Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

"What will you tell them when you go back?"

Lin Shirong asked.

"I’ll just say I couldn’t find you."

Chu Lingguang said casually.

"I wanted to go to Divine Valley Mountain too, but Wolf Valley Pass can’t be left unguarded—the Holy Emperor forbids it. With all of you breaking through, I couldn’t stand being left behind. I only meant to test it out. I never thought I’d actually succeed in the fusion, awaken every response in my body, and break through to the next realm all at once," Lin Shirong explained.

He looked extremely satisfied.

After so many years, he had finally awakened all the responses in his body and successfully stepped into the Qi Refining Realm. Although his true form was now that of a half-human, half-demon, as long as he kept it hidden and didn’t reveal it, he wouldn’t be easily exposed. It wouldn’t affect his life.

On the contrary, his half-human, half-demon form could greatly increase his combat strength, allowing him to cross swords with experts at the second or third layer of the Qi Refining Realm.

He yearned to become stronger.

He had no regrets about this path.

"No matter what, Lin, please remember that in my eyes, you are not a demon. This is a Qi Storage Pill. After you take it, it can hide your aura for three months, preventing the experts from Yuanchu Mountain from discovering you."

Chu Lingguang tossed an Elixir Pill to Lin Shirong.

This Elixir Pill was provided by the Seventh Prince. Yan Zhen, Qin Yu, and Yun Hong had all taken it before.

That was how Qin Yu and Yan Zhen managed to avoid being exposed when they swallowed the Spiritual Spring Water.

"Thank you!"

Lin Shirong reached out and caught it, then bowed deeply to Chu Lingguang.

BOOM!

Chu Lingguang shot away.

He quickly moved away from the valley to prevent the people from Yuanchu Mountain from finding Lin Shirong’s tracks.

Lin Shirong tossed the Qi Storage Pill into his mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. After carefully sensing the changes within him, he left, satisfied. Just like Chu Lingguang, he launched himself out of the valley, easily leaping out and returning to the forest above.

Having just advanced, he had some trouble controlling his Qi Power.

As he was about to reach the top of the valley, he used too much force and shot over the forest canopy. He traced a graceful parabola through the air before plummeting toward the distant woods.

"Over there."

Zhang Xuan was performing Sword Flight.

He happened to spot a figure soaring over the forest canopy where the valleys crisscrossed, before disappearing into the dense thicket.

"Zhang!"

Chu Lingguang shouted from within the forest.

He had sensed Zhang Xuan’s aura approaching.

"Junior Brother Chu, the demon is up ahead."

Zhang Xuan left him with those words, then shot off like an arrow from a bow, rushing in Lin Shirong’s direction. His speed was so great that Chu Lingguang was left in the dust.

’Damn it!’

Chu Lingguang cursed to himself.

He prayed that Lin Shirong had already swallowed the Qi Storage Pill. Otherwise, if Zhang Xuan caught him, he’d be skinned alive, if not killed.

"Junior Brother Chu, get on!"

Li Mao arrived right after.

Seeing Chu Lingguang running through the forest, he controlled his Flying Sword to carry Chu Lingguang as they sped in Lin Shirong’s direction.

Although Chu Lingguang could also use Telekinesis to fly on a weapon, his speed was far slower than Zhang Xuan and the others when they used Sword Flight. Sword Flight used Spiritual Power to control a Flying Sword and required training in a specific Sword Control Technique.

Chu Lingguang hadn’t yet come into contact with this Cultivation Technique.

Forcibly flying on a weapon with Telekinesis consumed far more energy than it did for Zhang Xuan and the others, and he couldn’t sustain it for long.

"Is there really a demon up ahead?"

Chu Lingguang asked, feigning ignorance.

"Zhang wouldn’t be mistaken."

Li Mao gave a noncommittal nod.

With him leading the way, a moment later, Chu Lingguang entered a new section of the woods.

BANG!

He arrived just in time to see Lin Shirong get sent flying by a kick from Zhang Xuan.

"Immortal Master, please be merciful! I’m not a demon."

Facing Zhang Xuan, Lin Shirong was completely powerless to fight back.

He lay on the ground, coughing up blood and begging for mercy.

"I recognize you. You’re Lin Shirong, the commander of Wolf Valley Pass. What are you doing here instead of guarding your post?"

Zhang Xuan demanded.

He had gone to Wolf Valley Pass to look for Chu Lingguang before and had met Lin Shirong in person.

"Replying to the Immortal Master, I learned that Yuanchu Mountain was inviting heroes from all over to eradicate demons and abominations. I’ve been stuck guarding Wolf Valley Pass with no future, and I’ve always wanted to join Yuanchu Mountain. So, I made an excuse to enter the Hundred Thousand Mountains, hoping to find a demon or abomination and eliminate it for Yuanchu Mountain. I hoped that in exchange, I could earn an opportunity to train at Yuanchu Mountain."

Lin Shirong explained.

"Zhang, Lin is an honest and loyal man. You must have the wrong person."

Chu Lingguang said, trying to cover for him.

"Hmph. He must have merged with some kind of abomination. Otherwise, with his level of skill, how could he have withstood my kick?"

Zhang Xuan said with absolute certainty.

"Immortal Master, it’s a misunderstanding. I’m not a demon or an abomination. If you don’t believe me, you can check my aura."

Having just taken the Qi Storage Pill, Lin Shirong had some confidence.

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan’s Spiritual Sense probed into Lin Shirong’s body. Under the cover of the Qi Storage Pill, he indeed found no suspicious aura.

"Something’s not right."

He frowned.

"Zhang, I’ve worked with Lin before. He trains diligently and has mastered a Body Refining Technique. Maybe that’s how he was able to take your kick."

Chu Lingguang explained.

"Impossible. The strength he just displayed when he leaped over the forest canopy is not something someone at the True Martial Realm can achieve. He must have mastered some kind of Qi-concealing Magic Technique. I couldn’t have misjudged."

Zhang Xuan said with a serious expression.

"What’s a ’Qi-concealing Magic Technique’? I don’t understand what you’re talking about at all."

Lin Shirong asked, feigning confusion.

"Still trying to argue!"

Enraged, Zhang Xuan commanded his Flying Sword, which had been hovering beside him. It transformed into a long rainbow, carrying a sharp, sword-like glint as it slashed toward Lin Shirong.

Lin Shirong was horrified.

His body shot away.

He swung his palm to strike the body of the sword, but the Flying Sword easily sliced his hand off. Blood spurted from his wrist.

"Lin!"

Chu Lingguang shouted.

ROAR!

Lin Shirong could no longer hold back. He transformed into his half-human, half-demon form. His severed arm suddenly grew back, but it had become a pig’s trotter.