Chapter 17

The news of Black Wind Stronghold breaking the Netherworld Sect spread like wings, accompanied by keywords such as "black dog blood," "talisman brick," and "evil-expelling dharma assembly," sweeping across the entire Qingyun City and surrounding areas at a speed even more absurd than Lin Xuan's women's clothing escape.

At first, people listened to it as a joke.

"Have you heard? Those bandits in Black Wind Stronghold used black dog blood to splash away the Golden Core elder of the Youming Sect!"

"Hahahaha! Really or fake? This is even more absurd than Young Master Lin kneeling and begging for mercy!"

"Absolutely true! My third uncle's neighbor's son's sworn brother was cutting wood nearby at the time and saw it with his own eyes! The black dog blood was like rain, and there were glowing bricks mixed in!"

But as more details were disclosed, especially after Deacon Qian Wanguan of the Four Seas Trading Firm personally went to Black Wind Stronghold to "express condolences" (actually to confirm the news and deepen cooperation), the wind direction gradually changed.

The joke gradually turned into... a legend.

Some small families and small forces that had been oppressed by the Youming Sect began to secretly regard Black Wind Stronghold as a banner for resisting the demonic path.

Some grassroots rogue cultivators felt that Black Wind Stronghold acted "unconventionally" and had the "style of our generation," so they yearned for it.

Even some ignorant commoners really believed that Black Wind Stronghold had "evil-expelling supernatural powers" and privately worshipped the longevity tablet of "Advisor Lin," praying for the safety of their homes and the expulsion of evil spirits.

Thus, a bizarre scene appeared.

The bandits of Black Wind Stronghold found that when they went down the mountain to "carry out business" (logistics, tour guides, mercenaries), the people they met looked at them strangely. It was no longer the fear and disdain of the past, but with a bit of curiosity, a bit of awe, and even... a bit of fanaticism?

Occasionally, there were bold villagers who brought their own black dogs to the vicinity of the stronghold, asking if they "purchased" black dogs, and the price could be negotiated.

Even more, several local thugs from nearby villages actually came here by name, wanting to "worship the pier," join Black Wind Stronghold, and learn the "Supreme Evil-Expelling Dharma"!

In the Justice Hall, Black Bear looked at the several thugs kneeling on the ground, calling "Please Advisor Lin to take us in and teach us immortal dharma" with a pious face, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Advisor, look at this... our stronghold is about to become a charity hall, no, it's about to become an evil... uh, it's about to become a sect!"

Lin Xuan's mouth also twitched. He just wanted to protect himself and make money, how did he accidentally almost establish an evil cult?

He coughed twice and said to the thugs: "My Black Wind Logistics is a regular commercial organization, focusing on honest operation and service first. We don't do feudal superstition! If you want to join, you must abide by the stronghold rules, participate in training, and start from grassroots business personnel. Any objections?"

Although the thugs didn't quite understand, they felt that words like "regular," "commercial," and "training" were very high-end, so they kowtowed: "Willing! We are willing! Please Advisor give us a chance!"

【Ding! Detected the worship and expectation of the lost thugs, emotion value +233!】

【Ding! Detected the speechlessness and pride of Black Bear and others, emotion value +666!】

Forget it, the team has grown again, although the quality is worrying.

Lin Xuan sent them away and rubbed his eyebrows. Fame is something that comes fast, and trouble is also a lot.

Just then, the bandit responsible for intelligence brought new news.

"Advisor, news came from Qingyun City that Ye Chen and Master Liaochen seem to have left a few days ago."

"Oh?" Lin Xuan's spirit lifted; it's a good thing that these two plague gods left, "Do you know where they went?"

"Not sure, but someone saw them heading toward the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range' in the northwest. Besides..." the bandit paused and lowered his voice, "We also heard that the Zhao Clan secretly purchased a large batch of pills for healing and detoxification a few days ago, and the action was very secretive."

Ye Chen and Liaochen went to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range? It seems there is some opportunity or mission. Lin Xuan is not interested in this, as long as they don't come to bother him.

But the Zhao Clan purchased a large number of pills? This is a bit interesting. Zhao Wuji previously colluded with the Youming Sect, and now the Youming Sect has suffered a big loss here, and the Zhao Clan has purchased a large number of pills. Are they preparing to make up for the loss, or... plotting something else?

Lin Xuan instinctively felt something was wrong. He ordered: "Continue to keep a close watch on the Zhao Clan, especially their contact with the outside world, especially the possible connection with the Youming Sect."

"Yes!"

After the subordinates retreated, Lin Xuan fell into deep thought. The tree wants to be quiet but the wind doesn't stop. The Youming Sect will never give up, and the Zhao Clan, this local snake, also has ghosts in their hearts. It seems they won the battle in front of them, but in fact, there are more potential crises.

He must improve his strength as soon as possible!

Looking at the system panel, the slacking off points have accumulated to 120,000 points after the stronghold defense battle and the subsequent "fame spread"! It can be called a huge sum!

It's time to impact the Golden Core Stage!

From Foundation Establishment to Golden Core is a process of qualitative change, requiring the compression and condensation of gaseous spiritual power into solid Golden Core, which not only requires massive spiritual power accumulation, but also powerful spiritual sense and a profound understanding of one's own cultivation techniques. Ordinary cultivators need years or even decades of hard work and grinding.

But Lin Xuan... has the system!

"System, improve cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage 9!"

【Ding! Consuming 【points】 slacking off points, cultivation improved to the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage 9!】

Boom!

The majestic spiritual power surged in his body, instantly breaking through the barrier from Stage 8 to Stage 9, and all the way like a broken bamboo, reaching the peak of Stage 9! Only one step away from condensing the Golden Core!

But this last step is not something that slacking off points can directly cross. The system prompts that condensing the Golden Core requires the host to realize the opportunity by himself, or use special items to assist.

"Realize by myself? Special items?" Lin Xuan touched his chin. Realizing by himself is too metaphysical, better to find special items. He remembers Master Sun of the Four Seas Trading Firm mentioned that there is a treasure called "Golden Core Jade Liquid," which can greatly increase the success rate of forming the core, but it is extremely rare and expensive.

Perhaps, can ask Qian Wanguan?

He was just about to contact the Four Seas Trading Firm when suddenly, the system prompt sounded in his mind again.

【Warning! Detected that the host's luck has fluctuated violently! Unknown existences are peeping through the luck level!】

【System has started interference... interference successful! The other party failed to lock onto the host's specific location.】

Luck peeping?!

Lin Xuan's heart tightened! Is it the Youming Sect? Or... something else? Actually able to find people through the luck level? This method is too bizarre!

He immediately associated it with his luck attribute displayed as "???". It seems that this special luck is both trouble and, at certain times, a special "protection"?

In any case, this sounded an alarm for him. The enemy is more difficult to deal with than he imagined.

"Must form the core as soon as possible! Only when reaching the Golden Core Stage and having a qualitative change in spiritual sense can I better hide myself and have more self-preservation power!"

His gaze was firm, looking in the direction of Qingyun City.

It seems necessary to go to the Four Seas Trading Firm in person, on the one hand to ask about the news of "Golden Core Jade Liquid," and on the other hand, to understand the latest trends in the city in person, especially the Zhao Clan and that possible "luck peeper."

"Black Bear, prepare, I'm going into the city."

"Advisor, isn't it too dangerous for you to go alone? Do you want to take more brothers?"

"No need." Lin Xuan shook his head, a cunning smile on his face, "This time, let's change our identity and enter the city low-key."

He once again performed "Thousand-Face Phantom," disguising himself as a middle-aged rogue cultivator with an ordinary face and only Qi Refining Stage aura.

"Remember, from now on, my name is Mu Er."

It's time to go into that muddy water again and stir it up.

(Chapter 17 End)