Cultivation begins with earning spirit stones

Chapter 47 Warning

Zhang Lin's figure swayed, activating his Wind Control Technique. He retreated three feet like a falling leaf, the blade energy grazing his robes before striking the wall and leaving a huge hole.

"Who sent you?" Zhang Lin's voice was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The man in black did not answer. He raised his long sword again, the blade flashing like snow, transforming into a net of blades that enveloped Zhang Lin.

Zhang Lin raised his hand, and a golden light condensed in his palm, transforming into a three-foot-long golden blade.

Golden Blade Technique - Armor Penetration.

The golden blade met the net of swords, and with a few soft "swoosh" sounds, the net of swords was torn open by the golden blade, the sword light scattered, and the sword energy dissipated.

The man in black shuddered, and his long sword nearly slipped from his grasp.

Only then did he realize that the young man in front of him, who was at the late stage of Qi Refining, was far stronger than he had imagined.

He is no match for him.

The man in black was terrified and lost all will to fight. He turned and broke out of the window.

Zhang Lin did not pursue.

He went to the window, simply raised his hand, and a stream of emerald green spiritual energy flowed from his palm and landed on the ground outside.

The ground cracked open, and several thumb-thick vines burst forth from the soil, wrapping around the legs of the man in black.

Wood Vine Technique - Thorns.

The poisonous thorns on the vines pierced his flesh, and the toxins entered his meridians through the wounds. The man in black felt a numbness in his legs, his internal energy circulation was blocked, and he staggered and fell to the ground.

He struggled to get up, but found that his legs wouldn't obey him.

Zhang Lin stood at the window, looking down at him.

"Who sent you?"

The man in black gritted his teeth and remained silent.

Zhang Lin didn't press him for answers. He snapped his fingers, and the Azure Gang Sword flew out and pressed against his throat. The tip of the sword pierced his skin, and a trickle of blood slid down the blade.

"I know even if you don't say it," Zhang Lin said calmly. "The Zhou family."

The man in black's pupils contracted slightly, then returned to calm.

But that one instantaneous change was enough for Zhang Lin to confirm his answer.

"Did Zhou Mingyuan send you?" Zhang Lin asked again.

The man in black remained silent.

Zhang Lin remained silent for a moment, then suddenly sheathed his sword, and the Azure Gang Sword flew back to the window.

The man in black was stunned.

Is this... letting him go?

He was secretly rejoicing when he heard Zhang Lin's voice coming from the window.

"Go back and tell Zhou Mingyuan that I have remembered what happened tonight."

Zhang Lin pushed open the window, and the night wind rushed in, blowing his robes.

"If there is a next time, I don't mind the Zhou family losing one less descendant."

The man in black gritted his teeth, got up from the ground, dragged his numb legs, staggered out of the room, and disappeared into the night.

Zhang Lin stood by the window, watching the departing figure of the man in black, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

It's not that he didn't want to kill.

If these three were in the middle of nowhere tonight, he would have killed them all with a single sword stroke.

But this is Qingxuan City, the Zhou family's territory.

Killing one man in black is easy, killing three is also easy.

But that person has already appeared on the street, and there must be spirit-seeing talismans around him. After killing him, the Zhou family will have an excuse to say that he killed innocent people and indiscriminately slaughtered his fellow practitioners, and they can take action against him in a justifiable way.

So he let this one go.

Sending him back to deliver the message is tantamount to issuing a challenge.

Let him know that the Zhou family is not without its own young and old. Although threatening with a child is despicable, it is necessary to convey that Zhang Lin is not someone to be trifled with.

Zhang Lin turned around, looked at the two corpses on the ground, and frowned.

He raised his hand, and two balls of dark blue flames condensed in his palm.

Burning Flames.

The flames landed on the two corpses, making a hissing sound. The corpses burned rapidly in the eerie blue flames, turning into two piles of ashes in less than three breaths.

Zhang Lin then used his wind manipulation technique to disperse the ashes, leaving the floor clean and tidy, as if nothing had happened.

He closed the window, bolted the door again, and sat cross-legged on the couch.

The Zhou family will not make any further moves tonight.

He killed two people and let one go, so Zhou Mingyuan must have known his strength.

Such a person cannot be dealt with simply by sending a few late-stage Qi Refining assassins silently.

If the Zhou family were to make another move, they would certainly send out even stronger forces.

But that will take time.

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Zhang Lin awoke from his meditation, opened his eyes, and a glint of light flashed in them.

Within his dantian, seven drops of liquid true qi flowed slowly, filling his spiritual energy; the eighth drop was not far off.

He didn't take last night's events to heart.

The three assassins, all at the late stage of Qi Refining, were merely pawns used by the Zhou family to test the waters.

What truly alarmed him was the ruthlessness of the Zhou family's actions. Only half a day after the Dharma assembly ended, they dared to take action in the city, showing no regard for the reputation of the Danxia Sect.

This is the source of the local bully's confidence.

Zhang Lin got up and changed into a clean blue Taoist robe.

He pushed open the door and went downstairs.

The shopkeeper was doing accounts behind the counter when he saw him come down. He quickly put on a smiling face: "Young master, you're up early. Would you like some breakfast?"

"No need." Zhang Lin took out the money to pay the room fee, and then said, "Check out."

The shopkeeper was taken aback: "Young master, are you leaving already?"

"I have other things to do," Zhang Lin replied casually, then turned and left the inn.

In the early morning, Qingxuan City was shrouded in a thin mist, and there were few pedestrians on the streets.

Zhang Lin walked along the bluestone path towards the east of the city, his pace neither hurried nor slow.

Tianbao Pavilion was located in the most bustling street in the east of the city.

The Ling Shi Trading Company, under the Ye family, one of the five major surnames, has branches all over the nine continents.

Before long, Zhang Lin arrived in front of a three-story pavilion.

The pavilion has upturned eaves and corners, carved beams and painted rafters, and two stone lions in front of the gate each hold a top-grade spirit stone in their mouths, their spiritual light faintly shining, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Above the door hangs a plaque with the three golden characters "Tianbao Pavilion," written in a vigorous and powerful style, faintly conveying the spirit of swordsmanship. It is said to have been written by a Golden Core sword cultivator.

Zhang Lin stepped inside.

The main hall was spacious and bright, with rosewood shelves on all four walls displaying various magical artifacts, elixirs, talismans, and jade slips, all shimmering with spiritual light and dazzling in their abundance.

Several waiters were greeting guests when Zhang Lin entered. A young servant in blue robes quickly came to greet him.

"Young master, what would you like to order? Our shop has a full range of magical artifacts, pills, talismans, and spiritual herbs, all at fair prices and with honest dealings."

Zhang Lin shook his head: "I have a top-grade magic artifact to sell. I'll talk to your manager."

The servant in blue looked him up and down, and seeing his extraordinary bearing, he dared not be negligent and quickly led him upstairs.

The second floor is much quieter than the first floor, and the furnishings are more elegant.

Several tables and chairs made of rosewood were neatly arranged, several landscape paintings hung on the wall, and a burner of sandalwood incense burned in the corner, with wisps of smoke rising.

"Please have a seat, young master. I'll go and fetch the manager." The servant in blue led him to a table and sat him down before turning to leave.

A short while later, a middle-aged man came out of the inner room.

This person appeared to be in his forties, with a round face and bright eyes. He wore a brocade robe and had a white jade token hanging from his waist. He was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and his spiritual light was contained within his body. He had a calm and composed demeanor.

"I am Ye An, the manager of the Qingxuan City branch of Tianbao Pavilion. May I ask your name, young master?" The middle-aged man bowed and smiled amiably.

Zhang Lin returned the greeting: "My name is Zhang Lin."

"Young Master Zhang." Ye An sat down opposite him, his gaze sweeping over him, lingering for a moment on the storage pouch at his waist, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, "What kind of magical artifact does Young Master intend to use?"

Zhang Lin took out the green scale armor he had taken from Xiong Ye from his storage bag and placed it on the table.

The armor was dark blue, with scales resembling dragon scales, and the edges shimmered with a faint golden light.

The nail plates are layered and fit together perfectly, gleaming with a warm luster under the light.