Chapter 75

Early morning.

The sky suddenly started to snow heavily, the snowflakes swirling and dancing, forming a series of icicles as thick as arms under the eaves, the cold air penetrating to the bone.

Swish, swish, swish!

In the courtyard, the light of a sword flickered, stirring up a thousand waves of snow.

Lin Xun, bare-chested, moved like a dream, wielding the Skybreaker Sword with such skill that not even a drop of water could penetrate the blade, the cold light flashing.

His figure had become lean and tall, his bare upper body muscles like lead blocks that had been hammered a thousand times, not bulky or brutish, but rather with a harmonious and balanced beauty.

It had been more than half a year since he left the mine prison, and Lin Xun had transformed from a frail and pale youth into a man with a dignified and composed demeanor.

His originally delicate and angular face now had a touch of vibrant spirit.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a white bone spear darted out, swiftly piercing through the layers of sword shadows, simple, direct, and decisive, striking the weak point in the sword shadows.

A loud bang, and Lin Xun staggered, retreating several steps, the Skybreaker Sword in his hand humming.

"This sword technique is very powerful, but you haven't mastered it fully. You can't bring out its essence," Xia Zhi said, standing on the snowy ground in the distance. She was wearing a black coat and holding a twelve-foot-long white bone spear, her fair face calm.

"I know," Lin Xun replied, sheathing his sword, taking a deep breath, and beginning to wash up.

He had been practicing the "Six-Character Sword Technique," but he had only reached the "subtle" stage. Although he had begun to grasp the essence of the sword technique, it was difficult for him to precisely unleash all of its power.

Lin Xun knew that his sword technique still needed more practice. Just practicing in isolation wouldn't work; he needed to experience real battles and fights.

"Are you not going out today?" Xia Zhi asked, putting away her bone spear.

"Not for now," Lin Xun replied, putting on his clothes to cover his bare upper body and starting to prepare breakfast.

In the past two days, he had made two more Flame Spirit Swords. However, the commotion caused by selling the swords at the Jinyutang made him realize that many people in the city were probably looking for him, the "mysterious spirit pattern master." It wasn't a good time to sell these two spirit weapons at Jinyutang.

But Lin Xun believed that if Jinyutang could sell a Flame Spirit Sword for 300 silver coins, they wouldn't stop there. Eventually, Gu Yanping would come to find him.

However, the information gathered by Diao Fatso the day before made Lin Xun realize that his situation was not optimistic.

Whether it was dealing with the threat from the Wu Clan or guarding against possible retaliation from Lian Fei, Lin Xun had to take action.

Last night, Lin Xun thought for a long time and decided to seize every available resource to enhance his strength!

During breakfast, Lin Xun shared his thoughts with Xia Zhi: "We can't just sit and wait to be killed. We need to make some preparations and take action in advance."

Xia Zhi listened silently.

Lin Xun pondered and said, "This time, the Wu Clan wants to use Lian Fei to deal with me, mainly to avoid provoking the Stone Cauldron Hall. But now you know that the Stone Cauldron Hall won't help us anymore, so we can only rely on ourselves."

Xia Zhi looked up and corrected him seriously, "You've already said this before. Just tell me what to do."

Lin Xun was taken aback and felt embarrassed, "Did I really say that?"

Xia Zhi nodded.

Lin Xun said, "Alright, my plan is for us to take the initiative, find an opportunity, and eliminate Lian Fei and his men in one go."

Xia Zhi asked, "Then what?"

Lin Xun's black eyes filled with deep thought, "Once Lian Fei is dead, we can see the Wu Clan's attitude. If they are determined to deal with us, we will have to go into hiding."

Xia Zhi frowned, "Hide?"

Lin Xun nodded, "Yes, they probably already know where we live, which is very dangerous."

He paused and continued, "The Wu Clan is a powerful family with over a thousand guards and is deeply rooted in this city. To be their enemy, we can only use tactics like assassination and ambush. When the enemy is in the open and we are hidden, as long as we don't get caught, we can keep them on their toes."

After a moment, Lin Xun added, "But this tactic is very dangerous. If we get surrounded or our trail is exposed, we will have to fight to the death."

Xia Zhi thought for a moment and said, "If it's an ambush, I can kill a Spirit Gang Realm early-stage cultivator at most."

Lin Xun was immediately surprised. This was the first time Xia Zhi had revealed her true combat strength, and what surprised him even more was that Xia Zhi had the power to kill a Spirit Gang Realm early-stage cultivator!

Spirit Gang Realm!

That was a truly "extraordinary" existence in the eyes of the world!

Reaching that stage, one could absorb and harness the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth at any time, and the "spiritual energy pool" within the body could be opened, making the combat strength far beyond what a True Martial Realm cultivator could match.

There was a saying in the world that only by reaching the Spirit Gang Realm could one truly be considered to have entered the path of cultivation, not only transcending the limits of human strength but also undergoing a complete transformation in lifespan, soul, and the entire body.

The nine levels of the True Martial Realm were merely the foundation for stepping onto the path of cultivation in the eyes of true cultivators.

And Xia Zhi claimed that she had the confidence to kill a Spirit Gang Realm early-stage cultivator, even if it required an ambush. This was already astonishing enough.

A little girl of five or six years old, who could believe that her combat strength had reached such a level?

After a long time, Lin Xun calmed his shock and said, "That's even better."

Xia Zhi frowned, "Is it really that good? Give me three months to hone my skills, and I can kill a Spirit Gang Realm early-stage cultivator in a direct confrontation."

Lin Xun: "..."

He thought that his rapid progression from the second level of the True Martial Realm to the fifth level in just half a year was already incredibly fast.

Who would have thought that Xia Zhi was even more impressive!

This girl, he really didn't know what to say about her…

Lin Xun rubbed his brow and said, "We don't have that much time. The worst-case scenario is that if we are truly cornered, we will leave this Donglin City and find a chance to come back later."

Xia Zhi looked up and said seriously, "But I don't like hiding or running away."

Lin Xun shrugged, "That's the worst-case scenario, and the chances of it happening are small."

As he spoke, a rhythmic knocking sound came from the door.

Xia Zhi seemed to know who it was and continued eating.

Soon, the courtyard gate was pushed open, and Diao Fatso and Ma Gan'er walked in, each carrying a large box.

"Salute to the Shuangmu Gang leader!"

Seeing that Lin Xun was also there, Diao Fatso and Ma Gan'er were surprised, but they quickly put on a fawning smile and bowed.

Lin Xun's lips twitched slightly, realizing that he couldn't avoid this unpleasant nickname…

"Put the things over there, and you can leave," Xia Zhi said casually.

Diao Fatso and Ma Gan'er nodded quickly, placed the two boxes in the corner, and respectfully left.

"What is this?" Lin Xun asked.

Xia Zhi stood up and said, "Last night, I led a group to eliminate another criminal gang. This is the loot."

She opened one of the wooden boxes, which contained about five hundred shiny silver coins.

Xia Zhi glanced at it and opened the other box, which contained various bottles and jars of valuable spirit medicines.

Lin Xun walked over and, seeing the box of silver coins and the box of spirit medicines, couldn't help but say, "This loot is really too rich, isn't it?"

Xia Zhi said casually, "Those criminal gangs have been operating in this civilian area for many years, often robbing and extorting others. Do you think they would lack money? This is just a part of the loot. Most of it has already been distributed to the other members of the Shuangmu Gang."

Shuangmu Gang!

Hearing this, Lin Xun couldn't help but feel helpless, "So, the Shuangmu Gang has become a criminal gang now?"

Xia Zhi nodded and added, "This civilian area is full of filth, with all kinds of people. The underground forces can't be completely eradicated, but under my constraints, the Shuangmu Gang no longer engages in petty theft or murder and robbery."

Lin Xun was surprised, "That's like taking away their means of survival. Would they agree?"

Xia Zhi said, "They have agreed because I led them to annex the territories of other gangs, giving them unimaginable benefits."

Lin Xun was speechless and didn't ask any more questions.

"These spirit medicines are specifically chosen to benefit the cultivation of the fifth level of the True Martial Realm," Xia Zhi said. "And this box of five hundred silver coins can meet our daily needs. You won't have to spend so much effort making spirit weapons to earn money anymore."

With that, she turned and went back into the house, ready to sleep again.

Lin Xun felt a mix of emotions. War and plunder were indeed one of the most effective ways to acquire wealth!

In just two days, Xia Zhi had eliminated two major criminal gangs in the civilian area, obtaining seven hundred silver coins and a pile of spirit medicines. Compared to this, the profit from selling spirit weapons was negligible.

However, Lin Xun would not give up on making spirit weapons. Plundering and annexing territories were temporary and too dangerous, and the loot was tainted with blood.

Making spirit weapons, on the other hand, not only provided a steady stream of wealth but also honed his skills in spirit patterns!

From that day on, Lin Xun no longer went out, using the daytime to practice spirit patterns, make spirit weapons, refine his cultivation, temper his divine soul, and train in martial arts…

At the same time, every three days, he would enter the "Spirit Pattern Battle Realm—Thousand Waves of the Sea" to challenge it. Although he still failed each time, he could clearly feel the improvement in his physical strength.

As for Xia Zhi, the little girl slept during the day and disappeared at night, returning every other day with rich loot, either silver coins or spirit medicines useful for Lin Xun's cultivation.

If it weren't for the trouble with the Wu Clan, Lin Xun might have even enjoyed this rare peaceful life.

Unfortunately, life was never destined to remain peaceful forever.

On a night ten days later, a targeted assassination attempt quietly approached…

——

PS: I will release 10 chapters tomorrow. Brothers and sisters, are your monthly votes ready? It's the last day of the month, and the outcome of the monthly vote ranking depends on it. The first chapter will be released at 10 AM tomorrow!