Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 706 - 701 Collection 1

Chapter 706: Chapter 701 Collection 1

Raising a master from the Mortal World from scratch was no difficult task. Moreover, there was a disparity in the flow of time here.

The manager knew Lin Xin’s identity and treated him with the utmost respect, daring not to show the slightest neglect.

"Reporting to Divine Monarch, everything has been sent to Qing Lake Mountain. They have been settled outside the Mountain Gate of the Lakeside Mountain Sect, where a batch of cottages has been specifically constructed for these orphans,"

"Good, that’s fine. Give me the exact address."

The manager repeated the address, and Qing Lake Mountain was nearby, not far away.

Lin Xin, without saying another word, found the Cleansing King to take his leave and then headed straight to Qing Lake Mountain alone.

The matter with the Chanting Star Cult made him feel an increasing sense of urgency.

If the Underworld wanted to advance rapidly, it must have enough potential seeds that cultivated to the Fifth Rank Human Immortal level.

However, such a thing was not to be rushed.

The first thing to ensure was loyalty and dedication; if the experts cultivated had no sense of belonging, then even if they were eventually cultivated, it all would have been in vain—they would at most contribute to the promotion of younger disciples.

Actually, it wouldn’t form a sufficient network of power.

Continuing his rapid journey, he drifted up to Qing Lake Mountain.

The place that was once a keep of wild ridges had been flattened by explosives, and the outline of a large white Taoist Palace had already been constructed on the mountain top.

Surrounding areas bustled as numerous masons and craftsmen toiled, with hundreds of laborers coming and going, ceaselessly transporting materials and wasteland. It was extraordinarily lively.

Lin Xin gently landed on the mountain path at the entrance.

The gatekeeping officers immediately recognized him and promptly came forward to pay their respects.

Soon someone went in to report, and a small-mustached civilian manager hurried out.

"I have seen Divine Monarch. May I know the purpose of Divine Monarch’s visit...?"

"Take me to see the orphans brought this time."

Lin Xin spoke directly and to the point, without any delay.

"Right this way, please follow me, Divine Monarch," said the official, not wasting words, and led Lin Xin to the side. Several officials and soldiers hurriedly followed.

After walking for a while, winding along the mountain path, the sound of a waterfall could soon be heard ahead.

Faintly, the sounds of boys and girls playing could be heard.

Walking further, they bypassed a patch of thorns.

Suddenly, the view opened up—a small waterfall, about several meters high, and in the water pond in front, seven or eight children in clean grey cloth were playing and splashing water.

It seemed like they were just playing in the water, but Lin Xin squinted, noticing four boys who, although they were shouting and laughing on the surface, were actually continuously and forcefully dunking two other boys and girls’ heads into the water.

Their eyes carried a malicious intent, clearly attempting to harm these few severely.

"Separate them,"

Lin Xin said indifferently.

Immediately, the soldiers behind him ran over and scolded the group of children. Only then did these teenage orphans reluctantly come ashore.

The official made the children line up in a row in front of Lin Xin, scolded them a few more times, then turned back to Lin Xin with a flattering face.

"Sir... the quality of these orphans is ultimately lacking. Commander Yuan specifically instructed to purchase a batch of young boys and girls from the music parlor, which will also soon arrive in the mountains. Most of that batch are children of wealthy families who were arrested or are descendants of criminals. If they are to serve your chamber, they have also been trained in various arts..."

The little official seemed to assume that Lin Xin had a predilection for children, constantly steering the conversation in that direction.

Lin Xin glanced at him.

"I’ll take the people. Commander Yuan, right? Yuan Qinghao? I remember that. Tell him to come back to me later."

"Understood, understood!" the little official was overjoyed, knowing that he had accomplished his task, and thereby accounted for himself to the commander.

Lin Xin had also met Yuan Qinghao, a man who was prone to excess in wine and pleasures, uninhibited to the extreme, yet quite competent in handling affairs.

However, if he continued as he was, it wouldn’t be five years before he would die of cardiac failure.

Since the man had gone to such lengths, he might as well save him as a favor.

Turning his gaze, Lin Xin swept his eyes over all the orphans lined up in front of him.

There were over ten people, all selected according to his requirements.

They were not older than fifteen, evenly split between boys and girls, without severe illnesses. There was a slight protrusion at the back of their skulls and in the middle of their spine.

Especially the last few characteristics, which had a high likelihood of presenting a Spirit Vein Body.

And these more than ten individuals were just the first batch to be provided with food and shelter at his own expense.

For the health of these children, he had also specifically bought several maids to take care of them.

"Do you all know who I am?"

Lin Xin looked at the orphans and asked in a deep voice.

The group of children, under his gaze, all uncomfortably lowered their heads, showing signs of fear.

No one spoke; everyone seemed too afraid to make a sound.

Lin Xin scanned them with his eyes; they all appeared malnourished and pale, but clean, evidently having been bathed in advance.

After waiting a while, just as he was getting impatient, a quiet voice finally spoke.

"You are... the kind person who gives us food and drink."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xin immediately smiled.

He looked at the child who had spoken. Half of the child’s face was dark, with a thick black birthmark, while the other half was exceptionally handsome. The child’s eyes seemed very clear, with an unusually steadfast quality deep within.

Lin Xin, having observed countless people, when he was in charge in the Underworld, had naturally developed an immense wealth of experience and could instantly discern the basic nature of these straightforward young children.

This child before him, however, displayed good courage.

"What is your name?"

He smiled warmly at the boy.

"Lu Dabai!"

The youth replied calmly and steadily.

"Lu Dabai?"

Lin Xin nodded slightly, acknowledging the question, then looked towards the other children.

"Alright, everyone line up and come stand in front of me one by one. Start with you, from left to right!"

He pointed at the sturdiest youth on the left.

"Yes!" The youth, timid, walked over and stood in front of him, with other children obediently lining up behind him.

"Stretch out your hands."

Lin Xin said faintly.

The sturdy youth shivered and quickly extended his hands.

Lin Xin pressed on them, gently pinching them while his spirit sense unfolded, scanning the youth from head to toe.

"A Mortal Body," he thought, shaking his head slightly.

"Alright, you wait over there, next one."

Officials hurriedly fetched a wooden stool from somewhere, allowing Lin Xin to sit down.

One by one, the children lined up for Lin Xin to closely inspect their talents.

Such close proximity was sufficient to uncover any hidden talents.

Soon, when the fifth child’s turn came, a girl with a cold expression stood before Lin Xin.

The girl was slightly frail as if a gust of wind could blow her over. Her features were plain, neither beautiful nor ugly, but her pupils bore a hint of lifelessness, as if disinterested in everything.

Lin Xin pressed on the girl’s wrist, his spirit sense probing, and immediately felt a chill in his heart.

Her body was hollow, showing a hint of deathliness in every organ.

Deathliness, not a form of elemental energy, was a sign of imminent withering, like leaves about to fall, conveying a sense of lifelessness at a glance.

"Filled with a sense of death yet still perfectly alive?!"

Lin Xin was instantly intrigued.

Having read various texts over the years, he had a slight understanding of physiognomy.

Looking at the girl’s features, there was a distinct sign of premature death, yet she was still very much alive.

Her organs appeared only capable of sustaining a few breaths, yet she had been standing there for quite some time without any signs of abnormality.

"Could this also be a type of Spirit Vein Body or a Divine Child’s body?"

Lin Xin carefully recalled numerous documents and records he had read.

Various different spirit veins and divine child physiques flickered through his mind.

Soon, a spirit vein that matched the signs perfectly came to mind.

"Could it be... it can’t be, can it...?"

Lin Xin’s eyes suddenly widened, sensing as if he had stumbled upon a treasure.

He abruptly pulled open the girl’s eyelid.

Sure enough, there was a small white bump on the inside of her eyelid, perfectly symmetrical.

"Indeed! It is indeed this!!"

A flicker of joy passed through Lin Xin’s mind.

He now understood why the first cultivators to find a new minor world almost always became Realm Masters. Some even became foregone conclusions before finding the boundary stone.

It seems that this unexplored minor world was truly full of treasures!

He had merely gathered a few orphans, yet he had encountered a remarkable Spirit Vein talent among them.

"Spirit Tomb Immortal Vein, if it truly is the Spirit Tomb Immortal Vein, one of the thirty-three finest among the Fifth Rank spirit veins, then I must protect this disciple well! Perhaps there is a chance for her to ascend to the status of a Human Immortal in the future."

Lin Xin was already planning the future arrangements in his mind.

The Spirit Tomb Immortal Vein, also known as the Undying Bright Phoenix Physique.

It possessed a terrifying talent where every death allowed one to strengthen through a phoenix-like rebirth, breaking through one’s own cultivation limits.

Within the Cultivation World, across countless worlds, it was also considered one of the mighty talents.

Although it had its limits—it could only be used once every hundred years.

If one was killed twice in quick succession, the soul would also scatter.

But even so, it far surpassed most other spirit vein physiques.

Such a Spirit Tomb Immortal Vein, if made known, even a Sixth Rank Earth Immortal would want to take her as a disciple.

Even in a powerful force like the Green Lake Mountain, where talents were abundant, it was considered a superior qualification.

Although it couldn’t compare with those top-level divine child spirit veins.

"Not bad at all!" Lin Xin’s mood had greatly improved, "What’s your name?"

The little girl looked at him and hesitated slightly before opening her mouth.

"Lu Li."

"Lu Li?" Lin Xin repeated, "Lu as in departure?"

"Yes."

The girl nodded.

"You go stand over there and rest for a while," Lin Xin said kindly.

Lu Li obediently walked to the side and stood leaning against a large tree.

Lin Xin continued to examine the other children.

No other impressive spirit veins were found, except for the child named Lu Dabai, who had a Third Rank Spirit Vein; the rest had only mortal qualifications.

After completing his inspection, Lin Xin, along with Lu Li, Lu Dabai, and the remaining officials, left the waterfall area.

They climbed to a cliff slope in the mountain.