Chapter 15: Digest the Fruits of Battle? I've Become Tang Monk Meat!

The cover of night is the best camouflage. Lin Xuan endured the weakness brought on by the Blood Escape Technique and the internal organ tremors caused by forcefully resisting the strike from Deacon You. He pushed the Shadow Concealment Art and the Turtle Breathing Technique to their limits, moving through the desolate mountains and ridges like a true ghost, leaving no traces behind.

Not until he confirmed he was absolutely safe did he stop in a natural cave behind a waterfall.

"Pfft—"

As soon as he relaxed, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of stagnant blood, his face pale as paper. A strike from a Golden Core cultivator fueled by rage was not easy to endure, even though he had been prepared and had used a portion of the absorbed energy to offset most of the damage.

Yet, his face was brimming with an excited smile.

Worth it! It was so worth it!

He couldn't wait to check the harvest from this adventure.

First, his cultivation! By absorbing the energy from that "sacred object" statue, he had not only broken through to the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, but now, pushed by the medicinal power and the remaining energy, his cultivation had stabilized at the mid-eighth level! This rocket-like speed of improvement was something no one would believe if he told them.

Second, the system itself! After devouring the statue's energy, the system interface seemed more solid, and it even had a small energy reserve bar.

【System Energy: 17% (Slowly recovering)】

Function Unlocked: Deep Scan (Consumes energy to perform a more detailed analysis of a specific target; has a chance to see through disguises, detect weaknesses, and identify items.)

Deep Scan! This was a divine skill! Whether dealing with powerful enemies or scavenging for treasures, it could be called a sharp weapon!

Finally, his Slacking Points! Although he had spent a large amount on skills, the emotional value brought by the development of the Shanzhai, the spirit herb plan, and that wave of extreme operations (including cross-dressing and being hunted), plus the massive gains from successfully disrupting the Profound Underworld Sect's ritual, absorbing the sacred object, and (presumably) making Deacon You cry with anger, meant his Slacking Point reserves had actually increased instead of decreased, reaching [Number] points!

A huge windfall! It was truly a huge windfall!

"The Profound Underworld Sect is truly my gift-giving boy!" Lin Xuan thought happily. Of course, he also knew that he had offended them to death this time, and whoever came next would likely not be as simple as a Deacon at the early stage of the Golden Core realm.

He took the last Bi Lin Pill and began to circulate his energy to heal his wounds while digesting his surging cultivation.

Three days later, his injuries were fully healed, and his cultivation was completely stabilized at the mid-eighth level of Foundation Establishment. Lin Xuan felt his state was better than ever; his spiritual power was abundant, and his spiritual sense had grown significantly.

He decided to test the newly unlocked "Deep Scan" function.

"System, perform a Deep Scan on myself!"

【Ding! Consuming 1% energy, performing Deep Scan...】

【Scan Results:】

Name: Lin Xuan

Cultivation: Mid-eighth level of Foundation Establishment

Physique: Mortal Body (Note: Due to multiple absorptions of foreign luck and system energy cleansing, it is slowly transforming into an unknown spirit body...)

Status: Healthy (Faint traces of Profound Underworld Mark remain; can be cleared by consuming energy)

Luck: ??? (Subject to unknown interference, cannot be accurately assessed; manifests as extreme volatility)

Remark: Detected that the host has become a marked target of the "Profound Underworld Sacred Object," possessing a special attraction to those who cultivate Profound Underworld techniques.】

Seeing the scan results, Lin Xuan was happy at first—his physique was transforming into a spirit body? That was a good thing! But upon seeing the "Profound Underworld Mark" and "special attraction" that followed, his face instantly fell.

"Damn it, I knew it wouldn't be that simple!" Lin Xuan cursed. "Isn't this Profound Underworld Mark just a tracker? And a special attraction? Does that mean I've really become Tang Monk meat? Everyone who cultivates Profound Underworld techniques wants to take a bite out of me?"

"System, clear the mark!"

【Ding! Clearing the Profound Underworld Mark requires 5% energy. Do you wish to clear it?】

"Clear it!" Lin Xuan didn't hesitate. Although losing 5% energy hurt, the price had to be paid compared to being tracked and hunted at all times.

A stream of cool energy flowed through his entire body, as if some invisible shackle had been broken. Lin Xuan felt his whole body lighten.

The mark was cleared, but the remark about "special attraction" could not be removed. This meant that as long as he encountered someone who cultivated Profound Underworld techniques, he might be targeted.

"It seems I'll have to stay far away from those gloomy fellows in the future." Lin Xuan sighed, but then cheered up again. "However, with Deep Scan, at least I can discover in advance who belongs to the Profound Underworld Sect."

He walked out of the waterfall, the sunlight falling on him, warm and cozy. It was time to go back to the Black Wind Shanzhai to see how things were; he had been gone for several days and didn't know the situation there.

He maintained his disguise and carefully snuck back to the vicinity of the Black Wind Shanzhai.

However, before he even got close to the Shanzhai, he keenly sensed that the atmosphere was wrong. The number of hidden sentries around the Shanzhai had increased several times over, and each one looked nervous, as if facing a formidable enemy. On the wooden walls of the Shanzhai, one could even see some new repair marks and scorch marks, as if they had experienced a battle.

Something had happened!

Lin Xuan's heart sank. He didn't rashly reveal himself, but instead used the Shadow Concealment Art to sneak nearby and grabbed a lone sentry.

The bandit was startled and was about to shout when Lin Xuan covered his mouth.

"It's me!" Lin Xuan removed part of his disguise, revealing his true face.

When the bandit saw it was Lin Xuan, he was instantly moved to tears and whispered, "Advisor! You've finally returned! Something big has happened!"

"Don't rush, tell me slowly, what's going on?"

"Two days after you left, a group of men in black snuck up the mountain! They were very strong, with at least three at the late stage of Foundation Establishment! They started fighting without a word, saying they were looking for some 'Purple Demon' and the 'Sacred Object'! The Big Boss led us to resist with our lives, relying on some small traps you set up earlier and... and those methods, to barely drive them back, but several brothers were injured, and the Shanzhai walls were damaged quite a bit."

It really was the Profound Underworld Sect! They moved fast!

"Are the Big Boss and the others okay?"

"The Big Boss suffered a minor injury, it's nothing serious. But... but the other side declared that they would come back in three days, and if we didn't hand you and the Sacred Object over, they would... they would slaughter everyone in our Black Wind Shanzhai!" The bandit's voice was filled with fear.

Three days later? That would be tomorrow!

Cold light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes. Profound Underworld Sect, you really are like lingering ghosts! To actually vent your anger on the Shanzhai!

He let go of the bandit and said in a deep voice, "I understand. You continue to keep watch. I'm back, and I will handle this matter."

Returning to the Shanzhai, Lin Xuan's appearance instantly gave the anxious crowd a backbone.

"Advisor!"

"You've finally returned!"

Black Bear and the others gathered around, their faces filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and deep worry.

"I know the situation." Lin Xuan patted Black Bear on the shoulder. "Thank you all for your hard work. Don't worry, this matter started because of me, and I will never implicate the Shanzhai."

"Advisor, what are you saying!" Black Bear said anxiously. "We are all grasshoppers on the same rope now! Even if you left, they wouldn't let us go! Let's fight them to the death!"

"Right! Fight them!" The bandits were filled with righteous indignation.

Lin Xuan was moved, but he shook his head. "Fighting them head-on is a bad strategy. Since they gave a three-day deadline, it shows they have some reservations, or they are gathering stronger manpower. We must win with intelligence."

He pondered for a moment and asked, "When they attacked, were there any characteristics? Like their techniques, weapons, or anything special they said?"

A small leader who had participated in the battle recalled, "Those people's techniques were very evil, filled with black energy; it was cold and painful when it hit you, and it could erode spiritual power. They seemed... particularly afraid of things that were extremely rigid and yang. A few of our brothers used torches in a moment of desperation, and they stayed quite far away."

Extremely rigid and yang? And afraid of flames?

Lin Xuan's eyes lit up! Profound Underworld techniques belong to the yin and evil, and they fear yang-rigid power; this is common knowledge!

He immediately had an idea!

"Big Boss, take people immediately and collect the following things: black dog blood, as much as possible! Cinnabar! Also, go to the Four Seas Trading Firm, spare no cost, and buy a batch of low-grade 'Yang Flame Talismans' and 'Evil-Repelling Talismans'!"

Although he didn't know what Lin Xuan was going to do, Black Bear already trusted him unconditionally and immediately took people to do it.

Lin Xuan returned to his room and began to frantically draw talismans! In the "Basic Talisman Encyclopedia" he had exchanged for earlier, there were several simple talismans for repelling evil and breaking curses. Although they were low-grade, they were plentiful! Moreover, he was prepared to play some tricks!

He mixed the black dog blood and cinnabar, using it as ink. He didn't just draw on yellow paper; he also drew crooked evil-repelling runes on prepared bricks, stones, and even the wood of the Shanzhai gate!

He was going to prepare a "yang-rigid" feast for the people of the Profound Underworld Sect!

At the same time, he didn't forget to improve his own strength. He consumed Slacking Points to raise his cultivation to the peak of the eighth level of Foundation Establishment! He was only one step away from the ninth level!

Looking at the Shanzhai he had decorated like an "Evil-Repelling Altar," and the thick stack of Yang Flame Talismans and those rune-covered "magic treasure" bricks in his storage bag, Lin Xuan stroked his chin.

"Tomorrow, let you rats in the gutter taste what a 'righteous group beating' is!"

He seemed to have already seen the spectacular scene of those Profound Underworld Sect disciples being drenched in black dog blood, having Yang Flame Talismans plastered on their faces, and being hit on the back of the head with rune-covered bricks.

"Want to play hard? I, Lin Xuan, will accompany you to the end!"

"However, I need to add one more insurance..." Lin Xuan's eyes flickered as he thought of the Four Seas Trading Firm, and that... Ye Chen, who might still be in Qingyun City.

Diverting disaster to others was his specialty.

(End of Chapter 15)