Chapter 299: Chapter 148: Great Marsh Prefecture’s Earth-Shaking Changes and the Astonishing Situation of the September Duel
Zhao Renxiong would never have imagined it. Of all the helpers he might summon from the Black Tiger Gang, the Guo Family, and the Feng Family, almost none would be able to assist him now, would they? Liy Ruoqing and Liy Ruo Ying, after so many incidents, had already become completely devoted to him. The four strongest Cultivators from the Feng and Guo Families had become his subordinates! If, come the eighth day of September, Zhao Renxiong were to call for aid and no one stepped forward, he would surely find himself in an awkward position! However, he no longer needed to pay much attention to Cultivators at the late stage of the Fifth Layer. This duel on the eighth day of September, fighting back and forth with Fifth-Layer Cultivators, didn’t hold much interest for him...
Lin Xuankong’s gaze flickered slightly. Then, a thought struck him, and he looked in the direction of the Yin Talisman Sect.
"The four of you, manage the affairs of the Guo and Feng Families well these next two days. I have other matters to attend to!"
With that, Lin Xuankong leaped away.
Han Lu, Li Xiaohu, Li Er, and Yang Shan cupped their fists and bowed deeply. Only after Lin Xuankong’s figure disappeared did the four of them straighten up.
Having personally experienced a reversal of life and death, becoming Patriarchs and Second-in-Commands of top families in the blink of an eye, the four were filled with emotion, feeling that knowing Lin Xuankong was truly the greatest fortune of their lives!
A short while later, Lin Xuankong had already landed in the courtyard of Steward Hu Shuo of the Yin Talisman Sect.
At that moment, light flickered in the courtyard.
Elder Steward Hu Shuo, a man in his forties, was practicing the Divine Thunder Illusion Technique in the courtyard.
Hearing footsteps, he withdrew the thunder and lightning and turned to look. Upon seeing it was Lin Xuankong, a trace of surprise appeared on his face. He immediately bowed with cupped fists and said, "Steward Lin, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?"
Since the trip to the Demon-Suppressing Valley, Hu Shuo had known that the Lin Xuankong before him was the Yin Talisman Sect’s hidden Nine-Seal Genius. He possessed terrifyingly powerful strength and was the only hope for the sect’s rise! Moreover, Lin Xuankong had saved his life. How could Hu Shuo not be respectful upon seeing him!
Looking at the red-faced Elder Steward, Lin Xuankong thought to himself:
Besides Steward Ma Jiang, the only person in the Yin Talisman Sect who would absolutely never betray me, for now, is this Steward Hu Shuo! Back then, even knowing the Demon Slaying Conference was fraught with extreme danger, Hu Shuo had willingly brought along his most cherished disciple, Lin Jiao. This demonstrated his profound affection for the Yin Talisman Sect. Moreover, after returning to the Yin Talisman Sect, he, Lin Jiao, and Nalan Yunzhu had never revealed my true identity. This shows how highly he regards me, this so-called genius of the Yin Talisman Sect, and that he would absolutely obey my words.
Thinking of this, Lin Xuankong said, "Steward Hu, I came to find you because I have a matter I wish to discuss."
Hu Shuo immediately cupped his fists and said, "Steward Lin, if there’s anything you need me to do, just say the word. After all, you saved this Old Hu’s life."
Lin Xuankong said, "Steward Hu, at your current age and cultivation, do you still have hope of breaking through to the Fourth Layer?"
Hu Shuo looked a little surprised, then sighed and shook his head.
"My talent is average; I’m only Two Seals. To have advanced to the mid-grade of the Third Layer before the age of forty was already a stroke of immense luck. Now, I am already forty-six, and my Qi Blood has long since begun to decline. Maintaining my current realm is already extremely difficult, let alone reaching the Fourth Layer. Even the late stage of the Third Layer is hopeless for me in this lifetime!"
Lin Xuankong nodded slightly. "If I were to give you an opportunity to become a late-stage Fifth-Layer Cultivator, but it would require you to be temporarily separated from your family and keep the matter absolutely secret, would you be willing?"
Hu Shuo was stunned, then laughed.
"Steward Lin, are you joking? The gap between a genius like you and someone like me is as vast as that between heaven and earth. How could I possibly have a chance to reach the Fifth Layer in this lifetime? Of course, if I could indeed advance to the late stage of the Fifth Layer, being separated from my family for a few years—even eight or ten years—would be nothing! My wife and sons all cultivate Martial Dao. Both of my sons are already at the late stage of the First Layer and are Deputy Stewards in our Yin Talisman Sect. They no longer need me to worry about them!"
Hearing this, Lin Xuankong nodded slightly. "Then, Steward Hu, please come with me to Hill City!"
"To Hill City? Steward Lin, aren’t you investigating the culprit behind the First Warehouse incident?" Hu Shuo showed a puzzled expression.
"Follow me!" Lin Xuankong leaped into the air.
Hu Shuo was filled with puzzlement, but he dared not show any disrespect to this peerless genius, his lifesaver. He immediately leaped up and followed Lin Xuankong, heading out of the city under the cover of night.
「Three hours later.」
At the back hall of the Black Tiger Gang’s Hill City Branch, Hu Shuo stared at his new body in astonishment. Then, trembling slightly, he looked at Lin Xuankong.
"Steward Lin, this technique of yours? This... To think that such a powerful and terrifying Secret Technique exists in this world, one that can transfer a person’s Divine Soul into another’s body?"
Lin Xuankong’s face turned serious.
"Steward Hu, your original body is not yet completely dead. I merely knocked your original body unconscious, forcibly extracted your Divine Soul, and transferred it into Zhao Renxiong’s body. If you regret this in the future, you can still transfer back!"
Hu Shuo shook his head repeatedly.
"Steward Lin, I, Hu Shuo, had originally given up all hope of reaching the late stage of the Third Layer in this lifetime, thinking I would inevitably waste my life away. Now, I’ve become a late-stage Fifth-Layer Cultivator! I might even reach the Sixth Layer in many years, a realm that can extend one’s lifespan significantly. Such an astonishing, incredible opportunity—how could I possibly regret it! Steward Lin, you truly are the once-in-a-millennium prodigy of our Yin Talisman Sect! To possess such a technique! A technique that even the founder of our Yin Talisman Sect never possessed... This... this is simply more powerful than the fabled methods of Immortals!"