"No!"
Nanjiang's eyes widened in fury, her beautiful face twisted with bitter hatred.
"Die!"
Nanjiang bit her finger and painted a complex Cloud Seal on her palm.
Command!
Green flames spread outward from her body.
Everywhere it reached, the miasma vanished instantly.
But this wasn't the end—twenty-five Taoist disciples on the opposing side threw fifty Fire Light Talismans.
Though Nanjiang managed to withstand them, everyone else—including the long man—was engulfed by flames, either dead or stripped of life force.
"Despicable scoundrels!"
Blood trickled from Nanjiang's lips as she hurled another cluster of green fire.
Like a meteor, the flames crossed ten zhang instantaneously.
Song Lin stepped forward, a crimson dragon coiled around his shoulder like living blood.
Its horns were sharp, its demeanor venomous.
Though called a dragon, it resembled a Jiao-Dragon far more.
A True Dragon bears divine majesty, never revealing such feral malice.
Song Lin hurled a punch.
The Jiao-Dragon roared and shattered the green fire.
Then Song Lin unleashed the Flying Star Skill, swinging the Three Yang Fire Sword mid-air. With one strike, the blade pierced Nanjiang's chest and pinned her brutally against a tree.
Elsewhere, twelve ghosts and Taoist disciples subdued the giant.
The battle was won, though Nanjiang's face remained full of resentment.
"Just wait! My master won't let you off!"
"You lunatics! Can someone explain why you're targeting me? And who's backing you?"
Song Lin was more than a little exasperated.
He'd been minding his own business when this group decided to provoke him.
Even in death, Nanjiang made him seem like the villain.
"You tampered with destiny, supporting barbarians. If you're not a demon, what are you?" Nanjiang replied. "You've offended Jixia Academy—you won't revel for long."
"What? You lunatics go around killing people based on mere assumptions?"
"Hmph! My master's Observing Qi and Stars Skill wouldn't..."
Slash!
Before Nanjiang could finish, Song Lin decapitated her with a single stroke of his sword.
Blood sprayed two meters high.
"Heh..."
A sigh escaped from Nanjiang's body.
It was as though her spirit had exhaled its final breath.
Out of her wound flew a cluster of green energy, which formed a ring in the air, revealing an image within.
An elderly Taoist appeared.
"Who dares harm my disciple..."
"It's you!"
The two spoke in unison.
Song Lin was overwhelmed with shock.
This was none other than the dead Taoist from the Overseas Immortal Island in years past.
Could it be that he was resurrected?
Song Lin could never mistake him, and the old Taoist clearly recognized Song Lin as well.
"You..." Huan Yuan's eyes glinted with killing intent as he pulled out the Bone-Shining Copper Mirror, which released a golden beam of light.
Almost simultaneously, Song Lin acted—his sword slashed the image in half.
Yet the golden beam was too fast; it shot forth from the fractured image.
With barely a moment to react, Song Lin darted backward, deploying the Wall-penetrating Skill.
Boom!
The golden light struck the wall, melting a massive hole that revealed Song Lin's grim expression.
"The Bone-Shining Copper Mirror—it truly is him." Song Lin could now confirm that this was the dead Taoist from the Overseas Immortal Island.
Somehow, he had been revived.
It seemed he was aware of Song Lin's existence, and this matter would not end peacefully.
Should Song Lin be killed by this man, his memories in this world would reset, rendering all his hard work meaningless.
The Taoist's cultivation level wasn't low—he was at least an Innate Qi Cultivator.
Translated to a real-world equivalent, that was the Qi Cultivation Stage—an entire realm higher than Song Lin.
"Dharma Master, the enemies have been subdued, with two captured alive," a ghost soldier reported. "We found a map on them."
Song Lin took the leather map, crudely drawn with outlines of various nations' borders.
Certain areas were highlighted, such as the "Chuanqing People" north of Qin Country, the "Dragon Head People" and "Ganoderma People" in Chu Country, and the Immortal Mountains overseas from Qi Country.
Song Lin was deeply intrigued. He hadn't realized this world contained so many hidden treasures.
"Rather than waste time, why not tour the nations?" Song Lin mused inwardly.
He suddenly recalled something of great importance. If karma tied Qin Country's unification to destiny...
Based on the historical timeline, Qin Xiangong was presently reigning.
Following him would be Qin Xiaogong, Qin Huiwen King, Qin Wuwang, Qin Zhaowang, Qin Zhuangxiang King, and ultimately Qin Shi Huang—a span of at least 150 years.
With his current cultivation level, he wouldn't live long enough to witness it all.
Even if he broke through to the Qi Cultivation Stage in this world, its lifespan was merely 180 years, which barely stretched to the end.
Thus, he must venture out and seek opportunities, at minimum discovering the longevity technique.
Otherwise, dying of old age here would render all his efforts moot.
There was one other path: to emerge early and assist the King of Qin.
But leaving aside whether that was feasible, his current strength couldn't contend with Jixia Academy's Qi Cultivators of Qi Country.
Let alone the mighty figures from other nations.
Having calculated all this, Song Lin now grasped the course of action he needed to take.
"Bring the two captives here."
The ghost soldiers brought forth a giant and a Qi Cultivator.
The giant had the intelligence of a wild beast, yielding nothing upon interrogation.
So Song Lin turned to the feebly breathing Qi Cultivator and said, "Tell me everything you know, and I might spare you."
"Pah!" The man spat in defiance.
"Drag him away and handle him thoroughly."
"Yes, my lord." The ghost soldiers grinned wickedly—this sort of work was their expertise.
Soon, in the throes of excruciating pain, the man revealed critical intelligence.
Huan Yuan was from Qi Country, the founder of Jixia Academy, and known to the world as Juanzi. Legend has it that Huan Yuan obtained the Immortal Secret Technique in his youth, thus developing his formidable cultivation.
Besides Huan Yuan, Jixia Academy recruited abnormal soldiers from across the lands.
For example, the towering long men, the night-seeing three-eyed men, and the three-inch-tall Ganoderma People.
There were also alchemist Cui Wenzi and Xiao Shi, the man who traveled with peacocks.
Initially, these figures roamed the nations, persuading monarchs to realize their dream of alchemical immortality, ultimately forming a vast influence that even kings relied upon.
The Tian Family aided them greatly during Qi's rise to power.
However, when asked about Huan Yuan's origins and cultivation techniques, the Qi Cultivator only knew four words: Taiyin Refining Body.
Taiyin Refining Body... wasn't that the name of this world?
But merely a few words provided no insights.
Perhaps the only way to uncover more was by retrieving knowledge from Taoist Temples in reality.
"My lord, I've told you everything. Might you grant me mercy?"
"Hmm, no."
Song Lin's gaze conveyed his decision, and twelve ghost soldiers dragged the man to a secluded spot. Soon, the eerie sound of chewing echoed forth.
As for the ten-meter-tall giant... his utility remained—for instance, in carrying heavy loads.
Five days passed.
Song Lin summoned his Taoist disciples.
"Has everyone memorized the Lao Mountain Taoist Skill?"
"Yes, Master!"
"Good. You've completed your training. Tomorrow, you'll leave. As for me, I'll begin my journey to explore the nations."
"Master, where are you headed? Let us disciples accompany you!" Weii Yang implored, echoed by the others.
"Haha, what good would following me do? You're still young and strong, with much to accomplish—you needn't stay with me."
Besides, his karmic ties might still depend on their efforts.
"Farewell then. Until we meet again!"
Whoosh!
A haze of shadowy mist enveloped Song Lin, and he vanished.
The disciples packed their belongings and departed.
Half a month later, Huan Yuan's next attempt to strike hit an empty target.