"Why are you lying here, kid?"
When Ling Yun returned to the inn, he immediately spotted Zhang Mu sprawled across the doorway, snoring away. Without ceremony, he kicked him.
"Damn it! Which bastard—"
Zhang Mu sprang to his feet with bloodshot eyes, but when he saw who it was, he immediately shrank his neck and stood to one side with a dry laugh.
"Hehe... so it's Master Ling."
"Didn't Master Ling say last night that no one was to disturb you casually? So I simply stood guard here..."
Halfway through, he suddenly froze. He looked at the tightly shut door, then at Ling Yun before him, his face instantly going blank.
He simply could not understand how Ling Yun, who had clearly been inside the room, had suddenly returned from outside.
Ling Yun glanced at him without offering an explanation, then pushed open the door and walked inside.
He then looked back at Zhang Mu, who was standing at the entrance. After some thought, he said, "Right, there are a few things you need to handle as soon as possible."
Upon hearing that, Zhang Mu immediately straightened up, looking ready to carry out any order.
Ling Yun ignored his reaction and said blandly,
"First, find a residence nearby. The size does not matter; what matters is that it is secluded and quiet."
"Also, keep an eye on whether any internal cultivation manuals appear on the market. The moment you find anything, notify me immediately!"
Watching Zhang Mu nod and leave, Ling Yun closed the door once more.
He opened the panel. Two more Modification Points had appeared on it, earned from killing the Ghost Infant and its mother.
By now, he more or less understood. A "Mortal"-Grade Evil Spirit was probably worth one Modification Point.
As for why Situ Ying had been worth so much, after turning it over and over in his mind, Ling Yun could only think of one reason: that fellow had fused with more than one Evil Spirit at the time.
Other than that, Ling Yun could not think of a second explanation.
As for higher Fiend-Grade Evil Spirits, he had not encountered any yet, so he had no idea.
Ling Yun shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.
Looking over the techniques on the panel, he pondered for a moment before settling his gaze on the Tiger Blade Technique.
Among all his current techniques, this one was of the highest grade, and it could still be modified!
"Could it really be modified without limit?" Ling Yun stroked his chin, a trace of interest rising within him.
Without further hesitation, he focused and tapped it.
Tiger Blade Technique, Fifth Layer!
Just as he had expected, with the consumption of a Modification Point, the Tiger Blade Technique rose another level.
His vitality had been depleted by less than half. His control over the Tiger Blade Technique had improved as well, and the duration of Tiger's Might seemed to have increased...
Ling Yun sensed the new changes within himself, yet he was somewhat dissatisfied.
To be honest, the changes brought by raising the Tiger Blade Technique to the fifth layer were far smaller than he had imagined.
They were even a little too plain.
And besides...
Ling Yun looked at the Tiger Blade Technique on the panel. The prompt indicating that it could be modified had disappeared once again.
"This martial art has reached the limit of what it can be improved to." For some reason, that thought suddenly surfaced in Ling Yun's mind.
There was no basis for that thought, yet it felt entirely natural.
After all, if it could truly be raised without end, that would be far too monstrous.
"It seems I'll need to seek out more martial arts in the future."
Ling Yun fell silent for a moment, then closed the panel.
He did not intend to use the remaining Modification Point now. He planned to save it for a rainy day.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was already noon.
At that moment, news came from Zhang Mu that he had found a lead on the residence.
Ling Yun considered it briefly. Since he had nothing to do at the moment, he might as well go take a look.
Thus, led by Zhang Mu, the two passed through several alleyways and arrived at a secluded place.
Before them stood a medium-sized residence.
Judging from its simple exterior decorations, the residence's former owner had likely been either wealthy or noble.
The broker who had been waiting at the entrance for some time saw them and immediately brightened. He hurried forward to greet them.
After a brief exchange, the two began inspecting the residence.
"Gentlemen, I must say, you truly have discerning eyes. This residence is extremely sought-after right now. Just look at these walls—"
A broker was essentially a real estate agent from Ling Yun's previous life.
Knowing full well how their tricks worked, Ling Yun waved him off. If he let the man keep talking, this place would soon surpass even the imperial palace.
After taking a rough tour around the residence, Ling Yun nodded in satisfaction.
"Hehe, since you are satisfied, sir, then regarding the price..."
The broker's eyes lit up, but before he could finish speaking, Zhang Mu tugged him aside. The two then began an intense discussion over the price.
Ling Yun ignored them and walked deeper into the residence on his own.
After passing through a long corridor, he came upon a broad stretch of open ground. Though it was already overgrown with weeds, after a little clearing, it should be suitable as a simple training ground.
Ling Yun's eyes flickered as he made some rough plans in his mind.
At that moment, Zhang Mu walked over. "Master Ling, I've negotiated the price. It will cost three hundred taels of silver in total."
"Three hundred taels?" Ling Yun raised a brow. The price was somewhat high, but still within an acceptable range.
"Fine, I understand."
"Remember to hire a few servants afterward and have this place properly cleaned up. Make sure they know how to keep their mouths shut."
"Then prepare the materials listed on this as soon as possible."
After saying that, Ling Yun took out a slip of paper and handed it over.
Zhang Mu accepted it and gave it a glance, then grinned. "Don't worry, Master Ling. Leave it to me."
Ling Yun nodded faintly. This fellow might be somewhat lacking in strength, but Ling Yun was quite satisfied with his efficiency.
Looking at Zhang Mu standing respectfully to one side, Ling Yun thought for a moment and took out another slip of paper.
"Take this. If there is anything you do not understand, come ask me."
Zhang Mu accepted it in confusion. When he saw what was written on the paper, his eyes immediately went wide, and he looked at Ling Yun in disbelief.
"Master Ling... this... how could I possibly..."
Ling Yun waved a hand. "Enough. This is what you deserve."
Zhang Mu's face flushed with excitement. Then, with a thud, he dropped to his knees and sincerely kowtowed several times to Ling Yun.
"Master Ling's great kindness and virtue—I, Zhang Mu, will never forget it for the rest of my life!"
Ling Yun's gaze remained calm as he accepted his kowtow without reservation.
The slip of paper he had given Zhang Mu was precisely the cultivation insights regarding the Tiger Blade Technique that he had originally prepared for Fang Yuan.
For a martial artist, it truly counted as the grace of being remade.
After all, even masters and disciples would not impart their insights so completely without holding anything back.
"Now that I have given you this, I have only one requirement: you must reach the Intent Conduit Realm before the end of the month."
"If you cannot do that, do not appear before me again. I do not keep trash at my side." Ling Yun stood with his hands behind his back, his tone indifferent.
"Rest assured, Master Ling. I will absolutely not disappoint you!" Zhang Mu's expression turned solemn as he answered in a deep voice.
He had been stuck at Force Conduit for several years. Before today, he had possessed no confidence at all in breaking through to Intent Conduit, but now that he had this...
Zhang Mu clenched his fists, feeling for the first time that the road ahead was so bright. His choice back then had been the right one.
Ling Yun did not know what he was thinking. He merely waved for him to rise. "Enough with this nonsense. I only need to see the final result."
With that, he turned and left.
"Rest assured, Master Ling. I will not disappoint you!"
Watching Ling Yun's departing back, Zhang Mu's gaze was resolute as he silently swore an oath in his heart.
Before you continue