116: Forest Transformation

Outside Hancheng City, people gathered.

A bustling crowd lined up, waiting to enter the city.

Among them, a young man in coarse linen clothes stared blankly at the city gate.

"Ten years, and I'm back here again."

The young man sighed softly.

This person was Lin Mu, whose cultivation had been sealed.

Ten years had passed since the last invasion from another world.

During these ten years, there had been a rare absence of conflict among the human race.

All factions had chosen to remain silent.

After bidding farewell to everyone ten years ago, Lin Mu had disappeared into obscurity.

In these ten years, he had traveled to every corner of the human realm.

He had climbed towering mountains.

He had trekked across vast rivers.

He had walked through the streets and alleys of every city.

In ten years, he had come to understand the insignificance of mortals.

He had also witnessed the greatness of mortals.

His character had undergone significant changes.

His mind and body seemed to have truly merged with this land.

Now, he intended to choose a fixed location to comprehend the true Dao.

The day his enlightenment ended would be the day he truly transformed into the Heavenly Dao.

Hancheng City was Lin Mu's first stop when he arrived in this world.

His arrival had been grand and momentous.

Now, he chose to conclude his journey here.

Let his departure be unremarkable.

The first time he entered the city, Lin Mu had cut in line through Tao Rong's arrangement.

After that, whenever he came to Hancheng City, he would fly directly in.

This was Lin Mu's first time queuing with the crowd.

The crowd's movement was not fast.

Lin Mu calmly shuffled along with the crowd.

An hour later, it was finally Lin Mu's turn to be questioned.

A uniformed guard stopped Lin Mu and asked,

"Where are you from?"

The guard's tone showed no emotion, but his attitude was extremely arrogant.

Lin Mu heard this and, with a humble attitude, cupped his hands and said, "I am a wanderer, passing through this place, and wish to stay for a period of time."

The guard raised an eyebrow and said, "So, you're unemployed and a vagrant. Hancheng City doesn't support idlers."

After saying this, the guard looked at Lin Mu with a smile.

Lin Mu saw the guard's greedy gaze and immediately understood.

He reached into his chest and pulled out a pure white spirit stone from beneath his coarse clothes.

The guard's face lit up with joy, and he snatched the spirit stone.

He delightedly put away the spirit stone but showed no intention of letting Lin Mu enter the city.

He said grimly, "The City Lord's Mansion has a rule that all miscellaneous personnel entering the city must undergo a full body search."

Saying this, he reached out to grope Lin Mu.

Seeing this, Lin Mu did not speak to stop the guard.

He had experienced such things many times in the past ten years.

Human greed is boundless.

He spread his arms, fully cooperating with the guard's inspection.

After the guard thoroughly searched Lin Mu, his expression turned ugly.

He had originally thought that since Lin Mu readily produced a spirit stone, he must have more on him.

That's why he deliberately concocted a story, just to seize the opportunity to search Lin Mu for any remaining spirit stones.

For a small guard like him, his monthly income was only a few spirit stones.

Most people entering the city were ordinary folk, and they usually offered silver as tribute.

Today, he had finally encountered a fat sheep, so he naturally wouldn't let him go easily.

But to his surprise, he searched Lin Mu's entire body and couldn't find another spirit stone.

He stopped his actions and stared at Lin Mu with a gloomy gaze.

He kept calculating in his mind.

"This person has no spiritual power, but he has a spirit stone. He must have had some kind of fortuitous encounter."

Thinking of this, a plan came to his mind.

He then sternly questioned, "You're an ordinary person with no spiritual power. Where did you get that spirit stone? Confess honestly."

"Are you a spy sent by another country?"

Lin Mu's expression froze upon hearing this.

He hadn't expected the guard in front of him to be so greedy.

He said calmly, "Without proof, you shouldn't make baseless accusations."

Seeing that Lin Mu dared to talk back to him, the guard was immediately enraged.

He said sinisterly, "You brat, still daring to argue! It seems I'll have to take you to the City Lord's dungeon for questioning."

Saying this, he reached out to apprehend Lin Mu.

However, at that moment, a delicate shout suddenly came.

"Stop!"

The guard's hand movements froze, and he looked in the direction of the voice.

He saw a woman as beautiful as a celestial being slowly walking towards him.

She wore a tight-fitting, luxurious dress, exuding an aura of capability.

Upon seeing this woman, the guard's expression immediately turned fawning.

He raised his hands above his head, bowed slightly, and respectfully saluted, "Greetings, Eldest Miss."

Seeing the guard's demeanor, Lin Mu also knew that the newcomer's identity was likely not simple.

He inadvertently looked at the woman as well.

When he clearly saw the woman's appearance, Lin Mu couldn't help but be stunned.

Then, he couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

This woman was actually Tao Yue'er, whom he had met ten years ago.

At this moment, Tao Yue'er had already achieved the strength of the Flying Heaven Realm.

She was the undisputed top genius of the younger generation of the Tao Family.

This was not only because of her outstanding talent, but also thanks to the jade pendant Lin Mu had given her back then.

Tao Yue'er had seen everything that transpired from a distance.

She was always upright and detested her subordinates bullying the innocent.

The Tao Family was still the true overlord of Hancheng City.

This guard was merely an outer disciple of the Tao Family.

Tao Yue'er's original intention was to reprimand the guard for his shameless behavior.

But to her surprise, just as she approached, she heard a soft laugh.

She couldn't help but look at Lin Mu and ask, "Why are you laughing?"

When Lin Mu became a mortal, he deliberately changed his appearance.

At this moment, he looked like a well-mannered, honest young man.

Therefore, Tao Yue'er did not recognize Lin Mu.

Lin Mu heard this and slightly cupped his hands, saying, "I was simply amazed by Miss Tao's celestial beauty and inadvertently laughed aloud."

"I hope Miss Tao will not take offense."

Tao Yue'er looked at Lin Mu, whose demeanor was proper and whose face was honest.

She did not dwell on it further with him.

She turned her head and sternly said to the guard, "I despise those who bully the weak and abuse their power for personal gain the most."

The guard heard this and turned pale with fright.

He hastily argued, "Eldest Miss, please be clear, I was merely acting impartially."

Tao Yue'er snorted coldly.

"I saw everything that happened earlier. Don't try to argue anymore."

"Go to the Tao Family's Hall of Punishment yourself and receive one hundred strokes of the rod."

The guard was instantly terrified, cold sweat streaming down his face.

After one hundred strokes, he feared he wouldn't be able to get out of bed for half a year.

He plopped to his knees and begged for mercy, "Eldest Miss, please spare me! I know I was wrong. Please, Eldest Miss, show mercy!"

Tao Yue'er said with an unchanging expression, "If you say another word, I will expel you from Hancheng City."

Upon hearing this, the guard's face turned ashen, and he fell silent.

He kowtowed heavily, then accepted his command and headed towards the Tao Family's direction.

After the guard had walked far away, Tao Yue'er led Lin Mu into the city.

Tao Yue'er looked at the honest Lin Mu and kindly reminded him.

"When you are alone outside, you must remember the principle of not flaunting your wealth."

Lin Mu couldn't help but laugh inwardly.

That little yellow-haired girl from back then was actually lecturing him now.

He said without changing his expression, "Thank you, Miss Tao, for your help today."

Tao Yue'er nodded slightly, then spoke again.

"I am Tao Yue'er of the Tao Family. If you encounter any trouble in Hancheng City in the future, you can come to the Tao Family to find me."

Lin Mu was startled by this, then smiled faintly and said, "Then I shall thank Miss Tao in advance."

Tao Yue'er nodded and hummed softly again, then flew up and headed towards the Tao Family.

Lin Mu glanced at Tao Yue'er's departing back, then turned and walked towards an alley.