Chapter 9: The Correct Use of Stealth Technique

Through the hole in the roof, a black-clad masked figure leapt down lightly.

He landed on the ground, one foot pressing down on Ding Yingchun’s chest, driving the short spear deeper.

Ding Yingchun spat out another mouthful of blood, his gaze already growing dim.

The black-clad man, his face covered in black cloth, spoke in a gravelly, artificially altered voice: “My spirits—how dare you vermin lay hands on them?”

Wang Tianyou stepped out from the shadows, his hair disheveled, bowing his fists: “Friend, please spare Ding Xunshou. We can discuss this.”

“Spare him?”

The black-clad man sneered, then slammed his foot down with force—several sharp cracks echoed as Ding Yingchun’s ribcage shattered, blood spraying high.

Ding Yingchun didn’t even cry out before he went still.

Wang Tianyou’s face turned grim.

The other three emerged from the darkness, taking up three positions, forming a triangular encirclement with Wang Tianyou.

Zhou Yutong muttered: “Young Master Wang, this situation is bad. Afterward, you’ll have to increase our reward.”

“Double it,” Wang Tianyou answered without hesitation. “We’re many, he’s alone—we can take him.”

The black-clad man suddenly burst into laughter: “You really think I’m alone? You’re fools.”

Everyone heard this and looked puzzled.

Then all the Spirit Hunters’ faces turned pale.

Because the white jade tokens tied to their waists had all lit up, glowing red.

Wang Tianyou stared at the black-clad man in horror: “You broke the Imperial Barrier?”

The black-clad man said nothing, standing still.

And now Wang Tianyou and the others could faintly hear the chaotic murmurs.

“Go!” Wang Tianyou roared. “All of you—flee, each for yourselves. If any of you survive, come to Dian City and find me—I’ll compensate you.”

Saying this, Wang Tianyou swiftly formed hand seals, his body radiating golden light.

“Did I allow you to leave?” the black-clad man snorted.

Out of nowhere, he produced a short spear and hurled it at Wang Tianyou.

Mid-flight, the spear split into six, piercing different parts of Wang Tianyou’s body.

Wang Tianyou swung his soft sword, parrying continuously—blade flowers flashed like a wash of water, and in an instant, he knocked away five spears. But each parry dimmed his golden aura; after deflecting five, his movements slowed noticeably, and the final spear pierced his thigh.

Blood dripped.

Wang Tianyou grunted, his face twisted with malice as he glared at the man: “Mystic Shadow Spear… I’ll remember this. Don’t let me find you—you’ll die horribly.”

With those words, Wang Tianyou’s body dissolved into a wisp of green smoke and vanished.

Where he disappeared, a burning yellow paper talisman figure fell to the ground and ignited itself.

Seeing this, Zhou Yutong and Zhan Shijun turned and sprinted out of the Tudimiao without hesitation.

“Li…”

Su Huafang turned toward Li Lin’s position, wanting him to hurry—but when he looked… Li Lin was gone.

He was startled, then spun and ran for the exit, faster than the two ahead of him.

The black-clad man grunted, waved his hand, and released the golden cords binding the female spirit, then grabbed her hand and dashed out of the temple.

Meanwhile, Li Lin, cloaked in his black Spirit-Blocking Robe, crouched motionless in a dark corner.

Thanks to his recent training in this “Stealth Technique,” its effect was now unmistakable.

No one noticed him.

Everyone had left. The Tudimiao fell silent again.

But Li Lin did not move. He remained crouched where he was.

Because the black-clad man had said he had broken the Imperial Barrier—meaning the outside was now the domain of spirits.

What could a novice like him do without his Stealth Technique?

Besides, Li Lin felt hiding here was a good idea.

After all, darkness beneath the lamp is also a form of concealment.

He closed his eyes, slowing his breath to absolute stillness, making no sound.

After a long while, footsteps sounded outside the Tudimiao. The black-clad man entered, each hand carrying a corpse, and tossed them onto the floor.

Li Lin cracked open one eyelid and saw the bodies of Zhou Yutong and Zhan Shijun.

The two corpses were dumped beside Ding Yingchun, three bodies lined up together.

Li Lin sighed inwardly—these three had known him less than a day, and now they were separated by life and death.

I wonder if Elder Su escaped.

Behind the black-clad man followed the beautiful female spirit, who stared hungrily at the three corpses.

“Eat,” the black-clad man said calmly.

The female spirit drifted to the corpses, opened her mouth, and inhaled—blood and flesh of all three dissolved into red mist, drawn into her mouth.

Soon, all flesh vanished, leaving only three white skeletons.

The female spirit’s face flushed rosy, no longer resembling a spirit—she looked like a living woman.

The black-clad man nodded: “Spirit Hunters truly nourish… Wretched one, I will make you aid my cultivation.”

The female spirit floated down to the ground and knelt.

The black-clad man stepped before her, unfastened his belt, and stood straight.

Strange sounds echoed through the Tudimiao.

From Li Lin’s angle, the black-clad man faced away, and the female spirit’s face and gaze were blocked by his body—they couldn’t possibly see him.

A strange feeling suddenly rose in Li Lin’s heart.

He stared at the man’s back and felt as if a red “marker” box had appeared there, as if urging him to act.

Nearby lay a short spear—earlier knocked away by Wang Tianyou, now resting on the ground.

Li Lin slowly crouched and sidestepped two steps, reaching down to pick up the spear.

The moment he grasped the weapon, the red marker behind the black-clad man grew brighter.

So it was true.

Li Lin crept forward on his haunches, each step slow, silent.

As he drew nearer, sweat slicked his palms, yet his heartbeat remained perfectly steady.

Step by step!

Closer and closer.

The other side remained engrossed in their act.

After roughly sixty breaths, Li Lin reached the black-clad man’s back.

Neither the black-clad man nor the female spirit noticed him.

It seemed to be a critical moment—the black-clad man’s body tensed suddenly, his hands instinctively reaching forward, gripping the female spirit’s head with all his strength.

Now!

The spear thrust forward—the black tip struck the exact center of the red marker.

That spot was the right kidney.

The spear pierced the black-clad man’s body like a knife through tofu—no resistance, effortless.

Aaahhh!

The black-clad man screamed in agony—pain drove him to clutch desperately at whatever was near.

And he was gripping the female spirit’s head.

With that force, her head shattered outright, crumbling into fragments.

Li Lin yanked the spear free—the red marker shifted, now appearing on the left.

He plunged the spear down again without hesitation.

(End of Chapter)