Lin Zhao persistently drew talismans, his Divine Speed Talisman becoming increasingly proficient, reaching a point where he could produce them with ease. He consequently conjured many Divine Speed Talismans and hid them on his person, preparing for any unforeseen circumstances. The small town had been unusually calm lately, inexplicably filling Lin Zhao with a sense of impending storm. Thus, he diligently practiced his fist techniques, his Stillness at Dusk cultivation, and drawing talismans, neglecting none.
One day, Lin Zhao, accompanied by Little Stone, practiced his fist techniques more than ten times on the stone bridge. When exhaustion overwhelmed him, he sat down to fish. Although the commission from the Hundred Flavors Pavilion was enough for Lin Zhao to live better than most in the town, he still persisted in fishing and hunting as means of livelihood. Habits were hard to change.
...
In the afternoon, a gentle breeze blew.
A pair of long, fair legs ascended the stone bridge. These legs were unparalleled in the world, clad in exquisite silver battle boots. The owner of these legs wore armor, a sword hung at her waist, and her beautiful hair was styled in a bun, making her appear virtuous and graceful. She walked step by step to Lin Zhao's side and quietly knelt down beside him, saying nothing, merely watching him fish.
Leng Yan genuinely wished to understand this peculiar NPC. This young man filled her heart with many unanswerable questions and confusions, yet she did not know how to articulate them. Speaking suddenly felt like an abrupt attempt at conversation. As a lady, though a modern one, she still disliked initiating contact herself.
"Is there something you need?"
Lin Zhao, while fishing, cast a glance at her. In fact, Lin Zhao was not unfamiliar with this person. He had seen her and her companions the very first day they entered the town. This group of ten young elites from the Great Shang Dynasty included two women, and the woman before him was one of them.
Leng Yan curved her lips and said, "Your name is Lin Zhao, right?"
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. "Everyone in town knows I'm called Lin Zhao."
Leng Yan said, "There's nothing else, I just wanted to remind you that the Minister of the Imperial Household still harbors resentment towards you. He will surely send people into the town to cause trouble for you again."
"I know."
Lin Zhao's brow furrowed. "There isn't much I can do, but I will make all necessary preparations."
"That's good."
Leng Yan smiled faintly.
Lin Zhao glanced at her again. Her delicate face and those legs were truly beautiful. The young man couldn't help but ask, "What is your name?"
"Leng Yan."
"Mm, Leng Yan."
Lin Zhao stared at the fishing float in the water. "May I ask you a question?"
"Ask away."
"What is your group doing here in town? Training your martial arts, or seeking something? I always feel you are different from other outsiders. You speak in a strange way."
"Well..." Leng Yan smiled, her dimples appearing. "On a certain level, we might not belong to this plane. We are... a group of adventurers from another world?"
"Adventurers?"
Lin Zhao's eyebrows furrowed, his mind filled with confusion. But he quickly dismissed the thought, giving Leng Yan another glance. "Are you a spy sent by the demon race? I heard the adults in town say that demon women are often beautiful and enchanting, skilled at confusing hearts and seducing men. The first time I descended North Mountain, I met a demon named Xue Nu. I almost died that time."
"The demon race?"
Leng Yan chuckled wryly. "Why do you think I'm from the demon race?"
"Because you are beautiful."
Lin Zhao suddenly lowered his head, embarrassed to look at her again. "You're very beautiful, and your legs are beautiful too. However, the women in our town usually wear long skirts, unlike you, exposing your legs like this."
He looked into Leng Yan's beautiful eyes and said, "If you are not from the demon race, try to wear long skirts in town. Otherwise, the gossips will talk about you behind your back, thinking you are immodest and scandalous."
Leng Yan giggled. "It's alright."
She sat for a while and then left.
Because Little Stone was looking at her strangely. Little Stone felt this beautiful elder sister had likely taken a liking to Brother Lin Zhao. Brother Lin Zhao was indeed as handsome as jade and as virtuous as a gemstone. His popularity among the women in town was second to none. Perhaps in a year or two, Brother Lin Zhao would get married. Whom should he marry then? If she were too beautiful, she might stray. If she were not beautiful enough, she wouldn't be worthy of Brother Lin Zhao. Thinking of this, the young boy fretted, losing all interest in fishing.
...
In the afternoon, between practicing his punches, Lin Zhao circulated a cycle of Stillness at Dusk. He felt his spiritual energy surge throughout his body, making him more sensitive and sharp. The spiritual energy within him swirled and condensed like a vortex, a natural progression. At this moment, the young man finally stepped into the world of spiritual cultivation, already a first-realm cultivator!
Dual cultivation was incredibly difficult, but it didn't matter. Lin Zhao believed his talent was decent, and he had patience and resilience. Moreover, he genuinely yearned to become a sword cultivator in his heart. If that was the case, why not practice swordsmanship?
...
Meanwhile, deep in the mountains.
The hunchbacked elder, Lin Chikong, descended into the mountains with the wind. Leaning on his cane, he walked intermittently, eventually entering a winding mountain forest. After much circling, he arrived before a stone gate. He carried a jar of wine and tapped the stone gate lightly with his cane. "Fellow Daoist Song, long time no see. Care for a drink?"
A figure floated out of the stone gate, passing through the rock. It was a somewhat disheveled old man, his clothes resembling tattered cotton, with even small branches growing from them.
Song Sheng, whose true name was Song Sheng, was a spirit that had attained enlightenment through cultivating a pine tree. He was now an eleventh-realm cultivator, one of the legendary upper-five realm rogue cultivators. He was often active in Yunzhou, in the northern region of the Great Shang Dynasty, engaging in all sorts of deeds, from murder and arson to deception.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Lin."
Song Sheng squinted his eyes, took the wine pot from Lin Chikong's hand, and chuckled. "Why are you looking for me all of a sudden?"
"There's a big deal."
Lin Chikong opened his palm, and threads of powerful spiritual energy surged forth, quickly condensing into the image of Lin Zhao carrying a sword on his back. Song Sheng's eyes lit up. As an upper-five realm cultivator, he immediately perceived the profound fortune emanating from the long sword on Lin Zhao's back, recognizing it as no ordinary item. He couldn't help but step forward and clasp Lin Chikong's hand. "What's his origin?"
"Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
Lin Chikong revealed a playful smile. "This child's name is Lin Zhao. He's from the town of Snow Region Heavenly Pool. This ancient sword is said to have been dug out from Snow Region Heavenly Pool, and he has carried it on his back ever since. I've inquired, and after obtaining this sword, Lin Zhao has managed to turn calamities into blessings every time he encountered danger. Moreover, his cultivation has skyrocketed. In just half a year, he went from an ordinary mortal to a fifth-realm martial artist. Don't you find that too strange?"
Song Sheng's heart trembled. "Could it be... the sword from the Bright Moon Pool? If so, it would be truly astonishing."
"It's almost certainly it!"
Lin Chikong smiled calmly. "If we succeed in this venture, the path to ascension for you and me will be secured."
Song Sheng shook his head. "I'm afraid it won't be that simple, will it?"
"Of course, it's not simple."
Lin Chikong said, "I've already been to Snow Region Heavenly Pool once, but without success. Chu Huaixi of the Heavenly Pool Army greatly values this child and protects him very closely. Furthermore, the mountain lord of Heavenly Pool Mountain, Su Fu, seems to want to intervene. Besides them, Qin Suihan from the town, and Huang Tingyu from the Heavenly Pool Army, I can't fathom their depth. They might all be upper-five realm cultivators."
Song Sheng narrowed his eyes. "Tell me, how do you need me to cooperate?"
"Simple."
Lin Chikong smiled. "Taking the sword will be my responsibility. Fellow Daoist Song, you are an upper-five realm formation master. I would trouble you to set up a grand formation to conceal our tracks. We can kill Lin Zhao without anyone noticing, take the sword, and leave. There's no need to contend with Chu Huaixi, Su Fu, Qin Suihan, and the others. Furthermore, for our pursuit of the Dao and ascension, there's no need to make enemies of these people."
"In that case..."
Song Sheng pondered for a moment. "The formation is not a problem. I will be fully responsible. However... after obtaining this treasure, how shall we divide it?"
Lin Chikong narrowed his eyes. "Neither of us are sword cultivators. If we truly obtain the Dragon Slaying Sword, the foremost among the ten great swords of this world, why not live in seclusion and jointly comprehend the heavenly Dao within the sword?"
"Excellent!"
Song Sheng laughed heartily. "Let's do that. I will immediately prepare the materials for the formation. We depart for Heavenly Pool Town in three days!"
"It's a deal!"
...
Three days later, a fine rain was falling.
This day was Guyu, the Grain Rain.
The front street was very lively today. The Bright Moon Temple was packed with people, shoulder to shoulder. Every year on Guyu, the townspeople would worship the female immortal Mingyuechi who ascended from Snow Region Heavenly Pool, praying for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest. Thus, Lin Zhao, accompanied by Little Stone and Little Jiuer, also went to join the festivities. Each held three sticks of incense and made a wish before the portrait of Mingyuechi.
Lin Zhao's wish was to step into the sixth realm this year and join the ranks of the middle-five realm martial artists. Additionally, he hoped Little Stone and Little Jiuer would remain healthy, and that the spirits of his parents could rest in peace, without him being a cause of worry.
Little Stone's wish was to break through quickly and catch up to Brother Lin Zhao's cultivation level as soon as possible, preferably becoming an upper-five realm martial artist so he could protect Brother Lin Zhao and Little Jiuer with his own fists in the future.
Little Jiuer's wish was to have divine assistance in her studies, possess photographic memory, and never be spanked by the teacher again.
After making their wishes, the three left the front street. On the stone bridge, Lin Zhao bought three candied hawthorns, one for each of them. They ate them as they walked. It was drizzling, but the children in the town didn't mind. Did such light rain require an umbrella?
No.
...
At this time, to the east of the town.
A woman in a white dress, holding a white oil-paper umbrella, stepped onto the stone bridge and entered the town. She appeared ethereal, like a fairy, as she passed through the peach blossom forest. Her flawless eyes observed the scenery of the town, and she smiled faintly. As she looked at the busy people in the town, a gentle expression appeared on her face.
From afar.
In front of the bookstore, a scholar cupped his hands in greeting.
The woman smiled and nodded.
Today was Guyu.
Everyone in town worshipped Mingyuechi, yet no one truly knew her.