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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter Forty-Seven: Not Optimistic
"Report, Captain, the Cultist has escaped," a Soldier approached to inform.
Shen Jiahe's face was filled with anger. "Search, continue searching! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find that Cultist."
"Even with such a large mobilization, we couldn't capture the Cultist. The strength of the Border Troops isn't impressive," Tang Jiner coldly snorted before continuing, "Is there anyone left alive from the Suicide Squad?"
"The Cultist's cultivation is astonishing and their strength terrifying. I'm afraid they all perished," Shen Jiahe replied.
"Report, my lord, there is one survivor."
Then, a Soldier helped Lin Feng over. Lin Feng was covered in wounds, his face pale, seemingly gravely injured. Of course, these were all self-inflicted as part of his ruse.
Shen Jiahe looked puzzled. "Everyone else is dead; how is it that you alone survived?"
"Perhaps it's because I was lucky," Lin Feng replied.
"I think you're just cowardly in the face of danger. Someone, drag him away and behead him!" Shen Jiahe shouted angrily.
Lindor immediately stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Captain, he is a new disciple who just arrived today for training. Please forgive him, my lord."
"Just because it's your first time here, you can cower in fear? Where is the discipline of the Border Troops?" Shen Jiahe's tone grew harsher.
Lin Feng couldn't understand why these officials were intent on targeting him. Suppressing his anger, he smiled and said, "My lord, you ordered my execution without understanding the situation. Is this the discipline of the Border Troops?"
Someone actually dared to provoke him publicly, and it was a new recruit at that. Shen Jiahe's mood had already soured from failing to capture the Cultist. "Listen up; I’m giving you a chance to explain yourself. Think carefully before you speak; don’t let me take your head easily."
Lin Feng remained fearless as he said, "Xiang Hu led us into battle and saw a group fleeing towards the dim area of the backyard. Xiang Hu ordered me to intercept them."
“Xiang Hu is dead. Who can testify that your words are true?”
“I followed the trail all the way. It turns out there is a secret passage deep in the backyard. That dry well is the entrance to the passage; they escaped through it. My subordinates pursued them desperately but were injured by them.”
“Someone go check if there is a secret passage in the backyard.”
Shen Jiahe looked coldly at Lin Feng, his eyes filled with murderous intent. If he did not find this so-called secret passage, he would execute Lin Feng on the spot.
Later, a soldier confirmed that Lin Feng's words were true. Shen Jiahe personally went to check and even discovered traces of Cultist blood, realizing that the Cultists had escaped through the secret passage, which explained how they had easily broken through the encirclement.
Not only did he fail to seize a great opportunity to achieve merit, but he also let the Cultists escape. Shen Jiahe was very displeased and said, “If you knew there was a secret passage, why didn’t you report it earlier?”
“I was knocked unconscious; I just woke up,” Lin Feng lied.
After returning from Liu Family Courtyard, Lindor sighed deeply. “Lin Feng, I didn’t expect you to be so lucky to survive such a big ordeal today. If you had died, I would have had a hard time explaining it to the elders.”
Lin Feng smiled slightly and said, “General Qian, there’s one thing I don’t understand. Why do those surnamed Kuang and Shen always seem to be against me? It’s as if they want to harm me. I just arrived; I shouldn’t have offended anyone over there, right?”
“This matter is quite complicated.”
Lindor recounted everything in detail, and Lin Feng learned the backstory.
In Yang Prefecture, there are three major Cultivation Sects: Solitary Moon City, Fire Departure Sect, and Flowing Cloud Sect. Among these three sects, Solitary Moon City has the most fame in Jiuzhou, but its strength has gradually declined compared to the other sects. Fire Departure Sect and Flowing Cloud Sect have long wanted to push Solitary Moon City aside and become the number one sect in Yang Prefecture.
Deputy Kuang Yun and Captain Shen (Shen Jiahe) both come from Fire Departure Sect. Even Jiang Wannian, a powerful warlord of the Border Troops, hails from Fire Departure Sect. This means that Fire Departure Sect controls the entire Border Troops of Yang Prefecture.
On the other hand, Flowing Cloud Sect holds significant power within Yang Prefecture city itself. Only Solitary Moon City stands alone in Yang Prefecture, occupying only Mountain Gate on Solitary Mountain. This situation arises because Sword Saint Senior does not manage affairs of Solitary Moon City and has never taken disciples.
Solitary Moon City lacks rising stars; no one has infiltrated either the Border Troops or the imperial city. Captain Shen (Shen Jiahe) is merely a disciple who ranked ninth in the last Jiuzhou Conference.
In the previous Jiuzhou Gathering Conference, only two disciples from Three Major Sects of Yangzhou made it into the top ten: Shen Jiahe from Fire Departure Sect ranked ninth and Pei Yi from Flowing Cloud Sect ranked tenth.
After these two returned from Zhongzhou, they were valued by the royal family. One thrived in the Border Troops, while the other made a name for himself in the imperial city.
In the Border Troops, Solitary Moon City originally had disciples from the Fate Realization Realm serving as Captain Shen. However, after several missions, the disciples from Solitary Moon City and Fate Realization met their demise on the battlefield.
From Lindor's tone, Lin Feng could sense his dissatisfaction with Sword Saint Senior. If Sword Saint Senior had taken care of matters concerning Solitary Moon City, the Lone Moon Sect Disciple wouldn't have had to endure such humiliation.
There was another reason why the Fire Departure Sect disciples targeted Lin Feng. The general sent this time, Tang Jiner, came from a noble family within the royal lineage and was rumored to be there to suppress the influence of the Fire Departure Sect, cleaning up the situation that they had monopolized in the Border Troops.
Since Tang Jiner took office, he valued the Lone Moon Sect Disciple, but unfortunately, they proved to be quite useless. Every disciple entrusted with important tasks would die during their missions.
Lin Feng and Lindor naturally knew the reasons behind these deaths. It had been barely a month since the last Fate Realization disciple from Solitary Moon City had perished.
"It seems that the current Border Troops are a veritable sea of fire," Lin Feng sighed, then recalled something and asked, "What about that Cultist? He seems quite formidable."
Lindor replied, "The Demon King's subordinates include thirty Demon Generals and Seventy-Two Demonic Followers. That Meng Han claims to be the First Demon Disciple. It's said that his name is inscribed on a monument."
Lin Feng remembered seeing rows of names at Pillar Pavilion and indeed found one named Meng Han ranked third. The inscription read: Meng Han, Demon Clan, Dark Body.
The Dark Body is also known as the Devouring Body, capable of absorbing others' cultivation, which is terrifying.
Lindor continued, "This Meng Han is not simple. Not only does he possess a Dark Body, but he is also a noble of the Demon Clan with Demonic Blood within him. Once he activates his Demonic Blood Power, his strength becomes even more horrifying. I believe he is on par with He Rongsheng from Azure Cloud Sect, who ranks first."
Lin Feng had witnessed Meng Han's combat ability firsthand; it was truly astonishing. He fought against nine opponents without losing ground, and Shen Jiahe was even ninth in last year's Jiuzhou Conference.
Lin Feng had also seen Demonic Blood Power in action. When activated, Meng Han's hair turned red, his eyes glowed green, and his bones expanded slightly; his terrifying power could almost overwhelm Shen Jiahe and his nine companions.
The Jiuzhou Conference is held once every four years. Four years later, a late-stage prodigy could easily dominate last year's elite participants; one could imagine Meng Han's strength.
"With Meng Han already this powerful, how strong must He Rongsheng be? There's only one year left for cultivation; time is running out," Lin Feng murmured.
"What did you say?" Lindor asked, not having heard clearly.
"Nothing," Lin Feng smiled and asked, "By the way, how did Meng Han, being a member of the Demon Clan, end up in Yang Prefecture? Isn't he afraid of being killed?"
Lindor explained, "You don't understand. Over the years, the Demon Clan has sent many capable individuals to infiltrate our Yang Prefecture for their grand schemes. Moreover, with the Jiuzhou Conference approaching, the Demon Clan cannot participate. I believe Meng Han is looking for an opportunity to sneak into the Jiuzhou Gathering Conference."
"I see."
Lin Feng finally understood and recalled that the second-ranked individual on the monument was named Mo Xue. He then asked, "Who is Mo Xue?"
"She is the Saintess of the Yunlu Xian Sect and is said to possess astonishing cultivation abilities. However, Cloudridge Immortal Trace has always been reclusive and uninterested in worldly affairs; she will not participate in the Jiuzhou Gathering Conference competition," Lindor replied.
"Is there a Fierce Beast Mountain Range nearby?"
Time was pressing, and Lin Feng wanted to seize every moment to cultivate. The Jiuzhou Gathering Conference would begin in a year, and he felt that he was too far behind.
Lindor led Lin Feng out of the military camp and pointed ahead at the vast forest. "Just beyond is a primitive forest where fierce beasts reside."
"The mountain range marks the border between Yang Prefecture and the neighboring state. The forest used to be the territory of Barbarians and the Demon Clan."
Lin Feng looked up to see an endless expanse of forest. Between the forest and the military camp lay a wide moat. Decades ago, the Demon Clan had crossed through the primitive forest, traversed the moat, and crushed the Border Troops (who fled before even engaging in battle), ultimately advancing towards Solitary Mountain, where they faced fierce resistance from Solitary Moon City.
After bidding farewell to Lindor, Lin Feng crossed the moat and quickly entered the primitive forest.
The rich aura of Vital Energy and fragrant vegetation enveloped him, refreshing both body and mind.
Finding a safe spot, Lin Feng began consuming meat from a Third-Stage Beast, the Crimson Flower Deer. Previously, when he was at the Foundation Realm, his internal organs could not withstand the burning power of Third-Stage Beast blood and flesh. Now that he had broken through to the Nurturing Origin Realm, everything was different.
After devouring the beast meat, he started enduring Spiritual Power Torment, allowing his body to gradually absorb the spiritual energy from the beast meat and grow stronger. Then, Lin Feng hunted several Second-Stage Beasts to obtain their True Blood, combining it with Crimson Flower Deer True Blood for a Medicinal Bath.
He poured Crimson Flower Deer True Blood into an Ancient Cauldron; it shook violently as a phantom of a Crimson Flower Beast appeared above it. The phantom struggled fiercely as if trying to escape.
After finishing his bath, Lin Feng stored away the Ancient Cauldron. He inadvertently noticed a pattern appearing on its wall—a silhouette of a Crimson Flower Beast. Although faintly drawn and not easily noticeable, Lin Feng was certain of what he saw.
“Third-Stage Beast truly demonstrates extraordinary qualities.”
Lin Feng continued his cultivation, aiming to enhance his strength as quickly as possible. As he reached the final page, he was pondering what to cultivate next when a brilliant golden light burst forth.
A tattered, yellowed book appeared, shining like solid gold. The golden light was dazzling. Then, the characters on the book flew out and arranged themselves in the Void.
The golden characters disassembled according to their strokes and then reformed into different characters, eventually landing back on the book.
Lin Feng focused his gaze and saw that the words ‘Qi Refinement Technique’ had vanished, replaced by ‘Cultivation of Yuan’. The beginning discussed what ‘Yuan’ is, while the latter part recorded the original methods for cultivating ‘Yuan’.
Lin Feng was left speechless, exclaiming, “This book is astonishing; I doubt even Sword Saint Senior could have anticipated such a transformation.”
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