Decaying World

Chapter 134

Lin Hui's figure appeared before the divine statue, and he looked up to gaze at the bizarre stone goddess.

"Let's negotiate. Can you lift the Gaze from me?" He tried to communicate with the statue to see if interaction was possible.

After all, in this world full of gods and strange phenomena, who was to say this statue couldn't communicate? Otherwise, why would those powerful people worship it so sincerely?

The statue gave no reaction.

"If you don't remove it, don't blame me for getting rough," he said again.

The statue remained motionless, and the status in the Blood Seal didn't budge either.

Chi!

In the next instant, the entire statue was sliced in two, severed at the waist.

The heavy upper half of the stone statue slowly slid, tilted, and finally smashed ruthlessly onto the cavern floor.

Shua!Lin Hui swung his sword again, directly chopping the statue—crafted from unknown materials—into numerous small chunks.

Having done this, he quickly looted the corpses, threw all the bodies out of the cavern, and finally evacuated with speed.

As for the Purple Crystals, there were a full ten boxes or so;

he couldn't move them all in one trip. These Purple Crystals could greatly increase the speed of Body Tempering and Internal Force cultivation—they were top-tier resources. He had to take them all back to his own warehouse for personal use.

Carrying two boxes, he secretly returned to the Clear Wind Temple. Lin Hui ran back and forth several times, traveling to the Purple Crystal Ruins to transport the crystals.

On this outing, he hadn't encountered any opponents at the Divine Officer or High Divine Officer level. That was luck. But getting entangled with that so-called Mist God's Gaze, which caused his speed to drop by about half, made the gains somewhat not worth the loss.

Fortunately, a few days after returning, Lin Hui discovered that whenever he circulated his Internal Force, he could alleviate some of the speed reduction caused by the Mist God's Gaze.

After persisting in this circulation for a month, the troublesome deceleration finally disappeared. However, Mist God's Gaze remained in the Blood Seal's notification bar, showing no intention of vanishing.

Doesn't this mean if I encounter any situation in the future, the Mist God might suddenly hit me with another slow? If it causes trouble at a critical moment, wouldn't I be dead?

In the courtyard of the Clear Wind Temple manor, Lin Hui frowned deeply, his mood sour.

Although the deceleration was gone, he had merely cleared a Purple Crystal Ruin—one discovered by his own sect members but occupied by others—and ended up tainted with such a troublesome negative status.

Fortunately, it wasn't only bad news. With the acceleration provided by the Purple Crystals, his final stage of Body Tempering had been thoroughly completed early this morning, around six o'clock.

With this, the Ninth Rank Body Tempering of the Wild Wind Sword Technique was fully concluded.

And the special effect, Surrounding Wind, truly began to display its efficacy.

Thinking of this, Lin Hui's mood improved slightly.

He extended his hand and silently activated the Surrounding Wind special effect in his mind.

Instantly, a layer of faint, transparent airflow emerged around his palm.

This layer of airflow seemed weak, but its effect was actually very strong. It was like an invisible, transparent membrane that completely isolated his skin from the outside world.

Lin Hui reached out and pressed down on the ground.

Pu!

Immediately, the fallen leaves and gravel were forcibly squeezed aside by the invisible Surrounding Wind. Moreover, Lin Hui felt that his hand hadn't touched the ground at all. Instead, it felt like he was pressing against a layer of soft, tough, invisible thick padding.

He applied a bit more force, but still couldn't touch the ground.

He increased the force again, continuously adding more, until finally, he even used his Internal Force.

A clear indentation was pressed into the earth. Only then did he barely touch the cold floor tiles.

It's equivalent to having an extra layer of invisible armor around my body. The defensive effect is quite good. And there's also a subtle effect of enhancing perception.

This special effect compensated for his current lack of defensive power and, to a certain extent, enhanced his senses.

The most critical point was that this special effect would continuously strengthen as his control over airflow and wind force increased.

Simply put, this was a secret art special effect that could grow continuously. And once activated, it could automatically maintain itself without consumption.

Body Tempering is complete, and the cultivation of the Wild Wind Sword Technique is over. Next, it's time for the Typhoon Sword Technique.

Lin Hui's anticipation finally reached its peak.

He closed his eyes and mentally selected the Typhoon Sword Technique entry in the Blood Seal.

Instantly, countless familiar memories—memories regarding the cultivation of the Typhoon Sword Technique—surged into his mind.

Then, naturally, Lin Hui circulated his Internal Force. With an exaggerated precision completely unimaginable to ordinary people, he simultaneously shaped and condensed nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine tiny air vortices, circulating them within his body all at once.

The rotation of all the vortices moved in the same direction, as if intangibly borrowing an incomparably nihilistic and massive force from the outside world.

Hu...

In a split second, an invisible airflow centered on Lin Hui spread out, influencing the surrounding area within a three-hundred-meter radius.

More than half the manor was under the influence of this airflow.

The airflow started slowly, rotating gently. But as time passed, the rotation speed became faster and faster.

Gradually, the entrances of some corridors began to emit the whistling woo-woo of wind.

This influence wasn't as exaggerated, rapid, or explosive as the Wild Wind. But it faintly possessed a crushing momentum, like an unstoppable, unavoidable mandate of heaven.

Moments later, Lin Hui slowly drew his sword and began to practice the basic moves of the Typhoon Sword Technique one by one.

Similar to the perfected Clear Wind Sword, the sword moves of the Typhoon Sword Technique carried a more bewildering influence. Rather than saying he was swinging a sword, it was more like he was stirring up some kind of terrifying atmospheric cyclone that was brewing.

This is a sword technique not meant for people, but for the weather itself. By using the sword and Internal Force to manipulate the climate until the desired effect is achieved… this is the essence of the Typhoon Sword Technique. It’s more like simulating a natural disaster.

Only when Lin Hui truly began to practice did he discover the true essence of this sword technique. Previously, before he had completed Body Tempering, any attempt to practice it would cause a tearing pain throughout his body, so he had never dared to try it.

But now...

He had finally gotten started, and only then did he have a visceral understanding.

The only problem is that practicing this sword causes too much commotion. Lin Hui stopped practicing, sensing the partially formed cyclone around him, and sighed inwardly.

If he really continued to practice, he suspected that an atmospheric cyclone with a diameter of several hundred meters might actually form around him.

Compared to a real typhoon, this scale was naturally incredibly weak.

But the problem was, he had only just started Body Tempering for it. If he reached the Ninth Rank... how large would the formed cyclone be?

Lin Hui didn't dare to imagine it himself.

This sword technique primarily creates a wind-force domain fully under my control, allowing me to suppress all enemies below a certain level of strength. It has no fear of group attacks and can even weaken powerful enemies stronger than myself… I can’t help but wonder how this path compares to the higher realms of martial artists.

Thinking of this, the thought of visiting the Inner City rose in Lin Hui's mind again.

The Outer City was still too weak and too small...

Additionally, he should ask his Big Brother about the Mist God's Gaze to see if there was a solution.

Just as he was thinking about his subsequent plans, a disciple's report suddenly came from the entrance of the courtyard.

"Temple Master, a Miss Han Xiaoyue from the Inner City is here. She says she is your friend and has come to visit. She is currently waiting in the Council Hall."

Han Xiaoyue? Why has she come? Lin Hui's mind flashed briefly. "Understood. You may leave."

"Yes."

With a flash of his figure, Lin Hui lightly leaped over the wall, passed through the corridor in a second, and stood at the door of the Council Hall.

As his Body Tempering became stronger, his speed also became faster.

He also increasingly felt that, at this stage, trying to increase his speed by even a sliver was becoming harder.

The surrounding air had become the biggest obstacle hindering his acceleration.

After standing firm, he pushed the door open and entered, just in time to see Han Xiaoyue standing in front of the landscape painting, admiring the not-so-good-looking ink wash piece in the same posture used by previous guests.

"You're here?"

Han Xiaoyue still wore a veil, concealing the ugliness on her face. Her figure, however, was not disguised this time: her chest had a faint, graceful curve, her waist and hips were full, and her legs were long. As the airflow swept past, it occasionally lifted the slits at the sides of her long white dress, revealing legs as smooth and delicate as carved jade.

"Why did you have time to come here today? Is something the matter?" Lin Hui entered, closed the door behind him, flashed, and vanished. In the next second, he appeared sitting on the Grand Preceptor Chair, looking up at Han Xiaoyue.

“Be careful of the Clear River Sect for the time being,” Han Xiaoyue said. “Their people in the Inner City have been moving around constantly, as if they’re investigating something. They have deep foundations and powerful backing—they’re basically a money-printing tool for certain big shots in the Inner City. Don’t get burned playing with fire.”

"You came specifically to remind me?" Lin Hui narrowed his eyes. He reviewed things in his mind again, confirming that he had moved all the Purple Crystals and that the traces of killing and corpses had been handled very cleanly—all thrown into the Night Mist to be gnawed on and carried away by monsters.

"You could say that. There is one other matter. Regarding your Big Brother, Liu Wujun, someone wants to set up a trap for his detriment. Tell him not to go to the Naiyun Mountain Ruins recently," Han Xiaoyue said softly.

"Naiyun Mountain Ruins... I understand. Thank you, Miss Han. I will go remind Big Brother immediately." Lin Hui's expression changed slightly. Although they hadn't known each other long, given Han Xiaoyue's personality, for her to take the initiative to come personally and warn him, the severity was definitely several times stronger than her attitude suggested.

"Mm. I've said my piece. I'm going back." Han Xiaoyue's gaze was calm;

she turned to leave.

"Please wait a moment." Lin Hui hurriedly stopped her. "Since you're already here, why not let me fulfill the duties of a host?"

"You mean eating?" Han Xiaoyue asked.

"No, I mean, I have a good place where we can cultivate together," Lin Hui said honestly.

"..." Han Xiaoyue was stunned for a moment, then revealed a trace of a gentle smile. "Okay." She agreed softly.

"Then please wait a moment. I'll make a trip to the Inner City to remind Big Brother, then return immediately. With my speed, as long as I don't fail to find him, I should be able to make the round trip within two hours," Lin Hui said seriously.

"Okay!" Han Xiaoyue nodded, then walked to a chair nearby and sat down. She closed her eyes, and strands of gloomy, cold aura began to linger around her again;

she actually just started cultivating right there.

Lin Hui felt a slight sense of admiration. This kind of composure to sit and cultivate anytime, anywhere was enough for him to learn from.

He stood up and checked the entry permit he carried. Just as he was about to move...

“Wait. On your body… there’s something.” Han Xiaoyue suddenly opened her eyes. “It’s the aura of a Mist God…”

“It is…” Lin Hui hesitated. He knew she was a noble daughter of the Inner City with broad knowledge. Since she had already sensed it, he recounted in detail how he had gone to the Mist Zone outside the city, chanced upon an abandoned ruin, and discovered a large statue within.

Of course, in his version of events, the ruin had been empty from the start, and stumbling upon its treasures had been pure luck. He claimed he had done nothing at all, only to be inexplicably provoked and targeted by that Mist God—he could be said to be completely innocent.

“The Mist God’s Gaze isn’t a major problem. It’s a negative effect generated through the statue. Since you destroyed the statue, it will fade on its own—at most, it should last about half a year. During that time, just stay away from similar statues, and your movement speed won’t be reduced again.”

“If you do experience another slowdown, then search the area for hidden statues. The statue’s range is limited—if it can affect you, that means there must be a fixed statue nearby exerting its influence.”

Han Xiaoyue explained;

she seemed to know and understand everything.

"So that's how it is... As long as I ensure there are no statues around, I won't be affected, right?" Lin Hui suddenly understood.

"You could say that." Han Xiaoyue nodded.

"Thanks for the explanation. Information like this must be very precious. Is it really okay for you to tell me so directly?" Lin Hui thanked her.

"It doesn't matter. I have no family left, and no one can control me," Han Xiaoyue said flatly.

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