Chapter Sixty-Three: Got You

I, Lin Yi, have always been truly pure and have never told a lie! I only had one relationship in high school, with Murong Yueyao. And even then, all I did was hold her hand—I never once did anything else. A person as innocent as myself now just wants to keep a low profile and focus on cultivation. With all these demons and monsters out there, why do all you beautiful young ladies keep crowding around me? Aren’t you all just disturbing my inner peace?

Lin Yi let out a helpless sigh.

“Ah, the road of life is filled with temptation. Yet I remain unmoved, crying out that lust is but emptiness, and emptiness is but lust.”

...

Zheng Guoqiang, who was just about to walk over with three middle-aged men, witnessed Lin Yi’s demeanor and heard his words. They couldn’t help but give him silent praise in their hearts.

Look at this, isn’t Master Lin Yi’s worldview just impeccable?

One of the middle-aged men clicked his tongue in admiration. “It has to be you, Brother Lin Yi—no, Master Lin Yi. I was wrong before. I even suspected you were a bit slow, but now we understand: you are truly a master. To remain unmoved by the allure of beautiful women—if my son had even a fraction of your character, I’d be burning incense in thanks.”

“That’s right, that’s right, brother, you’re amazing. Just now those people called Zhang Qiang a disciple of the Starry Sect, but he’s nothing! If you hadn’t stepped in, he’d be dead. And his master—some so-called Grandmaster Jin—was just a greedy fraud! I swear, I’ll never let anyone I know join the Starry Sect. A bunch of snakes and rats, nothing but posturing.”

...

The crowd around them began to snap out of their daze, each returning to their senses. Some who had been so frightened by Jin Huishan earlier that they’d fallen to the ground now stood awkwardly, dusted themselves off, and quickly got up, their faces dark and muttering curses at Jin Huishan.

Seeing Zheng Guoqiang and the others close to Lin Yi gather around him, the rest quickly followed, all eager to heap flattery upon him.

Lin Yi simply smiled it all away.

However, as he finished dissipating and hiding away all the energy from the “Great Hollow Scripture,” Lin Yi glanced at the energy meter.

This concerned his true strength—just how far had he come?

When he looked closely, Lin Yi realized just how powerful he’d become!

“9999”

The energy level had maxed out! It was no less than Jin Huishan’s—it was just a step away from reaching the realm of a Grandmaster, the energy of a true powerhouse!

Lin Yi felt as if the streetlights around him shone even brighter, turning night into day. His spirits soared; everything suddenly became clear and bright. Even the frustration from Jin Huishan’s escape was swept away!

This reading meant Lin Yi was now infinitely close to the level of a Grandmaster.

In his view, having practiced soul projection through the mermaid demon, he’d managed to attempt an “out-of-body Yin spirit.” In fact, being able to control one’s energy to perfection, as in Yin spirit projection, was a true sign of mastery—one many Grandmasters never reached.

Most Grandmasters, when it came down to it, could only manipulate surrounding energies for some simple mimicry—blending their own energy with the environment, shaping it into forms like an energy hand.

But Lin Yi’s soul projection set him apart even among Grandmasters.

He was a true variable.

Naturally, people like Daozi Zhang Ruofeng, who belonged to the spiritualist sect and practiced all sorts of soul techniques, would also have the ability to project their Yin spirit.

Lin Yi’s achievements were entirely thanks to the marvelous powers granted by practicing the “Great Hollow Scripture” and developing three dantians. On top of that, he’d gained even more energy by reaping the benefits as the ghost soldiers crossed over, making his “Great Hollow Scripture” energy even richer and more condensed.

He really wanted to test what would happen if he unleashed the full force of the “Great Hollow Scripture”—what kind of results would a punch or kick yield? But, surrounded by so many people, he could only hold back.

Still, he couldn’t help but imagine: when the “Great Hollow Scripture” reached its most powerful, heavenly level, and he became a top-tier master, each punch or kick would be imbued with such pure, righteous energy it could burn mountains or boil seas. The thought made his heart race with excitement.

His face flushed, making those around him believe their flattery was working.

They intensified their compliments, thinking it a blessing to have a chance to flatter such a figure as Lin Yi.

Some glanced around at the toppled coffins nearby, fear making them even more convinced that only Lin Yi could save them today. Their words of praise became ever more fervent.

On the scene, the flattery was like a tidal wave.

Basking in this satisfaction, Lin Yi suddenly remembered something: thanks to Jin Huishan, he hadn’t managed to completely eradicate the ominous energy cluster, so he hadn’t received the reward from the “Godslayer Manual.”

And since he hadn’t wiped out all the dark energy clusters, the “Godslayer Manual” had revealed no new information about their origins.

Lin Yi’s resentment toward Jin Huishan soared—plus one, plus one, plus one… all the way to +10086!

Clap, clap, clap, clap—

At that moment, Lin Yi sensed the “Godslayer Manual” seemed ready to turn a page, but it hadn’t quite flipped—restless, as if agitated.

Then, a feeling washed over him, compelling him to walk toward the artificial lake.

What was at the artificial lake? Earlier, the ghost soldiers had passed through, and all those shadows had gathered there, shrouded in ominous mist, but now it looked utterly empty.

If the “Godslayer Manual” wanted him to go, there must be a reason.

After exchanging a few words with the crowd, Lin Yi walked toward the artificial lake.

As he approached, Lin Yi was startled!

His good mood vanished, replaced by waves of anxiety and shock.

Just as he reached the lake, a face formed on its surface.

All the broken lotus plants and other vegetation, along with plastic bags and various trash, spun together in the middle of the lake, forming a human face.

Lin Yi had forgotten one detail earlier. Because he’d been so focused on reaping benefits, he hadn’t taken out his official badge—otherwise, the matter with the Tiger Talisman would be hard to explain, and it would clash with the humble persona he wanted to maintain.

He’d planned to use it during his confrontation with Jin Huishan, just in case, but after Jin Huishan fled, the thought slipped his mind.

Now, Lin Yi desperately wanted to take out his badge and record everything before him.

He needed a powerful backer—his own organization, the Bureau of Paranormal Investigation!

With Elder An Yingxiong and Master Mu Tian as his patrons, with Director Lin Tianming at the Bureau, and even Butcher Zhang of the Demon Prison behind him, why not make use of them?

Otherwise, today’s events left Lin Yi utterly exasperated.

An old nemesis had arrived!

Without a backer, being targeted by this enemy would be truly troublesome.

Lin Yi knew that face all too well—it was precisely why he wanted to call in support. The face was unmistakably that of the River God of the Ling Tian River.

At this moment, the face was mostly composed of plants, appearing as a huge, green visage with a smiling expression. The eyes, woven from white plastic bags and other debris, radiated an eerie glow.

“Caught you… I know who you are now…”

Whoooosh—

A fierce wind howled, waves churned, and suddenly, a thick mist swept out, forming a barrier that completely isolated Lin Yi from everyone else.

The waves crashed and surged. The water level, which had been two steps below the bank, suddenly rose to ground level in an instant.

Clap, clap, clap, clap—

The “Godslayer Manual” had already activated, displaying information about the River God of the Ling Tian River once more:

“Water Clone of the River God of the Ling Tian River: The River God, a giant python turned spirit, accidentally consumed a Flood Dragon Pill, greatly enhancing his powers. He proclaimed himself River God and wields the River God’s Seal, passed down from the previous River God, allowing him to control part of the river’s waters. Due to a demon seed within, he currently cannot activate the seal. Cultivation: 1,762 years. Human lives taken: 13,607. An evil god who must be slain! This is his water clone.”

Once again, it stated this was merely a water clone.

That cunning, sinister god had tracked him down again—truly a relentless specter! Lin Yi had left Qinghe in haste just to avoid him, yet even here at Caizi Jiayuan’s artificial lake, the old fiend could manifest a water clone.

It was as if anywhere within the river’s domain belonged to him.

Lin Yi’s mind raced as he hurried to pin on his badge. Then he reconsidered—this was a good opportunity to test himself.

Last time, the River God’s water clone escaped, and he hadn’t managed to reap any benefits. This time, it was still just a water clone—there shouldn’t be any real danger.

If he could take it down, he could offset the fact that he hadn’t eradicated the previous cluster of ominous energy.

Thinking this, Lin Yi’s anxiety subsided a little.

After all, he was now nearly at Grandmaster level, with a legitimate organization at his back and so many powerful allies. What was there to fear?

All he needed was a clever plan—a way to outwit this sinister River God and show him that opposing Lin Yi would get him nowhere.

His gaze sharpened as he surveyed the surroundings, noticing that the mist had cut him off from the world.

Outside the mist, Zheng Guoqiang, the three middle-aged men, and the rest were trembling with fear, desperate to escape.

It seemed they couldn’t even see the mist or Lin Yi himself, while he could see them.

Some were already running for their lives, pale as death.