Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 224 - 217 Against Part One

Chapter 224: Chapter 217 Against Part One

"Wealthy people speak with so much confidence, too. Can’t you look after us poor folks a little more?"

Ci Wang joked, then he glanced at the number on the Jade Token, and suddenly his movements halted.

"You... are you planning to overthrow the Sword Sect and rebuild the pine forest?"

He said, utterly speechless.

"I have no choice. I’ve gotten into some trouble recently, and for safety’s sake, I need to take precautions," Lin Xin said casually.

Ci Wang responded incredulously, "Even so, you don’t need to spend that much money..."

"Tell me honestly, how many people can you hire?" Lin Xin pressed, "I need an exact number."

"How many people? Maybe ten or eight, depending on how much you pay each," Ci Wang thought carefully before adding, "What about me? Do you think I fit the criteria?" He finished with a hopeful look on his face.

Although his face was like a painted porcelain, fixed without expression, and his mouth did not move when he spoke, Lin Xin could still see the anticipation in his face.

"Ci Wang, are you really that short on money?" he asked, somewhat speechless.

"I am a bit short... Lately, I’ve been using up a lot of Spirit Jade, haha..." Ci Wang chuckled. "Just tell me if I qualify? Being at the Golden Core Stage is not an issue! I rarely take action usually, your money could hire several ordinary Golden Cores, but the protective measures might not be as dedicated as I would be. If you hire me, you will get guaranteed protection in all aspects. I have my porcelain men subordinates who can also help monitor the surroundings, and any important messages received by the branch, I can inform you immediately. Isn’t that great?"

Lin Xin was uncertain for a moment, but seeing Ci Wang’s eager manner, along with his previously mysterious background and his capacity to oversee a branch and serve as a department head, he seemed exceptionally formidable.

"Alright. Then, I’ll hire Minister Ci Wang himself. What about the branch then? Won’t there be anyone to guard it?" he asked, puzzled.

"This branch?" Ci Wang went silent for a moment, staring at Lin Xin before he finally realized. "All this time, you didn’t know—this entire branch is my body. You’re currently speaking to my substitute at the heart of my body..."

"What?"

Lin Xin was suddenly astounded.

***************************

"Radiant Sun Patriarch, with boundless mana, through the ages, unifying Jianghu!!"

In the underground hall, Lin Xin watched with a twitching smile as various newly recruited disciples kneeled all over the floor. The Radiant Sun Sect was transitioning from the shadows to the public eye. He had heard that Liu Yang had passed on his position to Liu Zong, who had aggressively recruited many new members over the past few years. Lin Xin had decided to visit on his way back but didn’t expect to encounter such a spectacle.

The hall was crowded with people kneeling all over, all very eager to please, with Liu Zong looking quite smug on the side.

"Sect Master, these are the communicative talents I recruited following the plan you once mentioned. Their elocution skills are top-notch, surely achieving the effect you desired. They can not only promote our platform effectively but also play a significant role in attracting powerful individuals."

"Is that so? Well, that’s good... that’s good..." Lin Xin didn’t want to stay any longer than necessary. He quickly inquired about the current state of the Radiant Sun Sect’s platform development and then asked about the levels and numbers of the guest elders it had.

"As for the guest elders, we treat each of them individually. The identity, status, and strength of each guest elder are confidential, known only to the senior management, and they are unaware of each other’s existence," Liu Zong replied.

"Give me the specifics," Lin Xin said indifferently.

"Specifically, we have three at the Foundation Establishment Stage, one at the Taoist Master Level, and one ordinary person. The ordinary person was recruited due to a special identity that warranted giving them the status of a guest elder," Liu Zong quickly responded.

"How special?" Lin Xin was curious what kind of ordinary person’s identity would merit a guest elder status within a cultivator sect.

"He is the hidden descendant of a current Nascent Soul Patriarch, unknown to the patriarch himself and to the man as well. Only we are aware of it and," Liu Zong whispered, "this information was relayed by Honorary King Tianjue. Seeing its great value, we decided to immediately invite him to join us and enjoy the status of a guest elder."

"You mean, Qing’er?" Lin Xin was suddenly surprised.

"Yes..." Liu Zong nodded. "Young Master Qing is currently trapped on Luo Xiao Slope, able to only send out messages but has instructed us not to rescue him, claiming he has a way to escape and asking us not to worry. Mainly, he wanted you not to worry."

Lin Xin understood, knowing that Nan Shunqing’s abilities were always profoundly mysterious, and such reassurance must mean he was absolutely confident in escaping; it wasn’t just to comfort him.

"That’s reassuring. Since Qing’er says so, he must be confident. Let’s leave it at that. I need some experts for some pressing matters this time. Use the platform to post a mission, asking for that Taoist Master retainer to come to Spirit Heart Villa. If more Taoist Masters can be invited, even better, money is no object." Lin Xin ordered, needing as much powerful assistance as possible.

"Understood," Liu Zong nodded.

"By the way, what about your current cultivation level?" Before Lin Xin could finish speaking, he saw Liu Zong’s movement technique flash in mid-air, creating nine different afterimages. All nine figures drew their swords simultaneously, striking lightning fast at the same spot in the air.

With a whoosh, a red firelight suddenly brightened in the air, dazzlingly brilliant. The nine Sword Shadows overlapped, as though they were tearing the void apart.

"Nine-layered Sword Dao overlaid with Illusionary Spirit Nine Truths, this is a breakthrough I only recently achieved in a Third Grade cultivation technique. Right now, it’s only my cultivation level that limits its power," Liu Zong reappeared in front of Lin Xin.

"It looks impressive. And this technique requires at least the Second Layer of Qi Refinement to activate, right?" Lin Xin’s gaze was sharp.

"Sect Master’s insight is as sharp as ever. Indeed, it is so. I just recently broke through the realm with the help of various external forces, reaching the Second Layer standard," Liu Zong quickly said, uniting his figure, appearing in front of Lin Xin.

"Very well, with the completion of the Return to Origin Technique, the Radiant Sun Sect will eventually flourish." Lin Xin consoled him.

Liu Zong was also fanatic, fervently agreeing.

Then, the man kneeling below came forward one by one for a careful introduction.

After the introductions, Lin Xin reacquainted himself with the current high-rank practitioners of the Radiant Sun Sect and learned that Nan Shunqing was still alive, which made him feel much more at ease.

Leaving the Radiant Sun Sect, he followed the coastal road back, and on the way, he visited the Peacock Sect. He wanted to find Kong Yuhui, but the man was not there; Kong Yuhui had gone to the countryside to carry out a mission not long ago, having just barely become a disciple in the Qi Refinement Realm. He was still taking on a large number of missions and, due to a shortage of personnel, had even become a Suppressor at a stationed area, thus he was even busier.

As Lin Xin left the Peacock Sect, he received a message that the Porcelain King and people from the Radiant Sun Sect had finally arrived.

**********************

Spirit Heart Villa

Night.

"Esteemed seniors, thank you for your hard journey. I have prepared food and lodging expenses; please rest well tonight, and tomorrow we can commence our employment contract," Lin Xin said with a smile, standing in the large room inside the manor’s inner courtyard, bowing politely to the three people in front of him.

"You are too kind, Villa Master. We came as agreed upon the task, and as long as the payment is sufficient, it is okay," the three replied politely, joining their hands, but their movements and manner subtly displayed a bit of reservation.

"You are too modest, honored Daoist Masters."

These three were not affiliated with the Radiant Sun Sect or the Porcelain King; rather, they were high-level experts brought in through Dugu Lin’s connections, all of Taoist Master level, whose price was quite high, albeit slightly less so perhaps out of respect for Dugu Lin. Therefore, Lin Xin readily agreed.

After all, to him at this stage, Spirit Jade was merely a number; how much it cost did not matter, as long as he was safe.

The three had somewhat indifferent expressions, even somewhat haughty.

Senior Brother Feng Wuyang had attained Tao in a cave at Clear Spring Mountain, where a tiny, delicate Sun Spring was hidden. He had concealed his identity and endured hard cultivation for hundreds of years. Coupled with his subsequent adventures and his good innate talents, he had eventually made a name for himself and became a lone Dominator.

The other two were also his close friends. Before they became Daoist Masters, they had shared life-and-death experiences, so they had sworn a bond as siblings, known collectively as the Three Friends of the Inverted Hut, meaning three cultivators residing at Inverted Hut Mountain.

As they didn’t cultivate in Central Prefecture, they weren’t very well-known, and since this region was traditionally lagging in the cultivation world with generally low-quality cultivators, very few could catch their eyes. Now, they had taken on Lin Xin’s protection mission, which was merely a side job to relax and earn some extra money.

They had a bit of disdain for Lin Xin. After all, his cultivation was too low.

However, enticed by money, they were willing to deal with him, else in the Central Prefecture, what right did an Innate-level like him have to speak in front of them?

Feng Wuyang looked at Lin Xin, who was still detailing the mission ahead and about to continue speaking about the enemy’s intelligence strength, and spoke casually.

"There’s no need to mention the details of the opponents; it’s not likely that Central Prefecture would have any Alchemy Dao masters."

On hearing this, Lin Xin did not speak further, and since the other party was so confident, he was not annoyed but simply smiled and replied.

"In that case, please rest for a while, and we’ll discuss other matters tomorrow."

"Someone, show these honored Daoist Masters to their quarters," he instructed.

Immediately, a disciple of the manor came up, respectfully inviting the three to the prepared courtyard to rest.

As the three left the room and walked to a garden.

"This place is just so-so. I remember once being employed by an Honorary King in Central Prefecture, served by eighteen maids of varying beauty, and even had an exclusive palace all to myself, whereas here, the arrangements are so modest. It truly is...."

Feng Wuyang shook his head.

"Naturally, here cannot compare to Central Prefecture, and here a Golden Core Daoist Master might be considered a top expert. That Villa Master is only outwardly calm, maybe he’s actually trembling with fear," another Daoist Master said with a laugh.

All three had endured many years of hard cultivation in deep mountains, and after coming out into the world, they somewhat indulged in worldly pleasures, which was a reason they were willing to be hired for Spirit Jade.

"Indeed, I’ve seen many who feign calm. It’s his good fortune to have invited us three. Presumably, this is the best arrangement he can offer; otherwise, if he angered us and we left, wouldn’t he be without assistance to face his enemies?" the third also said with a laugh.

"That makes sense. These rural wealthy might not even understand what status and power a Golden Core Daoist Master possesses," Feng Wuyang also starting to laugh.

As soon as their words ended, the three felt a streak of Escape Light pass over their heads. The light was slightly golden and carried a robust aura.

"This...." Although the three were arrogant, they still had a basic discernment; they could differentiate between the Escape Light of the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Golden Core Stage.