novelraw Chapter 218-1: The True Form of the Yokai, Feiyanmaru Saw (1)
Chapter 218-1: The True Form of the Yokai, Feiyanmaru Saw (1)
[You have entered an apocalyptic chapter.]
[Chapter 63942575]
[A powerful wandering soul awakens in the guest quarters of a dilapidated temple…]
Morning sunlight streamed into the rented apartment. In the kitchen, a blonde girl wearing an apron was busying herself.
Lin Xun opened his inventory. The one million Spirit Essence he had put away the night before had vanished without a trace.
That one million Spirit Essence was illicit funds from the New World.
However, the Apostle Security Council did not mandate the surrender of gray income earned by undercover agents during infiltration.
Only certain special items involving intelligence were subject to mandatory handover, and in such cases, corresponding compensation would be provided.
In this respect, the authorities were still rather open-minded.
Of course, Lin Xun had not handed that one million Spirit Essence over to the organization. He had used it to pay off debts.“I still owe my female superior a full two million… why do I suddenly feel like giving up?”
He wasn’t even sure whether taking one million from the New World to repay his debt was a loss or a gain.
“Better keep working to clear my external debts as soon as possible…”
“No, wait. Amos said last night that a million Spirit Essence would last me through this current difficulty. If I clear the fifth chapter and move on to the sixth, wouldn’t I get another ‘support fund’?”
Realizing this, Lin Xun was instantly re-energized and continued his quest.
[You push open the guesthouse door and step into the temple courtyard…]
[A breeze drifts by, carrying the damp fragrance of the mountain soil in the morning air.]
[In the warm sun, the little yokai Origin-Tracing Trainees swung their weapons in training, their shouts echoing without pause.]
[The supervising Origin-Tracing Dignitary Bull Demon hurriedly bowed upon seeing you. It noticed your keen interest in the yokai’s martial training and explained to you…]
[These trainees were practicing martial techniques unique to the yokai lineage, extremely powerful but unsuitable for humans.]
[Such techniques required an exceptionally sturdy body, or else one would injure oneself before unleashing any skill.]
[The Dignitary Bull Demon cautiously asked whether you wished to join the training. If you preferred not to train with the others, it could also instruct you alone.]
Lin Xun’s eyes brightened.
Wasn’t this a free opportunity to learn skills?
It seemed the benefits of joining the Chaotic Origin Dragon’s faction were far more than a single dragon scale item.
However, there was still official business to attend to. Training could wait until that was settled.
[You slowly shake your head, indicating you have other matters to handle and will consider training another day.]
[You bid farewell to the Dignitary Bull Demon and step toward the main hall…]
[…]
[In the main hall, the Origin-Tracing Temple Master – Calamity Mage was instructing the Origin-Tracing Night Escort Dog. Judging by the Night Escort Dog’s black attire and the little bundle on its back, it was about to descend the mountain.]
[The Temple Master was reminding it to purchase offerings. Upon seeing you approach, both immediately bowed.]
[You informed the Calamity Mage of your intention to go down the mountain, only for it to turn pale with alarm, repeatedly insisting you must not.]
[It explained the risks to you: with the priceless body of a Dragon God’s descendant walking the mortal world, if discovered by the New God’s followers, the consequences would be unimaginable…]
[The Calamity Mage pleaded with you in every way. When you refused to abandon your plan, it sighed helplessly and pulled out a ragged little wooden board from its robe, handing it to you.]
[You have obtained Broken Wooden Board (Epic+ Grade Item)]
[Broken Wooden Board (Epic+ Grade Item): A rotten plank taken from a broken wooden basin, soaked in seawater until it has decayed beyond recognition.]
[Using this item will summon the true form of the powerful yokai known as the Calamity Mage to fight by your side.]
[This item is consumable and does not conflict with your summoned creatures.]
“Huh… is this Calamity Mage that strong?”
The rewards for joining an oath faction weren’t fixed; they mainly depended on the strength and status of the character offering the invitation.
In the Blood Sun World, a Titan Demigod and a Servant of Omniscient True Knowledge had given him legendary-grade items and powerful exclusive tools.
But in the Blood Sun World, weak characters like the Corrupted Slave Master only offered trivial intelligence rewards from the Blind Merchant when he switched to the Blood Sun Oath.
Of course, this unwritten rule wasn’t absolute, there were also powerful figures like the Child of the Stars who turned out to be miserly.
The main reason Lin Xun hadn’t joined any oath faction was simply that he hadn’t met a truly formidable quest character.
The Broken Wooden Board was Epic+ grade. The last consumable summon item of this tier he’d encountered was the Overlord Behemoth’s Summoning Eye.
And items obtained on fifth difficulty were usually even more powerful than those from fourth difficulty.
In other words, this old man slumped in the wooden basin was actually a monster even stronger than the Veiled Aberration Overlord.
“Damn… this is really a case of a tiger pretending to be a pig.”
[After handing you the Broken Wooden Board, the Calamity Mage finally agreed to let you go down the mountain. It urged you to return quickly and reminded you that if the New God’s followers discovered you, you must use this item in your hour of peril…]
[The Origin-Tracing Night Escort Dog asked if you wished to descend the mountain together.]
[You shook your head, declining its kind offer.]
Lin Xun returned alone to the guest quarters and used a Resting Page to teleport to the port.
Using the little dragonkin shell within the city required consuming an Iridescent Sea Shell. If it wasn’t necessary, he preferred to save the resource.
He switched into the Fire-Worshipping Heartless Flow Swordsman shell and headed toward the Scallion-Tuna Tavern.
[…]
[You stepped into the Scallion-Tuna Tavern. It was still early, and there were hardly any patrons inside.]
[You walked to the familiar private room door, slid open the shoji, and saw a naked man and woman lying together on the tatami.]
[The man was your senior swordsman brother, while the woman appeared to be some wandering courtesan.]
“…This senior brother really has quite the appetite.”
Lin Xun was too exhausted to even complain.
[…]
[You and your now-dressed senior brother left the Scallion-Tuna Tavern and headed toward the Heartless Flow Dojo…]
[As you walked, your senior swordsman brother told you that after your defeat on the dueling platform last night, he had immediately sent a disciple back to the dojo to report the news.]
[However, since the Master Instructor had already retired for the night, the disciple did not receive a reply until this morning.]
[He went on to say that when the Master Instructor learned of the matter, he was furious. Junior, you should prepare yourself to be punished when you return.]
Lin Xun let out a cold laugh. Punished?
Just wait and see who ends up punished.
[…]