Chapter 75: The Abyssal Sea Hundred Horse Guild 

After a bit more small talk and noticing Lin Fanyun’s lack of further purchasing intent, the old man returned to his drink, signaling it was time for the guest to leave.

“So pragmatic,” Lin Fanyun thought to himself. 

He didn’t linger unnecessarily, as he had other items on his shopping list.

Lin Fanyun spent a whole half month in this underground market, meticulously gathering everything he needed. He invested most of this time comparing and weighing his options, constrained by the limited wealth in his storage bag. It wasn’t enough to allow him to shop carefree in such a place.

However, it was precisely because of his cautious approach and his Law Manifestation stage strength that he didn’t attract unwanted attention. To others, his behavior marked him as a poor individual among the Law Manifestation powerhouses. What was the point of killing him for profit when he had so little to offer?

Besides, it was no easy feat to kill a Law Manifestation expert. The effort and risk hardly seemed worth the potential reward.

“It’s time to head to the Abyssal Sea,” Lin Fanyun decided. 

He chose not to use the long-distance teleportation arrays. These arrays, controlled by major powers, were not only expensive to use but also kept records of their travelers.

Previously, when Li Shuang and his family had used such a teleportation array, it was his true self who had altered his appearance to pay the fee on their behalf. Only because of his true self’s presence at the time, with his True Core cultivation, did nothing untoward occur.

For mere Innate or even Acquired warriors, especially those without significant backing or connections, using such arrays was like walking with gold in a bustling market. It was practically inviting trouble. Those powerful factions could easily exploit such opportunities, disposing of someone without leaving a trace was child’s play for them.

Lin Fanyun, of course, wasn’t afraid of such dangers. He simply chose not to use the long-distance teleportation arrays to avoid drawing unnecessary attention.

As a Law Manifestation expert like himself, Lin Fanyun knew that using such a teleportation array would inevitably lead to those major powers taking note of him. While it might seem harmless, one could never tell how even a minor record could become a crucial clue under the pervasive surveillance of the mainframe network, especially now that the human race’s internal networks were becoming interconnected.

Although warriors below the True Core stage found it difficult to access the mainframe network, from the True Core stage onwards, every martial artist left traces on it, their origins and deeds laid bare for all to see. If Lin Fanyun’s first appearance on the network was recorded as coming from the endless wilderness, it would certainly attract unwanted attention and investigations into his past whenever he made waves in the future. 

Opting to travel by flight, even if time-consuming, seemed a worthwhile effort to avoid leaving any footprints. 

Casting forth the flying boat, Lin Fanyun munched on heavenly materials and earthly treasures to strengthen his physique while piloting his vessel through the endless wilderness toward the Abyssal Sea.

***

In the Blood Black city of the Abyssal Sea, Li Li hurried along a street, his expression fraught with urgency. Shopkeepers and assistants along the way gave him strange, meaningful looks, making him feel as if needles were pricking his back.

But Li Li had no time to confront their stares, his mind consumed with worry. 

Upon reaching his family’s estate, he saw several bare-chested men being thrown out at the gate, cursing as they flew away. Li Li watched them leave with a dark, angry glare.

“You’re back, Young Master Li. The master is waiting for you in the study,” the gatekeeper recognized Li Li and hurriedly approached him.

“Yes, I know,” Li Li replied, casting a glance at the guards who appeared panicked and unsettled. 

He inwardly scoffed at their fear but refrained from reprimanding them. The pressure from the Hundred Horse Guild was immense, and it was normal for the servants to be terrified.

In the study, Li Shuang was recuperating, having forcefully exerted his powers and aggravated his injuries. The pool of blood on the floor was his own, a result of his exertions.

Outside the door, he faintly heard a conversation.

“Sister, brother-in-law, how is father?” Li Li’s voice was filled with concern.

“Brother, father’s old wounds have resurfaced. He’s in the midst of recovery,” came the reply.

“The Hundred Horse Guild has gone too far, forcing father to fight. They aim to exhaust him to death,”’ Li An’s voice was fraught with barely controlled emotion.

Her husband, Wang Man, stood by her side, his expression one of deep concern.

Then, from within the room, a voice beckoned, “Come in, I am fine now.”

Li Li, Li An, and Wang Man quickly entered, finding Li Shuang gaunt and pale, seated on a wooden chair. His powerful aura of magical energy was palpable, yet his complexion was frighteningly white.

Li Shuang gradually ceased his meditative practice and settled back into his chair. He tried to rise but was overcome with a violent cough, spitting out a mouthful of bright red blood onto his hand.

“Father!” 

“Father-in-law!” 

The trio exclaimed in shock.

“It’s not as bad as it seems,” Li Shuang reassured them. “I’ve managed to suppress the injury. It’s under control.”

“Curse it!” Li Li punched the wall in frustration, creating a small crater-like indentation.

“Calm down. As someone in the mid-stage of Innate stage, you must master your emotions,” Li Shuang counseled, empathizing with their worry but disliking their distress.

“Father, we…” Li Li began, but his words trailed off, lost.

Ever since the Hundred Horse Guild of Hundred Reef Island targeted the Li family three years ago, their days have become increasingly difficult.

In order to counter the Hundred Horse Guild, Li Shuang forcefully attempted a breakthrough despite lacking sufficient foundation. Although he ultimately gained power, he also left hidden injuries due to the forced breakthrough.

After the initial confrontation, the Hundred Horse Guild refrained from directly assassinating them, yet persisted in sending mid-stage Innate level experts to pester them. This relentless harassment forced Li Shuang into repeated battles, exacerbating his hidden injuries and progressively deteriorating his condition.

Surrender? The thought never crossed Li Shuang’s mind. 

The notorious reputation of the Hundred Horse Guild was well-known. They professed to seek only resources, but their actions spoke of a merciless approach, leaving no survivors and completely obliterating their targets. Showing any weakness would only provoke more relentless attacks from the Guild.

“Li’er, have you found any escape routes?” Li Shuang asked after a pause.

Li Shuang was not one to be stubborn. The power of the Hundred Horse Guild was overwhelming. Even at his best, without his hidden injuries, he stood no chance against them. He harbored no delusions of a last stand.

If the situation worsened, why not abandon their holdings and flee? As long as they lived, they could rebuild.

Li Li shook his head. 

“I was tracked at the gates of Blood Black City. I felt their presence but couldn’t pinpoint them.”

For this reason, Li Li hadn’t ventured beyond the city gates, convinced that stepping outside would mean his unnoticed death.

Li Shuang sighed, understanding that the Hundred Horse Guild indeed intended to annihilate them entirely.

“We’ll have to wait for Elder Brother Li Kong’s return,” he concluded.

Li Li nodded. “Li’er informed me that Uncle Li is already on his way. He delved too deep and might need another two or three months to return.”

This news was far from reassuring. With the frequency of the Guild’s attacks and Li Shuang’s current condition, it was doubtful he could last that long.

“If only our master were here,” Li An sighed.

When their family had accepted the master’s offer to spearhead their efforts in the Abyssal Sea, they were fully aware of the perils involved. Zhang Shen had not kept them in the dark about the dangers.

Despite the risks, they accepted the offer, enticed by Zhang Shen’s promise of a True Core inheritance and the resources necessary for breakthroughs. The prospect of obtaining a True Core stage inheritance was too significant to ignore, failing to seize this opportunity might mean missing out on their only chance to get such a treasure for a long time. 

It was a secret known only to Li Shuang that Lin Fanyun’s true identity was Zhang Shen.

“Silence,” Li Shuang commanded with gravity. “Our Li family is merely a band of dispersed cultivators who have fallen on hard times. We have no one supporting us. This topic is not to be discussed again.”

Li Li, Li An, and Wang Man remained silent, understanding that their father’s firm stance was a protective measure for their master. Given the complexities of the Abyssal Sea and their role as the vanguard, any misstep could provoke a conflict with formidable opponents. Announcing they had a backer could complicate matters for their master if he were to visit the Abyssal Sea. Conversely, their silence could pave the way for their master to seek vengeance on their behalf, should the worst happen.

A somber mood enveloped the group. They had ventured here willing to risk it all, and now, amidst these difficulties, they harbored no regrets. It was a gamble they had willingly embraced.

Suddenly, Li Shuang detected a familiar sensation, a fragment of his own soul. His heart swelled with excitement. With a swift motion, he opened the doors of the study and hastened outside. 

Li Li, Li An, and Wang Man, taken aback by his sudden urgency, quickly followed suit.

In the courtyard stood a man marked by the passage of time, engrossed in admiring the flowers. His profound, enigmatic expression left it ambiguous whether he was truly appreciating the flowers or pondering something else entirely.

Li Li and Li An were stirred by the familiar face and demeanor. 

Wang Man, having never met Lin Fanyun, was left in uncertainty, though the man’s mysterious aura led him to guess his identity.

“After so many years, how have you managed to find yourself injured once more?” Lin Fanyun asked, a touch of amusement in his voice. “Remarkable, isn’t it? The first time we met, you were in a similar state, and here we are, decades later, with you injured yet again.”

“Master,” Li Shuang began, emotion evident in his voice, but he was quickly interrupted by Lin Fanyun, who expressed surprise.

“Ah? You’ve achieved a breakthrough?”

With a mere gesture, Li Shuang found himself effortlessly lifted and drawn toward Lin Fanyun, unable to resist.

The group was taken aback. Despite his injuries, Li Shuang’s strength was not easily matched, yet he was so readily overpowered in their master’s presence. How formidable had their master become?

“You forced a breakthrough with an inadequate foundation, failing to master even the divine powers,” Lin Fanyun observed critically.

“Neither a true core nor a mere liquid, yours is a half-formed core state, a false Core. Afflicted with seven injuries and five ailments, you’re like a body teetering on the edge of death. It’s a truly pitiable state,” Lin Fanyun said, somewhat astonished by the situation.

Achieving a false Core was a task far more arduous than achieving a true breakthrough. Balancing on that precarious point was significantly harder than simply surging through in a single effort. 

This usually happened when someone had the potential for a breakthrough but lacked a substantial foundation or tried to force the breakthrough under suboptimal conditions. Such occurrences were exceedingly rare.

Lin Fanyun skillfully flipped his hand, summoning a surge of life force into his palm. He then directed it into Li Shuang’s body. This robust life force coursed through him, mending his injuries and visibly rejuvenating his complexion.

“Li Li, Li An, guard the entrance. Ensure we are not disturbed,” Lin Fanyun ordered with a commanding presence.

“Li Shuang, your hasty breakthrough has compromised your foundation. I will now reconstruct it. Focus your mind and energy.”

With a deft motion, he caused the half-formed core within Li Shuang to explode into a burst of light.

His hand formed a claw, corralling the energy within the dantian. He then harnessed the immense energy of the heavens and earth, fusing it with the dispersed light particles.

“Stay calm and focused. Embrace and understand this experience deeply.”

Li Shuang was instantly immersed in a profound state. Under Lin Fanyun’s powerful guidance, he was transported back to the pivotal moment of his core formation.