Chapter 264: Small Tricks

"A mere trifle." Lin Xuan's voice remained calm; he merely lifted his hand slightly, as if shooing away a fly. An invisible force field formed instantly, and all attacks were rebounded the moment they touched the field, moving even faster than when they arrived.

"Ah!" Several screams rang out; a few Black-Clothed Persons were struck by their own weapons and fell heavily to the ground. Fresh blood stained their clothes, but these people seemed to have been prepared, immediately attempting to bite into the poison sacs hidden in their teeth. In the tradition of Dongying warriors, failure meant death.

"Want to die? It's not that easy." Lin Xuan's finger tapped lightly, and a wisp of golden light flashed by. Those Black-Clothed Persons immediately felt their jaws go stiff, losing even the strength to bite down. They discovered in terror that they had been deprived of even the right to choose death.

The leading Black-Clothed Person saw this, and a flash of resolve crossed his eyes. He raised his samurai sword, the blade aimed at his own neck. Yet, the moment the blade was about to touch his skin, a flash of lightning streaked by, and the sword, regarded as a warrior's soul, snapped in response.

"Swish!" Lin Xuan's figure flickered, moving so fast that not even an afterimage could be seen. The next second, he had already arrived before the man. Before the opponent could react, a hand-blade strike had already hit the back of his neck. The Black-Clothed Person rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot.

After dealing with these people, Lin Xuan began to carefully search their personal belongings. Soon, he found an exquisite gilded envelope in a hidden pocket on one of the Black-Clothed Persons. The envelope was marked with complex symbols drawn in a special ink, and those symbols faintly pulsed with a strange energy.

Opening the envelope, inside was a blueprint made of special material. When Lin Xuan saw the contents of the blueprint clearly, his gaze suddenly turned sharp. It was actually a detailed structural map of the Tang Sect, including not only the surface buildings but even marking out some secret underground passages with perfect clarity. Some of these places were things even past Sect Leaders might not have known about.

"Sect Leader Tang." Lin Xuan turned to face Tang Miaoxing not far away, his voice serious, "You all should come and look at this. The situation is likely far more serious than imagined."

Tang Miaoxing and the others walked over quickly, and when they saw the contents of the blueprint, everyone's expression changed. Those defense systems they had always taken pride in became as good as useless in the face of this blueprint.

"This... how is this possible?" Tang Miaoxing's voice was trembling, his aged hands shaking slightly, "Even some secret passages known only to past Sect Leaders are drawn in such detail; how did they manage this? Some of these places, even I am not entirely clear on!"

"It's very simple." Lin Xuan's tone became even more serious, "Your Tang Sect has already been infiltrated from within. And it hasn't been for a short time. These little Japanese, I fear, have been lurking for a long time, and may have even already penetrated your Core circle."

This news was like a thunderclap, causing everyone present to feel a sense of heart-palpitating dread. As a major sect in the Outsider world, the Tang Sect had always been known for its strict security. But now it seemed this very confidence had become the greatest hidden danger.

"Strengthen the defenses immediately!" Tang Miaoxing made a prompt decision, a sharp light flashing in his eyes, "Dong Chang, you are responsible for screening all disciples who have joined in recent years, especially those of unknown origin. Xu Xin, go and inspect all important mechanisms to ensure they haven't been tampered with. Everyone else, begin deploying the new Defense Array immediately! Not a moment can be delayed!"

The group immediately sprang into action, and the entire Tang Sect became busy at once. Before leaving, Tang Miaoxing bowed deeply to Lin Xuan: "Many thanks, Lin Daozhang. If not for you, we would still be kept in the dark. The Tang Sect will remember this favor."

Lin Xuan waved his hand: "A small effort. However, I need a quiet place next. The power of the Divine Fire is not very stable and needs to be properly refined."

"I understand," Tang Miaoxing said immediately, "I have already had people prepare a Quiet Room; no one will disturb you. It has special Array reinforcement, most suitable for cultivation."

Returning to the prepared Quiet Room, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged. The room was laid out with various arrays for calming the mind and focusing the spirit, and a serene, peaceful aura permeated the air. Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai stood guard outside the door to ensure no one would disturb him.

"It begins." Lin Xuan took a deep breath and began to attempt to swallow that strand of Divine Fire Power. He could feel that power stirring restlessly within his body, like a wild horse that could lose control at any moment.

However, this process was far more difficult than imagined. The moment that flame entered his body, it felt like ten thousand red-hot steel needles piercing through him, causing Lin Xuan to experience unprecedented pain. Every inch of his meridians was burning, and every breath was filled with agony. The blood in his body seemed about to be burned dry.

"Urgh!" Lin Xuan endured the pain, sweat pouring down his forehead like rain. He could feel that Flame Power raging inside him, seemingly trying to tear his body apart. Every heartbeat brought a new wave of intense pain.

Outside the door, Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai heard the commotion and were anxious to the point of burning. They could feel the terrifying energy fluctuations coming from inside the room, but they dared not rashly disturb him. They could only pace back and forth outside the door, praying that their benefactor could safely pass through this ordeal.

"Benefactor will be fine," Xiao Bai whispered, though her voice carried a hint of uncertainty.

"Mm," Xiao Qing nodded, "We all know Benefactor's strength. He will certainly be able to endure this test."

For a full day and night, muffled groans and suppressed cries of pain constantly emanated from the Quiet Room. Several times during this, Lin Xuan felt he was about to be unable to hold on. That kind of pain was almost enough to destroy his will. But whenever this happened, he would think of his goal and then grit his teeth to persist.

"Almost there..." Lin Xuan's consciousness was already somewhat blurred, but he still persisted, "Just the final step left..."

Finally, on the second morning, as the first ray of sunlight spilled in through the window, Lin Xuan opened his eyes. A glimmer of flame flickered in his eyes, and his entire temperament had undergone a subtle change. It was a kind of power that was more restrained yet more formidable.

"Success." Lin Xuan let out a long breath, feeling that new power within his body. After a whole night of refining, that violent flame had finally been completely mastered by him, becoming a part of his own power.

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai pushed the door open and entered; seeing that their benefactor, though somewhat pale, was in high spirits, they finally set their hearts at ease. The temperature inside the room was clearly much higher than outside, yet it gave one an indescribable sense of comfort.

"Benefactor, are you alright?" Xiao Qing asked with concern, her eyes full of worry.

Lin Xuan smiled and shook his head: "I'm fine, I just need some time to adapt to this new power." As he spoke, a pure flame suddenly appeared in his hand, radiating astonishing heat. But this heat was no longer that violent power; it had become gentle and orderly.

This flame was already completely different from the previous Divine Fire; after Lin Xuan's refining, it had become purer and more powerful. And this was merely the beginning of Lin Xuan's increase in strength.

"Next," Lin Xuan looked toward the morning light outside the window, a flash of sharpness in his eyes, "it is time to go and meet those little Japanese hiding in the shadows. Let them know what true power is."

Xiao Qing and Xiao Bai exchanged a glance, both seeing anticipation in the other's eyes. They knew that a grand drama was surely about to unfold. And the core of all this was the young Daoist before them, who had just swallowed the Divine Fire and whose strength had advanced a step further.

In distant Dongying, within an ancient shrine, an old man wearing a kimono suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of shock in them: "This aura... could it be that some change has occurred over there?"