Chapter 229: Chapter 219: Special Attribute True Qi
Zhao Lin looked at the corpses on the ground and asked with concern, "Director, what if the Flame Sect plays dumb and refuses to admit they sent these men?"
"Do you think they’re the only ones with spies in Great Yue? That we have none?"
Yang Lin sneered. "During the last mountain sweep, masked men attacked disciples of the Wuxiang Institute. The investigation already pointed to Weizi, but unfortunately, there wasn’t enough evidence."
"This time, they were audacious enough to commit murder so brazenly, and arrogant enough to use their own sect’s martial artists as assassins, leaving behind irrefutable proof."
"Now, with the ground frozen solid, the bodies are perfectly preserved. They won’t be able to deny it even if they try!"
Zhao Lin pressed his lips together, silently vowing to settle this score with the Flame Sect.
’Even though I can’t destroy the Flame Sect right now, if I ever meet their disciples at the Martial Arts Assembly, I’ll be sure to strike hard and ’repay’ them in full.’
Yang Lin coughed, his gaze falling upon Zhao Lin. "You’ve broken through, haven’t you?" he asked.
"Yes. I broke through just a short while ago. I haven’t had a chance to report to you yet, Director."
Zhao Lin admitted it readily.
"Excellent. Would you mind if I examined your cultivation?"
Yang Lin said, his expression gentle.
"Of course."
Zhao Lin agreed without the slightest hesitation, immediately extending his hand.
Yang Lin extended his index and middle fingers, placing them on Zhao Lin’s wrist. He sent a long, gentle stream of Primordial Qi circulating through the youth’s Ren and Du meridians before it rushed toward the Qi Sea Acupoint.
Zhao Lin’s expression remained unchanged, and he stood perfectly still.
’I could, of course, move the three strands of True Qi—Wind, Ice, and Thunder—out of my Qi Sea and hide them somewhere else. But playing such tricks right under the nose of a Primordial Realm martial artist would be nothing short of asking for humiliation.’
’My background is clean and can withstand any scrutiny. As for the Spirit Beast Scroll, no one can discover it, let alone take it from me. There’s nothing to worry about.’
’Besides, if I were to hide these three types of True Qi, how would I explain defeating five Blood Realm martial artists on my own?’
At first, Yang Lin’s expression was calm, his eyes downcast. But as his Primordial Qi entered the Qi Sea Acupoint, his mouth gradually fell open and his eyes shot wide.
"Wind, Ice, and Thunder! Th-this... Where did all this True Qi come from?"
Zhao Lin said calmly, "I do not know."
’Rather than racking my brain for an excuse, it’s better to just say I don’t know. The best explanation is no explanation at all.’
Yang Lin’s eyebrows shot up, his expression growing solemn. "When did these strands of True Qi first appear?"
’When the Xingyun Sect recruits disciples, we always check what Cultivation Techniques they’ve practiced. When Zhao Lin joined the Wuxiang Institute, Elder Gold Stone and Elder Water Mirror examined him carefully. He definitely didn’t have these strands of True Qi back then.’
Zhao Lin thought for a moment before replying, "During last year’s autumn harvest, I gathered a Yin Candle Lotus. Afterward, for some reason, a strand of cold, yin energy manifested in my body."
"When I broke through to the Blood Realm, two more strands of True Qi appeared. One is light and active, flowing everywhere, while the other is as fast as lightning and difficult to grasp."
"Director, are these two strands of True Qi Wind Attribute and Thunder Attribute?"
"Hssss..."
Yang Lin sucked in a sharp breath as if from a toothache. After a long moment, he slowly nodded. "Correct. Wind, Ice, and Thunder. You’ve gathered all three variant types of True Qi."
Zhao Lin immediately asked, "Director, is this normal?"
The corner of Yang Lin’s mouth twitched. "Of course it’s not normal. But it isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it’s the kind of blessing countless people can only dream of."
"Everyone possesses one of the five elemental attributes, and anyone can cultivate them. But the Wind, Ice, and Thunder attributes are gifts from heaven. Only those with a special constitution are able to cultivate them, and such people are exceedingly rare."
"Do you remember Liu Feiyang of the Li Yang Sect? He was born with a Wind Attribute constitution."
"Most people with such talent show it before the age of fifteen. For it to awaken in someone at nineteen, like you, is exceptionally rare."
"I have practiced martial arts for many years, but someone like you, who possesses three different variant True Qis? I’ve never even heard of such a person, let alone seen one!"
At this, a look of sudden realization dawned on Yang Lin’s face. He clapped his hands together lightly. "No wonder your mastery of the Three Yin Claw and Celestial Frost Fist is so profound! It was because you had Cold Ice True Qi to aid you."
"What about your Wind Attribute and Thunder Attribute True Qi? Are you able to use them?"
Zhao Lin shook his head. "I can circulate the Wind Attribute True Qi, but it doesn’t really obey my commands. The Thunder Attribute True Qi is incredibly violent; I can’t direct it at all."
Yang Lin chuckled. "That makes sense. Variant attributes are distinct from the five elements, yet they originate from them. The Ice Attribute is similar to the Water Attribute, so since you practice the Sea Return Skill, directing it isn’t a major issue. The Wind Attribute, however, is a bit more distant."
"As for the Thunder Attribute, you might be able to direct it somewhat if you were practicing a Fire Attribute Basic Cultivation Skill."
Hearing this, Zhao Lin felt a sense of sudden enlightenment. A question that had long troubled him was finally answered.
"Director, how can I learn to direct the Wind and Thunder Attribute True Qi, then?"
Yang Lin replied without a second thought, "The most stable method would be to practice the Basic Cultivation Skill for both the Wind and Thunder Attributes. But that would mean starting from scratch, which would take a great deal of time and energy. Would you be willing to do that?"
Zhao Lin fell silent, his heart filled with hesitation.
’The purpose of a Basic Cultivation Skill is to generate True Qi, but I have the Spirit Beast Scroll. I can increase my elemental cultivation just by consuming cold-natured medicinal herbs.’
’There must be a similar method for the Wind and Thunder Attributes. There’s no need to start my training all over again.’
Yang Lin seemed to guess his thoughts. "There is another way," he said. "You could learn a Cultivation Technique specifically for directing variant True Qi. There is one person in our sect who is an expert in this field."
Zhao Lin’s eyes lit up. "Which elder is it?" he asked.
Yang Lin smiled but didn’t answer, merely pointing to the setting sun on the horizon. "It’s getting late. We can discuss this more when we get back."
"Yes, sir."
Zhao Lin acknowledged, then glanced at the ground. "What should we do with these corpses?"
"We’ll leave them for now. I’ll send people to retrieve them later."
"But what about the beasts in the mountains? What if they get to the corpses?"
"That’s easily solved."
With a great wave of his sleeve, Yang Lin sent a formidable power surging toward the crumbling ruins.
With a great RUMBLE, the entire section of wall collapsed, burying the five corpses beneath it.
Zhao Lin was secretly dumbfounded. ’If a Primordial Realm martial artist had come to kill me,’ he thought, ’I wouldn’t have even had a chance to escape.’
’It seems that only by reaching the Primordial Realm can one truly have the power to protect oneself.’
The two walked to where their horses were tied. Yang Lin swung himself into the saddle, grasped the reins, and warned solemnly, "Remember this: you must not, under any circumstances, tell another soul that you possess three types of variant True Qi."
"If those with malicious intent were to find out, they would risk open war to send a Primordial Realm martial artist to eliminate you."
A chill ran through Zhao Lin’s heart. "Thank you, Director. I will not breathe a word of this to anyone."
Yang Lin nodded. "From this day forward, do not leave the sect. If you wish to see your family, I will have them brought here."
"You will also be excused from the monthly assessments. Just focus on cultivating these three types of variant True Qi."
’He had originally expected Zhao Lin to mature in a few years’ time. Now, it seemed that with the proper guidance, the boy could shake the heavens at the upcoming Martial Arts Assembly. There could be no room for error.’
A warmth spread through Zhao Lin’s chest. "You’ve thought of everything, Director. I am deeply grateful."
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