureau were in the center, setting up pots to cook rice.

"Within the Demon-Extermination Bureau, most are martial artists, while a minority are Spirit Hunters." Bai Liwei knew Li Lin was a newcomer and unfamiliar with these matters, so he explained, "Therefore, they all carry, to some degree, the habits of the army."

So that was it.

Li Lin nodded; no wonder he had sensed a flavor of strict discipline and obedience on these people.

Soon, the food was cooked.

Afterwards, Zhang Minsheng walked over carrying an iron pot in both hands, inside which lay several large chunks of meat.

"Four Li Xunshou, this military town expedition will trouble you all to contribute greatly," Zhang Minsheng said while smiling and setting the iron pot down, "We made a bit too much meat dish; please, take your time to savor it."

Zhao Hao stood up proactively, clasped his fist, and said, "No trouble at all. If there are any difficulties this time, just tell us; we will find a way to resolve them."

Hearing these words, Bai Liwei's eyebrows unconsciously knitted and rose.

Who are you? How can you take matters onto yourself without asking us?

Su Huafang, however, maintained a calm demeanor.

Zhang Minsheng chuckled twice, chatted casually with Zhao Hao for a few more moments, then departed.

Zhao Hao sat down.

With his back to the Demon-Extermination Bureau members, Su Huafang flicked his right hand, and several long, thin needles appeared between his fingers.

These needles probed into the chunks of meat and were quickly withdrawn.

"It should be fine; you can eat."

Both Bai Liwei and Li Lin froze in expression.

At this moment, Zhao Hao seemed not to have seen Su Huafang's action; he reached out, took a piece of meat, and chewed it in large bites.

Bai Liwei and Li Lin both looked at Zhao Hao with strange expressions.

Zhao Hao smiled and said, "Don't just stare at me; eat the meat. Only by eating will you have strength to travel tomorrow."

Li Lin also chuckled lightly; he truly had underestimated the world a bit.

(End of this chapter)