The Decaying World

Chapter 191: Chapter 181: Infiltration (Part 1)

「November 9th.」

After several days of acclimation, Lin Hui had gained a deeper understanding of the Star Breath Sword Manual. He also had a rough idea of how Typhoon Swordsmanship had been progressively refined into the Star Breath Sword Manual.

The process was incredibly complex. It left him with the frustrating feeling of having grasped it, yet being unable to recall any of the specifics.

Perhaps inspired by the swordsmanship journey of the disciple Tao Xuehai, combined with the spiritual insights from the Star Breath Sword Manual, Lin Hui broke through his Typhoon Swordsmanship again less than a week after returning to Qingfeng Temple, reaching Fifth-Grade Body Tempering.

Around the same time, Qingfeng Temple was fortunate enough to acquire a newly harvested batch of Yun Lingzhi through trade.

Since several of their channels were all trying to acquire potency-boosting Treasure Medicines, Qingfeng Temple would immediately pay a hefty price for any new ones that appeared on the market, purchasing them to be delivered to Lin Hui’s residence.

This was one of the benefits of having an organization. Without one, he could neither afford the millions of coins in monthly expenses for his medicinal regimen, nor could he guarantee such easy access to the latest and greatest Treasure Medicines.

Without anyone to assist him, Lin Hui would have to go to the Inner City to buy the medicine himself. And without a network of connections, there was no guarantee anyone would even be willing to sell to him.

That was why he always paid close attention to maintaining Qingfeng Temple’s peripheral industries and businesses. The expedition team had also set out again after a new batch of members was selected.

This time, they stuck to their established route, so the entire journey was relatively safe with very few casualties.

This was typical for most expedition teams. Some teams suffered heavy casualties simply because the great clans set high quotas for their hauls. Sometimes, they would just throw in cannon fodder and expendable members, completely unconcerned with their survival.

"In that regard, we at Qingfeng Temple are different." In the courtyard of the residence behind Qingfeng Temple, Wang Hongshi was earnestly reporting the latest developments to Lin Hui.

"We provide every member of the expedition team with the best possible preparations and comprehensive protection. Our primary goal is to train our members; acquiring resources is secondary. That’s why our casualties are so low."

Lin Hui nodded slightly as he listened.

"More and more people have been coming to redeem the Perfect Clear Wind Sword and the Secret Technique lately. It seems everyone is making significant progress."

"Yes. In the past year alone, three more inner court disciples have broken through to the Inner Power Realm. Our Qingfeng Temple now has a double-digit number of Inner Power Martial Artists in total. On that note, Observatory Master, the Perfect Clear Wind Sword you created is far more effective at helping one break through to Inner Strength than any previous swordsmanship," Wang Hongshi replied quickly, his eyes filled with admiration.

"What about other areas? I heard from Chen Sui’s report that the recent accounts show a slight decline. What happened?" Lin Hui was the one spending the money, so he always knew exactly how much came in each month. Since his income had dipped slightly in the last two months, he decided to ask.

"Here’s the situation. The Government Office has recently been requesting that we dispatch experts to assist with investigations in the outer towns. As you know, they provide no support for this kind of assistance, so we have to cover all the expenses ourselves. This has tied up a portion of our mid-to-high-level members, leading to some inadequacies in the maintenance of our industries," Wang Hongshi explained. "Additionally, there’s another key factor... After your falling out with the Wang Family, our business dealings with some of their industries were severed. A slight drop in revenue is to be expected."

Wang Hongshi looked up at Lin Hui, a hesitant expression on his face, as if he wanted to say something but was holding back.

"Observatory Master, I recently noticed a disciple who joined not long ago. His talent is exceptional... I was hesitant about whether I should mention him to you."

"Just say it," Lin Hui said calmly.

"There’s a disciple who joined two months ago named Xue Yanshuo. His talent for swordsmanship is superb. He’s from the Inner City, but he’s a bit arrogant.

There’s also a female disciple who joined at the same time, Li Yuanyuan. She’s generous and hardworking, the child of immigrants from another city district. Her talent for cultivating Inner Strength is exceptionally high. Both of them joined with prior martial arts training, and their strength is already just shy of our top ten disciples."

"Run a background check on them and their families. Give me the files. I’ll give you an answer in a little while," Lin Hui said.

"Yes."

Wang Hongshi nodded.

"There is one last matter. Our industrial expansion has reached its limit. Our members are stretched thin patrolling our current territory; we can’t cover any more ground. If we wish to continue expanding, we must recruit more disciples. I wonder what your thoughts are on this, Observatory Master?"

"Disciples who have reached the Inner Power Realm will be permitted to establish their own branches and take on their own disciples. The sect can provide them with a fixed monthly stipend. As for the expense... didn’t the Wang Family withdraw from our partnership? We’ll stop giving them their cut and use that money for the stipends," Lin Hui said indifferently.

"But... will severing our partnership with the Wang Family affect our relationship with the Baihua Sect...?"

"It won’t. She wouldn’t dare," Lin Hui said calmly.

Wang Hongshi took his leave, leaving Lin Hui to cultivate his Inner Strength and practice the Illusionary Performance Technique alone.

Before long, the disciple in charge of meals delivered his lunch. After eating, he decided to summon the two individuals Wang Hongshi had mentioned.

The Blood Seal was still evolving, so the next month or so was the perfect time to handle these trivial matters and avoid any future distractions.

Xue Yanshuo and Li Yuanyuan soon arrived at the courtyard of his residence.

One was fifteen, the other seventeen, and both were above average in appearance. Judging by their attire, neither came from a poor family.

As things stood at Qingfeng Temple, it was nearly impossible for someone from an ordinary family to rise so quickly to a rank close to the top ten.

In fact, every year Qingfeng Temple made it a point to accept a number of students from common backgrounds, offering them a substantial reduction in tuition fees. This was to ensure they didn’t miss out on any talented individuals from humble origins.

But a wealthy background still provided an immense advantage in the pursuit of martial arts.

The two quickly entered, crossing the courtyard and bowing with clasped fists toward Lin Hui.

"Greetings, Observatory Master!" they said in unison.

Lin Hui’s gaze swept over Xue Yanshuo. ’Well now... what an appearance, what an air about him. Clad in white that outshone the snow, black hair cascading over his shoulders, a cold and chiseled face, with a sharp, aloof aura.’

’Plus, his hand is always on the hilt of his sword. He has the faint air of a peerless swordsman.’

’No wonder even Wang Hongshi couldn’t resist recommending him.’

After sizing him up, Lin Hui turned his gaze to Li Yuanyuan.

The young woman had a voluptuous figure. Few martial artists were in poor shape, but her natural assets were clearly exceptional. Her curves were pronounced and exquisitely formed, her proportions astonishingly perfect. Yet, this provocative figure was topped by a beautiful face as cold as ice.

Her hand also rested on the hilt of her sword, and her aura was just as cold....

Looking at the two new disciples with their remarkably similar auras, Lin Hui couldn’t help but ask, "You two... are you related?"

"We are not, Observatory Master," Li Yuanyuan replied.

Xue Yanshuo, standing to the side, also nodded.

’Unlike Li Yuanyuan, he was actually quite apprehensive. Ever since receiving the infiltration mission, he had spent a long time wracking his brain before finally coming up with this plan to join Qingfeng Temple under a false identity. The order from his superior was to obtain Qingfeng Temple’s Martial Arts and transcribe them. And he’d succeeded. Within two weeks of joining, he had transcribed a copy of the Perfect Seven-Section Swift Sword and sent it back to the Inner City Government Office. For his efforts, he had even received a secret reward from the Adjudicator. He was also promised that if he could transcribe the subsequent, more important techniques—the Perfect Nine-Section Swift Sword and the Qingfeng Sword... He wasn’t sure why the Adjudicator placed so much importance on Qingfeng Temple’s Martial Arts. From what he had learned, the Martial Arts here were indeed special, but the gap between them and those of the Inner City’s Three Greats or the Government Office was still immense. It didn’t seem significant enough to warrant the personal attention of the Adjudicator, a man whose authority was second only to the Prefect. After all, the Adjudicator was the third most powerful figure in the Government Office—a man who held true authority over all judicial and penal matters outside the Core Area. Of course, it was pointless to dwell on it. A powerful figure of his stature likely operated on a level of thinking he couldn’t even begin to imagine. A small fry like him should just obediently do his job.’

Standing before Lin Hui, Xue Yanshuo brought all of his physiological functions under complete control, ensuring that he wouldn’t betray the slightest flaw.

This was the greatest effect of the Divine Decision he cultivated. If he wished, even at the mere Priest realm, he could easily deploy a cognitive-correction ability similar to that of a High Priest.

Of course, this ability could only be used on himself.

His Divine Decision’s ability was, in essence, cognitive deception.

It allowed him to modify his own perception, implanting a belief that wasn’t too contradictory to his true nature. This made him believe it implicitly, ensuring that no one could detect any deception.

"Wang Hongshi said you two are very talented," Lin Hui’s voice cut in. "I remain skeptical."

"You go first. Demonstrate what you have learned, and let me see for myself."

"Yes!" Xue Yanshuo nodded eagerly.

He took a few steps back, drew his sword, and began to meticulously demonstrate the Perfect Seven-Section Swift Sword he had been practicing.

When he finished the sequence, Lin Hui nodded slightly.

"Your comprehension is excellent, the execution is sound, and all your points of force generation are correct. You’ve maxed out your Body Tempering, I assume?"

"Yes, I’ve just reached the Ninth Grade," Xue Yanshuo confirmed.

"Reaching the Ninth Grade of Body Tempering in just two months is truly extraordinary," Lin Hui remarked with a sigh. "Wang Hongshi suggested I take you both as my personal disciples. However, in my eyes, talent is secondary. What truly matters is whether your hearts belong to Qingfeng Temple. If your loyalty is true, then talent is merely the icing on the cake. If not, then the greater your talent, the greater the potential disaster."

"How would you have us prove ourselves, Observatory Master?" Li Yuanyuan stepped forward resolutely, her voice deep.

"That won’t be necessary. I have a method to discern your true intentions, but it will take some time. Therefore, I cannot accept you as my disciples for now. You will have to wait," Lin Hui said calmly.

Li Yuanyuan’s expression remained calm, but Xue Yanshuo’s heart skipped a beat, and he hastily entered his Divine Decision state.

But in that exact instant, Lin Hui’s gaze swept over him.

Fortunately, under the influence of his Divine Decision, Xue Yanshuo remained perfectly composed, his expression open and honest, revealing no flaw whatsoever.

"Alright. Next, Li Yuanyuan, it’s your turn to demonstrate," Lin Hui said, turning his attention to her.

This one was even more impressive. She had joined with prior training, and after mastering the Seven-Section Quick Sword, she had actually generated Inner Strength while transitioning to the Nine-Section Swift Sword. Because of her Inner Strength, her progress in Body Tempering through the Nine-Section Swift Sword was astonishingly fast. After only two months, she had already reached the Fifth Grade.

Her talent was in no way inferior to Tao Xuehai’s.

Lin Hui observed her carefully, his expression unreadable. Only after she had demonstrated the Nine-Section Swift Sword infused with her Inner Strength did he wave his hand, dismissing them both to await his decision.

Li Yuanyuan’s face was an icy mask as she followed Xue Yanshuo out of the courtyard, but inwardly, she was also on edge. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

As a member of the Shadowhound Race, she was not of the Human Race. She was the princess of a small clan living secretly in the underground ruins of the nearby Fog Area.