In the family, he spent all his ti cultivating his inner strength and Qinggong.
After practicing the Qinggong technique "Soaring Cloud Step" only a dozen tis or so, he gradually mastered the secrets to success. The complex circulation route of the inner qi in his legs was fixed into his body’s instinct through skill, making it even easier to master thereafter.
It took him only four days to enter the first layer of the "Soaring Cloud Step" technique’s third layer. Then he quietly cultivated the second layer.
Huang Shan also explained to him step by step the situation and arrangents for the suppression points, the closest empty suppression point to the Lin Family Manor was less than thirty miles away.
Having the right to choose the location given by his grandmother, Huang Shan suggested that he should select that nearest point for suppression.
He led people to go there first to arrange the formation, coordinate notification, and pull in personnel, among other tasks.
anwhile, Lin Xin focused on his cultivation practice. He spent each day accompanying Xiao Lingling and his family mbers to enjoy the nearby mountains and waters, leading a contented life. The invitations announcing his arranged marriage were also sent out one after another.
Lin Zhiwen also gradually transferred the family’s main authority to Lin Xin, directly giving him the position of villa master.
It can’t exactly be said to be a transfer, as the Lin Family’s current three retainers, as well as many martial artists from Jianghu who ca to seek refuge, including the copper mine on which the family now relied for survival, were all due to the influence of Lin Xin’s position.
The three retainer martial artists also ca specifically for Lin Xin. Otherwise, for them, a small local clan wouldn’t an anything. How could they possibly seek refuge there?
So, it could be said that Lin Xin was currently the foundation of the family. Whether the position of villa master belonged to him or Lin Zhiwen, in essence, everything was still determined by him.
*******************
More than ten days after Huang Shan left,
inside the Green Harmony Garden where Lin Xin and Xiao Lingling lived.
Lin Xin and the old man, Gongsun Li, sat opposite each other, playing chess under a green tree with blossoming flowers in the garden.
Between them, there was a chessboard shaped like a tree stump, with black and white pieces occupying half of the board each, engaged in intense combat.
"The intelligence you wanted, villa master, I’ve managed to clarify," Gongsun Li said, smiling while playing chess. "Although it’s not too detailed, the essential information is clear. After all, who wouldn’t give the villa master so respect in the territory of the music mansion?"
"That’s not quite how it should be said. Le Mansion’s jurisdiction spans hundreds of cities, towns, and villages. With extensive land and nurous people, there are many experts and hermits. I can’t make such claims either," Lin Xin replied with a casual smile.
"You’re being modest, villa master. Since you have the support of the city lord officially, I won’t ntion that. Three great powers standing side by side is the basic structure. Aside from that, there are a few places within the territory of Le Mansion that need attention, or rather, are places villa master might want to pay attention to," Gongsun Li explained, still playing chess.
"Let’s hear them," Lin Xin said.
"There are three things. First, within the territory of Le Mansion there is a lake called Yin Mountain Lake. The lakeside is forever shrouded in mist, beyond the reach of common folk. Legend has it that an extraordinary person lives there, subsisting on fishing. Although people say he’s extraordinary, no one can truly describe his appearance. That’s the first place," Gongsun Li said.
"The second place is within Le Mansion’s territory, too—a mountain called Zhong Mountain. It’s rumored that an Immortal lives in seclusion there. The mountain is shrouded in mist and teeming with wild beasts. From ti to ti, one can faintly hear the chanting of an Immortal. Due to the natural Soul-Confounding Formation there, the stories remain rumors; no one has confird them."
"And the third?"
Lin Xin’s interest was piqued.
"The third place is a malignant land within Le Mansion, where the ground is full of beehive-like holes. Every month on the fifteenth day, purple streams spew out from the holes. This water is highly toxic; even the vapor that evaporates is lethal to any living being that cos close. I was curious once and went to have a look, but before I got within a mile, I saw the purple poison gas spreading afar, causing to feel numb and swollen all over, and I quickly retreated," Gongsun Li said seriously.
"These three places are beyond the control and constraint of Le Mansion,"
Lin Xin placed a chess piece, understanding clearly in his mind.
"Of these three places, both Zhong Mountain and that malignant land are not easily accessible. Only that extraordinary person seems to have no strong intent to harm, which might make it worth visiting," Lin Xin mused.
"Are you suggesting that we should..." Gongsun Li said cautiously, gauging Lin Xin’s expression.
"How far is it from here to Yin Mountain Lake?" Lin Xin asked.
"Approximately a two-day journey. If we hurry, we could arrive in one day. It’s quite close," Gongsun Li replied promptly.
"If you have no other engagents, why not join in visiting this extraordinary person of Yin Mountain," Lin Xin said softly.
"To be able to accompany the villa master is naturally an opportunity I wouldn’t miss," Gongsun Li imdiately smiled, his words carrying a double aning.
Lin Xin chuckled. Slowly picking up a white chess piece, he suddenly flicked his wrist to the right.
Whiz!
The piece flew from his hand, aiming for a small head poking over a distant wall.
With a smack, there ca a cry of "ouch," followed by the sound of two children falling and crying out in pain.
"It’s children from the manor peeking," Gongsun Li laughed. "Ever since the villa master returned, you haven’t shown yourself in front of those little ones. They have been admiring you for quite so ti now. Their curiosity is only natural."
"How many children in the manor formally practice martial arts?" Lin Xin asked casually.
"There are more than twenty children under fifteen, and more than a dozen under eighteen. In accordance with the villa master’s previous intentions, regardless of gender, all can practice martial arts," Gongsun Li explained.
Lin Xin pondered for a mont, then called over a servant.
"Summon the other two retainers," he commanded.
"Yes."
The servant left, and shortly thereafter, two other people, Sanyuan Zen Master and Lu Suo Taoist, pushed the door open and walked in.
"Villa Master, did you call for us?" Lu Suo Taoist was the first to speak.
"What martial arts do the children of the villa learn?" Lin Xin asked casually.
"It’s the Sancai Swordsmanship that I teach, and there’s also the Arhat Fist and Tiger Step taught by the Zen Master," Lu Suo hastily replied. Though he was not good with words, he was still a master who had co to seek refuge with Lin Xin, not without the intention of alliance.
Lin Xin swept a glance at the three with an equivocal smile on his face.
"All three of you are masters of external skills. As far as I know, top masters of external skills possess strength, speed, and agility that are first-rate, not much inferior to the average masters of inner strength. In a real fight, it is often the rich experience of an external master that prevails."
"What we value is the Villa Master’s future. Our current strength is of little significance," Lu Suo’s thoughts were not sharp, and he failed to grasp the deeper aning in Lin Xin’s words. Believing that Lin Xin felt his own strength was too weak to warrant their allegiance, Lu Suo quickly spoke up to offer comfort.
The other two, however, understood the implication.
"Villa Master ans...?" Sanyuan Zen Master inquired calmly.
As soon as Lin Xin had said, "Let see your strength," his body lightly leaped up, jumping more than three ters high, breaking off a branch from the tree above, and diving down to attack the three below.
As the branch wavered and bent, filled with inner qi, it suddenly vibrated and stiffened, transforming into a sharp longsword that shot out white light at three points, each streaking towards the three.
Pine Sunshine Needle!
This fundantal skill of the Pine Forest Swordsmanship was executed by Lin Xin at this mont. With his terrifying talent for mastering skill-based abilities, he had rapidly advanced beyond years of arduous cultivation others needed, to reach heights beyond ordinary imagination.
Add to that the fivefold amplification from the Fifth Layer of the Return to Origin Arts, and this simple Pine Sunshine Needle, upon being filled with inner qi, combined all aspects to double its original power.
As the three points of white light fell, the three masters reacted at the sa ti.
Sanyuan Zen Master threw a straight punch head-on, his skin as tough as old tree bark, fearlessly engaging with his practiced external skills.
Lu Suo Taoist, with a flash of sword light, drew his swift sword. His precise and accurate Pine Noon Sword Skill aid directly at Lin Xin’s wrist beneath the white light. Leveraging the advantage of the sword’s length, he tried to force Lin Xin to change his move.
Gongsun Li chose not to confront the attack directly but lightly leaped back, trying to dodge the sword strike.
Clang! Clang! Hiss!
Three sounds echoed in succession.
Lin Xin discarded the branch and looked at the three masters in the courtyard with a smile on his lips. With his Innate Fifth Layer cultivation and the amplification of his inner qi, the movents and strength of these masters seed like child’s play to him, slow and weak.
It was practically bullying.
On each of their sleeves, a distinctive hole had appeared.
That was the result of the Pine Sunshine Needle piercing through rapidly.
Without any superfluous movent, simply by infusing great inner qi, Lin Xin’s speed and power had caught the three off guard.
Sanyuan Zen Master’s fist was deflected by the branch, Lu Suo Taoist’s sword light was rudely slamd aside, and Gongsun Li, not fast enough to evade, failed to avoid the attack.
In that brief instant, Lin Xin had also made a rough assessnt of the three n’s levels.
The strongest was Sanyuan Zen Master, whose strength and speed were about on par with the Third Layer of Return to Origin. Combined with his rich combat experience, he was far stronger than An Ying’s younger sister had been. Compared to the Sect’s other Third Layer disciples, he was perhaps even stronger.
After him was Lu Suo Taoist, with the power and speed of about the Second Layer of the Minor Return to Origin Arts.
The weakest, Gongsun Li, had his strengths not in combat but in dicine, and with many friends, he had access to a wide network of information. His strength was also around the Second Layer of the Postnatal Minor Return to Origin Arts, weaker than Lu Suo by a notch.
"Villa Master’s martial arts are exquisite. I am impressed!" Gongsun Li was the first to exclaim loudly.
Sanyuan Zen Master, though silent, also looked at Lin Xin with genuine seriousness in his eyes. It was no longer just expectations for potential, but true regard for strength.
Lu Suo Taoist was the only one who didn’t show much change, his gaze at Lin Xin bore only a trace more admiration.
Having cast aside the branch, Lin Xin smiled, knowing that he had fully subdued the three of them. Their allegiance had been easily secured, as they already had the intention to join him.
"I plan to set out for Yin Mountain Lake this afternoon. Gongsun Sir will accompany . What about the Zen Master and the Taoist?"
"We are willing to go together!" The two exchanged a glance and bowed in agreent.
"I will soon establish a new manor, with the surrounding area of the Music Bureau as my jurisdiction. The Sect has granted this territory, so I need to explore and understand every uncharted aspect of the region as much as possible," Lin Xin explained casually. "In the future, I hope the three of you will offer significant support."
When they heard this, the three were stunned at first, then overjoyed, realizing their gamble had paid off, and they all quickly agreed.
The group imdiately started to prepare and tally their forces. Along with Xiao Lingling and more than a dozen skilled followers, they left the Lin Family Manor and headed straight for Yin Mountain Lake. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian) to cast your votes for recomndation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian to read.)
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