[{"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-9":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},2264609,4420,"Chapter 9: The Correct Use of Stealth Technique","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>Through the hole in the roof, a black-clad masked figure leapt down lightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He landed on the ground, one foot pressing down on Ding Yingchun’s chest, driving the short spear deeper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingchun spat out another mouthful of blood, his gaze already growing dim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianyou stepped out from the shadows, his hair disheveled, bowing his fists: “Friend, please spare Ding Xunshou. We can discuss this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Spare him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Yingchun didn’t even cry out before he went still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianyou’s face turned grim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other three emerged from the darkness, taking up three positions, forming a triangular encirclement with Wang Tianyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Yutong muttered: “Young Master Wang, this situation is bad. Afterward, you’ll have to increase our reward.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Double it,” Wang Tianyou answered without hesitation. “We’re many, he’s alone—we can take him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man suddenly burst into laughter: “You really think I’m alone? You’re fools.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone heard this and looked puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then all the Spirit Hunters’ faces turned pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the white jade tokens tied to their waists had all lit up, glowing red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Tianyou stared at the black-clad man in horror: “You broke the Imperial Barrier?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man said nothing, standing still.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And now Wang Tianyou and the others could faintly hear the chaotic murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, Wang Tianyou swiftly formed hand seals, his body radiating golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did I allow you to leave?” the black-clad man snorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of nowhere, he produced a short spear and hurled it at Wang Tianyou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mid-flight, the spear split into six, piercing different parts of Wang Tianyou’s body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood dripped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With those words, Wang Tianyou’s body dissolved into a wisp of green smoke and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Where he disappeared, a burning yellow paper talisman figure fell to the ground and ignited itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Zhou Yutong and Zhan Shijun turned and sprinted out of the Tudimiao without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Huafang turned toward Li Lin’s position, wanting him to hurry—but when he looked… Li Lin was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was startled, then spun and ran for the exit, faster than the two ahead of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Li Lin, cloaked in his black Spirit-Blocking Robe, crouched motionless in a dark corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thanks to his recent training in this “Stealth Technique,” its effect was now unmistakable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one noticed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone had left. The Tudimiao fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Lin did not move. He remained crouched where he was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because the black-clad man had said he had broken the Imperial Barrier—meaning the outside was now the domain of spirits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What could a novice like him do without his Stealth Technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, Li Lin felt hiding here was a good idea.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, darkness beneath the lamp is also a form of concealment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He closed his eyes, slowing his breath to absolute stillness, making no sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin cracked open one eyelid and saw the bodies of Zhou Yutong and Zhan Shijun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two corpses were dumped beside Ding Yingchun, three bodies lined up together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin sighed inwardly—these three had known him less than a day, and now they were separated by life and death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wonder if Elder Su escaped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the black-clad man followed the beautiful female spirit, who stared hungrily at the three corpses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Eat,” the black-clad man said calmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, all flesh vanished, leaving only three white skeletons.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female spirit’s face flushed rosy, no longer resembling a spirit—she looked like a living woman.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man nodded: “Spirit Hunters truly nourish… Wretched one, I will make you aid my cultivation.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The female spirit floated down to the ground and knelt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man stepped before her, unfastened his belt, and stood straight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strange sounds echoed through the Tudimiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange feeling suddenly rose in Li Lin’s heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He stared at the man’s back and felt as if a red “marker” box had appeared there, as if urging him to act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nearby lay a short spear—earlier knocked away by Wang Tianyou, now resting on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin slowly crouched and sidestepped two steps, reaching down to pick up the spear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he grasped the weapon, the red marker behind the black-clad man grew brighter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So it was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin crept forward on his haunches, each step slow, silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he drew nearer, sweat slicked his palms, yet his heartbeat remained perfectly steady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Step by step!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closer and closer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The other side remained engrossed in their act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After roughly sixty breaths, Li Lin reached the black-clad man’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neither the black-clad man nor the female spirit noticed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear thrust forward—the black tip struck the exact center of the red marker.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That spot was the right kidney.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The spear pierced the black-clad man’s body like a knife through tofu—no resistance, effortless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aaahhh!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-clad man screamed in agony—pain drove him to clutch desperately at whatever was near.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he was gripping the female spirit’s head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that force, her head shattered outright, crumbling into fragments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Lin yanked the spear free—the red marker shifted, now appearing on the left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He plunged the spear down again without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1115,"2026-06-19T19:39:18.782Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5c7dac7986a04a96a82df5cdeeb7e38d8f068ed882806c63536dcd012712ffe1","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-10","dark-and-dawn-light-years-chapter-8",221,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fdark-and-dawn-light-years-cover.jpg"]