Chapter 200: Soul Departure

Chapter 200: Soul Departure

"It's finally over!!"

Jiang Ning turned back for a glance and saw Liu Linmen had reached the spot where he had just been.

But at this moment, he had already fled a mile away.

On a rainy night, a mile away was beyond Liu Linmen's detection.

Jiang Ning gave Liu Linmen a faint glance.

Jiang Ning turned and left again.

After this plan, with the dust settled, he still felt a bit of regret in his heart.

The variable had been killed by him! His greatest secret would remain unknown.

The only thing Jiang Ning felt a bit sorry about was not having enough strength to kill Liu Linmen.

It would inevitably leave some consequences.

He had also taken some measures just now, which was to indiscriminately shoot down that group of people.

This was the best he could do.

As for whether Liu Linmen would discover that tonight's events were his doing, Jiang Ning felt the probability was very low.

The heavy rain could wash away any traces he left behind.

The sky was so dark, one couldn't see their hand in front of their face.

What could Liu Linmen possibly find to discover it was him, unless the Yellow Heaven Sect had means completely unknown to him.

Soon.

Jiang Ning walked out of the area shrouded by the heavy rain and headed towards his home.

On the other side.

After searching fruitlessly, Liu Linmen turned back to the original spot, protecting his subordinates as they hurried towards their residence.

Their footsteps were hurried, silent, and filled with vigilance, keeping a close eye on their surroundings, fearing that in the pitch-black rainy night, an arrow would suddenly shoot out, stirring up waves of energy and breaking the sound barrier.

Thump, thump, thump—

The ground echoed with chaotic footsteps, splashing up sprays of water.

On their way, Liu Linmen took out medicine from his body to treat his injured eyes.

After a long while.

They walked out of the area shrouded by the heavy rain, and the dim moonlight fell on the ground, and only then did Liu Linmen finally heave a sigh of relief.

"This rain is a bit strange!" Liu Linmen turned back for a glance and then looked up at the sky above, speaking with a frown.

This sentence immediately broke the silence that had been maintained.

"Incense Master, are you saying this rain might be man-made?"

Liu Linmen nodded slightly, "With such weather, how could a sudden torrential downpour occur? Moreover, if it were a real heavy rain, how could it not even cover a small county like Luoshui?"

His analysis led to this conclusion.

"This rain is problematic, it must be man-made."

"Hiss—" Hearing Liu Linmen's words, a subordinate sucked in a breath of cold air.

"Sir, the Rain Summoning Technique, this is not a divine art our Sect Master can master. How could such a terrifying existence be in this small county?"

"Moreover, why would such a terrifying existence suddenly attack us?"

"If they attacked us, why did they let us escape?"

Liu Linmen's words made his subordinates suddenly fall into deep thought.

This question had been on his mind all along.

After leaving the Inspection Office, he felt something was amiss.

The rain was too strange, too illogical.

The subsequent events further proved that his intuition was correct.

Indeed, someone had attacked their group, and the attacker was extremely formidable.

In such a pitch-black night, with the heavy rain as cover, the hidden attacker was completely unaffected.

Each arrow was deadly, every arrow broke the sound barrier.

The power contained in any one of those arrows could easily kill a seventh-stage martial artist, and even a typical sixth-stage martial artist, in such an environment, would surely perish under those arrows within a few shots.

Such an expert should not have appeared in such a small place.

After a long contemplation.

Liu Linmen's mind suddenly flashed with the faces of those people he had just seen in the Inspection Office's hall.

"The person who attacked me tonight must be from the Inspection Office, it seems they agreed to my request on the surface but secretly wanted to eliminate me. From now on, I must be more cautious."

"However, the attacker's strength is limited, most likely a sixth-stage martial artist or a seventh-stage peak."

"Is it Cao Rong?"

This thought flashed through Liu Linmen's mind, but he quickly shook his head.

"It can't be Cao Rong! According to what I know, nearly three hundred members of the Cao family are currently imprisoned, and Cao Rong is to be executed soon."

"In such a situation, how could Cao Rong possibly work for the Inspection Office!"

"Moreover, logically speaking, Cao Rong should still be in the military camp in Dongling Prefecture, it's impossible for him to be here."

Thinking of this, Liu Linmen couldn't help but continue pondering.

"Then who could it be?"

In his mind, the silhouettes of the eight people in the hall kept flashing.

"Incense Master, should we report this matter?"

"Yes, we should." Liu Linmen nodded.

Half an hour later.

In an inn.

Liu Linmen ignited the yellow talisman in his hand, and instead of any visible flames, the bottom of the yellow talisman continuously carbonized.

The carbonization process was not fast, slowly spreading upwards.

As a wisp of thin blue smoke rose, it quickly drifted towards the roof.

The roof seemed like an illusion before the smoke, offering no resistance to its ascent.

After a few breaths, the slowly rising blue smoke suddenly transformed, forming a human figure in the void.

Upon seeing this, Liu Linmen's expression immediately turned reverent, as if bowing to a heavenly deity.

He hurriedly reported the night's events to the figure before him.

A moment later, after finishing his report, the figure slowly spoke, "In this world, there are deities watching over every three feet of space."

"I will mark those who were involved in the bloodshed of my sect tonight. When you open the Celestial Eye in the future, you will know who took action."

Hearing these words, Liu Linmen immediately bowed with utmost reverence.

"Thank you, Earth Deity!!!"

The next moment, the figure, formed by the blue smoke, suddenly dissipated.

After a few more breaths, Liu Linmen finally dared to rise slowly.

He had just reported to one of the eight Earth Deities under the Sect Master of the Yellow Heaven Sect.

In the Yellow Heaven Sect, below the Sect Master were the Heaven Deities, and below them were the Earth Deities, who were considered living immortals in this world.

According to sect rumors, such figures, if they lived in ancient times, could attain longevity, roaming freely in the heavens.

Unlike them, ordinary mortals, even those who reached the peak of martial arts, like the Martial Saint, would only live for about a thousand years.

Therefore, even in this era, the Earth Deities under the Heaven Deities possessed profound and unfathomable divine techniques.

Just as the Earth Deity had said, there were deities watching over every three feet of space.

In the eyes of an Earth Deity, they could communicate with ghosts and spirits, and ask the heavens and the earth. By questioning the heavens and the earth, they could know who had taken action against Liu Linmen tonight.

After marking the person, when Liu Linmen opened his Celestial Eye in the future, he would see the mark and know who had attacked him.

However, for Liu Linmen, opening the Celestial Eye was not a simple matter.

It was extremely challenging, and even if he managed to do so, he could only maintain it for a brief moment.

Moreover, each time he used it, he needed several days to recuperate.

At this thought, Liu Linmen muttered to himself, "I must focus on cultivation now. Only when my eyes are fully healed can I open the Celestial Eye."

Meanwhile, back at his residence, Jiang Ning was unaware of the discovery on the other side of Luoshui County.

He had no idea that he had caught the attention of an Earth Deity from the Yellow Heaven Sect.

But upon returning home, he did not relax his vigilance.

Luoshui County today was vastly different from six months ago.

Six months ago, the so-called top experts were only at the Seventh Stage Martial Dao, and there were only a few at the Sixth Stage.

People like Shen Congyun and Lin Qingyi, who rarely showed their true strength.

But now, things were entirely different.

Jiang Ning knew of at least two top experts at the Fifth Stage Martial Dao.

The Governor of the Inspection Office, Hong Minghu, and the Incense Master of the Yellow Heaven Sect, Liu Linmen, were both top experts at the Fifth Stage Inner Fortitude Realm.

Such experts were not ordinary opponents.

Even a swarm of people was no match for them.

Tonight, Jiang Ning had personally experienced the terror of a Fifth Stage Inner Fortitude Realm expert.

Despite having the advantage of terrain and environment, and even with the cover of rain and darkness, his middle-tier martial arts, the Gale Thunder Archery, was completely ineffective against Liu Linmen.

Liu Linmen could easily deflect the so-called supersonic arrows.

Even when Jiang Ning used rainwater as a hidden weapon, suddenly attacking Liu Linmen's eyes, he failed to inflict any real damage.

This was a calculated move, using his most powerful technique, yet he still couldn't genuinely injure Liu Linmen.

In this situation, Jiang Ning dared not linger any longer.

Even his surprise attack had failed, and with Liu Linmen on guard, controlling the Water Godly Power would be useless.

Protected by inner breath, attacks on the body's seven apertures would be ineffective.

Moreover, this move would expose his abilities.

Without absolute certainty of killing Liu Linmen, he didn't want to reveal too much.

The first surprise attack caught Liu Linmen off guard, and he might think it was just a hidden weapon.

But if Jiang Ning tried again, Liu Linmen, not being foolish, would notice the peculiarity of the rainwater.

This would expose too much.

Tonight's battle taught Jiang Ning a lot.

A Fifth Stage Inner Fortitude Realm expert was not someone he could face head-on; it would be a life-threatening encounter.

In this situation, Jiang Ning felt completely insecure.

Liu Linmen, from the mysterious Yellow Heaven Sect, could be a formidable enemy if he found out about tonight's events.

Even if Liu Linmen was cautious due to Jiang Ning's official position and wouldn't dare to act rashly, being targeted by such a powerful expert made Jiang Ning uneasy.

This potential crisis weighed heavily on his mind.

Besides, he hadn't forgotten about Medicine King Valley.

Liu Qingsong was killed by him.

The Leopard Prenatal Transformation Pill was taken by this person.

If Medicine King Valley were to come after him, it would pose a significant threat.

There are indeed several Fifth Rank Experts within Medicine King Valley, according to his knowledge.

Especially the Valley Master, who is renowned as an invincible existence within the Fifth Rank.

He has already reached the level of Inner Breath Like Vortex, with Five Viscera Thunder Sound.

Such a powerful expert, according to his understanding.

Even holding a mere branch, they can transform it into a divine weapon.

Furthermore, they can slay thousands of armored soldiers with a single sword.

Such feats have already been recorded.

With Inner Breath Like Vortex, the sword energy they unleash is said to break through all defenses and crush all obstacles.

Wherever the sword energy passes, both men and horses are sliced in half.

Internal organs and blood cover the ground, forming a river.

This scene has been documented.

This is the terror of Inner Breath Like Vortex.

When Inner Breath is refined to the extreme, even when it dissipates, the speed of dissipation is incredibly slow.

Such experts are far superior to Liu Linmen, whom he faced tonight.

If it were the rumored Fifth Rank Peak, Inner Breath Like Vortex Valley Master of Medicine King Valley, Jiang Ning would turn around and leave without a second thought.

Such a formidable opponent is not to be trifled with.

With these potential enemies, how could Jiang Ning dare to be the slightest bit negligent?

The slightest mistake could mean death.

That night, Jiang Ning continuously tempered his large tendons, improving his Martial Dao realm.

The Martial Dao realm is the foundation of everything.

At 11:00 PM, Jiang Ning suddenly felt the surrounding environment turn cold, and the pond water became bone-chillingly cold.

It was as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Moreover, he heard the sound of cold winds blowing in his ears.

"What's going on?" Jiang Ning abruptly opened his eyes, constantly scanning his surroundings.

In the darkness, he seemed to feel a pair of eyes staring at him, causing his body hair to stand on end, and goosebumps to rise.

Jiang Ning's heart suddenly sank, and he felt something was amiss.

How could he not notice such a change?

Just at that moment.

"Who dares disturb the peace!" A cold voice rang out.

The next moment.

A streak of green light tore through the night sky.

This green light was incredibly fast, like a meteor, rushing straight towards Jiang Ning.

Ah—

Jiang Ning's ears instantly filled with a piercing scream.

As this scream sounded, Jiang Ning felt the surrounding environment return to normal.

The bone-chilling coldness was gone.

The cold winds no longer blew.

Drip—

Jiang Ning snapped back to his senses and saw a green hairpin spinning rapidly in front of him.

The end of the hairpin emitted a bright green light.

"This is..." Jiang Ning widened his eyes.

This made him feel as if he had entered a fantasy world, but he knew he was in a Martial Dao world.

Now, this jade hairpin made him feel as if he had stepped into a world of Immortals and Heroes.

"Little guy, no need to look further! It's me!" Hearing this voice, Jiang Ning immediately spoke up, "Sister Lin!"

This voice belonged to Lin Qingyi.

"Tomorrow, come to my place!" Lin Qingyi's voice echoed in Jiang Ning's ears again.

Hearing these words, Jiang Ning nodded.

The next moment.

The jade hairpin, which had been motionless, suddenly transformed into a streak of light, disappearing from Jiang Ning's sight like a meteor.

The jade hairpin vanished in the direction of Wanhua Tower.

At this moment.

Jiang Ning stared at the direction where the jade hairpin had disappeared, feeling dazed.

His mind was filled with countless questions.

Why did such a sudden change occur?

Whose voice was that agonizing scream that suddenly rang out?

What is this jade hairpin?

Who is Lin Qingyi? How did she possess such mystical abilities?

How did Lin Qingyi discover this sudden change here?

These questions made Jiang Ning feel that his understanding of this world had become somewhat unfamiliar.

Is this still the Martial Dao world?

Such mystical abilities?

After pondering for a moment, Jiang Ning shook his head slightly, temporarily dispelling the miscellaneous thoughts in his mind.

"Tomorrow, I'll go see Lin Qingyi, and most of my doubts should be resolved!"

"Perfect, I need to spend some wealth now, increasing my Essence Energy points to support my memory recovery."

Jiang Ning thought to himself.

Then he turned and headed towards his room.

The night had deepened, and it was time to sleep.

A thousand miles away.

A man with thick eyebrows and large eyes suddenly turned pale, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.

His Phantom Soul was injured, causing him to feel the pain of a torn soul.

"Luoshui County, there's actually such a divine artifact there!" He thought to himself.

Immediately, he sent out a message that his Phantom Soul was injured, and he needed to seclude himself for 300 days to recover, asking to be left undisturbed by any trivial matters.

After sending the message, the man with thick eyebrows and large eyes immediately began his seclusion.

With his Phantom Soul injured, he dared not delay any further.

Such an injury was a thousand times more troublesome than a physical wound.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end