73: Chapter 73 Special Techniques

Heavenly Sword Sect

Inside the Hall of Law Enforcement.

Lin Zhentian sat upright on a red sandalwood chair, dressed in a green Elder's robe; his Golden Core Stage Pressure made many Disciples dare not even approach.

“Your son greets you, Father!” Lin Hao bowed in greeting.

“Rise.” Lin Zhentian's voice was deep and powerful.

Lin Zhentian glanced at Lin Hao and nodded slightly, saying, “It seems that three years of bitter cultivation have indeed made you progress quite a bit!”

“There are less than two months left until the Grand Competition. Are you confident in winning the championship?”

Lin Hao slowly stood up and raised his head, the restraint on his face gradually fading, replaced by full confidence and pride: “Reporting to Father, your son has cultivated bitterly day and night for these past three years without a moment of slack. I have already cultivated the Gale Sword Technique to the stage of Major Achievement!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Hao's mind stirred, and the Spiritual Qi around him suddenly surged. His right hand subconsciously gripped the air, and a sharp sword light flashed as the wind whistled. Although no sword was drawn, it already revealed the powerful aura of a Major Achievement sword technique.

“Not bad, not bad. To be able to Cultivate the Gale Sword Technique to Major Achievement in three years.” Lin Zhentian also showed a rare smile.

Lin Zhentian slightly raised his hand, and a Medicinal Pill that was translucent all over and glowing with a faint green spiritual light appeared in his palm. The pill emitted a pure medicinal fragrance; just one sniff made one feel refreshed.

“It is good that you have this confidence.” Lin Zhentian raised his hand and tossed the pill in his palm to Lin Hao, his tone solemn. “This Medicinal Pill can restore your left hand.”

A flash of wild joy crossed Lin Hao's eyes, and he hurriedly reached out to catch the pill: “Thank you, Father!”

With this Medicinal Pill, his left hand could be restored.

His chances of winning the Grand Competition championship would be significantly improved.

“After you win the championship, go to the Heavenly Sword Sect treasury and bring the spirit suppressing pearl to me!” Lin Zhentian said.

“The spirit suppressing pearl?” Lin Hao was slightly stunned, a look of confusion appearing on his face. “Father, what is that spirit suppressing pearl?”

“It can temporarily suppress the strength of a Golden Core Yao Beast,” Lin Zhentian explained.

“There is one more thing for you to handle!”

“Please give your orders, Father!” Lin Hao said respectfully.

Lin Zhentian slightly raised his hand, and with a flash of spiritual light, a simple and old booklet appeared in his palm.

The cover of the booklet was pitch black, without any writing.

“Destroy this Cultivation Technique!”

Lin Hao hurriedly reached out to take the booklet and looked down at the small black booklet in his hand. The cover had no words or characters, and no clues could be seen.

“Father... this Cultivation Technique clearly isn't simple. Why destroy it?”

In his view, any Cultivation Technique his father brought out must be extraordinary. Why destroy it?

Lin Zhentian slowly spoke to clear his doubts: “You need not be suspicious. This Cultivation Technique is no Righteous Path treasure; rather, it is considered an eerie art—it is a technique that burns one's Lifespan.”

“A technique that burns Lifespan?” Lin Hao was shaken, a look of shock appearing on his face.

Although he had never seen such a technique, he had heard that any technique requiring the burning of Lifespan to Cultivate was eerie and extremely dangerous. Even if it could rapidly increase one's cultivation, it was definitely not something a Righteous Path Cultivator should touch.

Lin Zhentian continued to explain: “Correct. The greatest characteristic of this Cultivation Technique is using one's own Lifespan as the price in exchange for a rapid increase in cultivation. For a practitioner, even if they are at the Early Stage of Qi Refining, as long as they dare to burn their Lifespan, their cultivation progress will far exceed ordinary techniques.”

At this point, his tone shifted, becoming more solemn and disdainful: “But you must remember, there is no such thing as a free lunch. The price behind such rapid cultivation Speed is simply too high.”

“Burning Lifespan is irreversible; once a portion is burned, it is gone. A slight lapse in caution, and your oil will run dry, your lamp will go out, and your Dao will perish. Even if you are careful, you will ultimately end up with an exhausted Lifespan and a withered appearance, which is not worth the gain.”

Hearing this, Lin Hao's doubts were instantly resolved, and the shock on his face was gradually replaced by understanding.

He finally understood why Lin Zhentian wanted to destroy this Cultivation Technique.

If such an eerie technique remained in the Sect or was given to the clan's younger generation, it would only harm others and oneself. Destroying it was indeed the best way.

However, Lin Hao had no intention of destroying it; he wanted to sell this Cultivation Technique on the black market.

After all, although this technique was eerie, there would surely be people who coveted it.

Those Cultivators who were desperate to increase their cultivation but had mediocre talent, ample Lifespan, or were at a dead end would likely be willing to buy this technique. Even knowing its dangers, they would take the risk.

“Rest assured, Father, I will definitely destroy it!” Lin Hao said.

Lin Zhentian waved his hand: “Mhm, go then.”

“Yes! Your son takes his leave.” Lin Hao bowed again and slowly withdrew.

Watching the departing Lin Hao, Lin Zhentian sighed slightly.

The reason he gave this Cultivation Technique to Lin Hao was that he wanted him to Cultivate it secretly, not to actually destroy it.

Burning a few years of Lifespan appropriately wouldn't affect much.

Outside Qingyun Tower.

Hu Nan tried to operate the Breath Concealment technique shared by Qin Changsheng. His original Level 9 Qi Refining Stage aura was instantly suppressed to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.

Hu Nan tidied his clothes, preparing to enter Qingyun Tower to attend the fellow-townsman gathering.

Just as he entered Qingyun Tower, a familiar figure suddenly caught his eye.

He saw Manager Ma Yingjie coming out of Qingyun Tower with several subordinates.

Hu Nan did not linger and simply walked toward Qingyun Tower.

However, when Manager Ma Yingjie's gaze fell upon Hu Nan, the smile on his face instantly froze. He stood rooted to the spot as if a binding spell had been cast on him, his eyes wide open.

His face was filled with disbelief, and even the weapon in his hand almost fell to the ground.

“Hu... Hu Nan?” Manager Ma Yingjie subconsciously murmured, his voice carrying a slight tremor, his eyes full of shock and confusion.

He blinked hard and then raised his hand to rub his eyes vigorously, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

He couldn't believe that Hu Nan was actually still alive!

One must know that last year, he had personally led men to kill Hu Nan.

Furthermore, he had hacked him into pieces; there was simply no possibility of resurrection.

But today, that person who should have died long ago appeared vividly before his eyes. His build and appearance were exactly the same as the Hu Nan in his memory.

This was very difficult for him to accept.

With a flick of his hand, Manager Ma Yingjie wanted to finish Hu Nan off, but he soon remembered that this was Qingyun Tower.

If he acted here, he would surely be exposed.

Manager Ma Yingjie took a deep breath and decided to tell this news to the Young Lord.

Let the Young Lord decide.

...

Chore Hall.

“What? You say Hu Nan is still alive?”

The eyes of the Red-clothed masked man were filled with shock.

“Young Lord, your subordinate indeed saw him inside Qingyun Tower!” Manager Ma Yingjie did not dare to look up at the masked man at all.

The masked man approached Manager Ma Yingjie step by step; with every step, the ground vibrated slightly.

He came before Manager Ma Yingjie and asked, “Back then, didn't you say you hacked him into pieces? How is he still alive now?”

“Young... Young Lord, have mercy!” Manager Ma Yingjie was so scared he trembled all over. With a “thud,” he knelt on the ground, his head buried extremely low, his forehead pressed tightly against the cold floor. He didn't even have the courage to look up, and his voice shook so much it was almost out of tune.

But soon, a thought occurred to him.

He suddenly looked up and said, “Young Lord, your subordinate has a guess!”

The masked man glanced at him coldly, his tone icy: “Speak!”

Manager Ma Yingjie shuddered and quickly lowered his head: “Your subordinate guesses that Hu Nan's... his Ancient Divine Ability is resurrection!”

“Whether it was our Blood Demon's Blood Curse or my personal intervention, none could kill Hu Nan!”

“It must be that he had already died, and then his Ancient Divine Ability brought him back to life!”