Blades Cannot Pierce, the Mysterious Yin Talisman Lightning

Amid the crowd, Lin Xuankong's expression shifted slightly. Was he about to suffer disaster as a fish in a drying pond? I was only listening to some gossip.

Seeing this, the round-faced cultivator who had insulted the Black Tiger Gang turned and ran. He was clearly an expert at First Layer Perfection or the Early Second Layer, and he moved with astonishing speed!

Unfortunately, though he was swift as a fleeing hare, the bearded cultivator was fast as an eagle in flight.

Within half a breath, the bearded cultivator had blocked the Rogue Cultivator's path.

A vicious glint flashed in the round-faced cultivator's eyes. He drew the steel blade at his waist and slashed fiercely at the bearded cultivator's neck. Cold light glittered from the blade as it let out sharp hissing sounds through the air!

The bearded cultivator merely sneered. He neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the steel blade to strike his neck.

Meanwhile, his Black Tiger Shattering Gold Claw plunged directly into the round-faced cultivator's skull, piercing straight through his temple.

The round-faced cultivator died on the spot. The bearded cultivator brushed his completely unharmed neck and looked toward the dozens of Rogue Cultivators.

The dozens of Rogue Cultivators all went pale. Though their eyes flickered, not one dared move rashly, and not one dared make the slightest sound. They even held their breaths tight, terrified of drawing attention and following in the round-faced cultivator's footsteps.

Standing in a corner, Lin Xuankong furrowed his brow. The round-faced cultivator who had died so miserably was no weakling. He should have been like Lin Xuankong himself—at the Early Second Layer, or perhaps First Layer Perfection.

Yet someone of that strength had not even lasted a single exchange against the bearded cultivator! The round-faced cultivator's full-power slash had struck the bearded cultivator's neck, yet he had not lost a single hair!

If that slash had landed on Lin Xuankong's neck, his head would probably have flown two zhang away!

Just what realm was this bearded cultivator in?

If Lin Xuankong fought the bearded cultivator, he could use the Demonic Vine to restrain him and keep himself from dying!

But that man's defense was too terrifying. Even if Lin Xuankong could restrain him, the Sky-Shading Locust Swarm could not injure him at all. At most, it could smash a faceful of stone chips into him!

As Lin Xuankong pondered in alarm, the Black Tiger Gang's bearded cultivator gave the many Rogue Cultivators a disdainful snort, then led his group away in grand fashion. Zhang Wu, walking at the rear, cast Lin Xuankong a cold glance.

Early the next morning, in the backyard of the wooden building.

Lin Xuankong held a Hundred Refinements Steel Saber and looked hesitantly at Li Xiaolan's fair, slender neck. "Do I really chop at your neck?"

Li Xiaolan nodded. "Yes. Slash at my neck with all your strength. After the blade lands, drag the steel saber hard too!"

Lin Xuankong hesitated. "Could we switch to chopping your ankle?"

Li Xiaolan:

"A Hundred Refinements Steel Saber simply cannot injure a cultivator at the Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two. The bearded cultivator you encountered yesterday should have been at least at the Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two!

"Mortal Transformation Layer Two tempers the torso. Not only can it strengthen the internal organs, ward off all illnesses, and grant astonishing endurance, its most important effect is influencing the degree to which one's vitality condenses and one's defensive power. Once one reaches the late stage of Layer Two, circulating one's vitality makes one impervious to blades and spears!

"With such defense, even cultivators both at the Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two must use weapons forged from special materials to harm each other when their opponent's vitality is abundant!"

After saying that, Li Xiaolan pointed at her fair neck. "Aim here! I'm now bringing out the vitality of the Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two."

"I'll still chop your chest. No, your shoulder instead!"

Lin Xuankong gritted his teeth, reminded Li Xiaolan once more, then brought his saber down.

Clang!

The steel saber struck Li Xiaolan's shoulder.

Li Xiaolan frowned at the green robe that had been cut open. "I told you to chop my neck because I was afraid you'd ruin my clothes. Do you think buying clothes costs nothing?"

Lin Xuankong, meanwhile, stared somewhat awkwardly at the skin exposed at her shoulder.

Where the Hundred Refinements Steel Saber had struck, a faint white mark appeared on her shoulder. In the blink of an eye, that mark vanished, leaving her skin without the slightest abnormality!

This... really was being impervious to blades and spears!

No wonder the Young Lady had been able to casually pinch a Hundred Refinements Steel Saber into an iron ball!

The Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two possessed such terrifying defense, comparable to demons and monsters!

No wonder the esteemed managers and stewards in factions such as the Black Tiger Gang and Yin Talisman Sect had to be Martial Cultivators who had entered Layer Two before they were qualified for such positions.

Once Martial Cultivators broke through their bottleneck and entered Layer Two, they had a chance to cultivate to the late stage of Layer Two.

A Martial Cultivator at the late stage of Layer Two absolutely crushed one at Layer One!

If someone could stand there and let you chop at them with a blade, and you still could not cut them, how could you possibly fight?

At that thought,

Lin Xuankong's heart filled with anticipation.

He was already at the Early Second Layer and possessed the [Old and Vigorous] Destiny.

It should not take long before he possessed such terrifying defense, impervious to blades and spears!

Li Xiaolan frowned as she touched the skin of her shoulder. Seeing him standing there in a daze, his face full of anticipation yet not looking at her, she could not help rolling her eyes. This guy really is a martial arts fanatic. Hmph, he was just saying he wanted to chop my chest!

She walked toward the wooden building. "Cultivate properly at home. I'm going to visit Sister Rongshang and see if I can spend some silver to buy ingredients for Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup from her!

"The Black Tiger Gang has taken control of the medicinal herbs. It will definitely become harder and harder to obtain herbs in the future. We need to prepare some in advance before we can rest easy!"

After Li Xiaolan left,

Lin Xuankong first cultivated the Pine Crane Mind Method once, then, filled with anticipation, began practicing the Green Pine Stance.

As the Pine Crane Longevity Technique entered the realm of mastery, he gained more and more new insights into the Green Pine Stance.

As he practiced the Green Pine Stance, he silently contemplated each movement after performing it.

Lin Xuankong understood clearly that in martial cultivation, a master led one through the door, but cultivation depended on the individual. If he wanted to travel far upon the Path of Martial Arts, then apart from relying on his [Old and Vigorous] Destiny, he had to possess his own understanding of martial arts!

He reflected on those new insights and continuously incorporated them into his Green Pine Stance practice. Gradually, his movements began to carry an extraordinarily distinctive bearing.

If Li Xiaolan's Green Pine Stance was ethereal and graceful, pleasing to both eye and heart, like a green pine transformed from a celestial maiden of the Ninth Heaven, then Lin Xuankong's Green Pine Stance at this moment was ancient and majestic, grand and towering—like a towering old pine that had witnessed the changing seas and shifting fields, yet remained unmoved!

As that bearing emerged, Lin Xuankong suddenly sensed, in the midst of his practice, that the Mortal Transformation Vitality within his body was gradually condensing.

More than half an hour later,

Lin Xuankong stopped cultivating and looked toward the large lines of text in his mind.

[Pine Crane Longevity Technique: Mastered 4/150]

Seeing that the Pine Crane Technique's proficiency had increased by three points,

he carefully sensed his body and found, as expected, that his vitality had become considerably more condensed.

Lin Xuankong could not help clenching his fist excitedly. With his own earnest insights and the assistance of his [Old and Vigorous] Destiny, his cultivation speed had not slowed at all after entering Layer Two. It had even increased somewhat. Before he had even cultivated the Spirit Crane Finger, he had already gained three points!

That terrifying defense, impervious to blades and spears and hard as demons and monsters, was absolutely within reach.

And unlike others, he did not need to worry about cultivation bottlenecks at all!

Sitting beside the old willow tree, he rested briefly.

After his strength had fully recovered, Lin Xuankong entered the wooden building.

He glanced at the six portions of Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup ingredients stored in a corner. The expression on his previously radiant face suddenly darkened somewhat.

His diligence and [Old and Vigorous] could allow him to cultivate dozens of times faster than normal. Under ordinary circumstances, reaching the Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two would be within reach!

But if the medicinal herbs ran out,

and his vitality could no longer be sustained, both his and the Young Lady's cultivation would be severely affected.

He had to find a way to solve the problem of medicinal herbs.

As he was pondering,

he suddenly heard waves of battle cries and miserable screams from afar.

Thinking of the Young Lady, who had gone out and not yet returned, his heart tightened. He hurried toward the backyard and leaped onto the roof of the wooden building.

Standing atop the wooden building,

Lin Xuankong gazed into the distance.

In the direction of Riverside Street, he saw thick smoke billowing from one of the Black Tiger Gang's training grounds.

A large number of Martial Cultivators were fighting the Black Tiger Gang members, and continuous cries of combat carried over.

A crisp, pleasant voice suddenly sounded behind him. "It's the chief master of the Zheng Family Martial Arts School, the one at the Mortal Transformation Layer Four Initial Stage. He has always been at odds with the Black Tiger Gang. This time, he incited more than two hundred Rogue Cultivators to attack a Black Tiger Gang hall. That place is where the Black Tiger Gang stores its medicinal herbs."

Lin Xuankong looked back at the slender, graceful Li Xiaolan. "Let them fight each other. It's enough that you're safe!"

Li Xiaolan nodded, then frowned again. "But judging from this situation, the Black Tiger Gang was obviously prepared. The more than two hundred Rogue Cultivators Master Zheng brought with him fell into the Black Tiger Gang's ambush. They'll probably all be buried there!"

As she spoke, the cries of battle from Riverside Street gradually subsided.

Lin Xuankong turned to look and saw several Black Tiger Gang experts chasing down Martial Cultivators fleeing from the hall along the street.

Those Black Tiger Gang experts moved with terrifying speed as they leaped and landed. They were at least Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two cultivators. In the blink of an eye, the fleeing Rogue Cultivators were killed one after another on the long street!

Li Xiaolan lifted the package of medicinal herbs in her hand.

"I went to the Huang Family today. Sister Rongshang's situation there is also somewhat difficult.

"After their medicinal herbs lost their source, the Huang Family still had some reserves, but there are many Martial Cultivators. As the head of the household, she could not possibly keep all the herbs for herself. These ten portions of Nine Revolutions Qi Nourishing Soup were taken from her own share and given partly to me!"

"Sister Rongshang said that if the third medicinal herb production area is also occupied by powerful monsters, the situation of Rogue Cultivators will definitely become more and more difficult. The Guo Family, Feng Family, Black Tiger Gang, and the rest will not fare much better either!

"She suggested that I join the Spirit Snake Gang or the Yin Talisman Sect. Both have medicinal herb plantations protected by grand formations. With such backing, it would at least give us a way forward!"

Lin Xuankong could not help frowning at this.

He could understand Huang Rongshang suggesting his wife join the Yin Talisman Sect, but the Spirit Snake Gang and Black Tiger Gang were allies!

He looked at Li Xiaolan. "Miss Huang suggested you join the Spirit Snake Gang?"

Li Xiaolan frowned. "What else can we do? Once the medicinal herbs in our hands run out, both your cultivation and mine will be delayed!

"In the current situation, unless Rogue Cultivators do not want to improve their strength, what other road is there besides joining a faction?"

"The Spirit Snake Gang may be allied with the Black Tiger Gang... but the Spirit Snake Gang only accepts women, so it is more suitable for me!

"Of course, Sister Rongshang was considering my personal future. In her heart, she definitely does not want me joining the Spirit Snake Gang!"

Lin Xuankong shook his head. "Don't join the Spirit Snake Gang. If they can mingle with the Black Tiger Gang's filthy lot, they can't be any good!"

If they corrupt my Young Lady, that would be a terrible loss!

Li Mulan said, "But the Yin Talisman Sect is full of old Taoists with ox noses. Among two thousand people, there are only two or three Taoist nuns. I'm a woman—joining the Yin Talisman Sect..."

Lin Xuankong frowned and fell into thought.

Thinking of the Yin Talisman Sect's peculiar Yin Talisman Lightning, of Little Tiger wanting to join the Yin Talisman Sect as well, and of everything he had seen and heard over the past few days, he quietly made up his mind. "How about you cultivate properly at home while I join the Yin Talisman Sect? Once I get some medicinal herbs, we can use them to cultivate together!"

Li Xiaolan looked at him with some surprise. "You'll join the Yin Talisman Sect?"

Lin Xuankong was somewhat surprised as well. "What's wrong with me?"

After hearing that, Li Xiaolan's beautiful face suddenly froze. She abruptly realized that the husband before her was no longer that frail old man on the verge of death. Her husband's talent was monstrously extraordinary. It had taken him only ten days to produce Mortal Transformation Vitality.

It had taken him less than thirty days to enter Mortal Transformation Layer One.

It had taken him only around thirty days to enter the Mortal Transformation Layer Two Initial Stage.

And throughout his realm advancements, he had not encountered a single cultivation bottleneck!

At that thought, her eyes brightened.

"The martial path I cultivate is not very suited to you. If you join the Yin Talisman Sect and can cultivate that profound Yin Talisman Lightning, that would actually be excellent! It is said that when Yin Talisman Lightning cultivation reaches the pinnacle, one can raise a hand and unleash Thousand Divine Thunders, crushing mountains and overturning seas!"

Lin Xuankong was somewhat astonished. When he had seen Gu Beicheng use Yin Talisman Lightning, its power had seemed quite ordinary. It was not even as strong as the Spirit Crane Finger!

Gu Beicheng could only shock Blood Tiger Xu Zhongxiong until his hair stood on end.

Against a Layer Two Martial Cultivator, it probably could not even harm a single hair on their body!

Lin Xuankong asked doubtfully, "Is that true? Thousand Divine Thunders, crushing mountains and overturning seas?"

Li Xiaolan smiled. "That's only what I heard from Sister Rongshang. Supposedly, the Founding Ancestor of the Yin Talisman Sect a thousand years ago could unleash Thousand Divine Thunders and crush anything without fail!

"But now the Yin Talisman Sect has declined greatly. It has long fallen from a major sect into a minor sect that even the Black Tiger Gang can provoke.

"Even the current sect master of the Yin Talisman Sect is far from capable of Thousand Divine Thunders. And supposedly, cultivating Yin Talisman Lightning places extremely high demands on talent. Most people cannot cultivate lightning at all!"

Lin Xuankong nodded, though certain lofty ambitions rose in his heart.

With his [Old and Vigorous] Destiny, so long as Yin Talisman Lightning truly possessed such power, he would definitely be able to cultivate it at a speed dozens of times greater than others!

Even if he could not temporarily reach the level of Thousand Divine Thunders and Mountain-Crushing Sea-Overturning,

joining the Yin Talisman Sect would allow him to obtain medicinal herbs continuously and resolve this urgent crisis before him.

After all, "Thousand Divine Thunders" was a wish, but the blade-and-spear-proof defense of the Late Mortal Transformation Layer Two was not some distant matter!

Once he had sufficient medicinal herbs to support him, he would definitely be able to cultivate a body impervious to blades and spears in a short time.

Then things like Zhang Wu could stand there and slash at him, yet still fail to cut him! And he would no longer need to fear fierce men like that bearded cultivator!

"It's settled, then. I'll go to the Yin Talisman Sect's hall on Mule Street right now!" Lin Xuankong said decisively.

Li Xiaolan thought for a moment, frowning. "In a situation like this, there must be many Rogue Cultivators who want to join the Yin Talisman Sect. If you join them and want a position with a good monthly stipend, such as becoming a manager, the competition will probably be fierce!"

Lin Xuankong said decisively, "Then I'll compete with them!"

Li Xiaolan's eyes rippled as she examined him carefully for a few moments. Then she suddenly smiled brightly. "Mm, an old warhorse in the stable still longs to gallop a thousand miles. I hope you succeed! But the most important thing is to stay safe. If you can't do it, you still have me!"

Determination rose in Lin Xuankong's eyes. The Young Lady had always been the one running about for this household. It was time for him, her husband, to step forward. This time, when joining the Yin Talisman Sect, he had to give it his all! He was at the Mortal Transformation Layer Two Initial Stage; becoming a leader among disciples should not be a problem. But could he compete for a manager's position?

It was not easy for him to step forward even once. He could not let his foodie Young Lady look down on him!

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