I Slay Gods and Demons in the Deceit Night
Chapter 233 - 169: The Pure Land Has Disappeared?

Chapter 233: Chapter 169: The Pure Land Has Disappeared?

At Linjiang Station, there was silence at the moment.

Lin Yan personally poured tea and offered it respectfully.

"When did it happen?" Han Commander suddenly opened his mouth and asked in a muffled voice.

"Before General Pei’s misfortune." Lin Yan replied in a low voice.

"So at that time, you were at the Qi Refining Realm when you went to Dayin River?"

"Indeed, General Pei had substantial cultivation, and his misfortune at the Dayin River was known to involve a serpent turning into a flood dragon, a matter of considerable depth." Lin Yan said with a smile, "If I didn’t have the abilities of the Qi Refinement Realm..."

"You would have gone all the same," Han Commander sneered.

"That’s true," Lin Yan said. "But I would have made ample preparations... after all, I’m not a reckless man."

"You’re not a reckless man?" Han Commander nearly spit out his tea, promptly set down his cup, composed himself, and then said, "During the incident at Jinliu Manor, you were at the peak of the Refining Essence Realm?"

"Exactly," replied Lin Yan.

"Why did you pretend to be only at the initial stage of the Refining Essence Realm?" Han Commander asked, dissatisfied.

"This..." Lin Yan’s expression twitched, unsure of how to answer.

"No need to answer."

Han Commander evidently also remembered their conversation from that day.

Was it not that this young man pretended to be newly entered into the Refining Essence Realm?

Did I assume it myself, convinced he was at the Refining Essence Realm?

Did I even encourage him back then?

His gaze towards Lin Yan was tinged with a peculiar feeling.

After a long pause, he asked, "How many streams of true energy now?"

He thought to himself that this time he needed to ask more specifically, right down to the progress of the true energy, to completely avoid any misunderstanding!

"Eleven streams!" Lin Yan replied.

"..." Han Commander, sensing the pitiable strand of true energy within his brow’s ancestral orifice, did not respond.

"According to the ’Three Origin Qi Absorption Five Elements Refining Treasure Record,’ the first nine streams of true energy must be refined from one’s own essence," Lin Yan stated after a pause. "This will reduce the risk of losing control in the future and lower the chances of hidden dangers erupting..."

"Of course, I know. In High Willow City nowadays, all the old ancestors of the various families, despite being old and frail, have not lost control. It’s because they enjoyed all the resources of High Willow City when they were young and were supported by Qifeng Prefecture City, allowing them to refine their essence and convert it to energy more than nine times."

Having said that, Han Commander exhaled and added, "Human potential is finite. Although I am in my prime, I could at best go through the process of essence refining and energy conversion six times..."

Lin Yan reached into his chest and took out a box, pushing it forward.

"What’s this?" Han Commander asked with a frown.

"Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade can supplement your foundation, at least to the point where the true energy in your brow’s ancestral orifice is complete," Lin Yan answered.

"No, you have entered the Qi Refining Realm too and need this even more. How can I allow your progress to be hindered because of me?" Han Commander waved his hand, and the box returned to Lin Yan.

"I have already refined eleven streams," Lin Yan said aloud.

"The more you refine essence into energy, the better," Han Commander said, shaking his head slightly. "Ingesting ’foreign energy’ from the outside world will inevitably affect oneself in the future... The true energy cultivated completely by oneself is the purest, allowing one to advance further and ensure one’s safety."

"With my current reputation and my recent accomplishments, the Observatory from the Qifeng Prefecture will certainly focus on cultivating me... even the City Guard Mansion from High Willow City has sent gifts," Lin Yan said calmly. "I’m not lacking these things."

"..." Han Commander shook his head slightly but did not speak.

"Since I joined the Observatory, you have given me considerable mentorship, I ought to show my gratitude," Lin Yan said with a smile.

"I did not mentor you with any expectation of reward," Han Commander stated.

"Mainly, I don’t want to see the day when your foundation is unstable, and you completely lose control, needing me to personally send you on your way," Lin Yan paused and then spoke slowly.

"..." Han Commander fell into silence.

"The battle today was never going to happen. You showed up to flex your muscles, wasn’t it just to tell the world that there’s a powerful Qi Refining Realm figure backing me?" Lin Yan pointed to the Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade and said, "My support should be stable."

"How much more do you have?" Han Commander took the box and suddenly asked.

"Enough to use," Lin Yan replied.

"How much?" Han Commander’s tone suddenly grew heavier.

"Seven more days’ worth," Lin Yan said.

"After seven days, I can give you another seven days’ worth of cultivation materials, even if it’s not Phoenix Blood Ancient Jade, it will be treasures of equal value," Han Commander nodded.

"Oh?" Lin Yan expressed surprise.

"Don’t ask too much!" Han Commander said slowly. "These reserves were originally prepared for after you entered the Qi Refining Realm."

"Keep them for your own use," Lin Yan said solemnly upon hearing this.

"Nine essence refining transformations are enough for me," Han Commander stated. "In this lifetime, even at the end, I will at most reach the level of the present Commander..."

"When he reached the Qi Refining Realm, Qifeng Prefecture was just starting to stabilize. Reliant on his own foundation, he completed the essence refining transformation six times."

"It led to the current situation where he has ingested too much ’foreign energy’ from the outside world and cannot suppress it, leading to a risk of losing control."

"I had nine transformations; I can keep it under control."

No sooner had he said this than Han Commander stood up and added, "In the next two days, the Commander will ascertain the attitudes of the various forces in the inner city towards you... In addition, there will be an incident outside the city; it’s best you don’t get involved..."

Lin Yan paused, then pondered and said, "The incident outside the city, isn’t that the destruction of the Pure Land?"

Han Commander waved his hand and said, "That’s only the beginning, not the end."

Lin Yan frowned and said, "About this matter, it seems Mr. Lu doesn’t completely understand the situation either..."

Upon hearing this, Han Commander spoke slowly, "Mr. Lu is not a temple priest of Wutong Temple anymore, some things he’s not aware of not because he doesn’t know, but because his current status doesn’t allow him to know too much or to interfere excessively."

"Then how do you know about it?"

"At least I am one of the elder General Flag Envoys of the Observatory, with enough seniority."

"Have you forgotten I’ve also been promoted to General Flag Envoy and even serve as the Inspection Envoy for the new city?"

"Your seniority isn’t sufficient..."

"I want to hear the truth." Lin Yan said gravely.

"..." Han Commander remained silent for a moment before answering, "It was what Xu Dingye said, conveying the intentions of the Li Shen Sect."

"The Li Shen Sect gave you a warning?" Lin Yan asked with a slight frown.

"He just wanted to finish me off with his own hands, which is why he let me survive this calamity," Han Commander said with self-mockery.

"What sort of enmity do you have with him? With his status, he’s been fixated on you for so many years, even fearing that you might die out there?" Lin Yan’s brows furrowed even tighter.

"No enmity," Han Commander replied.

"Touch the scar on your head and say that again," Lin Yan exhaled and continued, "Earlier, it was the handiwork of Li Shen Sect that prevented your Refining Essence Realm cultivation from smoothing out this scar... Now, it’s because you intentionally kept this scar after you advanced to the Qi Refining Realm!"

"I’m leaving."

Han Commander did not say more and headed outside: "Li Shen Sect has always been arrogant, unwilling to stoop to bully the weak himself."

"After his disciple Xu Dingye was defeated by you, at most they will send their top chief disciple."

"You don’t have to worry too much about Li Shen Sect himself."

"Focus on your cultivation, I’ll be going first."

——

In the hall, Lin Yan’s face was a mixture of emotions.

He finally exhaled heavily.

Standing up, he let out the Little White Ape.

"Master?"

"Leave the city under the guise of a junior flagbearer and find Venerate Huai for me."

"Do you think Venerate Huai knows about this?"

"Before Venerate Huai fled, its original location was very close to one of the small Pure Lands that was destroyed," Lin Yan said gravely, "Its escape was very odd..."

"Not odd at all. I heard from Lv Tang that when you, sir, were about to pay respects to Venerate Huai, you scared it away. Trees die when moved... Venerate Huai was fleeing for its life," the Little White Ape whispered.

"Nonsense!" Lin Yan retorted, "I have always been kind to others. I knew something was fishy when Venerate Huai ran away... However, how did this old tree know that there would be a calamity at that Pure Land later on?"

"Shall I go ask?" the Little White Ape whispered, "It seems Venerate Huai has fled somewhere beyond Jinliu Manor’s vicinity, I don’t know where it went. I’ll fly up and search for its foster child."

"Go."

Lin Yan nodded.

He then prepared to return to the backyard, just happening to pass by the stable.

The young lady from the Zhou Family, carrying a bucket of feed mixed with fresh grass, poured it into the trough.

All the other horses stretched their heads into the trough, gobbling up the food.

Only the Jiao Linma showed a vague disdain in its eyes, standing proudly without eating for quite a while.

"Horse master, have a bite?" The Zhou family’s young lady scooped a spoonful, stood on tiptoes with effort, and held it out to the Jiao Linma’s mouth.

The Jiao Linma snorted, tossed its head, and directly flipped over the spoon.

The young lady let out a cry of alarm, quickly scooped up the feed from the ground, and returned it to the bucket.

In her eyes, the additives in this feed here were already more luxurious than the daily meals of many poor people.

She bit her lip slightly, lifted her head, and said, "Chief Clerk Yang has already filed a report upstairs, and soon more premium feed and medicinal supplements will be transported here. Please eat a little to fill your stomach in the meantime?"

The Jiao Linma raised its head slightly, as if it heard nothing.

"What’s going on?"

At that moment, Lin Yan walked over.

"Master..."

The young lady wiped her hands on her clothes, hurriedly greeted him, and said, "Chief Clerk Yang said that your Jiao Linma is a rare breed of treasure steed, which in the past must have been accustomed to being fed with premium feed, not this coarse stuff..."

Lin Yan looked at the Jiao Linma and suddenly asked, "Did you say a request was filed with the Outer South Bureau for premium feed? How much silver is it each month?"

The young lady thought for a moment and said, "I think it’s twelve Silver Taels."

"Twelve Silver Taels, enough to support several families," Lin Yan said, gesturing with his hand as he stepped forward and slowly added, "Legend has it that Jiao Linma carry a thin lineage of dragon blood. Although you haven’t turned into a demon, you should possess some wisdom, smarter than the average beast..."

At this point, Lin Yan sighed, "The Linjiang Station can hardly afford you."

The Jiao Linma held its head up high, very proud indeed.

"I’m sorry you’ve been hungry for two days, you seem to have lost weight,"

Lin Yan turned his head and said, "Tell the kitchen, today we’re eating horse meat, while the steed is still plump..."

The Jiao Linma’s entire body froze as if struck by lightning.

"Ah?" exclaimed the young lady, "Chief Clerk Yang said that it is a precious steed, extremely rare in this world, invaluable..."

"It was just found, like finding a dead horse. Everyone can share some meat and improve their meals," Lin Yan said reflectively, "Martial Artist training consumes a lot, and all the junior flagbearers under my command can use a tonic! They’ve been truly exhausted lately, they deserve some reward..."

Before his voice fell, the Jiao Linma suddenly stepped forward, thrust its head into the trough, and began to eat frantically.

It seemed to find the food extremely delicious, shoving the other horses aside and gobbling voraciously.

"..."

The Zhou family’s young lady was dumbfounded.

Lin Yan remained expressionless and said, "It seems it can still eat this after all, no worries... If it refuses to eat later, don’t starve it. While it’s still plump, inform the kitchen."

The Jiao Linma trembled all over, eating even more eagerly.

Lin Yan gave it a long look, then turned away.

But before he could return to his quarters, Chief Clerk Yang came running over.

"Master, there’s trouble outside the city,"

"What happened?"

"The Pure Land has disappeared."

"The Pure Land?" Lin Yan pondered, "The destroyed Pure Land?"

"It was destroyed, but the Pure Land itself was still in that location. But now... it’s gone."

Chief Clerk Yang extended two pieces of paper, panting, "These are messages from the city defense, and the other is from the Observatory Tower..."