Chapter 26

With three spells in mind, Wang Lin's heart raced as he recited the incantation for the Fireball, his right hand making the necessary gestures. Unfortunately, not even a spark appeared. After a long while, he frowned and tried again.

Again and again, he tried, but ultimately failed each time. Only once did a spark appear, but it immediately dissipated.

"Talent... It’s all about talent!" Wang Lin smiled bitterly and then practiced the Earth Splitting Spell on a nearby rock. Although the effect was slightly better than the Fireball, the crack in the rock was no thicker than a little finger. He couldn’t help but sigh; such a spell might fool ordinary people in the village, but it would be useless in battle.

Finally, he practiced the Gravity Spell, but the results were still unsatisfactory.

However, in terms of success rate, the Gravity Spell was slightly better. Without hesitation, Wang Lin focused all his efforts on it. The Gravity Spell, in simple terms, was about controlling objects from a distance.

If his dexterity improved and he reached the second layer of Qi Condensation, he could practice the Object Driving Spell. Once he broke through to the third layer and entered the fourth layer, he could choose a flying sword from the Sword Spirit Pavilion.

After practicing for half a day, Wang Lin walked back before nightfall. He had reached the first layer of Qi Condensation, and his senses were sharp. As he entered the East Gate and passed by the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, he heard a familiar voice.

"Senior Brother Liu, you assigned me the task of chopping wood, and we agreed that 100 pounds would complete the task. Why are you now increasing it to 1000 pounds? I, Zhang Hu, am not a new disciple. Over the years, I have always shown respect to you. Are you really trying to force me off the mountain?"

"Zhang Hu, don’t say I’m making things difficult for you. It’s almost the end of the year, and I’m not having an easy time either. Not only are you not working hard, but you’re also causing me trouble. The firewood you chopped was sent to the Alchemy Hall, and I was severely reprimanded. When I checked, I found that out of 100 pounds of wood, at least 30 pounds were water."

"That’s impossible! You’re just making things up. Isn’t it because Zhao Fugui gave you a spirit talisman a few days ago and asked you to assign him an easier task, which I saw? How big of a deal is that? Everyone knows what kind of named disciple you are. Do you really have to force me to leave the Hengyue Sect? You’re too damn despicable! I won’t do it anymore. I’ll go and tell the elder!" Zhang Hu said angrily.

"Zhang Hu, this is your fault. Blame your bad luck for seeing what you shouldn’t have. Today, you will stay here! If the elder finds out, I will have your entire family exterminated."

The young man surnamed Liu’s voice was icy cold. Zhang Hu let out a cry of alarm. Wang Lin, hearing this, was startled and quickly rushed into the Miscellaneous Affairs Office, kicking the door open.

Inside, the young man surnamed Liu had a fierce look on his face, holding a dagger and quickly stabbing at Zhang Hu, who was pressed against the wall, his face full of fear.

In a critical moment, Wang Lin couldn’t save Zhang Hu in time, so he immediately used the Gravity Spell. Fortunately, it worked this time. The Gravity Spell formed an invisible hand that instantly restrained the other person. The dagger had already cut into Zhang Hu’s chest, and blood was flowing profusely.

The young man surnamed Liu was terrified, feeling as if he was being squeezed by an immense force, and the dagger in his hand could no longer move forward.

Zhang Hu’s face was pale, and large beads of sweat dripped down. He looked at Wang Lin with gratitude and quickly crawled away.

The young man surnamed Liu was stunned and struggled desperately. Wang Lin was sweating, showing signs of losing control.

It was the first time Wang Lin had used the Gravity Spell to restrain a living person, and he was clearly struggling. With the other person’s struggle, it became even more difficult. His body trembled slightly, and seeing that Zhang Hu was safe, he sighed in relief, and the Gravity Spell loosened.

Just as the other person was about to break free, Zhang Hu’s eyes showed a strange look. He glanced at Wang Lin, then at Senior Brother Liu, and a fierce expression appeared on his face. He quickly picked up the axe and approached Senior Brother Liu.

Senior Brother Liu’s eyes showed fear, and he struggled even more violently. Zhang Hu gritted his teeth and muttered, "A man who isn’t ruthless isn’t a true man. Senior Brother Liu, this is your fault. You wanted to exterminate my entire family?"

"Zhang Hu, what are you doing!" Wang Lin was shocked, and the Gravity Spell lost its effect.

The moment the young man surnamed Liu regained his mobility, Zhang Hu raised the axe and brought it down on Senior Brother Liu’s head. It sounded like a watermelon being smashed. Senior Brother Liu couldn’t dodge in time, his body convulsed a few times, and then he lay still.

Zhang Hu’s axe fell to the ground with a thud. He stared at the bloody corpse at his feet, his expression complex.

Wang Lin stood there, stunned. This was the first time he had seen a bloody corpse. After a long while, he asked bitterly, "Zhang Hu, you..."

Zhang Hu looked up at Wang Lin, his features twisted, and he said in a fierce tone, "Wang Lin, you saw it. I didn’t want to kill him, but if it weren’t for you, I, Zhang Hu, would have been killed by him! This is all his fault, all his fault!"

Wang Lin remained silent, not expecting this to happen.

Zhang Hu took a deep breath, his eyes showing determination. He searched the body and found a gray cloth bag. Inside were several hundred spirit talismans for named disciples to visit their families, and a bound book. He glanced at it and put it in his pocket.

He then searched the room and found a hidden compartment under the bed. Inside was a yellow paper.

After a moment’s thought, he turned to Wang Lin and said, "Wang Lin, I will remember your kindness today. I can’t stay in the Hengyue Sect anymore. Once the sect discovers that the young man surnamed Liu is dead, they will trace it back to me. I’m taking these things. As for this spirit talisman, it must be a treasure, or the young man surnamed Liu wouldn’t have wanted to kill me. Take it!" He handed the yellow paper to Wang Lin.

Wang Lin didn’t take it, sighed, and smiled bitterly, "You... Why go to such lengths? If you hadn’t killed him just now..."

Zhang Hu frowned and said, "Wang Lin, don’t mention this again. I’ve had enough of this over the years. If you still consider me a friend, take this spirit talisman!"

Wang Lin took it bitterly and said no more.

"Wang Lin, I’m leaving. This has nothing to do with you. If the sect investigates, they will only find me. By then, I will have already left the Hengyue Sect. Hengyue Sect is big, and I, Zhang Hu, don’t believe I will be a named disciple for the rest of my life!" Zhang Hu’s expression was complex. After a long while, he slowly turned and left the room.