Chapter 169

In the main hall, Tao Xuehai raised his right hand slightly, and an invisible, cold aura instantly expanded, covering the entire room.

The sounds from outside diminished instantly, eventually vanishing altogether. It was as if a lid had suddenly sealed the place.

"Master, don't worry. This is the ability of a Relic called the Silencing Stone. It can temporarily isolate the sound of our conversation," Tao Xuehai explained as he lowered his hand.

"A Relic? Is the effect strong?" Lin Hui asked, somewhat curious. He had heard that these items possessed various abilities. While most lacked raw power, the complexity of their functions made them excellent supplements for actual combat.

However, Relics were rare commodities, always controlled by major powers. He hadn't expected Tao Xuehai to possess one.

"It's alright. A new ruin produces, at most, one Relic. It is the essence of a ruin and usually serves as its hub. Thus, the number of Relics is extremely small. Based on the value of their functions, they are categorized into three types: Common, Rare, and Treasure. If Master wants it..."

Whoosh.

Tao Xuehai raised his hand and tossed an object over.

It looked like a small incense burner, brass-colored on the outside and covered in many strange, inexplicable, eerie patterns. One look at the patterns revealed they were not carved, but naturally formed.

Lin Hui caught it, wrapping it in Internal Force for insulation before placing it on the small table beside him.

"Many thanks. I happen to want to study it." Whether for Blood Seal appraisal or evolution, this thing would be excellent material.

"Why be so polite with me, Master?" Tao Xuehai grinned. Since his departure, he seemed to have changed significantly. The hostility in his aura was much heavier, yet his movements were more unrestrained, shedding his previous caution and repression.

"Let's get back to the Insect Canon and Evil Weapon," he said, returning to the previous topic. "I'm not very clear on Imitation Evil Weapons, but the Imitation Insect Canon I integrated naturally came with relevant inherited memories and usage methods. Such imitations are also divided into different grades. After all, the intensity of the imitation varies—the materials used, the creator's craftsmanship, luck, and so on all have a huge impact on the final product. This leads to a world of difference in the power of Imitation Insect Canons and Imitation Evil Weapons. Because the creation of these items is top secret, comparing them without actual combat is nearly impossible. Therefore, one usually only knows their true power after fighting."

"Does integration yield an immediate increase in strength?" Lin Hui asked. He was curious about these things; it wasn't impossible that he might encounter similar opponents in the future, so understanding them clearly beforehand was best.

"Yes. Once integrated, one's physique and strength are fixed forever. That is the inherent defect of imitations," Tao Xuehai explained calmly. "However, this disciple does not regret it. Disciple's aptitude is limited, and I cannot achieve The Call. Although my martial arts are acceptable, they require far too much time. Rather than waiting decades for my cultivation to succeed—when revenge isn't even guaranteed—it is better to integrate now and accomplish my goal as soon as possible!"

"You're that confident?" Lin Hui was surprised.

"With someone from the Clear River Sect helping, plus those small and medium families who act like wild dogs, hitting someone when they're down... with my current strength, it is enough," Tao Xuehai said confidently.

He looked at the puzzled Lin Hui and smiled slightly. "Master may not know, but while Evil Weapons inherit Evil Energy, Insect Canons inherit Insect Mist."

"Insect Mist?"

"The so-called Insect Mist is a highly toxic vapor composed of insect-like particulates. An integrator of an Imitation Insect Canon can completely decompose and dissolve their body, turning into this Insect Mist and merging with the surrounding mist. In this way, one becomes omnipresent and undying. Ordinary attacks do not affect us. Its greatest strength is that as long as a trace of the Insect Mist remains, one can rapidly regenerate and restore their body."

He paused, then continued.

"Thus, the Insect Canon offers superior survivability, while the Evil Weapon provides a wider variety of special abilities."

"I see..." Lin Hui understood. "But if you want revenge, what if you encounter a Divine Officer or High Divine Officer..."

"No matter. Unless they are of the same nature, even a High Divine Officer cannot kill me. Decomposition into Insect Mist can easily negate the Mind-Spirit cognitive attacks of a High Divine Officer. And if they can't kill me, the final result is that I will wear them down to death!" Tao Xuehai looked at Lin Hui with a smile. "Most importantly, Master, guess what I discovered?"

"?" Lin Hui looked at the smile on his face and didn't speak, waiting for the follow-up.

“Disciple has discovered that even after integrating the Imitation Insect Canon, I can still practice sword techniques and increase my strength by improving my swordsmanship! Although it’s still slower than before, the restriction isn’t absolute.” Tao Xuehai smiled brilliantly.

Lin Hui was left speechless. It seemed he really had found a loophole in the system.

His sword technique had never belonged to this world’s system to begin with, so remaining unaffected by the native limitations was actually perfectly normal.

“Alright, back to business. Disciple also came this time to remind Master that the Inner City might become a bit chaotic again soon. Disciple, my sister, and the surviving members of the clan have all joined the Mystic Eagle Sect founded by Excellency Xue Ying. If Master receives any missions from the Inner City to search for the Mystic Eagle Sect, remember not to be too cooperative. Just find some excuse to stay in town,” Tao Xuehai exhorted at the end.

"I understand..." Lin Hui nodded, acknowledging the kindness. It seemed Xue Ying really wasn't dead. That fellow had caused so much trouble before; rising from the ashes now, truly couldn't be underestimated.

Although the Tao family had met with mishap under the pretext of besieging Xue Ying, that was merely an excuse; the core reason was a convenient purge by the Inner City.

Judging by Tao Xuehai's attitude, since they were liquidated and exterminated by certain Inner City families and the Clear River Sect, they decided to simply join the enemy's camp.

“By the way, the Phantom Dragon Lotus that Master has always needed… Disciple brought some this time. This item is a specialty of my Tao family’s medicine garden. Unfortunately, the garden was completely destroyed when we left. In the future, only a small stock of this item will remain. Since using one means one less, I hope Master will take note.”

Tao Xuehai once again took out a small wooden box from a hollow space at the waist of his armor and placed it on the table.

“Seeing Master as composed as ever puts Disciple at ease. Disciple… bids farewell.”

He stepped back and bowed.

“Oh, I nearly forgot to tell Master. Regarding the Wild Wind Sword Technique, Disciple has found a clue…”

Whoosh!

In the next instant, Tao Xuehai transformed into a wild wind and vanished.

Lin Hui reached out, pressed his hand on the wooden box, and gently opened it.

Inside were exactly ten stalks of Phantom Dragon Lotus. This medicinal ingredient, which resembled a dried chrysanthemum, had the best effect among all the precious medicines he had used.

A single stalk could save one to two years of Blood Seal evolution time. With this whole box, it could shorten the time by nearly twenty years...

With a sigh, Lin Hui acknowledged that the help Tao Xuehai had given him was even greater than that of the Wang family.

Truly a good child who knows gratitude and seeks to repay kindness...

He lamented in his heart.

With this, the completion of the Star Breath Sword Canon was in sight. The Typhoon Sword Technique was still far from completion, forcing him to set the Star Breath Sword Canon aside for now.

But the Blood Seal could be freed up to complete other tasks, such as the safe house he had envisioned establishing solely for himself.

Closing the lid, Lin Hui stood up, his figure flashing as he vanished from the Council Hall.

He had to consume this stuff and make it effective as soon as possible. Otherwise, it would be a pity if the medicinal efficacy leaked away even slightly.

Days passed.

Just as Lin Hui was digesting the Phantom Dragon Lotus, the Mystic Eagle Sect founded by Xue Ying indeed began to stir up trouble.

The Wang family had provoked the wrong people. Their affiliated caravans were ambushed several times in succession, and Wang family clansmen suffered one “accident” after another while traveling outside.

For a time, the entire clan was gripped by panic. Wang Yueheng's eldest sister, Wang Yueting, used her authority as a High Divine Officer to mobilize Rain Palace personnel to patrol and search everywhere, but it was completely futile.

They couldn’t even find a ghost’s shadow.

During the search, with their forces spread too thin, the Wang family’s main branch was struck and heavily damaged. Had the family ancestor not emerged from seclusion in time, the clan grounds might have been razed to the ground.

Fortunately—and rather strangely—according to the information Lin Hui obtained from his big brother, the Wang family somehow managed to persuade the Rain Palace higher-ups afterward. Three secluded Elders were dispatched to help guard the clan grounds, and only then did they finally repel the Mystic Eagle Sect’s subsequent attacks.

Although they failed to completely exterminate the Wang family, Xue Ying's fierce reputation spread even more intensely instead.

One week later.

Lin Hui sat cross-legged in the training room, looking at the text of the Blood Seal in the lower part of his vision, a hint of gratification revealing itself on his face.

[Star Breath Sword Canon: Remaining evolution time 4 years, 3 months, 19 days.]

The effect of ten stalks of Phantom Dragon Lotus had instantly reduced the time from twenty-three and a half years to just over four years remaining.

With so little time left, he only needed to wait a few months to easily complete it.

Worthy of being a top-tier precious medicine from a major clan... Lin Hui sighed deeply in his heart. If there were a few more disciples like Tao Xuehai, he might be able to use the Blood Seal without restraint... He couldn't imagine how exhilarating that scenario would be.

The Star Breath Sword Canon would soon free up the Blood Seal; this was good news, but there was also bad news.

The Purple Crystals for Body Tempering were running low.

He had tried finding Body Tempering pills useful for the Typhoon Sword Technique, but there were absolutely none.

Currently, he didn't even need to think to know that the Purple Crystal Ruins were being watched by the Clear River Sect. If he went directly to mine, he would likely expose himself and arouse the Clear River Sect's vigilance.

Lin Hui pondered countermeasures. He had compared the improvement Purple Crystals gave to the Typhoon Sword Technique's Body Tempering; it accelerated the process by at least seventy to eighty percent.

The Typhoon Sword Technique was already extremely slow to cultivate. If he lost the Purple Crystals, the speed would be unimaginable...

It seems I still have to start with the Benevolent Heart Sect. As long as I can gain access to their restricted, precious-medicine circle, I won’t have to worry about this anymore. What I lack right now is precisely such a channel for purchasing high-end, precious medicines.

He had previously asked his big brother to help with introductions, but the trading circle Liu Wujun introduced had limited inventory. After buying some Spirit-Enriching Reishi and Purple Cloud Reishi, there was no follow-up. After all, whose medicine garden would mass-produce aphrodisiacs?

Such things were not needed in the Inner City at all; everyone's constitution was terrifyingly strong, and their endurance was frightening.

They didn't need aphrodisiacs.

Thus, Lin Hui set his sights on the Benevolent Heart Sect.

This was also the reason he had cooperatively completed the Benevolent Heart Sect's three prerequisite missions.

And now...

Lin Hui shifted his gaze away from the Blood Seal and took out the silver four-faced token belonging to him from his waist.

He tapped it lightly with Internal Force.

Immediately, a trace of silver light lit up on the token representing his Four Faces code name, then quickly extinguished.

The next second, a somewhat familiar male voice emerged from the token.

"How about it? Decided to complete the final formal mission?"

The voice belonged to Long Ji, who was also Lin Hui's sole superior contact.

To ensure secrecy and safety, the structure of the Benevolent Heart Sect relied on this kind of single-level contact. One level could only contact the one level above it, without skipping ranks.

"Speak. What is the formal mission? You said before you'd help me choose an easier one; does that still count?" Lin Hui asked in a low voice.

"Of course, I prepared it for you long ago," Long Ji laughed. "The mission is very simple. Go to Xingdao City and kill a person."

"Who? Just me alone?" Lin Hui asked.

"Naturally, it's not just you. Two others are accompanying you. You are just joining in; the team leader is someone else. As for whom to kill, you'll know when the time comes. What I can tell you is that the actions of my Benevolent Heart Sect leave us with a clear conscience. The person killed inevitably deserves death," Long Ji's tone slowly turned solemn.

"Alright... when do we set off? I need to make arrangements," Lin Hui asked.

"We were waiting for the team to assemble anyway. You are the last one. Once everyone is present, you can set off in about five days. The specific gathering point is at Wood Peach Cliff in the Mist Zone outside Yunbian Town. Once you arrive, you'll be able to sense the signal and find the exact location," Long Ji explained.

"Good!" Lin Hui agreed.

Xingdao District... growing up, he had never once visited another urban district. This time, he could properly broaden his horizons.