Chapter 181

November 9th.

After several days of adjustment, Lin Hui gained a deeper understanding of the Star Breath Sword Canon. He also formed a rough concept of how the Typhoon Sword Technique had been deduced and evolved, step by step, into the Star Breath Sword Canon.

The intermediate process was complex, leaving him with an unsettling sensation—as if he grasped the logic, yet the specific details slipped his mind the moment he tried to recall them.

Perhaps due to inspiration drawn from his disciple Tao Xuehai’s sword path, combined with the spiritual insight of the Star Breath Sword Canon, Lin Hui achieved another breakthrough in the Typhoon Sword Technique less than a week after returning to the Clear Wind Temple, reaching the Fifth Rank of Body Tempering.

During this time, the Clear Wind Temple also had the good fortune of acquiring a newly harvested batch of Spirit-Enriching Reishi through trade.

Because several channels were simultaneously scouring for Yang-enhancing precious medicines, the moment any new stock appeared on the market, the Clear Wind Temple would spend heavily to secure it and deliver it immediately to Lin Hui’s residence.

This was the benefit of controlling a faction. Without one, he couldn't guarantee the monthly expenditure of millions of qian on medicine, nor could he so easily secure rare ingredients the moment they hit the market.

Without assistance, Lin Hui would have to venture into the Inner City personally. Moreover, lacking connections and a network, vendors might not even be willing to sell to him.

Therefore, he remained attentive to maintaining the Clear Wind Temple's peripheral industries. The exploration team, having selected new personnel, set out once again.

Since they stuck to the original route, the journey was relatively safe, and casualties were minimal. This was the norm. Heavy casualties in other exploration teams were often due to the high harvest quotas imposed by major clans, who viewed team members as cannon fodder and were indifferent to their survival.

"In this regard, our Clear Wind Temple is different." Wang Hongshi reported seriously to Lin Hui in the rear courtyard of the Clear Wind Temple. "We made the best preparations for every member of the exploration team and provided comprehensive protection. The goal is to train the members; obtaining supplies is secondary. Thus, casualties were extremely low."

Lin Hui nodded slightly. "Recently, more and more people have come to exchange for the Perfected Clear Wind Sword and secret arts. It seems everyone is making significant progress."

"Yes. In the past year, another three members of the Inner Courtyard broke through to the Internal Force Realm. Now, Clear Wind Temple has double-digit Internal Force martial artists. In this regard, the Perfected Clear Wind Sword you created, Temple Master, has an efficacy for breaking through to Internal Force that far surpasses previous sword techniques," Wang Hongshi answered, his eyes full of admiration.

"What about other aspects? I heard from Chen Sui that the accounts dipped slightly recently. What happened?" Lin Hui was the one using the money, so he always knew exactly how much came in each month.

"It’s like this: recently, the government office has been requiring us to send experts to assist in investigating many cases in the outer towns. As you know, this kind of assisted investigation is basically unpaid; we have to cover the costs ourselves. This has occupied a portion of our mid-to-high-level manpower, causing some deficiency in maintaining our industries," Wang Hongshi explained. "Additionally, ever since the Wang family had a falling out with you, our business with some of their industries was cut off. It’s normal for there to be some decline."

Wang Hongshi looked up at Lin Hui, a hesitant expression on his face. "Temple Master, this disciple recently discovered a new inductee. His talent is excellent... I was hesitating whether to mention him to you."

"Speak," Lin Hui said indifferently.

"There is a disciple who joined the sect two months ago. His talent in sword arts is excellent. He comes from the Inner City, but his personality is a bit arrogant. His name is Xue Yanxiu. There is also a female disciple who joined at the same time. She is generous and trains hard. She is the child of immigrants from another district. Her name is Li Yuanyuan. Her talent in Internal Force cultivation is extremely high. Both entered with prior skills, and their strength is already second only to the top ten."

"Vet their backgrounds and families, and give me the files. I will give you an answer in a while," Lin Hui said.

"Yes." Wang Hongshi nodded. "There is one last matter. Recently, our industrial expansion has reached its limit. The patrol range for our manpower is becoming strained if we push any further. If we want to continue, we must expand the recruitment of disciples. What do you think, Temple Master?"

"Disciples in the Internal Force Realm are permitted to open their own lineages and accept outsiders as apprentices. The sect can provide a fixed monthly stipend as compensation. As for the cost—didn't the Wang family withdraw from cooperation? We don't have to pay their share anymore, so use that portion to fund it," Lin Hui said nonchalantly.

"Will cutting off cooperation with the Wang family affect the Hundred Flowers Sect side...?"

"It won't. She wouldn't dare," Lin Hui said calmly.

Wang Hongshi took his leave, leaving Lin Hui alone to cultivate Internal Force and practice the False Enactment Art.

Not long after, the disciple in charge of meals delivered lunch. After eating, Lin Hui decided to summon the two people Wang Hongshi had mentioned. The Blood Seal was still evolving, and this period of over a month was perfect for handling these trivial matters to avoid distractions later.

Xue Yanxiu and Li Yuanyuan arrived at the courtyard very quickly.

Of the two, one was fifteen, the other seventeen. Both had above-average appearances. Their clothing suggested they were not from poor families. With the Clear Wind Temple’s current recruitment standards, someone from an ordinary family couldn't rise to a position near the top ten so quickly.

In fact, the Clear Wind Temple insisted on accepting students from the common populace every year, offering a discount of more than half on tuition fees. The goal was not to miss any genius from a humble background. But having a good family background was simply too advantageous for practicing martial arts.

The two walked briskly through the door, crossed the courtyard gate, and bowed with cupped fists toward Lin Hui.

"Greetings, Temple Master!"

Lin Hui’s gaze swept over Xue Yanxiu. What an appearance, what a temperament—robes whiter than snow, black hair cascading loosely over his shoulders, a cold, austere face, and a sharp, aloof aura. With one hand resting constantly on his sword hilt, he faintly exuded the bearing of a peerless swordsman.

No wonder Wang Hongshi couldn’t resist recommending him.

After studying him for a moment, Lin Hui shifted his gaze to Li Yuanyuan.

The girl had a full, well-proportioned figure—as expected of a martial artist—but her innate qualities were clearly exceptional. Her curves were exquisitely defined, her proportions almost unnervingly perfect. Yet despite such an alluring physique, her expression was icy and forbidding. Like Xue Yanxiu, she also rested her hand on her sword hilt, her entire demeanor cold as frost...

"Are you two... relatives?" Lin Hui asked, looking at the two new disciples with their extremely similar temperaments.

"Replying to the Temple Master, we are not," Li Yuanyuan answered.

Beside her, Xue Yanxiu nodded. Compared to Li Yuanyuan, he felt somewhat anxious.

From the moment he received the undercover assignment, he had pondered for a long time before finally settling on this method of disguising his identity to enter the Clear Wind Temple.

The order from that Lord was simple: obtain the Clear Wind Temple’s martial arts, copy them, and deliver them back.

He had already done so. In less than two weeks after joining, he had transcribed a copy of the Perfected Seven-Section Swift Sword and secretly sent it to the Inner City government office. For this, he had received a covert reward from the Judge.

He had also been promised that if he could copy the subsequent, crucial manuals—the Perfected Nine-Section Swift Sword and the Clear Wind Sword—there would be even greater rewards.

As for why the Judge valued the Clear Wind Temple’s martial arts so highly, he had no idea. Judging from what he had seen so far, although the techniques here were indeed somewhat special, the gap between them and the martial arts of the Three Great Powers’ government offices in the Inner City was still obvious. It didn’t seem like enough to warrant the Judge—whose status was second only to the Prefect—personally taking an interest.

The Judge was a major personage who could truly decide all judicial and penal matters outside the Core Zone.

Since he couldn’t figure it out, he simply stopped trying. The thoughts of such a high-ranking figure were not something someone like him could hope to guess. Small figures like him just needed to do their duty honestly.

Standing in front of Lin Hui, Xue Yanxiu controlled all his physiological activities to ensure no flaws were revealed. This was the greatest effect of the Divine Method he cultivated. As long as he was willing, even though he was only at the Divine Officer realm, he could easily use a cognitive correction ability similar to that of a High Divine Officer.

Of course, this ability could only be used on himself. The ability of his Divine Method was "Cognitive Fraud." He could modify a concept that didn't conflict too heavily with his own cognition, thereby making himself believe it implicitly, ensuring that no one could detect any issues.

"Wang Hongshi said your talents are very high, but I remain skeptical." Lin Hui’s voice drifted over. "Demonstrate what you’ve learned first. Let me see."

"Yes!" Xue Yanxiu nodded hurriedly.

He retreated several steps, drew his sword, and demonstrated the Perfected Seven-Section Swift Sword he practiced, strictly following the moves.

After he finished one round, Lin Hui nodded slightly. "Your understanding is very good, the effect is there, and the Force Nodes are all correct. Body Tempering has reached the peak, correct?"

"Yes, I just reached the Ninth Rank." Xue Yanxiu nodded.

"Training Body Tempering to the Ninth Rank in just two months is indeed extraordinary," Lin Hui sighed. "Wang Hongshi suggested I accept you as a personal disciple, but in my view, talent is secondary. What is truly important is whether your hearts are with my Clear Wind Temple. If the heart is here, talent is icing on the cake. If the heart is not, the greater the talent, the greater the harm."

"How does the Temple Master want us to prove it?" Li Yuanyuan, standing to the side, suddenly took a step forward and spoke in a deep voice.

"No need. I have a method that can identify your intentions, but it requires time. I cannot accept you for the time being; we must wait a while," Lin Hui said calmly.

Li Yuanyuan remained outwardly calm, but Xue Yanxiu’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly entered the state of his Divine Method.

Yet in that very instant, Lin Hui’s gaze swept past him.

Fortunately, under the influence of the Divine Method, Xue Yanxiu stayed perfectly composed, his expression earnest and unruffled, revealing no flaws.

"Alright, next is Li Yuanyuan. Demonstrate your art," Lin Hui said, turning to test her.

This one was even more impressive. She had entered with prior skills; after completing the Seven-Section Swift Sword and moving on to the Nine-Section Swift Sword, she had actually developed Internal Force. Because she possessed Internal Force, her cultivation of the Nine-Section Swift Sword progressed with astonishing speed—in just two months, she had already reached Minor Accomplishment.

Her talent was in no way inferior to Tao Xuehai’s.

Lin Hui watched her, his expression calm. Only after she finished demonstrating the Nine-Section Swift Sword and its Internal Force did he wave his hand to dismiss them, instructing them to wait for further news.

Li Yuanyuan’s face was cold as frost as she left the courtyard with Xue Yanxiu. In truth, she was also somewhat anxious. As a member of the Shadowhound Clan, she was not human at all, but the princess of a small tribe that quietly lurked within the underground ruins near the Mist Zone.