Chapter 15

The night is the best cover. Lin Xuan endured the weakness brought by the "Blood Escape Art" and the internal organ vibration caused by taking Deacon You's blow head-on, pushing the "Shadow Concealment Art" and "Turtle Breath Art" to the limit, like a real ghost, shuttling through the desolate mountains and ridges, leaving no trace.

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

"Puff—"

Just as he relaxed, he couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of stagnant blood, his face pale as paper. A blow from a Golden Core Stage cultivator in anger, even if he was prepared and used part of the absorbed energy to offset most of the damage, was still not easy to take.

But his face was filled with an excited smile.

Worth it! So worth it!

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

First, cultivation! With the help of absorbing the energy of the "holy object" statue, he not only broke through to Foundation Establishment Stage 8, but now, pushed by the medicinal power and remaining energy, his cultivation was stabilized at the mid-stage of Stage 8! This rocket-like improvement speed, no one would believe it if he told them.

Secondly, the system itself! After devouring the energy of the statue, the system interface seemed to be more solid, and even added a small energy reserve bar.

【System energy: 17% (slowly recovering)】

Function unlocked: Deep Scan (consumes energy, can perform more detailed analysis on specific targets, has a chance to see through disguises, detect weaknesses, and identify items.)

Deep Scan! This is a divine skill! Whether dealing with strong enemies or picking up leaks and treasure hunting, it can be called a sharp weapon!

Finally, his slacking off points! Although exchanging skills cost a lot of money, the emotion values brought by the stronghold development, the spirit herb plan, and the extreme operation just now (including wearing women's clothes and being chased), plus the huge gains brought by successfully destroying the Youming Sect ritual, absorbing the holy object, and crying (presumably) Deacon You, his slacking off point reserve actually rose instead of falling, reaching 【points】!

A wave of fat! Truly a wave of fat!

"Youming Sect, you are really my gift-giving boy!" Lin Xuan thought happily. Of course, he also knew that this time he had offended the other party to death, and next time, what comes probably won't be as simple as an early-stage Golden Core deacon.

He took the last Bilin Pill and began to practice to heal his injuries, while digesting his skyrocketing cultivation.

Three days later, the injuries were healed, and the cultivation was completely stabilized at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment Stage 8. Lin Xuan felt that his state was better than ever, his spiritual power was abundant, and his spiritual sense had also grown a lot.

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

"System, perform a deep scan on myself!"

【Ding! Consuming 1% energy, deep scanning...】

【Scan results:】

Name: Lin Xuan

Cultivation: Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Stage 8

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

Status: Healthy (weak Youming mark remains, can be cleared by consuming energy)

Luck:??? (Subject to unknown interference, cannot be accurately assessed, manifested as extremely strong volatility)

Note: Detected that the host has become a target marked by the "Youming Holy Object," and has a special attraction to those who practice Youming cultivation techniques.】

Seeing the scan results, Lin Xuan was happy at first; the physique is transforming into a spirit body? Good thing! But seeing the "Youming mark" and "special attraction" behind it, his face collapsed instantly.

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

"System, clear the mark!"

【Ding! Clearing the Youming mark requires consuming 5% energy, clear?】

"Clear!" Lin Xuan did not hesitate. Although 5% energy hurts, compared to being tracked and hunted at all times, this price must be paid.

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

The mark was cleared, but the note about "special attraction" could not be eliminated. This means that as long as he encounters someone who practices Youming cultivation techniques, he might be targeted.

"It seems I have to stay away from those gloomy guys in the future." Lin Xuan sighed, but then cheered up again, "However, with Deep Scan, at least I can discover in advance who is from the Youming Sect."

He walked out of the waterfall, the sun shining on him, warm. It's time to go back to Black Wind Stronghold to see; he's been away for several days, don't know how things are over there.

He still maintained his disguise and carefully sneaked back to the vicinity of Black Wind Stronghold.

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

Something happened!

Lin Xuan's heart sank, and he did not show himself rashly, but used the "Shadow Concealment Art" to sneak nearby and grabbed a lone secret sentry.

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

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

Seeing it was Lin Xuan, the bandit was moved to tears and lowered his voice: "Advisor! You're back! Something big happened!"

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

"Not two days after you left, a group of men in black sneaked up the mountain! They were very strong, with at least three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators! They started fighting without a word, saying they wanted to find some 'Purple Demon' and 'Holy Object'! The Big Boss led us to resist to the death, relying on some small traps you set up before and... and those methods, we barely managed to beat them back, but we also had several brothers injured, and the stronghold wall was also damaged a lot."

It really was the Youming Sect! They act fast!

"Is the Big Boss and the others okay?"

"The Big Boss suffered a minor injury, it's not a big deal. But... but the other party said that they will come again in three days, and if we don't hand you and the holy object over, they will... they will slaughter our entire Black Wind Stronghold!" The bandit's voice carried fear.

Three days later? That's tomorrow!

Cold light flickered in Lin Xuan's eyes. Youming Sect, you are really like ghosts! You actually took your anger out on the stronghold!

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

Returning to the stronghold, Lin Xuan's appearance made the uneasy crowd instantly find their backbone.

"Advisor!"

"You're finally back!"

Black Bear and the others surrounded him, their faces carrying the joy of surviving a disaster and deep worry.

"I know the situation." Lin Xuan patted Black Bear on the shoulder, "Everyone has worked hard. Rest assured, this matter started because of me, and I will never implicate the stronghold."

"Advisor, what are you saying!" Black Bear said anxiously, "We are now grasshoppers on the same rope! If you leave, they won't let us go either! Let's fight them!"

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

Lin Xuan was moved in his heart, but shook his head: "Fighting head-on is the worst strategy. Since the other party gave a three-day deadline, it means they also have concerns, or are mobilizing stronger manpower. We must win by wisdom."

He pondered for a moment and asked: "When they attacked, were there any characteristics? For example, cultivation techniques, weapons, or anything special they said?"

A small leader who participated in the battle at that time recalled: "Those people's cultivation techniques are very evil, with black energy, and it's cold and painful when it hits the body, and it can also erode spiritual power. They seem... particularly afraid of things that are extremely rigid and extremely yang. Several of our brothers used torches in a hurry, and they hid quite far away."

Extremely rigid and extremely yang? And afraid of flames?

Lin Xuan's eyes lit up! Youming cultivation techniques belong to the yin and evil, and fear the power of yang and rigidity; this is common sense!

He immediately had an idea!

"Big Boss, you immediately take people to collect the following things: black dog blood, as much as possible! Zhu Sha! Also, go to the Four Seas Trading Firm, at all costs, purchase a batch of low-rank 'Yang Flame Talismans' and 'Evil-Expelling Talismans'!"

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

Lin Xuan returned to his room and began to frantically draw talismans! In the "Complete Collection of Basic Talismans" he exchanged before, there were several simple talismans for expelling evil and breaking evil spirits. Although the rank was low, the quantity was large and sufficient! And, he was prepared to play some tricks!

He mixed black dog blood and cinnabar, using it as ink, not only drawing on yellow paper, but also on the prepared bricks, stones, and even the wood of the stronghold gate, all filled with crooked evil-expelling talisman runes!

He was going to prepare a "yang and rigid" feast for the people of the Youming Sect!

At the same time, he did not forget to improve his own strength. Consuming slacking off points, he raised his cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage 8! Only one step away from Stage 9!

Looking at the stronghold that had been arranged by himself like an "Evil-Expelling Altar," and the thick stack of Yang Flame Talismans and those "magic treasure" bricks filled with talisman runes in his storage bag, Lin Xuan touched his chin.

"Tomorrow, let you rats in the gutter taste what is called 'righteous gang fighting'!"

He seemed to have already seen the wonderful scenes of those Youming Sect disciples being drenched in black dog blood, having Yang Flame Talismans pasted on their faces, and being slapped on the back of the head with talisman-filled bricks.

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

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

Diverting the disaster, that is his specialty.

(Chapter 15 End)