101: Chapter 101 The Eve of the Storm

The summer thunderstorm arrived without warning.

Outside the Hundred Talisman Hall in the afternoon, the originally clear blue sky seemed to have been splashed with ink; dark clouds gathered from all directions, pressing down heavily.

The wind suddenly picked up, swirling sand, stones, and withered leaves in the square before the hall.

The constant-temperature Formation inside the hall was still running stably, its chill refreshing. But Lin Xuan's hand, holding the Talisman brush, felt slightly stiff in this coolness.

It wasn't because of the cold.

It was that suffocating feeling of having one's neck constricted by invisible chains.

It had been three days.

Three days had passed since his last trade with Senior Brother Feng. In these three days, the atmosphere in the Hundred Talisman Hall had become more oppressive day by day.

Yesterday, two Deacon Disciples in the hall were taken away publicly by people from the Law Enforcement Hall; it was said that when counting inventory, they discovered a shortage of thirty Armor-Piercing Talismans—those were among the most strictly controlled offensive Talismans.

This morning, a new notice was posted at the exchange: all Disciples receiving Materials must undergo dual verification. Not only did they need their identity jade tokens, but they also had to provide recent Spiritual Qi mark samples of the Talismans they had drawn, to prevent fraudulent claims.

And just a moment ago, less than an hour after work started at the hour of the Dragon, a suppressed commotion came from the direction of the main corridor.

Through the light screen of his cubicle, Lin Xuan saw three Inner Sect Senior Brothers wearing dark gold Law Enforcement robes walk past, their expressions as cold as iron.

Behind them, a Foundation Establishment Stage Talisman Master Deacon was being "invited" out—not escorted, but everyone understood what that posture meant.

There was dead silence in the hall.

The tip of his brush landed on the Talisman paper, making a faint rustling sound, which was magnified infinitely in this deathly stillness.

Lin Xuan took a deep breath, suppressing the palpitation in his heart.

As the brush tip outlined, the pattern of the Thunder Shield Talisman extended on the paper. After finishing the fourth Talisman, he put down his brush and flexed his slightly stiff fingers.

The jade board showed that it was just the beginning of the hour of the Horse.

There were two and a half hours left.

He stood up and walked out of the cubicle.

There was a long line at the exchange, longer than usual. The line moved slowly, and no one spoke.

When the Deacon Disciple checked their identities, his eyes were as sharp as if he wanted to dissect everyone.

When it was Lin Xuan's turn, the Deacon took his identity jade token and handed over a palm-sized "Spirit Verification Stone."

"Inject a strand of Thunder Spiritual Energy, the standard output when drawing a Thunder Shield Talisman."

Lin Xuan did as instructed.

The Spirit Verification Stone lit up with a stable silvery-purple light, and complex patterns appeared on its surface—that was the unique mark of his Thunder Spiritual Energy.

The Deacon checked it for a moment, nodded, and returned the jade token to him: "Two stacks of purple-patterned paper, one jar of thunder-pattern cinnabar?"

"Yes."

"A total of five hundred and fifty contribution points."

Lin Xuan deducted the points.

As he walked out of the exchange, he heard an argument behind him.

"Why won't you let me collect them? I completed my quota!"

"Your Spiritual Qi mark does not match the record from three days ago; the fluctuation exceeds ten percent. According to the new regulations, you must undergo an inspection."

"I... I had an epiphany while Cultivating yesterday; is it not allowed for my Spiritual Qi to improve?!"

"Go to the Law Enforcement Hall to explain."

The voice stopped abruptly.

Lin Xuan did not stop his steps and walked towards the Ding-Wei area.

When passing by cubicle Bing-Wu No. 12, he caught a glimpse of Junior Brother Zhao slumped on the meditation cushion, his face ashen. Talisman paper was spread out in front of him, but the brush was suspended in mid-air, unable to fall.

Returning to his cubicle, the light screen closed.

Lin Xuan spread out the Talisman paper but did not immediately start drawing.

He closed his eyes, his Divine Sense sinking into his Dantian.

The Thunder Spiritual Energy vortex at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 4 was rotating steadily, and the purple thunder seed at the core was shining brightly.

The pure thunder source power brought by the fruit of the thunder-attracting vine had been completely absorbed, and his Foundation was solid.

But at this moment, he was not thinking about Cultivating.

He was thinking about Senior Brother Feng's words: "The water is getting muddier."

He was thinking about what Chen Hao said about the "demon-detecting needle."

He was thinking about the Deacons who were taken away, the Talisman Masters who were "invited" out, and the Disciples whose Spiritual Qi marks didn't match.

And... last night, when he returned to Emerald Bamboo Peak, he deliberately took a long detour through the residential area of the Outer Sect Disciples and saw Law Enforcement Hall Disciples searching three courtyards overnight, taking away five people.

The mountain rain is about to come, and the wind fills the building.

And in the wind, there was already the smell of blood.

At the third quarter of the hour of the Rooster, the bell for the end of the shift rang a quarter of an hour earlier than usual.

The Deacon Disciple announced publicly: From today onwards, the daily closing time of the Hundred Talisman Hall is advanced to the hour of the Rooster, and all Disciples must leave the main hall before the third quarter of the hour of the Rooster and are not allowed to linger.

No one questioned, and no one complained.

The Disciples silently packed up their tools and left silently.

When Lin Xuan walked out of the Hundred Talisman Hall with the flow of people, the thunderstorm had already arrived outside.

Bean-sized raindrops pelted down, instantly splashing a mist of water on the ground. The sky was as dark as night, and the distant mountains were only blurry outlines in the curtain of rain.

He cast the Wind Control Technique, and his Spiritual Qi supported a thin protective shield around his body, blocking the rain.

Halfway to Emerald Bamboo Peak, a faint transmission fluctuation reached his bosom.

It was a special transmission Talisman from Senior Brother Feng—more covert than the standard ones of the Sect, only capable of transmitting extremely short messages, and it would be destroyed immediately after use.

Lin Xuan paused slightly and turned into a secluded mountain hollow.

He took out the transmission Talisman and injected Spiritual Qi.

Senior Brother Feng's hoarse voice rang in his mind, with only three words:

"Old place, urgent."

The transmission Talisman then self-ignited, turned into ashes, and was washed away by the rain.

Lin Xuan looked up at the direction deep in the rain curtain, turned around, and swept towards the back mountain of the Hundred Talisman Hall.

The bamboo forest swayed wildly in the rainstorm, and the bamboo leaves clattered from the beating.

The Listening Bamboo Pavilion was empty, and rainwater poured down from the pavilion eaves, forming a water curtain.

Lin Xuan landed outside the pavilion, his Divine Sense quietly sweeping across the surroundings.

Confirming no one was there, he stepped into the pavilion.

Almost at the same time, a figure flashed out from the depths of the bamboo forest; it was Senior Brother Feng.

He was not wearing the standard robe of the Hundred Talisman Hall today, but a gray-brown ordinary robe. He was soaked through, and rainwater was streaming down his sallow cheeks.

But those eyes were terrifyingly bright in the dim light.

"Junior Brother Lin." Senior Brother Feng's voice was suppressed extremely low, and he spoke extremely fast. "Long story short. Something happened to the Mutual Aid Society."

Lin Xuan's heart tightened: "What is it?"

"The upstream contact, that Deacon who often traded with the Loose Cultivator Alliance, died... last night."

Senior Brother Feng's lips were pale. "The body was found in the abandoned warehouse behind the General Affairs Hall, with the fatal wound between his eyebrows—killed in one strike. The killing method was clean and efficient; it was a professional assassin."

Lin Xuan's breathing stalled slightly: "Does the Law Enforcement Hall know?"

"They know, but they suppressed it." Senior Brother Feng's eyes showed lingering fear. "They claimed it was a 'sudden death from a serious illness' to the outside world. But there is news circulating internally that the last piece of intelligence he sent out before he died was about the movements of that elite demon cult squad—they have already reached the outskirts of the Tianzhu Mountain Range."

He paused, his voice lower: "And, the record of the abnormal flow of controlled Materials in the upstream contact's hands... is gone."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment: "An insider?"

"Most likely." Senior Brother Feng wiped the rainwater from his face. "Once the upstream contact dies, the lead is broken, and the whereabouts of the Materials have become a mystery. Now the Mutual Aid Society is in panic, and many people have cut off contact. My line... won't be able to hold on much longer either."

He took a small cloth bag from his Storage Pouch and stuffed it into Lin Xuan's hand.

"This is the last batch of goods. Twenty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, five bottles of peiyuan pill, two bottles of golden bone grass powder. At the price we agreed on before, but this is the last trade."

Lin Xuan took the cloth bag, which felt heavy in his hand.

He didn't ask why it was the last time.

The answer was obvious.

"Senior Brother Feng, you..."

"I have to hide for a while." Senior Brother Feng interrupted him, squeezing an ugly smile on his sallow face. "I can't stay in the Mutual Aid Society anymore. Once the upstream contact is dead, who knows who will be next? I've saved up some contribution points during this time and plan to go to the affiliated market on the outskirts of the Sect to avoid the limelight."

He looked at Lin Xuan, his eyes complex: "Junior Brother Lin, you and I have always traded cleanly and haven't left any handle. But the wind has been too tight recently, so I suggest you... stop too. Honestly complete your quota and don't touch anything you shouldn't touch."

Lin Xuan nodded: "I understand."

Senior Brother Feng breathed a sigh of relief, patted his shoulder, and turned to leave.

"Senior Brother." Lin Xuan suddenly spoke.

Senior Brother Feng's footsteps paused.

"Take care."

Senior Brother Feng didn't look back, just waved his hand, and his figure quickly disappeared into the rainstorm and bamboo shadows.

Lin Xuan stood in the pavilion, listening to the rushing sound of the rain, and gripped the cloth bag in his hand tightly.

The upstream contact is dead.

The demon cult squad has arrived.

The insider is in action.

And Qi Tianyuan's Golden Core Tribulation could descend at any time.

He took a deep breath, put the cloth bag into the deepest part of his Storage Pouch, and turned to leave the Listening Bamboo Pavilion.

The rain was pouring down.

When he returned to the small courtyard at Emerald Bamboo Peak, it was completely dark.

The rain had not diminished; instead, it had become heavier. Thunder rolled deep in the clouds, and occasionally a bolt of lightning tore through the sky, illuminating the courtyard with a ghastly white light.

Lin Xuan did not enter the house immediately.

He stood in the courtyard, letting the rain wash over him.

Then, he took off his soaked robe, wearing only his undergarments.

The Thunder Body Refining Technique was activated, and the pale purple thunder patterns under his skin lit up. As the rain fell on his body, it was bounced off by the weak lightning field on his body surface, steaming with wisps of white gas.

He began to practice boxing.

"Lightning Flash and Thunder Roar," "Thunder Moves Through the Nine Heavens," "Thunderbolt Across the Sky"...

As the boxing momentum unfolded, every punch carried the Concept of thunderous power, faintly echoing the thunder and rain between heaven and earth.

The rain fell harder and harder.

The thunder sounded closer and closer.

When the last move "Thunderous Power" was unleashed, it coincided with a thunderclap striking overhead!

"Boom—!"

The lightning illuminated Lin Xuan's face.

The boxing momentum and the thunder overlapped at this moment.

He retracted his fist and exhaled.

The white gas was like an arrow, piercing through the rain curtain.

The fourth level of the Thunder Body Refining Technique, "Thunder Tempering the Five Viscera," had finally entered the introductory stage.

His five viscera were faintly hot under the tempering of the Thunder Spiritual Energy, his Qi and blood surged like a river, and his Divine Sense was as clear as a mirror.

His Body Refining cultivation had officially stepped into Body Refining Level 4.

Lin Xuan wiped the rain from his face and walked into the house.

After changing into dry clothes, his mind stirred, and he entered the Spirit-Taming Tower Space.

Unlike the rainstorm and thunder outside, the space was always peaceful.

The flowers of the thunder essence fruit tree were still blooming, and the fragrance was pervasive. The Herb-Seeking Mouse was hugging the leaf of the thunder-pattern grass and gnawing on it, while the Pangolin was curled up at the entrance of its burrow, its dark gold eyes blinking.

Lin Xuan walked to the spirit field to check the flowers of the thunder essence fruit tree.

The five petals were fully unfolded, and the ovary at the center of the flower flickered slightly under the reflection of the thunder light. He once again used his Divine Sense to guide the thunder Spiritual Qi of the space to perform a second simulated pollination.

The petals trembled gently, and the exotic fragrance became stronger.

The pollination process went very smoothly.

Next, it was time to wait for the fruit to bear.

Lin Xuan exited the space and began his Cultivation for the night.

The Purple Heaven Divine Thunder Art was activated, and the Thunder Spiritual Energy surged. His cultivation at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 4 had been completely stabilized, and he was only one step away from Level 5.

But he was not in a hurry.

The most important thing right now was stability, not speed.

Past the hour of the Rat, the Cultivation ended.

Lin Xuan lay on the bed, listening to the sound of the rainstorm hitting the bamboo leaves outside the window.

In his mind, he replayed everything from today: the oppression of the Hundred Talisman Hall, Senior Brother Feng's warning, the death of the upstream contact, the approach of the demon cult squad...

And, Chen Hao.

He took out the transmission Talisman and sent a short message to Chen Hao: "How is the Artifact Refining Peak recently? Is everything well?"

A moment later, the transmission Talisman became slightly warm.

Chen Hao's voice came through, with obvious exhaustion and a hint of imperceptible tension:

"It's okay, just busy. The task of refining the demon-detecting needle and the hidden-breaking disk has increased. Master said the front line is urging us."

"Also... Lin Xuan, the Artifact Refining Peak hasn't been peaceful these two days either. Two Senior Brothers were called by the Law Enforcement Hall to be questioned and haven't come back yet. Be careful yourself."

The transmission ended.

Lin Xuan put away the Talisman and closed his eyes.

The Artifact Refining Peak was not peaceful either.

The Law Enforcement Hall was in action.

And the demon cult squad was just outside the mountain.

On the night of the rainstorm, murderous intent was hidden.

Outside the window, another thunderclap struck.

The lightning passed through the window lattice, casting a fleeting, ghastly white shadow on the wall of the Quiet Room.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, with purple electricity faintly appearing in his pupils.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards Rising Sun Peak.

Deep in the rain curtain, at the location of the Golden Sun Grotto-Heaven, golden light flowed faintly, echoing the thunder between heaven and earth.

That was where Qi Tianyuan was in seclusion.

The Golden Core Tribulation was getting closer and closer.

And the storm had already arrived at the door.

He watched silently for a long time, then turned and returned to the bedside.

He took out those two Second-Grade Medium Grade Vajra Talismans, five Second-Grade Low Grade Talismans (Thunderstorm, Earth-Escaping, Illusion, God-Speed, Vajra), as well as the Thunder-Striking Thorn, the earth fiend bell, and the cloud-piercing shuttle from his Storage Pouch.

He checked them one by one, confirming they were in good condition.

He also counted the supplies in his Storage Pouch: sixty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, eight bottles of peiyuan pill, five bottles of rejuvenation pill, three bottles of golden bone grass powder, two bottles of iron thread vine marrow, one hundred and twenty Thunder Shield Talismans, and forty Thunder Spear Talismans.

There were also the Herb-Seeking Mouse and the Pangolin.

And the thunder essence fruit tree that was about to bear fruit.

These were his reliance for survival in the storm.

But, was it enough?

Lin Xuan did not know.

He only knew that the preparations he should have made had already been made.

All that remained was to wait.

Waiting for the storm to arrive.

Waiting for the thunder to explode.

Waiting for... that path that had been quietly paved in the undercurrent to emerge from the water.

He blew out the oil lamp and lay down.

In the darkness, there was only the sound of rain.

And in the distance, that increasingly clear palpitation of the Golden Core.