199: The Man Behind the Blood Moon

"Tong Ge, do you have a way to bring White Tiger Cliff under our jurisdiction?"

"Host, the conditions for jurisdictional division are extremely strict. Only when the Host becomes the most sacred existence in this land and is widely recognized can it be incorporated into the jurisdiction."

Lin Chuping: "..."

So that was it. He had previously upgraded jurisdictions completely by chance, not forcing it.

He hadn't even thought about the reason.

But...

"Tong Ge, your conditions are too harsh. This is tying your own hands!"

"Is there a way to simplify the process? Everything is for our great cause."

"Host, any operation outside the rules carries immense risks. The Host needs to bear the risks himself."

"Tell me."

Lin Chuping had only asked casually, not expecting it to actually be possible.

"Host, cross-realm jurisdiction requires consuming Origin energy, many functions cannot be used, and in the end, it might all be for naught, not worth the effort..."

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Lin Chuping made a pause gesture in his Divine Sense, "Just tell me the conditions."

The System suddenly expanded, revealing a golden, shimmering contract:

"Cross-Realm Jurisdiction Agreement"

"1. White Tiger Cliff is included in the temporary jurisdiction."

"2. Daily basic consumption: 500 Incense Points."

"3. An additional 50% of the Incense revenue from the White Tiger Cliff area will be charged as a handling fee."

"You... are you just robbing me?"

"Fifty percent handling fee? Do you think I'm a fool?"

Lin Chuping thought the System was going to recommend he buy more things again, but it turned out the System had switched to charging handling fees.

50%!

This was even worse than buying things.

Buying things could at least enrich the System space; paying a handling fee meant getting nothing.

The System unhurriedly displayed a video clip.

In the screen, the Tiger Clan Elders were worshipping at a temporarily erected earthen platform, but the Incense threads were scurrying around in the Void like headless flies.

"Hint: Incense not included in the jurisdiction will dissipate into the heavens and earth."

* * *

Lin Hu suddenly noticed that the main soul's aura had become chaotic, and his expression was distorted.

He was so scared that his tiger whiskers trembled. Just as he was about to step forward to check, he heard intense bargaining from the Void:

"Twenty percent! No more!"

"45% is the bottom line."

"Believe it or not, I'll just abandon the business in the Ten Thousand Mountains?"

"35%... includes overnight hosting service."

"Thirty percent! But it must include after-sales maintenance!"

"Deal."

With a "boom," the temple suddenly shook violently.

The candlesticks on the altar clattered, scaring the worshippers into kneeling.

The divine statue's eyes burst forth with golden light, and an abstruse rune appeared out of thin air, transforming into a stream of light that shot into Lin Hu's glabella.

By the time Lin Hu reacted, he had already been kicked out of Great Yan, and beneath his feet was the border of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Lin Hu: "..."

* * *

White Tiger Cliff, deep in the dungeon

As Lin Hu stepped into the dungeon, a heavy smell of blood assaulted him.

The congealed bloodstains on the stone walls appeared eerily purplish-black under the torchlight. In a corner, several shriveled Yao Beast skeletons were piled up, their fur still bearing traces of being torn by sharp teeth.

"Bat?"

He narrowed his eyes, his tiger claws slightly tensed.

Deep in the dungeon, a gaunt figure was suspended in mid-air, limbs locked by iron chains.

The person was tall and slender, with skin as pale as paper. A pair of broken bat wings hung low behind him, but a sinister smile hung at the corner of his mouth.

"Lin Hu..." Blood Moon slowly raised his head, his crimson eyes flickering in the darkness, "Long time no see."

"Holy Master, be careful."

Bai Shengdao behind him whispered, "This demonic creature used some evil art. The dungeon guards would go limp all over if they got within three zhang of him."

Lin Hu narrowed his eyes, a faint golden light appearing on his tiger claws—that was the temporary Divine Authority just bestowed by the main soul.

He saw dozens of crimson Bloodlinesentanglement around Blood Moon's body, drawing the last bit of vital Qi from the skeletons.

"Blood-Devouring Spirit Transformation Art?"

Lin Hu's pupils suddenly contracted, "You dare to Cultivate forbidden arts!"

Blood Moon suddenly let out a piercing laugh, the sound waves shaking dust from the dungeon's stone walls.

He was locked up, yet still so unruly.

"Forbidden art?" Blood Moon tilted his head, seemingly disdainful.

"This is the divine art bestowed upon us by my Lord!"

Lin Hu's heart tightened. He carefully probed and found that hundreds of different Yao Beast auras were surging within Blood Moon's body.

"How many of your own kind have you devoured?"

Lin Hu's tiger claws dug deep into the ground.

Blood Moon bared his teeth, revealing sharp fangs, and licked the corner of his mouth with a crimson tongue, as if savoring something delicious.

"My own kind?"

He scoffed, "Do you think I care about those low-level Yao Beasts? They are merely nourishment."

Lin Hu's eyes were cold, and divine light surged around him, suppressing the blood Qi around Blood Moon.

He asked in a deep voice, "Who is this 'my Lord' you speak of?"

Blood Moon narrowed his eyes and smiled sinisterly: "Want to know? Beg me."

Lin Hu raised a tiger claw, and a golden light transformed into a chain, fiercely wrapping around Blood Moon's neck, tightening it severely.

"I don't have time to waste words with you."

"Speak, who is behind you?"

Blood Moon's face turned green from being strangled, but he still sneered, squeezing out a hoarse voice from his throat: "Heh... are you scared?"

"Do you think... capturing me will stop my Lord's plan?"

Lin Hu's eyes darkened, and the chain tightened again, bones making a creaking sound under the pressure.

"Last chance."

Lin Hu said coldly, "Otherwise, I don't mind directly searching your soul."

A hint of apprehension flashed in Blood Moon's eyes, but it quickly returned to madness.

"Soul search? Hahahaha..."

He laughed, trembling all over, "You try it! See whose Divine Soul is stronger, or if the Restriction left by my Lord is more ruthless!"

Lin Hu frowned. As his Divine Thought just entered Blood Moon's Sea of Consciousness, he sensed an extremely sinister power retaliating!

"Boom—!"

His Divine Thought was instantly bounced back, and his Sea of Consciousness vibrated.

Lin Hu withdrew his Divine Thought, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

Seeing this, Blood Moon laughed even more wildly: "How is it? Do you feel my Lord's great power?"

Lin Hu was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "Do you think I have no way to deal with you like this?"

He raised his tiger claw, and a golden rune appeared in his palm—that was the temporary Divine Authority bestowed by the main soul, Lin Chuping, which could mobilize some Incense power.

"Since you refuse to speak..." Lin Hu's eyes were cold, "Then I'll let you taste what true torment is."

The golden rune suddenly lit up, transforming into countless tiny threads of light that drilled into Blood Moon's Bloodline.

"Ah—!!!"

Blood Moon suddenly arched his body, letting out a horrific scream. The threads of light were like raging fire, burning every inch of his flesh, yet not killing him immediately, instead making him clearly feel every bit of pain.

"This... this is... Incense backlash?!" Blood Moon's voice was distorted by the intense pain.

Lin Hu said coldly: "Indeed. Don't you like to devour vital blood? Then I'll let you taste the flavor of being burned by Incense power."

Blood Moon convulsed all over, his bat wings flapping wildly, but he couldn't break free.

His skin began to crack, blood seeped out, and then was evaporated into a bloody mist by the golden light.

"Speak!" Lin Hu roared, "Who is behind you?!"

Blood Moon screamed in agony, a hint of fear finally appearing in his eyes.

"You... you wish..." He gritted his teeth, but his voice had already begun to tremble.

Lin Hu narrowed his eyes and exerted more force in his palm.

"Then let's see how long you can last."