Chapter 17: Fame Skyrocketing? I've Become a Cult Leader?

The news of the Black Wind Shanzhai crushing the Nether Sect spread like it had grown wings, accompanied by keywords like "black dog blood," "runic bricks," and "exorcism dharma assembly," sweeping through the entire Qingyun City and its surrounding areas at a speed even more outrageous than Lin Xuan running away in women's clothing.

At first, people took it as a joke.

"Have you heard? Those bandits from Black Wind Shanzhai used black dog blood to splash a Golden Core Elder of the Nether Sect away!"

"Hahahaha! Is that for real? That’s even more ridiculous than when Young Master Lin knelt and begged for mercy back then!"

"It’s absolutely true! My third grand-uncle’s neighbor’s son’s sworn brother was chopping wood nearby at the time and saw it with his own eyes! The black dog blood was like rain, and it was mixed with glowing bricks!"

But as more details were disclosed, especially after Deacon Qian Wanguan of the Four Seas Firm personally visited the Black Wind Shanzhai to "offer condolences" (which was actually to confirm the news and deepen cooperation), the wind began to change.

The joke gradually turned into... a legend.

Some small families and minor factions that had been bullied by the Nether Sect began to secretly view the Black Wind Shanzhai as a banner of resistance against the demonic path.

Some low-level rogue cultivators felt that the Black Wind Shanzhai’s way of doing things was "unconventional" and possessed the "style of our kind," and they began to yearn for it.

Some ignorant commoners even truly believed that the Black Wind Shanzhai possessed "supernatural exorcism powers," and they secretly worshipped a longevity tablet for "Consultant Lin," praying for the protection of their homes and the driving away of evil spirits.

Thus, a bizarre scene emerged.

The bandits of the Black Wind Shanzhai discovered that when they went down the mountain to "conduct business" (logistics, tour guiding, mercenary work), the looks people gave them were strange. It was no longer the fear and disdain of the past, but rather a mix of curiosity, awe, and even... a bit of fanaticism?

Occasionally, there were even bold villagers who would carry their own large black dogs to the vicinity of the Shanzhai, asking if they were "buying" black dogs, with the price being negotiable.

Even more extreme, several thugs and hooligans from nearby towns actually came out of admiration, wanting to "pay their respects" and join the Black Wind Shanzhai to learn the "Supreme Exorcism Art"!

In the Justice Hall, Black Bear looked at the few thugs kneeling on the ground, shouting with pious faces, "Please, Consultant Lin, take us in and teach us the immortal arts," and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Consultant, look at this... our Shanzhai is about to become a charity hall—no, wait, it's about to become a cult... uh, it's about to become a sect!"

Lin Xuan’s mouth also twitched. He only wanted to protect himself and make money; how did he accidentally end up starting a cult?

He coughed twice and said to the thugs, "My Black Wind Logistics is a formal commercial organization that emphasizes honest management and service above all else. We don't do that feudal superstition stuff! If you want to join, you must abide by the Shanzhai rules, participate in training, and start as entry-level staff. Any objections?"

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

[Ding! Detected the worship and anticipation of lost thugs, Emotion Points +233!]

[Ding! Detected the speechlessness and pride of Black Bear and others, Emotion Points +666!]

Great, the team had grown again, even if the quality was worrying.

Lin Xuan sent them away and rubbed his temples. Fame was something that came quickly, but brought many troubles.

Just then, the bandit in charge of intelligence brought new information.

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

"Oh?" Lin Xuan’s spirits lifted; it was a good thing those two jinxes were gone. "Do you know where they went?"

"Not entirely sure, but someone saw them heading toward the 'Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range' in the northwest. Also..." The bandit paused and lowered his voice, "We also heard that the Zhao family secretly purchased a large batch of healing and detoxifying elixirs a few days ago. The operation was very secretive."

Ye Chen and Liaochen went to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range? It seemed there was some opportunity or mission. Lin Xuan wasn't interested in that, as long as they didn't come to bother him.

But the Zhao family purchasing a large amount of elixirs? That was interesting. Zhao Wuji had previously colluded with the Nether Sect, and now that the Nether Sect had suffered a major loss at his place, the Zhao family was buying a large amount of elixirs—were they preparing to make up for their losses, or... did they have other motives?

Lin Xuan instinctively felt something was wrong. He ordered, "Keep a close watch on the Zhao family, especially any possible connections they might have with the outside world, particularly the Nether Sect."

"Yes!"

After his subordinate retreated, Lin Xuan fell into deep thought. The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. The Nether Sect would never let this go, and the Zhao family, that local tyrant, also harbored evil intentions. It looked like he had won the battle at hand, but in reality, there were more potential crises.

He had to improve his strength as soon as possible!

He glanced at the system panel; after the Shanzhai defense battle and the subsequent "spread of fame," his Slacking Points had accumulated to 120,000! It could be called a huge fortune!

It was time to charge toward the Golden Core realm!

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

But Lin Xuan... had a system!

"System, upgrade my cultivation to the peak of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!"

[Ding! Consumed Slacking Points, cultivation upgraded to the peak of the ninth level of Foundation Establishment!]

Boom!

Majestic spiritual power surged within his body, instantly breaking through the barrier from the eighth to the ninth level, and continued with unstoppable force, reaching the peak of the ninth level! He was only one step away from condensing the Golden Core!

But this final step could not be crossed directly with Slacking Points. The system prompted that condensing the Golden Core required the host to comprehend the opportunity themselves or use special items for assistance.

"Comprehend myself? Special items?" Lin Xuan touched his chin. Comprehending himself was too metaphysical; finding a special item was more reliable. He remembered Master Sun from the Four Seas Firm mentioning a treasure called "Core-Condensing Jade Liquid," which could greatly increase the success rate of forming a core, but it was extremely rare and expensive.

Perhaps he could ask Qian Wanguan?

Just as he was preparing to contact the Four Seas Firm, suddenly, the system prompt sounded in his mind again.

[Warning! Detected a violent fluctuation in the host's fortune! An unknown entity is spying through the level of fortune!]

[System has initiated interference... Interference successful! The other party failed to lock onto the host's specific location.]

Spying on fortune?!

Lin Xuan’s heart went cold! Was it the Nether Sect? Or... something else? To be able to find someone through the level of fortune? This method was too bizarre!

He immediately associated this with his own fortune attribute, which was displayed as "???". It seemed that this special fortune was both a trouble and, at times, a special kind of "protection"?

Regardless, this sounded an alarm for him. The enemy was more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.

"Must form the core as soon as possible! Only by reaching the Golden Core realm and having a qualitative change in spiritual sense can I better hide myself and have more power to protect myself!"

His gaze was firm as he looked toward the direction of Qingyun City.

It seemed necessary to personally visit the Four Seas Firm. On one hand, to inquire about the "Core-Condensing Jade Liquid," and on the other, to personally understand the latest developments in the city, especially regarding the Zhao family and that potential "fortune spy."

"Black Bear, get ready, I’m going into the city."

"Consultant, isn't it too dangerous for you to go alone? Should we bring more brothers?"

"No need." Lin Xuan shook his head, a sly smile appearing on his face. "This time, we will change our identities and enter the city low-key."

He once again cast the "Thousand-Face Illusion," disguising himself as a middle-aged rogue cultivator with an ordinary appearance and an aura only at the Qi Refining stage.

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

It was time to go back into that muddy water and stir things up.

(Chapter 17 End)