For others, the amount of Qi they could absorb was a crucial matter.
After all, it determined whether one could use more powerful Immortal Techniques in Magical Combat, and how many times they could be used.
But for Lin Shu, this was even more important.
If others used up their Spiritual Power, they could just replenish it. But if he ran out, his life would be over. Naturally, the more he could store, the better.
’No matter how you look at it, I’ve finally taken care of a major problem.’
Lin Shu slowly opened his eyes, filled with emotion.
’Looks like my luck isn’t half bad.’
A single wisp of Spiritual Power was equivalent to thirty percent of his previous White Wolf Fog.
Now he had ten wisps, and could replenish what he used through breathing exercises.
He finally didn’t have to be so frugal anymore.
Even if he used the Gloomy Moon Bone Splitting Hand at full power, he could probably manage it seven or eight times.
It might not sound like much.
But one had to remember, the Gloomy Moon Hand was a Sixth-Grade Immortal Technique, part of the Middle Third Grade, and was meant to be used by Mid-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators.
No wonder using it just once had nearly cost him his life.
Lin Shu toyed with a Sin Coin, looking down at his chest.
A strange glint flashed in his eyes.
’This White Wolf phantom... it seems rather extraordinary.’
’Something as profound as Merit and Sin Coins couldn’t even directly form the Cyan Bird Immortal Body, only trading for an Inner Technique.’
’Yet the White Wolf phantom had taken root inside his predecessor’s mortal body.’
’Coupled with the fact that his heart was carved out, it was as if someone had left a cozy nest for it.’
Lin Shu refused to believe this wasn’t all deliberately arranged by someone.
But he wasn’t in a hurry.
He now had a way to extend his life, and time was on his side. Sooner or later, he’d figure things out, find a way to restore his heart, and solve this problem for good.
"I’ve got plenty of Spiritual Power now. It’s time to see what you can do."
Perhaps because the Cyan Bird was such a rip-off, even this wolf cub was starting to look handsome to Lin Shu.
A full twenty Merit Coins had only gotten him a Qi Cultivation Eighth-grade Immortal Skill, and only to the Minor Success stage at that.
But this little cub swallowed eight Sin Coins and spat out a Sixth-Grade Immortal Technique, not just at Minor Success, but even with a new name to boot.
Look at the difference!
Lin Shu grabbed a handful of Sin Coins and decisively pressed them down.
As expected, it didn’t disappoint him.
The White Wolf phantom was as generous as ever.
After just five Sin Coins, the Gloomy Moon Bone Splitting Hand broke through to Great Success. Once it had digested the tenth Sin Coin, a second notification popped up.
[Qi Cultivation Sixth Grade. Gloomy Moon Bone Splitting Hand: Perfection]
The process was smooth from start to finish, without the slightest pause.
It went so smoothly that Lin Shu was stunned for a moment. But soon, that familiar sense of agitation surged into his mind.
It came on ferociously, making it difficult to resist.
The corner of Lin Shu’s eye twitched. His once clear eyes were now gradually being overrun by bloodshot veins.
He thrust his palm forward. A SSS of Black Mist ignited at his fingertips, then spread at a visible speed, coiling around his forearm like a venomous snake.
An eerie glow emanated from within it, threatening to tear apart everything in front of him.
Compared to when he slaughtered those disciples from the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall, its power had more than doubled!
"Retract!"
Lin Shu gritted his teeth, the veins on his forearm bulging.
He curled his fingers one by one, clenching his hand into a fist and snuffing out the Black Mist between his fingers.
Such a subtle movement, yet it caused his forehead to be beaded with sweat.
The White Wolf phantom was still devouring the Sin Coins.
Its originally snow-white fur was visibly turning a dull gray. The body beneath the fur seemed to have grown much stronger, and as its muscles rippled, it began to emit waves of a baleful aura!
Fortunately, the Gloomy Moon Bone Splitting Hand didn’t continue to advance.
After it reached Perfection, and after swallowing another eight or nine Sin Coins, the White Wolf phantom actually spat out a second Immortal Technique.
[Qi Cultivation Seventh Grade. Moonlight Pupil Technique: entry-level]
It still had that same unstoppable momentum, far surpassing the gradual improvement brought by the Merit Coins.
Of the twenty-nine Sin Coins, only the last ten remained, and they were also instantly consumed.
In exchange, this Seventh Grade Immortal Technique broke through three stages in a row!
[Qi Cultivation Seventh Grade. Moonlight Pupil Technique: Great Success]
Lin Shu hadn’t even had time to process what kind of Magic Technique this was before his mind was overwhelmed by a sudden, vast influx of information!
He gasped heavily.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he panted for breath.
He collapsed back into his chair as if completely exhausted. The agitation he had just managed to suppress reared its head once more!
Just then, the clear chirp of a bird sounded by Lin Shu’s ear.
The next moment, his Spiritual Power emanated waves of warmth that surged toward his mind.
"You son of a bitch... are you trying to kill me?"
Lin Shu’s tense nerves finally relaxed. He sat up a little straighter, staring with a complicated expression at the slumbering White Wolf phantom in his chest.
From the recent incident, he suddenly realized something.
The new Magic Technique was also given a ’Moonlight’ name, which meant it was part of the same system as the previous Claw Technique.
’But that agitation was born from the Gloomy Moon Bone Splitting Hand. That technique might not have originally come from the White Wolf.’
’In other words, the generous one might not be the White Wolf... but the Sin Coins.’
Lin Shu was silent for a long time, then smiled with a sigh.
’That makes sense.’
After all, killing is easy while doing good is hard. It’s much simpler to be a villain than a hero. The same principle should apply to Immortal Techniques.
Although he was somewhat wary of the inexplicable agitation he’d just felt...
...Lin Shu had no intention of giving up on the rapid progress afforded by the Sin Coins for now.
To put it bluntly, in a place like Black Water City, if he hadn’t had the help of this Evil Technique today, how could he have earned so many Merit Coins back?
With that thought, he slowly stood up, pushed open the door, and called out irritably:
"It’s been all night! Where’s the bathwater you were heating up? Did it all boil away?"
Downstairs, the girls exchanged glances, none daring to speak. They could only sneak glances at the grim-faced, twin-sabered guard standing stock-still at the top of the stairs.
Old Yang shot up from the floor with a start, sheepishly scratching his bedhead. "I’ll do it, I’ll do it! I’ll go heat it up right now!"
He hobbled off, jogging toward the backyard.
Once he was out of sight...
...Old Yang recalled Lin Shu’s strong, resonant voice. A wide grin split his face, revealing a set of yellowed teeth, and he chuckled foolishly as he tossed aside the kitchen knife in his hand.
’So last night was just my imagination.’
’That’s great!’
「Dusk.」
「West City, Hongyun Martial Arts Hall.」
What should have been the liveliest place on the street was completely deserted today.
Inside the main hall, the calligraphy reading "Uphold the weak and vanquish the strong" still hung on the wall.
But only a few people remained in the hall.
It was said that a Martial Arts Hall had money, power, and people—all three. In reality, their wealth and influence couldn’t compare to the true gentry.
While they had many people, most were just students who paid to learn their craft.
Those like Qin Yunhai and Zhao Peng, who were willing to kill for the Martial Arts Hall, were the result of years of careful grooming and nurturing by Zhang Zhongping.
They were, in the end, a very small minority.
After nine mangled, unrecognizable corpses were delivered to the hall by the constables, most of the disciples made excuses to leave, planning to return only after the trouble blew over.
The gruesome deaths of their senior brothers was one reason.
Another reason was... now that the secret killings had been exposed for all to see and discuss, it meant that the Hongyun Martial Arts Hall had thoroughly offended the Black Water Gang.
Master Fox... he was a "Master" too!
Zhang Zhongping sat in a daze beneath the calligraphy. His gaze drifted, refusing to fall downward.
Because on the floor, not far from his feet...
...was the neatly placed, unblinking head of Qin Yunhai, his face frozen in terror.
His most trusted disciples were all dead, and in the center of the room lay the coffin of his only son.
In just one night, the Grand Martial Artist seemed to have aged more than ten years.
He couldn’t understand. His son was just a bit too playful, so why did he have to meet such a cruel fate, taking a whole group of his beloved disciples with him?
To use such brutal methods over a minor conflict...
’Black Water Gang, what oppressive might you wield!’
"Well now, what’s all this?"
A mocking voice drifted in as a portly figure slowly stepped into the Martial Arts Hall.
"Are you here to laugh at my expense?" Zhang Zhongping glanced over coldly, staring at Tian Jingyuan with resentment welling up in his eyes.
’I spent so much silver, only to get false information in return.’
’Some mud-legged nobody from an opera troupe? Look at all these shredded corpses! The man is clearly a Cultivator!’
"I know you’re blaming me in your heart."
Tian Jingyuan walked over to the table and sat down without being asked. He was still picking at his nails, a faint smile on his face. "I was chatting with a few people in the hall today and happened to hear a piece of very good news for you."
"A piece of good news... about that old fox."

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