22: Chapter 22 Let's see who can't hold back first

Lin Feng and the other two did not have particularly outstanding Aptitude, so after entering Chiyun Valley, the goal Lin Shen set for them was not to Cultivate with all their might.

Instead, it was to befriend the Outer Sect Disciples who entered Chiyun Valley together and win over the Utility Disciples of Chiyun Valley as much as possible.

After all, their Spiritual Roots were uniformly Five Spiritual Roots or Four Spiritual Roots, so their future achievements would be limited, and it was very likely they would be trapped in the Qi Refining Realm for the rest of their lives.

As a result, these three people would not be of any help to his own combat power in the future.

Therefore, Lin Shen planned to Cultivate them into his eyes and ears within Chiyun Valley, helping him investigate and inquire about the whereabouts and news of some Disciples in Chiyun Valley who seemed to have better Luck.

"Reporting to Young Lord, with the help of the resources given by the Young Lord, Lin Qing, Lin He, and I have already gained a firm foothold in the Outer Sect."

Lin Feng respectfully replied to Lin Shen: "Furthermore, your subordinate used a portion of the resources to butter up a steward in our Outer Sect's Utility Courtyard. Now, many Utility Disciples have been won over by me to be responsible for keeping an eye on information from all aspects within the Sect."

Lin Feng did not know what Lin Shen wanted to do.

Nor did he know why he asked him to win over those Utility Disciples who had no Aptitude or growth talent.

But.

Having received the Lin Family's education since childhood, he only knew how to be loyal to the Lin Family head and the Lin Family Young Lord.

In front of any matters of great principle, the interests of the Lin Family and the interests of Lin Shen outweighed everything else.

His coming to Chiyun Valley was not for the so-called Immortal Realm journey, but simply to obey Lin Shen's instructions.

Whatever Lin Shen told him to do, he would do.

Even if Lin Shen told him to die for the interests of the Lin Family, he would not hesitate.

This was the education the entire Lin Family gave him since childhood, and it was also his mission within the Lin Family.

"Mhm, not bad!"

Listening to Lin Feng's report, Lin Shen nodded with great satisfaction, and he calmly instructed: "In this way, during this period of time, you instruct the people under your command, as well as Lin He and Lin Qing, to help me keep an eye out for the whereabouts of Inner Sect Disciples Wang Zhan and Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan."

"Do things more carefully, do not rashly expose your own whereabouts, and do not reveal too strong a sense of purpose."

"Inner Sect Disciples?"

Hearing Lin Shen's instructions, Lin Feng couldn't help being slightly startled, but still nodded: "Your subordinate will definitely complete the Young Lord's instructions with all my might. Even if discovered by others, your subordinate will absolutely not let anyone else trace this clue back to the Young Lord."

Investigating an Inner Sect Disciple was quite difficult for Lin Feng.

But Lin Shen's instructions had to be executed.

Now he could only obey the command, and after returning to the Outer Sect, he would contact Lin Qing and Lin He to think of a way together.

"I also know that this matter is rather difficult for you, but I believe in your ability. You are the person picked by my father, and I am at ease when you handle things."

Lin Shen patted Lin Feng on the shoulder, took out a Storage Pouch from his bosom, and earnestly said: "Inside this Storage Pouch are two hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones and some Cultivation resources. Some matters can be paved with Spirit Stones and Cultivation resources. As for how to handle the matter specifically, it naturally depends on you. I will not interfere, and only hope to get the useful news I want!"

"Yes, Young Lord! Your subordinate will definitely handle this matter splendidly and will never disappoint the Young Lord's trust in your subordinate!"

Taking the Storage Pouch, Lin Feng nodded heavily.

A trace of excitement flashed through his eyes, on one hand due to Lin Shen's recognition.

That sentence 'I am at ease when you handle things' was enough to make Lin Feng go through fire and water without hesitation, even if he were to die immediately.

On the other hand, Lin Shen's words gave him a certain inspiration.

With Spirit Stones and Cultivation resources, things would be much easier. Some matters could not be accomplished by the strength of his subordinates, but that didn't mean he couldn't use Spirit Stones and Cultivation resources to deduce from the side and obtain the news the Young Lord wanted.

"Mhm, as the saying goes, I am at ease when you handle things!"

Lin Shen smiled and nodded, waved his hand at Lin Feng and said: "Dismissed. Be careful when you leave, do not let interested parties discover your whereabouts, and do not let others discover my dealings with you."

"Yes! Young Lord!"

Lin Feng nodded heavily, bowed respectfully, and left the courtyard where Lin Shen lived.

Looking at Lin Feng's retreating back, a trace of a smile appeared on the corner of Lin Shen's mouth.

Very good.

Now with Lin Feng helping to investigate news, once Wang Zhan and Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan made any moves, they would definitely not be able to escape his Dharma Eye.

And he could Cultivate with peace of mind.

By then, as his Cultivation grew stronger.

As long as Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan harbored greed in his heart, he would make a move against Wang Zhan, and he himself could...

Play the role of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Lin Shen thought to himself.

However, thoughts were thoughts, yet in his heart he did not dare to be the least bit careless, only hoping that everything would go smoothly without any accidents happening.

After sending Lin Feng away, Lin Shen continued to enter the state of Cultivation.

His gaze glanced at the last two strands of Luck remaining in the jade pendant, and he gritted his teeth.

Immediately, the Spiritual Qi within his body circulated, and a strand of Spiritual Qi instantly enveloped the jade pendant.

"Bring me into an Epiphany state and upgrade the Startling Thunder Sword Technique with all my might!"

Accompanied by a movement of his will in his heart.

That strand of Luck within the jade pendant instantly dissipated, pouring directly into Lin Shen's body.

Under the operation of the jade pendant, the use of this strand of Luck directly helped Lin Shen enter the Epiphany state.

Time flashed by in a blur.

In the blink of an eye, it was a year later.

In this year's time, Lin Shen's Cultivation had already been elevated to the Qi Refining Stage 9 Realm.

This was his fourth-plus year of entering Chiyun Valley. Such a terrifying speed of Cultivation progress was not inferior compared to those Prodigies with Dual Spiritual Roots.

Regarding this, Mo Shenggu, who had a trace of incense-blessed ties with Lin Shen, valued Lin Shen more and more, frequently instructing Lin Shen on his Cultivation, and even often gifting Lin Shen some Medicinal Pills for Cultivation that were quite precious to the Qi Refinement Stage.

Precisely because of this, coupled with that several-hundred-year-old crimson blood ginseng from before, Lin Shen was able to progress so quickly in his Cultivation.

The path of immortal cultivation was like this.

Resources, Cultivation Techniques, guidance from famous teachers—not a single one of these could be lacking.

Besides, during this year's time, Lin Shen had completely consumed the last remaining strand of Luck in the jade pendant.

Relying on this last strand of Luck, half a month ago, Lin Shen's Startling Thunder Sword Technique had already been upgraded to the Perfection Realm, and he had even completely mastered a trace of Thundering Sword Qi.

However, Lin Shen did not expose the Perfection-level Startling Thunder Sword Technique, nor did he leak the Thundering Sword Qi he had fully mastered.

In the Immortal Cultivation world, human hearts were sinister.

Lin Shen understood this point in his heart.

Therefore, outwardly, he must both display a rather monstrous Prodigy talent to receive more resources and support, and conceal his strength so that when accidents occurred, his concealed strength could also add a few more points of winning odds.

"It's been a year, Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan can really hold back. I don't believe he hasn't discovered the importance of Wang Zhan's section of Sword Bone!"

Accompanied by the consumption of the last trace of Luck, Lin Shen's thoughts regarding hunting down Wang Zhan—the person suspected of having great Luck—grew increasingly intense in his heart.

But for this whole year, there had been no opportunity at all.

Every time Wang Zhan executed a mission, he basically followed a mission squad and executed team-level missions.

Perhaps he also harbored a trace of vigilance in his heart due to the Liu Family incident a year ago, which was why he dared not go out alone to execute missions.

And Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan could endure it just as well.

According to the news Lin Feng helped him collect over the past year, Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan spent almost the entire year painstakingly in secluded Cultivation, only going out when executing missions.

Furthermore, his whereabouts and the times he executed missions completely staggered with Wang Zhan's.

Neither of them gave Lin Shen a single chance to exploit, which was indeed a tricky matter.

Perhaps that equally deep-minded Senior Brother Lin Zhiyuan was also waiting for an opportunity, wanting to wait for him to make a move first.

"Hmph, you're not anxious, and neither am I. I'd like to see who can't hold back first!"

Lin Shen let out a cold snort, took out the three zhenlei beads from the Storage Pouch, and the terrifyingly rich Lightning Spiritual Qi within his body bloomed, nurturing these three zhenlei beads.

After another year of nurturing.

The power of these three zhenlei beads grew increasingly formidable, and Lin Shen even had an illusion: if used properly, under the condition that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had no precautions whatsoever, these three zhenlei beads would very likely take away a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in one wave directly.

But this was merely a conjecture in Lin Shen's mind.

This was just a possibility; when facing Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he still had to be exceptionally careful, trying his best not to offend them if he could avoid it.

After all, one only has a single life.

Once dead, it's gone!

Only by staying alive is there infinite hope!

"Rumble!!!"

Just as Lin Shen was nurturing these three zhenlei beads, a fierce roaring sound suddenly erupted not far from his courtyard.