28: Qualification determines Zhao Linger's concern

Li Mo finished speaking, and his incantation changed again.

Several solid-looking azure wind blades suddenly appeared out of nowhere, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, sealing off all of Lin Gou's dodging space from all directions.

A look of 'just right' panic appeared on Lin Gou's face.

He drew the Low Grade magic sword from his waist, waving it wildly with stiff movements, like a drowning person flailing at a straw.

Clang! Clang! Bang!

Sparks flew amidst the harsh metallic clash.

Several wind blades were 'luckily' parried by him in an extremely awkward posture.

But the immense impact directly fractured the tiger's mouth of his sword-wielding hand, and blood instantly stained the hilt.

His entire body was forced to stagger backward, his Qi in disarray, looking utterly wretched.

"Hahahaha! Trash is trash!"

Li Mo's wild laughter echoed in the Mission Hall, drawing a chorus of echoing laughter from around.

Zhao Linger stood outside the crowd, her gentle eyebrows tightly furrowed.

Something was off.

Very off.

Lin Gou's footwork, seemingly chaotic and disorganized, yet from her perspective as a Peak Qi Refining Stage, Eighth Level Cultivator, she noticed that every step he took backward precisely avoided the most likely directions of subsequent attacks.

His parrying, seemingly frantic, yet each sword strike neutralized the strongest force of the wind blades with the least cost.

Most importantly, his eyes.

In those eyes, there was no fear, no panic, not even the tension an Alchemist should have when facing combat.

It was a bottomless calm, so calm... it was as if he was watching a performance unrelated to himself.

He was... feigning weakness?

And it was an intentional feigning of weakness!

Why?

For the first time, such intense curiosity arose in Zhao Linger's heart towards a peer.

On the field, Li Mo had clearly lost his patience for toying around.

He wanted to crush this eyesore with absolute power and reclaim the glory that rightfully belonged to him.

"It's over!"

Li Mo roared, and the spiritual power of a Qi Refining Stage, Eighth Level Cultivator burst forth without reservation, forming a visible earthy-yellow Qi wave around him.

His figure suddenly blurred, and in the next instant, he charged at Lin Gou like a fierce tiger descending a mountain!

His right hand was raised high, and a thick, solid earthy-yellow halo glowed in his palm.

"Thick Earth Palm!"

This palm strike was enough to shatter stone tablets and crack rocks!

If it landed squarely, he would at least lose half his life!

【Now!】

A flicker of almost imperceptible excitement flashed in Lin Gou's eyes.

He seemed to be completely intimidated by Li Mo's overwhelming Aura, deliberately exposing a huge, undefended flaw, standing still.

"Bang!!!"

A dull, teeth-grindingly loud thud exploded in the Mission Hall.

Li Mo's right palm landed squarely on Lin Gou's chest.

The clear sound of bones shattering made everyone present's scalp tingle.

Lin Gou's body did not fly out like a kite.

He was as if struck head-on by an invisible giant hammer, his chest deeply caved in at a strange angle, his body sharply folded backward, and a jet of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs spurted from his mouth.

Then, he was thrown like a tattered sack, crashing heavily onto the bluestone floor more than ten meters away, emitting a chilling thud.

Dust flew.

He lay motionless on the ground, his chest quickly stained dark red by the gushing blood, his life force dissipating at a visible rate, extremely weak.

As if it could extinguish at any moment.

The entire hall was silent.

All the mocking, spectating expressions froze on their faces.

No one expected Li Mo to dare to strike so heavily in broad daylight!

Li Mo himself was stunned; he looked down at his slightly numb palm, not expecting Lin Gou's Physical Body to be so fragile.

But he immediately snorted coldly, a cruel pleasure appearing on his face.

"Worthless."

However, just as Lin Gou's consciousness was about to plunge into darkness and his life force completely severed.

The long-awaited celestial music, like the immortal melodies of the Nine Heavens, resounded in his mind!

【Ding! Detected that the host has suffered a severe blow, ruptured internal organs, and severed Meridians, achieving a near-death experience!】

【Death Method Simulation: Severely injured by a fellow Cultivator in public, dying in humiliation!】

【Overall Rating: C+!】

【Congratulations to the host, you have obtained a special Cultivation Technique: "Turtle Breath Technique"!】

【Congratulations to the host, you have obtained a healing sacred medicine: Nine Revolutions Soul Restoration Pill (Grade Three) x1!】

【Congratulations to the host, Physical Body strength slightly increased!】

【Congratulations to the host, Earth element resistance slightly increased!】

【"Turtle Breath Technique": Can perfectly conceal all Qi, heartbeat, and even Soul fluctuations, entering a state of suspended animation, undetectable by Divine Sense above the Golden Core Stage.】

【Nine Revolutions Soul Restoration Pill: A Grade Three top-tier healing Medicinal Pill. As long as there is still a breath, it can revive the dead and regrow flesh and bones.】

【Worth it! Absolutely worth it!】

Lin Gou's consciousness screamed in ecstasy.

The C+ rating wasn't high, but the rewarded "Turtle Breath Technique" and Nine Revolutions Soul Restoration Pill were simply divine techniques and divine medicines tailor-made for the upcoming trip to the demonic den!

Zhang Executive rushed to Lin Gou's side, his face ashen, and his trembling finger checked his breath, his heart instantly sinking to the bottom.

Gone.

No breath at all.

He suddenly turned his head, his eyes bloodshot, glaring furiously at Li Mo.

"Li Mo! I said to stop at the appropriate moment!"

Li Mo's face was also a little pale, and he still argued, "I... I didn't mean to kill him, he was just too weak!"

Zhang Executive was about to announce the result of the match and immediately apprehend Li Mo for his crime.

Suddenly.

"Cough... cough cough..."

The 'corpse' lying in a pool of blood, who should have been dead, suddenly moved a finger ever so slightly.

He let out a series of heart-wrenching, violent coughs, and with each convulsion, more black blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth.

Then, under everyone's incredulous gaze, he used his trembling arms to prop himself up from the cold ground, struggling, trying to stand.

Once, he propped himself up half an inch, then collapsed with a thud.

Twice, his arms slipped, and he fell back into the pool of blood again.

The entire Mission Hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop; everyone held their breath, staring intently at that unyielding figure.

Finally, on the third attempt.

Lin Gou wobbled, in a posture that looked like he could fall apart at any moment, and stood up.

His face was as pale as paper, his body swaying precariously.

But he stood perfectly straight.

That blood-stained spine was straighter than anyone else present.

His gaze, passing over all the horrified faces, fixed firmly on the blood-red mission scroll on the high platform.

"I..."

His voice was hoarse and dry, yet carried a stubbornness that pierced the Soul.

"I... can still fight."

He took a deep breath, seemingly using all his strength.

"To eliminate harm for the Sect, to avenge my Senior and Junior Brothers..."

"I, Lin Gou, will not hesitate even if I die ten thousand times!"

The last four words, he practically roared out.

That unyielding will, that determination to face death, was like an invisible heavy hammer, forcefully striking everyone's heart!

Some female Disciples who had been mocking him earlier now had red-rimmed eyes, tightly covering their mouths.

What tenacity!

What integrity!

Zhang Executive looked at the blood-soaked young man before him with shock, his emotions stirred beyond words.

He then turned to look at Li Mo, whose face was ashen and whose eyes flickered.

One, with a will like steel, fearless of death.

The other, slightly stronger in power, but narrow-minded, striking such a heavy blow against a fellow Disciple for his own selfish reasons.

Who was more suitable to undertake this mission of nine deaths and one life?

The answer was already self-evident.

"Enough."

Zhang Executive's voice was low, yet filled with unquestionable authority.

"The match is over."

"Li Mo, although you have superior strength, your intentions are impure, and your character is flawed! You are not qualified for this mission! I sentence you to one month of confinement at the Cliff of Contemplation and to transcribe the Sect rules a hundred times!"

Li Mo was struck by lightning, his face instantly turning ashen as paper.

"Manager! I refuse to accept this!"

"Shut up!" Zhang Executive sharply cut him off, "Dare to speak another word, and your punishment will be doubled!"

Li Mo trembled with anger, glaring at Lin Gou with venomous eyes, and finally, could only leave with a heart full of resentment and humiliation, flicking his sleeves.

Zhang Executive walked up to Lin Gou, his tone unusually gentle.

"Lin Gou, your will has been seen by the Sect."

He paused, then turned his gaze to Zhao Linger, who had been silent all this time.

"Junior Niece Zhao, what is your opinion?"

Zhao Linger's beautiful eyes had not left Lin Gou since the beginning.

The initial scrutiny in her gaze had now transformed into deep admiration, and a hint of... respect that even she herself had not noticed.

"I am willing to team up with Junior Brother Lin."

Her words sealed the deal.

"Good!" Zhang Executive nodded heavily, "The mission to eliminate the Black Fiend Demonic Cultivators, the executors are determined to be Zhao Linger and Lin Gou! One more person is needed, to be decided later!"

"These are the signal talismans and healing Medicinal Pills distributed by the Sect. Prepare yourselves; we depart tomorrow morning."

The matter was settled.

Lin Gou, supported by several fellow Disciples who had 'come to their senses', took an ordinary healing Medicinal Pill and prepared to return to his Immortal Cave with unsteady steps.

He now desperately needed a quiet place to digest today's 'results' and secretly take that Grade Three Nine Revolutions Soul Restoration Pill that could revive the dead and regrow flesh and bones... The night before departure.

The moon was cool like water.

Lin Gou was meditating in his Immortal Cave when the Restriction outside the Immortal Cave suddenly showed a slight fluctuation.

He opened the door.

Under the moonlight, Zhao Linger stood gracefully outside the door in a moon-white long dress, like a Fairy under the moon.

She waved her delicate hand, and an invisible soundproofing barrier instantly enveloped the two, isolating all external sounds and prying eyes.

The evening breeze stirred a few strands of her beautiful hair, and the moonlight shone on her gentle and beautiful face, reflecting a pair of complex and serious eyes.

She handed a pristine small jade bottle to Lin Gou.

"This is 'Jade Dew Pill' that I personally refined; it has miraculous effects on your injuries."

Lin Gou looked at her, not immediately taking it.

Zhao Linger's beautiful eyes, under the clear moonlight, stared intently at him, as if to see through him completely, inside and out.

Her voice was very soft, carrying a hint of uncontrollable confusion, and a barely perceptible tremor.

"Now, you can tell me."

"Why do you insist on going?"

"Are you... truly not afraid of death?"