What puzzled Shen Lin was that, with his current cultivation in the Treasure Liquid Realm, he could still sense a trace of pressure emanating from the other man.
The other man was definitely no mere Innate Realm cultivator.
The black-clad man wore a stern expression, seemingly failing to recognize him at all. He merely said coldly, "The master requests your presence."
With that, he led Shen Lin inside.
"Greetings, County Vice-Magistrate Zhong!"
Shen Lin clasped his fists and bowed.
Behind the willowwood table, County Vice-Magistrate Zhong raised his head, shifting his attention from a painting to Shen Lin and revealing a surprised expression.
"You've reached the Innate Realm?"
Shen Lin's body trembled, and his eyes grew somewhat flustered, as if he felt uncomfortable at having his cultivation realm seen through at a glance.
In reality, however, he let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
If the black-clad man had given him a sense of pressure that he could still faintly resist, then the County Vice-Magistrate before him made Shen Lin feel as though he were facing an endless deep sea.
It was as if, the moment the other man pressed down on him, he would become a drowning man and be swallowed alive.
This County Vice-Magistrate Zhong was definitely far stronger than Gao Shenghan. He might not even be in the Treasure Liquid Realm anymore.
Even so, Shen Lin found it somewhat comforting that the other man still had not seen through his true strength.
Not long ago, Shen Lin had discovered that if he placed that drop of liquid spiritual energy in the Thirteenth Meridian, all the spiritual-energy fluctuations it emitted would retract completely, and the aura of the Treasure Liquid Realm would be entirely concealed.
After a brief test, Shen Lin finally relaxed.
It seemed that ordinary people