38: breakthrough

Recruitment—just as I thought.

Lin Mo fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "I am grateful for Young Master's kindness. However, I come from a humble background, have shallow knowledge, and my heart is set on the Martial Dao. I am not skilled in matters of the imperial court and fear I would be unable to handle such a great responsibility."

"The Martial Dao and the imperial court are not in opposition."

Shangguan Yun smiled. "In today's world, the Sects remain aloof and detached from worldly affairs."

But the Dynasty governs the masses; it is precisely the place where a Martial Artist protects the nation and its people, putting the Martial Dao into practice.

The Third Highness is thirsty for talent and will never be stingy with resources for true geniuses.

As far as I know, Junior Brother Lin seems to be searching for certain ancient items? His Highness might have the information you need."

Lin Mo's heart jolted. The other party even knew he was looking for ancient items?

Did the news leak from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion? Or... was the other party's intelligence network far more terrifying than he imagined?

"I indeed have some interest in ancient artifacts, but it is merely curiosity." Lin Mo steadied his mind.

"Curiosity is the beginning of fate."

Shangguan Yun did not push him. He took out a warm jade pendant and placed it on the table. "This is a Spirit-Communicating Jade, containing a strand of my spiritual imprint.

If Junior Brother changes his mind or encounters difficulties, you can crush this jade. I will know and may be able to assist you.

Of course, if Junior Brother remains uninterested, I will not force it. I only wish to establish a good connection."

Lin Mo looked at the jade pendant. After a moment, he reached out and took it. "Thank you, Young Master."

"Good."

Shangguan Yun's smile widened. "Meeting with Junior Brother today has been very pleasant.

By the way, I heard that Junior Brother performed excellently in the Academy's grand competition and earned the qualification to enter the back mountain's Secret Land? I wonder if you had any interesting discoveries?"

"The Secret Land is vast, and my cultivation is shallow. I could only observe some basic True Intent diagrams and gained a little."

Lin Mo spoke carefully, "I did see some ancient inscriptions, but unfortunately, my knowledge is limited, and I could not decipher them."

"Ancient inscriptions?" Interest grew in Shangguan Yun's eyes. "I wonder if you could describe them a bit?"

Lin Mo's mind raced. He described a few insignificant, fragmented rune shapes from the beast-skin parchment and mentioned the 'Seven Peaks Surrounding a Star' pattern. This was no secret, as there were maps within the Secret Land.

Shangguan Yun listened intently, his fingers unconsciously tracing the tabletop as if recalling or comparing something.

After listening, he nodded. "It is indeed the style of ancient ruins. It is said that the Secret Land of the Qinglan Martial Academy was originally built upon the site of an ancient Sect.

If Junior Brother is interested, you might explore the area around the Crimson Flame Mountain Range in the northwest in the future. There are more ruins like that there."

The Crimson Flame Mountain Range! That place again.

"Thank you for the guidance, Young Master." Lin Mo cupped his hands.

After some more idle talk, Lin Mo took his leave.

Returning to his courtyard, he immediately summoned Wu and One Hundred. "Carefully inspect this jade pendant for any tracking, eavesdropping, or other hidden Formations."

The two took the jade pendant and investigated it thoroughly.

After a moment, One Hundred said, "Young Master, there is indeed a faint spiritual imprint inside the jade used for positioning and one-way communication, but it has no eavesdropping capabilities.

However, the material of the jade itself is special. Wearing it for a long time may subtly influence the wearer's blood qi, causing them to develop a vague sense of goodwill and trust toward the one who left the imprint.

The effect is extremely slight and would take a long time to become effective."

"As expected, he left a hidden hand." Lin Mo sneered. "Strip the spiritual imprint, preserve it, and seal the jade pendant. It is not to be worn."

"Yes."

Lin Mo walked to the window. The lights of Qinglan City dotted the night.

Shangguan Yun's recruitment, testing, and hints; the City Lord's Mansion's constant pressure; the shadow of the Third Prince's faction; and the secrets of the rusted sword and the Seven Peaks that seemed to involve even more... "The chessboard is getting bigger," Lin Mo whispered to himself.

But the pieces in his hand were also increasing.

[System, summon.]

The 103rd Death Warrior arrived as scheduled, with the skill [Basic Disguise].

Feeling his body become imperceptibly stronger once again, Lin Mo's eyes became sharp and calm once more.

"Since I cannot avoid it, then..."

"Let's enter the game."

The One Hundred and third day, hai hour.

Inside a guest room in the Hidden Dragon Academy, Shangguan Yun toyed with a jade pendant identical to the one he gave Lin Mo, a trace of a smile on his lips.

"A physique as strong as a Vicious Beast, internal qi as pure as an ancient cultivator, and he even possesses a suspected ancient Body Refining method... plus that vaguely sensed aura similar to the Seven Star Demon-Sealing Sword..."

"Lin Mo, oh Lin Mo, the secrets on your body are even more interesting than I imagined."

"The Third Highness should be very interested in you."

Outside the window, a dark shadow flitted past silently, merging into the night.

That was a scout sent by the City Lord's Mansion, yet he did not know that his every move was already being monitored by another, more hidden set of eyes.

The zi hour.

Inside quiet room number seven of the C-rank wing in the Hidden Dragon Academy, Lin Mo sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed.

Inside his body, the Qi Sea Acupoint was rotating at an unprecedented speed.

After his insights in the Secret Land, days of bitter cultivation, and the continuous feedback from the hundred Death Warriors, the internal qi in his body was already overflowing and boiling. The scouring and expansion of his Meridians had also reached a certain critical point.

At this moment, under his deliberate guidance, all the internal qi was like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, crashing into the Qi Sea Acupoint.

The pigeon-egg-sized Qi Sea Acupoint vibrated violently and began to collapse inward, condensing!

Under extreme compression, the originally pale white internal qi gradually deepened in color, revealing a faint golden luster, and its texture became more viscous and heavy.

"Now is the time!"

Lin Mo's mind was calm as he operated the Breakthrough essentials recorded in the Aperture Condensation Method.

The Qi Sea Acupoint suddenly expanded, and a brand new, more pure and condensed torrent of internal qi gushed out like a river bursting its banks, surging toward the twelve regular meridians and the eight extraordinary vessels of his entire body!

"Boom—!"

It was as if thunder exploded in his mind. As the higher-quality internal qi scoured his Meridians, waves of tearing pain followed, but it was accompanied more by a newborn-like tingling and comfort.

Faint white mist began to steam from the surface of his body, a sign that the Impurities within him were being further refined and expelled.

His bones made subtle but dense popping sounds, and his muscle fibers became tighter and tougher.

An hour later, the transformation was complete.

Lin Mo opened his eyes, his gaze bright and piercing, as if a golden light had flashed by for an instant.

He slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, his breath long like a Dragon, stirring up a small vortex in the quiet room.

Great Accomplishment of Muscle!

Not only that, relying on the terrifying Foundation laid by the Aperture Condensation Method and the massive accumulation from the Death Warriors' feedback, he directly stabilized at the Middle Stage of the Major Achievement level upon his Breakthrough, and he was not far from Perfection!

He raised his hand, and with a slight thought.

A surge of solid, pale-gold-tinted internal qi emerged from his body, swirling around his fingertips and emitting a low hum.

The quality of this internal qi was more than twice as powerful as before!

"If I face Shangguan Yun again, even without using the full power of my Physical Body and relying only on internal qi Martial Skills, I could fight him head-on for over a hundred moves." Lin Mo assessed in his heart, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

More importantly, he could feel that after the Breakthrough, his body's sensitivity to the thin Spiritual Qi in the world seemed to have sharpened slightly.

Although he still couldn't actively absorb it, he could vaguely perceive its existence and flow. This was perhaps the change brought about by the Aperture Condensation Method and approaching the Marrow Cleansing Realm.