Chapter 384: Leaving Successfully

As the effects of the Soul Restoring Pill faded, Lin Dong observed through his internal vision that half of his empty dantian had been filled with spiritual energy. His gaze then shifted to another Hundred-Winged Bird that the others were struggling to resist.

Drawing out the Golden Leaf Sword, Lin Dong glanced down at the Hundred-Winged Bird at his feet. Spiritual energy flowed from his legs into its body. Confirming that it was only severely injured and unconscious, he suddenly raised his head and declared loudly, “Within twenty meters of this Hundred-Winged Bird, anyone who dares to approach will be killed without mercy!”

His domineering and unyielding voice brought no objections—no one dared to resist.

“If you stay silent, I’ll take it as consent. Remember my words.”

Lin Dong bent his legs slightly and shot forward abruptly. The Golden Leaf Sword in his hand, glowing with golden light, pierced toward a bloodstain on the bird’s throat.

With a fierce wind driven by anger, he focused entirely on attacking the Hundred-Winged Bird amidst the crowd. The bird sensed the danger and flapped its wings to dodge.

Lin Dong smiled indifferently, his gaze sharpening instantly. The next moment, the bird froze, allowing the Golden Leaf Sword to pierce its throat.

*Choo…*

Blood mist sprayed from the bird’s neck. Lin Dong tapped his toes lightly and flew back several meters.

Finally, the bird noticed its companion, who was severely injured and unconscious, and felt a surge of urgency. Ignoring the blood flowing from its neck, it flapped its wings, abandoned the crowd, and flew toward its companion. It reached out with its claws to grab it, ready to take off—only for a flash of golden light to slash at its claws.

*Hiss!* A bloodstain appeared instantly on the bird’s right claw. The pain forced it to release its companion. Several meters away, Lin Dong stood alone with his sword, calm as ever.

*Choo…*

The enraged bird flapped its wings violently, its long beak lowered, and charged at Lin Dong at full speed.

Lin Dong neither dodged nor avoided. He raised the Golden Leaf Sword high above his head. Under the gazes of over seven hundred terrified people, he suddenly swung it like a greatsword downward at the bird.

*Boom!*

A thunderous explosion rang out, accompanied by fierce winds that made the earth tremble. Both man and bird were sent flying twenty or thirty meters back.

The difference was that Lin Dong quickly stood back up. Meanwhile, the Hundred-Winged Bird, fifty meters away, flapped its wings helplessly on the grass, unable to fly again.

Gasps of shock filled the air. The way people looked at Lin Dong had changed from awe to deep fear.

There was only one strong man in Lingnan City—Ji Zhenghong, whom many had seen with their own eyes. But the only one who could inspire such fear in everyone was Lin Dong!

“I want this Hundred-Winged Bird.” Lin Dong grabbed the bird’s right leg, channeling spiritual energy into his palm to lift its massive body. He then scanned the crowd with his gaze. “As for the other one, I won’t get involved. Whoever gets it depends on their skills. If its vital points are damaged and it can’t gather itself into a cluster like before, spending half an hour and costing 180 lives should be enough to exhaust it. Those who don’t want to get involved can leave or stay—since the Hundred-Winged Bird is seriously injured, if unimpeded, it will likely fly away rather than fight to the death with you.”

After a pause, Lin Dong’s tone took on a hint of murderous intent. “As for those who want the Hundred-Winged Bird in my hands, if you’re not afraid of death, come and chase after me.”

No one dared respond. In fact, everyone averted their eyes from Lin Dong, fearing he might change his mind and regard anyone who dared look at him as an enemy.

Glancing in the direction of the small woods to confirm that Niu Hong and the others were not there, Lin Dong channeled spiritual energy into his legs and soared into the air, heading straight for Lingnan City.

After just over a mile, he spotted the three of them from afar.

Increasing his speed slightly, Lin Dong reached behind them.

“Don’t resist. I’ll take you with me!”

With a warning, he released spiritual energy to control their bodies. Holding the Hundred-Winged Bird in one hand while controlling the three with the other, he pushed them forward at full speed.

Realizing their bodies were out of control, the three were shocked. Hearing Lin Dong’s voice, they turned around simultaneously, their faces filled with joy.

“Brother Lin, are you okay?”

“If I were hurt, how could I have chased after you?” Lin Dong laughed.

“That’s true. Brother Lin, your strength is incredible!” Hua Wuqian said admiringly. “Hunting down a seventh-tier spiritual bird alone—definitely, you’re the strongest in Lingnan City. No, actually… in the entire Lingnan Prefecture.”

“Lingnan City might just make it. The whole prefecture…” Lin Dong replied leisurely, “If a hundred people can make it in, that’s already good.”

“That includes the sects. Their sect masters don’t just wander around casually—they don’t count,” Hua Wuqian shook his head.

“How can they not count?” Lin Dong couldn’t help but laugh.

“Brother Lin, don’t you have a storage spiritual ring? How are you carrying the Hundred-Winged Bird?” Liang Ru asked curiously. “If anyone’s on the road, it’s too easy to be spotted.”

“The storage spirit ring can only hold inanimate objects. This Hundred-Wing Bird isn’t dead yet. I’m not taking it in exchange for reward silver; I plan to tame it as a mount,” Lin Dong explained before tilting his body slightly and leading the three of them toward the grassy area by the official road. Liang Ru’s words reminded him that if anyone on the road saw this scene, although they wouldn’t understand what was going on and didn’t know Niu Hong and the others, it would still be highly noticeable. If word got out, it was possible that those who participated in the hunt for the Hundred-Wing Bird today might hear about it and investigate Niu Hong and the others.

As they walked and talked, despite carrying a Hundred-Wing Bird and Niu Hong and the others, Lin Dong’s speed remained astonishingly fast, and they reached the south of the city before sunset.

They found a hidden area among the rocks outside the city. After setting down the Hundred-Wing Bird, Lin Dong clapped his hands and said, “To avoid drawing attention, I need to climb over the wall and enter the city at night. You three go back first. Whenever you want to eat well, you can come to Lin’s Inn at any time.”

Hua Wuqian and Liang Ru nodded. Before they could turn around, Niu Hong suddenly knelt down on a pile of rocks.

This situation stunned Hua Wuqian and Liang Ru, and it left Lin Dong equally confused.

“Niu Hong, what’s wrong?”

“Big Brother Lin, would you consider taking us as your disciples?” Niu Hong pleaded, “I’ve heard that age eight or nine is the best time to start learning martial arts. Although we’ve missed that window and our talents might not be great, I promise we’ll be more diligent than anyone else.”

“Take disciples?” Lin Dong was stunned, feeling a sense of absurdity. Ever since he began cultivating, he had never thought about taking disciples. Not to mention having to train hard every day to join the Heaven Sword Sect as soon as possible—even in the past, he was afraid he couldn’t teach Tian Hao, his found son, well, so much less teach several disciples.

Over the years, Lin Dong felt much more mature. But he still lacked confidence in disciplining others. Moreover, he didn’t have the time or interest for it.

With another thud, Hua Wuqian and Liang Ru also knelt down.

“Big Brother Lin, please take us as your disciples?” Seeing Lin Dong’s surprise, Hua Wuqian explained, “Although my dantian has shrunk and I can no longer cultivate, disciples don’t necessarily have to learn martial arts. I can learn how to run an inn from Big Brother Lin.”

“Blocked meridians?” Lin Dong frowned slightly. He had thought Hua Wuqian’s inability to cultivate was due to abysmal talent, meaning too many impurities in his meridians. He never expected it to be caused by a shrunk dantian.

With a wave of his right hand, Hua Wuqian’s body flew up and was caught by Lin Dong.

Spirit energy flowed into Hua Wuqian’s meridians through his palms. There weren’t many impurities inside, and with normal cultivation, although it wasn’t yet enough to meet the sect’s standard of admitting disciples who reached the Spirit Mobility stage before the age of 20, it was not far off. The spirit energy moved unimpeded through Hua Wuqian’s meridians before stopping at the meridian junctions. Compared to ordinary people, Hua Wuqian’s dantian was only one-twentieth to one-third the size, with extremely thick inner walls. With such a small capacity and thick walls, even at the first level of the Spirit Mobility stage, it was impossible to advance to the second level. “Brother Lin…” Seeing Lin Dong’s increasingly serious expression, Hua Wuqian grew anxious. “Has anyone tried using strong spirit energy or spiritual medicines to expand the dantian?” Lin Dong asked. Hua Wuqian nodded gloomily. “Everyone has tried. But after a few days, as the spirit energy gradually leaks out, the dantian shrinks again.” “What’s the level of their strength and the spiritual medicines used?” Lin Dong pressed further. “The strongest person who used spirit energy to expand the dantian was the eldest elder of the Qingshan Sect, a sect allied with our Hua family. He was at the second level of the Heart Reversal stage, and the spiritual medicine was of the fifth level,” Hua Wuqian explained. Lin Dong released his palms. He was powerless to expand the dantian with spirit energy. Spiritual medicines—like the Spirit Restoring Pill—were useful, but they were only fifth-level pills. However, if he couldn’t do it, there might be others who could. Old Ding was a peak-level warrior, and Yun Lan was a seventh-level alchemist; perhaps they had a solution. “If I have time, I’ll help you find someone to try. But don’t hold too many hopes—it’s just a trial.” “Thank you, Brother Lin!” Hua Wuqian was overjoyed and nodded eagerly. For him, even a sliver of hope was a tremendous joy. “Brother Lin, then we…” Niu Hong hesitated. “Forget it. I’m not interested, nor do I have the confidence to teach disciples. More importantly…” Lin Dong said firmly, “I must cultivate for eleven out of twelve hours a day. The remaining hour is spent dealing with the inn’s business and matters like today’s. I simply don’t have any free time at all.” Niu Hong and Hua Wuqian’s expressions darkened, but Liang Ru asked, “Brother Lin, are you cultivating so hard because of something?” “Mm!” Lin Dong nodded but didn’t explain why. “Then we can wait until Brother Lin finishes his matters before asking to become his disciples,” Niu Hong and the others said, their hopes reignited. “That won’t work either!” Lin Dong shook his head again. If he succeeded in forcing marriage into the Tianjian Sect, he’d be busy enjoying life and having children—still no time. After that, he’d have to learn how to teach, still no time.

Although it was possible to squeeze out some time if necessary, Lin Dong felt that there was no need to waste it by taking in apprentices. He intended to train Niu Hong and the others; if they were loyal enough and had decent talent, Lin Dong wanted to make them team leaders in the guard team, second only to Wang Liuze and the other five. But this was completely different from taking in apprentices.
“Why?” Niu Hong asked urgently.
Lin Dong shook his head. “The reason is inconvenient to explain. If you really want to learn martial arts, there are two options: one is I can introduce you to a sect, and the other is I’ll give you basic advanced spiritual techniques to learn on your own, provided you’re loyal enough and join Lin’s Inn as guards.”
Niu Hong and the others hesitated, unable to say anything further as Lin Dong’s expression remained firm.