Chapter 88: The Daoist Priest of the Barbarians

Now Li Lin could confirm he had entered an illusion.

Generally, only a powerful Great Phantom could open such a place.

And all Taowu Zhenjun are, in essence, Great Phantoms.

Within the county town, under the very eyes of the Four Wonders Zhenjun, only two could drag one into an illusion: either a Taowu Zhenjun or a roaming Possessing Great Phantom.

The latter was more likely.

Li Lin walked forward in the direction indicated by the Tree Immortal Lady.

The previous sensation of one's heart being 'stepped on' the moment one set foot had vanished.

He walked faster and faster.

The surrounding environment changed with his movement; with every step, the scenery around him rushed backward rapidly.

After walking a few steps, the surroundings were no longer the county town but a mountain hollow.

Ahead stood a large altar, upon which a Daoist Priest stood with his back to Li Lin.

Even without seeing his face, Li Lin knew this Daoist Priest was the same one as the previous 'Flying Head Man' Daoist.

"To break through my Departing Fire Formation and reach here, you do possess some skill."

The Daoist Priest turned around; his appearance was indeed that of the previous demonic Daoist.

Li Lin said nothing, instead observing the surroundings; although this was an illusion, it might still hold the key to victory.

Seeing Li Lin ignore him, the Daoist Priest swept his right hand, and the surrounding scenery changed.

Barren sand dunes, withered trees, and occasionally an oasis containing many people—people with lifeless eyes, wearing tattered clothes that barely revealed their original styles.

These people moved about nearby; some even passed directly through Li Lin's body.

"Do you know where this is?"

Li Lin still said nothing; a sinister aura permeated this illusion.

Seeing Li Lin still ignore him, the Daoist Priest chuckled lightly: "You need not be so tense; I have no intention of killing you for now. These past few days I have been investigating you and discovered something quite interesting."

"What is it?" Li Lin asked.

"You are a good person!"

Li Lin sneered.

"Seeing these pitiful people, do you feel no shred of sympathy?"

Li Lin snorted, hands clasped behind his back: "Illusions, that is all."

"These people are indeed illusions, but they are also the world I witnessed two years ago."

"And then?"

"Do you not wish to save them?"

"They are merely foreigners; why should I save them?"

The Daoist Priest laughed heartily: "Very good; you are indeed like most Qi people, refusing to view foreigners as human. But I have heard you are quite intimate with the magistrate's daughter here."

He had investigated even this?

But it was not exactly a particularly secret piece of information.

"She is different."

"How is she different?"

"She was born here and raised here. She speaks Han, wears Chinese robes, and holds a Great Qi household registration. Except for her appearance, everything about her is Great Qi."

The Daoist Priest fell silent for a moment: "Do foreigners so offend your eyes?"

"Do they offend yours?"

"I am from Yue Commandery," the Daoist Priest chuckled lightly. "Half my blood is foreign. When I entered Great Qi territory, no one suspected I was a foreigner, not even my master."

"So you are a foreigner; no wonder you are a Flying Head Man."

The Daoist Priest laughed loudly: "Li Xunshou, join us! Great Qi is in its twilight. Now Qin Wang has occupied Yuecheng and will soon march north. If you join now, you will earn merit by following the dragon."

Li Lin looked at the other, then a thought flashed through his mind: "Wait, was An Zhijian also persuaded by you?"

"Clever," the Daoist Priest smiled. "We need talent like yours."

Li Lin also smiled: "You expended great effort creating such an illusion just for this?"

"Just for this," the Daoist Priest sighed. "If you are willing to go with me, you live. If not, this will be your burial place."

At that very moment, a chain of green-red lightning descended from the sky and struck the Daoist Priest.

Li Lin had kept his hands clasped behind his back all this time, forming hand seals.

This was an illusion where Yin Qi was exceptionally strong, so the energy resonance caused by the hand seals was not obvious.

His subtle move succeeded, but the Daoist Priest remained motionless; the lightning coursed over his body, yet he was unharmed.

"I sensed your move long ago. I ignored it earlier just to let you know one thing: within an illusion, only the Domain Master is strongest."

"But you should not have the ability to manifest an illusion," Li Lin said, placing his hands at his sides, confused. "You are not a Phantom."

The Daoist Priest's face twisted: "Who says I am not a Phantom?"

As those few words were spoken, his head transformed into a bear's head.

Fur grew on his face, his mouth protruded, and fangs sprouted.

Li Lin instinctively stepped back two paces.

"You are not that Daoist Priest."

"I ate him; now I am him."

As he spoke, another human head grew atop the bear-man's head; looking at the features, it was unmistakably the previous Daoist Priest.

"Who am I, and who is me?" the Daoist Priest's head giggled. "Bear body, bear bones, shedding into human form; human appearance, human guise, hiding a beast's heart! Hahahaha! Li Lin, surrender, or you will become the second head of the Bear Zhenjun, keeping me company."

Li Lin said nothing.

The Daoist's head sighed.

The bear suddenly leaped up, charging toward Li Lin.

Li Lin thrust his long spear forward, a red aura of blood qi forming a streak of light and shadow.

The bear did not dodge; the spear pierced its abdomen but failed to break through the surface layer.

And as it descended, the shaft of the spear suddenly bent.

It seemed about to snap.

Li Lin slammed the butt of the spear onto the ground, then quickly jumped backward.

As the bear landed, the spear curved into a crescent shape and then shattered.

Next, the bear swung its hand sharply; an invisible wave of qi struck Li Lin directly, sending him flying.

Li Lin rolled several times on the ground before finally standing up.

He felt that the ribs in his chest had very likely fractured.

The Daoist's head swayed above: "Surrender quickly; this is your last chance."

Li Lin wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and asked, "I am curious: since you have Taowu Zhenjun's help, you could have dragged me into the Ghost Domain days ago. Why do this only now?"

"Because I am running out of time," the Daoist chuckled. "I originally thought a small trick, using the Changfeng Escort Agency affair, would lure you into the trap, make you suffer an unjust accusation, and cause you to lose faith in the local county magistrate. But I did not expect your reaction to be so swift, and this magistrate is quite incorruptible; he would not even take the silver from the Changfeng Escort Agency. So I could only summon Taowu Zhenjun."

"Taowu Zhenjun must be the guardian Zhenjun of some county in Yuecheng."

"Very clever."

No wonder, when the Ghost opened the Ghost Domain, Si Miao Zhenjun did not react; they were all 'colleagues'.

"If you want me to join you, that is fine, but I have a condition."

"Letting you live is the condition..."

Li Lin snorted: "If there is no benefit, I would rather die."

The Daoist's expression grew strange: "Very well, you are indeed a talent. Speak; what do you want?"

"I want to learn this Ghost Domain."

After a brief silence, the Daoist burst into laughter, and even Taowu Zhenjun grinned.

A Ghost Domain... is not something a living person can comprehend.

"You wish to temporarily comprehend the essence of the Ghost Domain so you can escape?" the Daoist sneered. "Do you think that is possible?"

"You can try; just tell me," Li Lin said, narrowing his eyes. "If I cannot learn it, I will naturally be willing to join you."

"Good!" the Daoist laughed. "It is a deal."

(End of this chapter)