Chapter 75: Chapter 58: Forbidden Technique

Although the increase in strength and speed wasn’t much, the improvement in understanding and utilizing the cultivation technique, as well as the enhancement in combat awareness, was quite evident.

Just now, he couldn’t help but unleash the power of the Refining Internal Realm, which was how he managed to push back Lin Zheyu.

“Continue sparring with me, and this time, don’t use the Golden Swan Skill. Just focus purely on honing your saber skills,” Han Mo said.

“Alright, but Senior Brother, please go easy on me,”

Lin Zheyu replied with a smile, raising his saber and charging again.

In the earlier fight, if it weren’t for relying on the Golden Swan Skill to maneuver back and forth, he would have been quickly defeated.

Now, without using the Golden Swan Skill, the test was solely on saber skills.

Han Mo, though claiming to be merely sparring with him, actually intended to guide Lin Zheyu on refining his saber skills. Just now, from Lin Zheyu’s saber technique, he noticed many areas that could be improved.

Clang clang clang

In the arena, the crisp sound of weapon clashes resounded once more.

This time, the contest was purely in saber skills, and Lin Zheyu quickly fell into a disadvantage.

Han Mo didn’t defeat him in a single strike but used his own expertise in saber skills to guide Lin Zheyu, occasionally pointing out his shortcomings.

…

As evening fell, Songyi City, the Xing Family.

The servants at Xing Jinglong’s residence all showed signs of anxiety on their faces.

“Still no news of the young master?”

The steward asked nervously, looking at the returning servants.

Young Master Xing Jinglong had rushed out in the morning, saying he had something important to attend to, but he still hadn’t returned.

Even Master Zhao Wude and Master Qiao Spring, who went out with him, were nowhere to be seen.

“No, not even those few members from the Wuding Gang, nor the ten elite city guards that set out with them, have returned,” the servant shook his head and replied.

“Damn it!”

“Let’s go find Young Master Jing’an, we have no choice but to report this,” the steward gritted his teeth and said.

After dark, it was even more dangerous outside the city. Even if the young master had simply lost track of time, with Master Zhao Wude there, he would have been reminded.

The steward hurried out, heading to the Xing Family Martial Arts Arena.

Young Master Xing Jing’an had impressive martial talent, reaching the Peak of Refining Internal Realm before the age of thirty. After a few years of training with the city guards, he hoped to break through to the Qi Blood Realm.

He was a martial arts enthusiast and spent most of his time in the Xing Family Martial Arts Arena, practicing when not busy with work-related matters.

The steward entered the arena and saw Xing Jing’an immersed in his training.

In the past, he wouldn’t dare to disturb him, but now, since it concerned the safety of Young Master Jinglong, he had no choice but to interrupt.

He stepped forward and respectfully said, “Young Master Jing’an, there’s trouble. Young Master Jinglong went out with Master Zhao Wude and Master Qiao Spring this morning and hasn’t returned since.”

“Hmm?”

Xing Jing’an stopped, feeling somewhat displeased at being interrupted.

However, upon hearing that his younger brother Xing Jinglong might be in trouble, he couldn’t help but furrow his brow, “Where did Jinglong go, and what was he attending to?”

“Reporting, Young Master, according to what the Wuding Gang reported, Lin Zheyu from the Feihong Gang left the city. He had some past grievances with the young master, who, upon learning this, took people and pursued him.”

“Up until now, the young master hasn’t returned, and there have been no reports,” the steward said.

“Lin Zheyu?”

Xing Jing’an frowned, vaguely remembering the name.

According to Xing Jinglong and Cousin Xing Penghai, the youth, in less than three months, advanced from a complete beginner to the Bone Forging Realm.

His talent and comprehension were impressive, and his potential was astonishing. They thought of capturing him to use secret techniques to unleash his potential and groom him into a death warrior.

Xing Jinglong probably went out for this purpose.

“Has Lin Zheyu returned?” asked Xing Jing’an.

“No, not yet.”

“Something’s not right. Logically, with Zhao Wude and Qiao Spring going out, they should have easily captured him by now.”

Xing Jing’an’s expression grew serious, and he hurriedly put on his cloak and rushed out.

Gallop!

He mounted his horse and headed straight for the city gates.

The moon faintly shone.

The cold wind howled.

In the mountains at night, the roar of beasts echoed continuously.

A group of thirty soldiers, mounted on horseback, brandishing torches, galloped towards the mountains.

Gallop

Gallop, gallop!

The soldiers urged their horses, pushing straight into the forest.

Zhao Wude was a cautious person who liked to leave a backup in everything he did. If it weren’t for Lin Zheyu’s unexpectedly formidable strength, he wouldn’t have been defeated so quickly.

Upon leaving the city, he habitually left markers with a peculiar scent along the way, which could linger in the wild for two days.

This could be used for tracking and leaving marks, with a wide range of uses.

Whoosh——

The lead man pulled the reins and halted in front of a bush.

This is the place where Lin Zheyu originally disposed of the bodies.

There are no corpses anymore, only bloodstains and tattered armor and clothing scattered everywhere.

“Bastard!”

Xing Penghai cursed angrily as he looked at the bloodstains and torn clothing on the ground.

Standing silently beside him, Xing Jing’an quietly observed the shredded clothing on the ground, unable to discern whose it was.

“What do you think about this?” Xing Jing’an’s face was calm, but a trace of ruthlessness flickered deep in his eyes.

Xing Penghai shook his head, his face extremely somber: “It might be the work of our enemies. They retaliated because we acted too conspicuously.”

“Hmm, that’s certainly possible.”

Xing Jing’an nodded: “Let’s report it to Uncle when we return and let him decide.”

“Xing Ling, pass down the orders for the city’s spies to report the movements of each major power today, and keep a close watch on that guy from the Feihong Gang to see if he’s dead.”

“If he returns, report to me immediately,” Xing Penghai instructed.

“Yes, Young Master.”

…

Near Lion Valley, at the military camp.

Lin Zheyu and Han Mo sat in front of the bonfire, roasting some game.

“Senior Brother, have you ever seen a living corpse?”

“On the way here, I heard people saying that living corpses have appeared on Beast Roar Mountain, and many people have died.” Lin Zheyu asked.

“Living corpses have appeared again on Beast Roar Mountain?”

Han Mo asked, surprised, clearly unaware of this news.

“Yes, I heard it appeared recently. Senior Brother, do you know much about living corpses? Could you explain it to me?” Lin Zheyu inquired curiously.

“There’s nothing to hide.”

“Living corpses are just a common term; they have another name: demonic creatures!” Han Mo said as he took a sip of tea.

Demonic creatures!?

Lin Zheyu was stunned upon hearing this. So, these are demonic creatures?

Liang Song had mentioned demonic creatures before, but he hadn’t connected living corpses to demonic creatures.

“Yes, living corpses are a type of demonic creature too.”

“These people practiced some kind of forbidden technique in life, were eroded by the yin-sha force, and fell into a state of suspended death.”

“After being buried in areas rich with yin-sha energy and set up with special arrays, they emerge from this suspended death after decades or even centuries, achieving a state resembling immortality.”

“They become like demonic creatures, losing their self due to practicing forbidden techniques, turning into bloodthirsty, brutal, and mindless monsters that only know how to kill.”

Han Mo explained, as a Centurion in the city guard, he had some understanding of demonic creatures.

“Forbidden technique?”

“Is it a secret technique for immortal cultivation?”

Lin Zheyu curiously asked, catching the key points in Han Mo’s words.

Liang Song had mentioned that some people, in their quest for immortality through cultivations, ended up turning into demons themselves.

“Immortality? There’s no such thing as immortality.”

Han Mo shook his head: “The so-called longevity secret techniques, in the end, only turn oneself into unhuman monstrosities or demonic creatures.”

“I don’t know the specifics either; this is what I’ve heard from the seniors.”

“Back when I was just a soldier, I had the chance to go out with the seniors to eliminate a demonic creature, or what you call a living corpse—it took a great deal of effort to succeed.”

“These monsters have impenetrable skin, immune to swords and spears; the intense killing aura from a military formation has a suppressive effect on these demonic creatures.”

“Should you encounter demonic creatures in the future or hear about them appearing somewhere, don’t be curious and go watch; run away immediately.”

“Demonic creatures can’t be matched by Martial Artists below the Qi Blood Realm, and even those in the Qi Blood Realm who haven’t reached the Qi Blood Three Transformations can barely protect themselves.”

Han Mo stated with a heavy expression.

During the fight with the demonic creature, he was just a lowly soldier, an unremarkable part of the formation, providing only Essence, Qi, and Spirit along with killing intent.

The battle left a very deep impression on him.

“Mm.” Zheyu nodded.

Crackle~

Snap—

The bonfire crackled as the branches snapped, and the roasting meat on top sizzled with hot oil, its tempting aroma filling the air.

“Senior Brother, will you be able to return home before the New Year?”

Lin Zheyu asked as he took a bite of the delicious roasted meat.

“I’ll head back in a couple of days.” Han Mo replied.

The day after tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, just in time to go back for the reunion dinner.

He looked at Lin Zheyu and said, “Why don’t you come to my house for the reunion dinner, too? The more, the merrier—it’ll feel like the New Year.”

Han Mo knew that Lin Zheyu had no family in Songyi City and would probably feel quite lonely during the New Year.

“Sure.”

Lin Zheyu nodded in agreement.

…

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