Master Lin Won't Be Weak Anymore (Seeking Follow-ups and Monthly Votes~)

For others, the quantity of gathered Qi is a critical point.

After all, it determines whether one can unleash more powerful immortal arts during a fight, and how many times they can be used.

But for Lin Shu, the importance of this stuff was even greater.

If others exhausted their spiritual power, they could just replenish it, but if he exhausted his, he would lose his life; naturally, the more he stored, the better.

"Regardless, at least one big trouble has been solved."

Lin Shu slowly opened his eyes, feeling quite emotional.

It seemed his luck was still pretty good.

A single wisp of spiritual power was equivalent to thirty percent of the White Wolf mist from before.

Now, holding ten wisps in his hand, he could even replenish his consumption through breathing exercises.

Finally, he didn't have to be so strapped for resources.

Even if he unleashed the Ghost Moon Bone-Splitting Hand at full power, he could use it seven or eight times.

It didn't sound like much.

But one had to know, the Ghost Moon Hand was a sixth-grade immortal art, belonging to the middle three grades, which should have been a technique used by mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

No wonder using it once had nearly cost him his life.

"..."

Lin Shu toyed with the Evil Coin and looked down at his chest.

A strange glint flashed in his eyes.

This White Wolf phantom seemed somewhat unusual.

Mysterious items like Virtue Coins and Evil Coins hadn't been able to directly condense the Blue Bird Immortal Body, only exchanging for an internal technique.

Yet the White Wolf phantom had parasitized the body of his predecessor, a mere mortal.

Coupled with the heart being dug out, it was as if a nest had been left for it.

Lin Shu didn't believe for a second that this wasn't done deliberately by someone.

However, he wasn't in a hurry.

In any case, he had a way to prolong his life, and there was plenty of time; he would eventually figure things out, find a way to mend his heart, and completely resolve this trouble.

"Spiritual power is enough for now, let's see how you perform."

Perhaps because the Blue Bird was too unscrupulous, Lin Shu now found this puppy to be quite pleasing to the eye.

A full twenty Virtue Coins had only exchanged for an eighth-grade Qi Refining immortal art, and it only reached the minor accomplishment stage.

The puppy had swallowed eight Evil Coins and spat out a sixth-grade immortal art, not only reaching the minor accomplishment stage but also getting a name change in the process.

Look at the difference!

Lin Shu grabbed a handful of Evil Coins and pressed them down decisively.

It certainly didn't disappoint his expectations.

The White Wolf phantom was as generous as ever.

After just five Evil Coins, the Ghost Moon Bone-Splitting Hand broke through to the major accomplishment stage, and by the time it finished digesting the tenth Evil Coin, a second notification popped up.

[Sixth-grade Qi Refining. Ghost Moon Bone-Splitting Hand: Perfection]

From start to finish, it was done in one go without the slightest pause.

It was so smooth that even Lin Shu was stunned for a moment, but soon, that familiar irritation surged into his heart.

And it came on so fiercely that it was hard to resist.

Lin Shu's eye twitched, and his eyes, which had been clear black and white, were now gradually spreading with bloodshot veins.

He suddenly reached out his palm, black mist igniting at his fingertips, which then spread at a speed visible to the naked eye, coiling around his forearm like a venomous snake.

A ghostly light flickered within it, wanting to tear apart everything in front of it.

Compared to when he slaughtered those disciples of the Good Fortune Martial Hall earlier, its power had more than doubled!

"Contain it!"

Lin Shu gritted his teeth hard, the veins on his forearm bulging.

He curled his five fingers bit by bit until he clenched his palm into a fist, snuffing out the black mist between his fingers.

Such a subtle movement left his forehead covered in beads of sweat.

The White Wolf phantom was still devouring the Evil Coins.

Its originally snow-white fur was turning gray at a speed visible to the naked eye, and its body beneath the fur seemed to have become much stronger; as its muscles rippled, it actually emitted waves of Sha Qi!

Fortunately, the Ghost Moon Bone-Splitting Hand did not continue to improve.

After it reached perfection, it swallowed about eight or nine more Evil Coins, and the White Wolf phantom actually spat out a second immortal art technique.

[Qi Refining Grade 7. Bright Moon Eye Technique: Entry]

It was that same feeling of unstoppable momentum, far surpassing the gradual improvement brought by Virtue Coins.

The twenty-nine Evil Coins were reduced to the final ten, which were likewise consumed in an instant.

In exchange, this Grade 7 immortal technique broke through three realms in succession!

[Qi Refining Grade 7. Bright Moon Eye Technique: Great Accomplishment]

Lin Shu hadn't even reacted to what kind of technique this was before his mind was flooded with a sudden, vast influx of information!

"Hah! Hah!"

His throat bobbed rapidly as he gasped for air in large gulps.

He slumped back into his chair as if completely drained, yet the agitation he had struggled to suppress suddenly flared up again!

Just then, a crisp bird chirp rang in Lin Shu's ears.

The next moment, the spiritual energy within his body emitted waves of warmth that surged toward his mind.

"You son of a... you're trying to play me to death, aren't you?"

Lin Shu's taut nerves finally eased. He sat up slightly, staring with a complex expression at the phantom of the White Wolf sleeping on his chest.

From the recent turn of events, he suddenly realized something.

The new technique also bore the name "Bright Moon," indicating it belonged to the same system as the previous claw technique.

However, that agitation was born from the Ghost Moon Bone-Splitting Hand, and this thing might not necessarily be an immortal technique inherent to the White Wolf.

In other words, the one being generous might not be the White Wolf... but the Evil Coins.

"..."

Lin Shu remained silent for a long time, then let out a sighing laugh.

That made sense.

After all, killing was simple, doing good was difficult, and being a villain was far easier than being a good person; the same logic should apply to immortal techniques.

Although he felt some trepidation toward the inexplicable agitation of his heart just now, Lin Shu could not abandon the rapidly progressing Evil Coins for the time being.

To put it bluntly, in a place like Blackwater City, if not for the help of this evil technique today, where would he have earned so many Virtue Coins?

With that thought, he slowly stood up, pushed the door open, and said irritably:

"It's been an entire night, where is the bathwater you were supposed to heat? Did you boil it dry?"

"..."

Downstairs, the girls looked at each other, none daring to speak, only stealing glances at the grim-faced, dual-blade-wielding stone pillar of a man by the stairs.

Old Yang jumped up from the floor with a start, sheepishly scratching his bird's-nest hair: "I'll do it, I'll do it! I'm going to heat it right now!"

He limped as he trotted toward the backyard.

Once he reached a secluded spot, recalling the vigorous, full-voiced tone of Lin Shu, Old Yang grinned to reveal a mouthful of yellow teeth, foolishly tossing away the kitchen knife in his hand.

So, last night had just been a delusion.

That's great!

At dusk.

West City, Good Fortune Martial Hall.

It should have been the noisiest place on the street, but today, it was deserted.

Inside the main hall, the plaque reading "Uphold the Weak and Suppress the Strong" still hung there.

But only a few people remained in the room.

People always said that martial halls had money, power, and men—all three—but in reality, their money and power couldn't compare to those of the wealthy gentry.

Although there were many people, most were just there to pay for lessons.

Those like Qin Yunhai and Zhao Peng, who were willing to kill for the martial hall, were the result of Zhang Zhongping's years of careful cultivation and care.

They were, after all, the minority of the minority.

When the nine mangled, unrecognizable corpses were delivered to the hall by the constables, most of the disciples made excuses to leave, intending to return only after the storm had passed.

The tragic deaths of their senior brothers were one reason.

Another reason was... once the secret business of murder was exposed and laid out in the open for public discussion, it meant that Good Fortune Martial Hall had thoroughly offended the Blackwater Gang.

Lord Fox... he was a "Lord" for a reason!

Zhang Zhongping sat in a trance beneath that calligraphy, his gaze drifting, never willing to look down.

Because on the floor, not far from his feet.

Neatly placed there was the head of Qin Yunhai, filled with terror and eyes wide open in death.

His most trusted disciples were all wiped out, and in the center sat the coffin of his only son.

In just a single night, this Great Martial Master seemed to have aged more than ten years.

He could not understand why his son, who was merely a bit playful, had met such a cruel end, with all his beloved disciples losing their lives along with him.

To resort to such brutal methods over the slightest conflict.

Blackwater Gang, what immense tyranny you wield!

"Yo, what's happened here?"

A mocking voice drifted in, and a corpulent figure sauntered slowly into the martial arts hall.

"Are you here to laugh at my misfortune?" Zhang Zhongping glanced coldly to the side, staring at Tian Jingyuan, his eyes brimming with resentment.

He had spent so much silver, only to receive false information.

Some peasant from a theater troupe? Looking at the shredded corpses littering the floor, the opponent was clearly a cultivator!

"I know you harbor resentment toward me in your heart."

Tian Jingyuan walked over to the table and sat down of his own accord. He continued to pick at his fingernails, a faint smile appearing on his face. "I was chatting with a few people at the hall today and happened to hear some news that is quite favorable for you."

"Some... good news regarding that fox."