Chapter 50: Stirring Trouble
Chapter 50: Stirring Trouble
Seated in the cool pavilion of Lin Manor, Lin Yuan worried that Magistrate Yun, cornered and desperate, might become even more dangerous.
News of Yun Yi’s disappearance had actually spread the very night Iron Immortal Temple was attacked.
Lin Yuan heard that the Magistrate fainted several times because of it.
For several days, he constantly dispatched bailiffs, along with advisors or unusual individuals recruited by Yun Manor or the county office, to investigate everywhere. They made no less than dozens of trips to Iron Immortal Temple.
Indeed, Yun Yi’s talent, temperament, and wisdom greatly satisfied the Yun family. The sudden, silent vanishing of such a fine young horse naturally made the new magistrate panic.
The widow has lost her son and all hope!
Lin Yuan didn’t need to actively investigate the hidden watchers to know they were from Yun Manor, keeping surveillance.
Someone who committed a guilty deed, once trouble arose, would naturally first suspect the person they had previously schemed against.
That Magistrate Yun was hosting a banquet inviting disciples from various Mystic Gate Dharma Lineages now made Lin Yuan deeply cautious.
As the saying goes, the one who strikes first gains the advantage; the one who delays suffers injury.
Gazing at the many young men and women of the Lin family playing and studying in the nearby garden, Lin Yuan’s eyes flickered. No matter what, he couldn’t let the Lin family suffer this avoidable harm.
These past few days, news had come from Daoist Yu. The test at Wenchang Daoist Academy had identified an individual with the Innate Dao Body. The Dao Academy couldn’t handle this alone and had to report it to the higher Mystical Gate Dharma Lineages.
It was said that even the sects under the Mystic Gate’s Upper Three Lineages were extremely interested in this Innate Dao Body.
Daoist Yu mentioned that he probably wouldn’t be staying much longer at the Lin family.
Before leaving, Lin Yuan considered eliminating this major threat to the Lin family.
Within the cool pavilion, Lin Yuan’s eyes flickered. After a moment, a glint of dark light shone in his eyes. He summoned steward Uncle Lian, gathered several Lin disciples, and had them erect an altar in the small courtyard adjoining the side chambers.
Watching numerous household servants bustling about, Uncle Lian and Rurong stood nearby, their gazes occasionally shifting towards the figure sitting cross-legged on the rockery.
Lin Yuan then pulled out various treasures from a Hundred Treasures Pouch at his waist.
This was one of the space Magical Artifacts he had casually found inside the Water Mansion.
Still, Rurong and Uncle Lian had never seen anything like it before. Uncle Lian stole glances at the head maid beside him, thinking inwardly how fortunate Rurong would be.
According to the Dao Academy and the Lin family, once the Fifth Young Master entered the sect, he would surely become an inner disciple, or even a True Inheritor outright. He would have the privilege of taking one or two people to personally attend him.
Rurong, who had long been favored in his chambers, would definitely not be left behind. If the young master achieved great things in cultivation later, she would share in that fortune.
Lin Yuan, however, ignored everyone’s busyness. After instructing the old steward to warn everyone against leaking what was happening here, he loosened his hair, produced the Merit Golden Lamp, and refined the many spirit materials he had taken out.
They transformed into eighteen jet-black banners that emanated palpable dread.
Upon them were two ancient seal script characters resembling bird-shaped cloud dragons.
They radiated a terrifying aura of misfortune and ill omen. When this fearsome aura surged, the Merit Golden Light above his head even dimmed slightly. Lin Yuan paid it no mind.
If any divine fiend from the Primordial World were present, they would surely recognize these Wu Script characters on the banner: Downfall!
The Downfall Formation!
As the famous “make-up class champion” near Jiugong Mountain in the Primordial World, Lin Yuan learned far more than just physical and spiritual refinement. He had also mastered various unusual arts.
Returning to Origin was one. This Causality Targeting art was another.
However, compared to Returning to Origin, his comprehension of the Causality Targeting art was truly less than one ten-thousandth. Yet, even this incomplete version of such a fierce formation was more than enough for his plan, if not outright killing anyone.
“Steward, has the banquet at Yun Manor started?” Lin Yuan’s gaze turned towards Uncle Lian beside him, who wore an expression of astonishment.
Hearing this, Uncle Lian quickly stepped forward.
“Young Master, a guard just reported moments ago, it is about to begin. Many guests have already arrived!”
Lin Yuan glanced to the side. Numerous servants and maids were already carrying lanterns, lighting up the glass lamps beneath the flying eaves. A cold smile flickered in Lin Yuan’s eyes.
The show was about to start!
Lin Yuan extended one hand, mustering his magic power. Points of watery light appeared in his palm.
This was simply a basic water control technique.
It was the first talisman seed he had obtained while refining that River God Golden Seal.
The watery light reflected, and vague images condensed from the watery mirage floating in the air. Rurong and Uncle Lian exchanged a look, their expressions shifting subtly. Reflected in the water mirror was the imposing facade of a large, magnificent mansion.
Yun Manor! Their faces registered shock.
This was truly a formidable power. Uncle Lian thought to himself; unlike the young girl beside him, he had traveled widely in his youth and encountered many cultivators. He had rarely heard of them forcibly penetrating the protective Dragon Qi of the government to use mystical arts.
Lin Yuan remained unperturbed. This was just a basic reflection technique, not difficult. Within a few miles, given his current magic power, seeing clearly was effortless.
But as the image in the water mirror focused deeper into the main hall of the mansion, it began to ripple and waver.
ROARR!
Faint threads of invisible, abnormal power seemed to come through the air, like golden dragons piercing the void, peering towards them. It brought immense pressure and suppressed the Primordial Spirit.
It was the Dragon Qi of Great Zhou!
An ordinary Primordial Spirit Great True Lord would likely have suffered backlash by now. However, Lin Yuan’s Primordial Spirit was exceptionally formidable. A faint Primordial Spirit treasure light emanated from within him. Golden rays circulated on the Merit Golden Lamp, providing unsurpassed defense, completely ignoring this backlash.
Lin Yuan observed this coldly.
As Magistrate of Wenchang County, Yun Bufan naturally possessed Dragon Qi shielding him. This inner Dragon Qi formed a barrier, rendering ordinary Daoist arts ineffective for spying.
Even a Primordial Spirit Great True Lord could not act recklessly.
But with this pseudo-Downfall Formation, it was different. Neither Dragon Qi nor official aura could block it easily!
It was a pity this wasn’t the real Downfall Formation. If it were, such a Divine Immortal killer formation could have compelled even a State Preceptor of the Dragon Court.
Lin Yuan’s gaze was as sharp as cold lightning. He snorted coldly and pointed his finger. The eighteen banners trembled slightly. His loose black hair lifted without any wind. Streams of dark, ill-omened energy descended, silently dispersing an invisible resistance hanging above Yun Manor.
The scene inside the main hall of Yun Manor instantly appeared before them.
Inside the Yun Manor main hall, the sounds of stringed instruments filled the air. Beautiful dancing girls in fluttering skirts whirled, the air thick with fragrance.
The mood in the hall was lively, someone apparently having just spoken.
After a burst of laughter, a clear, resonant voice rang out.
“So you say, that Fifth Young Master of the Lin Manor truly possesses unusual powers?”
As this voice spoke, from one of the seats in the Yun Manor main hall, Yun Bufan spoke with a tone of regret.
“Indeed, it is so. Many witnessed this themselves. That divine lamp flew up, radiating ten thousand rays of light and emitting immeasurable splendor. That crooked heretic who stole the Lin family treasury silver was illuminated by its glow, instantly froze in place, and died moments later. It is truly an immortal’s treasure!”
“According to an advisor in my employ, it could very well be a great treasure of a sect!”
“It’s a pity, when the treasure unleashed its radiance, I was at the county office checking accounts, and thus missed the sight. Truly unfortunate!”
Hearing such blatant praise, Lin Yuan inwardly cursed. That old scoundrel was indeed playing underhanded tricks!
Just then, from among the dozen or so young Daoists seated in the hall, one laughed heartily and said, “Where’s the difficulty in that, Uncle Yun? I happen to have a unique treasure that might just fulfill Uncle’s wish!”
“A treasure of the immortals is held by the destined. What virtue or ability does that Lin brat possess to deserve it!”