Cultivation System: Stronger with Age
Chapter 34 - 30: Steward’s Task, Raid on Marsh Python People

Chapter 34: Chapter 30: Steward’s Task, Raid on Marsh Python People

The sound of something whistling through the air brushed past Lin Xuankong’s back.

In that horrifying moment, the hairs on the back of Lin Xuankong’s neck stood on end.

With a Spiritual Crane Pounce, he leaped over ten feet. His eyes, filled with intense killing intent, fixed on the ambusher. Then, he couldn’t help but be stunned.

He saw his Young Lady wielding an Iron Rod as thick as a bowl, looking at him with a face full of excitement.

"Just now, on the second floor, I saw you expelling impurities from your body. I didn’t expect you to advance to the mid-grade of the Second Layer so quickly... so my hands were itching to test you, and I couldn’t resist!

"Your reaction is quite fast, but I wonder how many of my attacks you can dodge?

"Remember, when you can’t evade, circulate your Qi Blood to the spot hit by the Iron Rod! I will suppress my strength to the mid-grade of the Second Layer. At that realm, you should be able to easily withstand a full-force strike from this rod!"

Before her words faded, she had already swung the Iron Rod and pounced.

In the backyard of the wooden house, the sound of whistling air immediately tore through the quiet again.

Lii Xiaolan employed the Spiritual Crane Finger attack patterns. Her movements during the assault were light and graceful, yet swift as a crane’s beak striking at grain, and her power was terrifyingly immense. Within three breaths, she had launched dozens of strikes...

At one point, one of her strikes landed on a large bluestone, and the man-high boulder actually exploded into hundreds of pieces. This sight made Lin Xuankong, who was continuously dodging, break out in a cold sweat!

After he dodged over a hundred moves, Lii Xiaolan said while continuing her assault, "Remember, when the Iron Rod hits you, you absolutely must circulate your Qi Blood to that spot!"

Lin Xuankong, still dodging repeatedly, was about to respond when he saw Lii Xiaolan’s figure flash, a finger stabbing towards his forehead. He nimbly dodged to the right, only to realize her finger strike was a feint; the Iron Rod swinging towards his right abdomen was already upon him!

It was too late to dodge again, so he hastily circulated his Qi Blood, concentrating it in his abdomen.

BANG! With a deafening sound, the Iron Rod slammed heavily into the right side of his abdomen!

That ferocious, terrifying power... Lin Xuankong was absolutely certain. If it had been him from over ten days ago, such a blow would have shattered his internal organs, broken his bones, and snapped his tendons. He would have collapsed instantly, and the neighbors in Wutong Village would have had a feast to attend that night!

However, under the protection of his extremely condensed and powerful Qi Blood at the mid-grade of the Second Layer, he was merely knocked back several steps, leaving a series of deep footprints on the ground.

His internal organs were unharmed; even the muscles and skin of his abdomen were undamaged!

He touched his right abdomen in astonishment, silently marveling at the wonders of the Martial Dao. That huge bluestone had been smashed to smithereens, yet he was completely unscathed!

In just another ten days, when I advance to the Second Layer Late Stage, the realm that bearded Martial Cultivator had reached, how much stronger will my defenses become? Will every part of my body be as hard as thrice-refined steel?

Lii Xiaolan observed him carefully for a few moments, then waved the now bow-shaped thick Iron Rod.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Reaching the mid-grade of the Second Layer so quickly! Hmm, such a joyous occasion definitely calls for extra dishes. Ten dishes tonight?"

As she spoke, she patted her small stomach.

Lin Xuankong was speechless. Is there any justice in this world? She thrashes me with an iron rod and then expects me to buy her dinner? That last strike felt terrifyingly strong... Was the Young Lady jealous of my cultivation speed? No, that can’t be it!

...

The Young Lady was genuinely happy for him and had even specifically tested his strength. However, she can’t be allowed to make a habit of this. An Iron Rod isn’t something to be swung around casually!

Therefore, Lin Xuankong ruthlessly cut the ten dishes down to six...

After the two of them had demolished the dishes sent over from Piaoxiang Tower,

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. The sound of knocking came from the main outer door.

Lin Xuankong rose and opened the door to find Yang Mountain standing outside, holding a Red Tassel Spear. He bowed respectfully. "Steward Lin, the Hall Master has assigned this month’s first mission! Deputy Steward Li, Deputy Steward Ma, and the other disciples are waiting at the Cow and Horse Street post."

Lin Xuankong’s eyes lit up. After waiting for some ten days, the first of the three primary tasks for his new role as Steward had finally arrived. The qualification for cultivating the Yin Talisman Technique was now within sight!

"Good, I’ll head to the Cow and Horse Street post immediately!"

「Moments later,」

Lin Xuankong walked into the Steward’s Tower at the Cow and Horse Street post, where numerous disciples awaited him. They all rose and saluted. Lin Xuankong walked directly to the head seat.

He looked at the somewhat grave faces of Li Er and Ma Rusong. "What is the mission assigned to the post by the Hall Master?"

Bald Li Er raised his eyebrows. "Steward, it’s a mission to aid the Outer City. It’s quite a challenging one!"

Beside him, Ma Rusong wore a solemn expression. "Reporting to the Steward, it’s a rescue mission, and the danger level is not low!"

Rescue the Outer City? Lin Xuankong took the document Ma Rusong handed him and began to read it carefully.

"Hall Master’s Order:

Recently, Outer City Steward Han Lu was besieged in Xunhe Town by over a hundred members of the Marsh Python Liao Race. A report from a Flying Eagle courier—it’s extremely urgent!

Therefore, Lin Xuankong is ordered to lead the disciples of Cow and Horse Street and set out before a quarter past Noon today. Head to Xunhe Town, rendezvous with Han Lu, and repel the Demon People Race besieging Xunhe Town. Success will be heavily rewarded!

---- Seal of Xuu Zhenhuan, Great Marsh Hall."

Going to Xunhe Town in the Outer City to deal with the Demon People Race!

Lin Xuankong couldn’t help but frown slightly. Since beginning his Martial Cultivation, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds, but he had never before dealt with members of a Demon People Race controlled by demons!

Deputy Steward Ma Rusong said solemnly, "Steward, according to the returning reports, Steward Han Lu is leading over thirty disciples and several thousand townspeople, relying on the town walls to resist.

"However, among the Demon People Race besieging Xunhe Town, there are four Tier Two early-stage leaders. Most of the others are formidable Tier One mid-grade to late-stage Demon People. This is equivalent to four Second Layer early-stage and one hundred First Layer mid-grade to late-stage Martial Cultivators. This will undoubtedly be a hard-fought battle!"

Bald Li Er rolled his neck. "But I’ve heard that Marsh Python People have White Scales on their foreheads. Those White Scales are quite precious, one of the key materials for crafting high-priced Exorcism Equipment!"

Deputy Steward Ma Rusong’s eye twitched. "White Scales are indeed extremely precious, but you must have also heard how terrifying the giant tails of Marsh Python People are. If our forty-odd members don’t fight well, we’ll just be feeding the flames!"

Hearing this, Bald Li Er vigorously scratched his bald head. He offered no rebuttal and turned to look at Lin Xuankong.

The surrounding disciples couldn’t help but grip their Longswords tightly, their expressions subtly shifting. These disciples had clearly fought against the Demon People Race before and knew the dangers involved.

After listening to Ma Rusong, Lin Xuankong’s brows, which had been tightly furrowed at the prospect of facing the Demon People Race, gradually relaxed.

Members of the Marsh Python Liao Race at Tier One mid-grade are equivalent to First Layer mid-grade Martial Cultivators, and Tier Two early-stage members are equivalent to Second Layer early-stage Martial Cultivators? ...If it had been me some ten days ago, encountering a Second Layer early-stage opponent, it might have taken a fierce battle to decide life and death! But now I’ve advanced to the Second Layer mid-grade. My speed, power, and Explosive Power are far beyond what they were, especially my defense... As I am now, I can easily fight and defeat a Second Layer early-stage opponent! Besides, I have trump cards like the Twin Vine Demon Pearl and the Manluo Demon Pearl... Four Second Layer early-stage threats aren’t that significant! It’s just that this Demon People Race, controlled by demons, will be different from ordinary Martial Cultivators. I absolutely have to understand the characteristics of this Demon People Race in detail!

Lin Xuankong swept his gaze over the crowd. "Since it is an order from the Hall Master, everyone go and prepare. Inform your families, pack sufficient food and medicine, get an extra weapon from the post’s warehouse, and assemble at the gathering ground before Noon!"

Although the disciples were extremely apprehensive, the Steward had spoken. They could only cup their hands in acknowledgment and file out of the building.

Lin Xuankong called out to Yang Mountain, "Go to the warehouse at once and bring me all information related to the Marsh Python Liao Race."

"Yes!" Yang Mountain acknowledged the order and departed.

Ma Rusong, who had been standing to one side, couldn’t help but speak after the other disciples had left:

"The activities of the Demon People Race have been extremely frequent recently. I heard from fellow disciples that two days ago, the East Second Street post went to aid West Mountain Town. Of the more than sixty fellow disciples who went, over thirty died. Even their Steward was seriously injured and lost an arm!

"Yesterday, the South Main Street post aided Yangshan Town. Over twenty died, Steward Hua was killed on the spot, and the remaining two Deputy Stewards failed to complete the mission and had to retreat with their men!

"Steward Lin, even if we join forces with Steward Han, our numbers will only be just over seventy. Facing more than a hundred members of the Demon People Race is too dangerous; annihilation is a real possibility!

"Furthermore, your talent is Four Seals, just like Steward Gu Beicheng of North City. Steward Gu Beicheng’s post has never been assigned such a dangerous mission. If you go and see Grand Steward Jiang and the others who favor you, perhaps this mission will be reassigned!

"Even if you don’t go to Grand Steward Jiang, you should at least see Steward Ma and ask if some manpower can be reassigned to us!"

Lin Xuankong remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "I’ll first understand the situation with the Marsh Python Liao Race... As for borrowing more manpower from Steward Ma, I will consider it!" _{free.webn\ove(l)(.)c(o)m}

Upon hearing this, Ma Rusong’s expression turned somewhat unsightly. He snorted coldly and departed with a flick of his sleeve.

He thought to himself, Departing at a quarter past Noon... Time is so tight! At a time like this, seeking out Grand Steward Jiang to reassign the mission or going to Steward Ma for more men is what’s needed! What’s the point of looking at information about the damn Demon People Race! This Lin Xuankong is old, his Qi Blood declining; his strength is surely far inferior to Li Er’s and my own—probably only at the First Layer Late Stage at best! If the forty-odd of us really go, relying only on myself and Li Er to hold the line, it will undoubtedly be a disaster, with a seventy to eighty percent chance of complete annihilation! No, I must find any way possible to withdraw from this mission, to get away from this old fool Lin Xuankong. If that old bag of bones wants to die, let him! How can I throw my life away with this feeble old man!