Chapter 70: Superior Spiritual Artifact

No one knew how much time had passed.

It wasn’t until the stars leapt into the night sky that Lin Cheng finally loosened his embrace of the two women.

“I’m leaving now. Tell Uncle An and the others that I won’t be saying goodbye to each of them,” he said softly. He never cared for farewells.

“Come back soon…” The two women’s beautiful faces shone beneath the moonlight. Lin Cheng kissed them each on the forehead, then turned and waved.

“When I return, I’ll take you both to meet my parents…”

Suppressing the ache of parting in his heart, the Azure Wind Sword soared into the sky, transforming into a brilliant arc of light that vanished into the night.

Only the faint echoes of the women’s voices lingered between heaven and earth.

“We’ll wait for you…”

Lin Cheng was gone.

He had left almost all his spirit stones with the two women, keeping only a thousand fire-attributed stones for himself.

The night wind was cool, but could not dispel the sorrow of separation in Lin Cheng’s heart.

He glanced back one last time. With a faint smile, he withdrew his gaze, accelerated, and sliced through the sky.

——

At the break of dawn, a pale glow touched the horizon.

By a wide river, Lin Cheng was bent over, washing up. Stirring the cool water, he caught sight of his reflection and, with a touch of vanity, stroked his face.

How could someone be this handsome?

He brushed aside the elegant slanting bangs from his forehead and was about to turn away when, unexpectedly, he saw two swift horses bursting from the forest on the opposite bank. The riders, too, immediately noticed Lin Cheng by the water’s edge.

Seeing the broad river blocking their way, the two men spurred their mounts, leaping across several dozen yards to land before Lin Cheng.

Lin Cheng’s eyebrow arched.

One was at the twelfth level of True Qi Mastery, the other was already at the early Spirit Realm.

Judging by their bloodstained, battered appearance, they were clearly fleeing from enemies.

“Brother, we mean no harm. We’re being hunted…” one said.

“We beg you to lend us your aid…” The two spoke as they presented a storage pouch to Lin Cheng.

In such a remote, uninhabited expanse, Lin Cheng’s presence could only mean he was a cultivator.

Their brothers had laid down their lives for this narrow chance at escape; now, at the end of their rope, they had no choice but to clutch at any hope.

Lin Cheng glanced inside the pouch—five thousand spirit stones.

He pushed it back to them. “I’d rather not get involved in others’ affairs. My cultivation is too low to be of help…”

As he spoke, Lin Cheng released the aura of a True Qi Master.

The message was clear: even with your Spirit Realm cultivation you’re only running for your lives—what could a mere True Qi Master do?

Their hope faded; clasping their fists in respectful farewell, the two men dashed off into the forest.

Lin Cheng hesitated, but ultimately decided not to intervene.

He was just preparing to leave when a beast’s cry echoed from above.

Looking up, he saw a colossal griffin plummeting toward him.

——

Lin Cheng braced himself for battle.

The griffin landed on the open ground ahead. An old man and a youth leapt down from its back.

“Have you seen two burly men pass through here?” the youth demanded.

Lin Cheng sensed their auras, his eyes narrowing. The youth was nothing special, but the old man was a formidable Heaven Spirit Realm expert.

He didn’t fear them, but neither did he wish to court trouble.

Shaking his head, Lin Cheng replied, “I’ve only just arrived. I haven’t seen anyone pass by.”

A cold gleam flashed in the youth’s eyes; he clearly didn’t believe Lin Cheng.

The old man swept his gaze around, then fixed his eyes on a spot in the forest.

“Kill him,” the old man said flatly, turning to walk into the woods.

“You dare deceive me? Courting death…” the youth sneered, readying his sword to strike Lin Cheng down.

Just then, a voice called out from the woods.

“This has nothing to do with the young man. You’re here for the Mountain Coil Manual, aren’t you? I’ll give it to you…”

The two fugitives leapt from the forest, resolutely facing their pursuers.

The old man’s gaze was indifferent, as if these people weren’t worth his attention. The youth, however, laughed coldly. “You think handing over the manual will spare your lives? Naive.”

The two men exchanged a glance, determination flashing in their eyes.

One, named Pang Tong, looked apologetically at Lin Cheng. “We’ve dragged you into this, brother. I’m sorry…”

Lin Cheng nodded inwardly at their courage.

But the youth had lost patience. With a flick of his sword, he slashed at Lin Cheng.

Seeing Lin Cheng unmoving, the youth assumed he was paralyzed with fear and sneered.

“Brother…” Pang Tong hastily formed a hand seal, attacking the youth.

The old man snorted coldly, sweeping his sleeve and sending Pang Tong and his companion flying.

They could only watch helplessly as the sword struck Lin Cheng.

But then—

Something strange happened.

The youth’s sword passed clean through Lin Cheng’s body, leaving him unharmed.

What—

The youth froze, then slashed at Lin Cheng again.

Each time, the blade passed through Lin Cheng as if he were made of air; nothing could harm him.

The old man’s brow furrowed as he scrutinized Lin Cheng.

“Impossible… you…”

“Why can’t I hurt you?” the youth stammered.

Lin Cheng spread his hands. “Isn’t living better than dying?”

“What?” The youth was puzzled.

Lin Cheng nearly shouted—how did such a fool reach the twelfth level of True Qi Mastery?

——

Humiliated by Lin Cheng, the youth fumed and looked to the old man for help.

Sensing something odd, the old man grew serious, forming a seal and summoning his life-bound spirit weapon.

A superior-grade spirit tool!

Lin Cheng eyed the jade ruler in the old man’s hand with surprise.

“Draw a prison upon the earth,” the old man intoned, tapping the ruler toward Lin Cheng.

Before Lin Cheng could react, a green barrier enveloped the space around him.

He tried several times, but couldn’t break through.

Looking up, Lin Cheng leapt skyward.

Bang!

He crashed into an invisible wall, pain shooting through him.

Seeing Lin Cheng trapped, the old man relaxed. He turned, ready to finish off Pang Tong and his companion.

But then—

A dragon’s roar split the air.

Gales arose, the river surged, and a water tornado formed around Lin Cheng.

The wind whipped at everyone’s hair and clothing, forcing them to shield their eyes.

Crack!

A sound rang out—the spell had been broken. The old man’s heart quivered, his face turning pale.

Before he could react, a white azure dragon erupted from the water tornado.

Riding the storm, it charged straight for the old man.

The draconic pressure was overwhelming—could this be a true dragon?

The old man’s eye twitched. His jade ruler expanded in the wind as he chanted, “Saint’s Decree!”

A spectral, white-bearded elder wielding a measuring staff manifested before him. Though somewhat insubstantial, the ten-yard-tall figure radiated awe-inspiring majesty, compelling reverence.

But transformed into a dragon, Lin Cheng was unaffected. He charged forward.

The dragon’s roar shook the heavens!

Today, Lin Cheng found that his Azure Dragon Emerges from the Water technique, empowered by the water tornado, was at least twice as strong.

He felt invincible.

He could finish his opponent in one blow!

Boom!

The dragon’s head struck the towering projection—

In a single breath, the white-bearded elder’s apparition was utterly obliterated.