Chapter 361: Someone Planted Moles
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Streak after streak of light flew out from Lin Feng's body, landing on the bookshelves in the library and solidifying into luminous forms of mantras and spells.
Under the effect of Lin Feng's Mana, runes and letters danced in the luminous forms as they gradually materialized as solid forms.
The rate of solidification wasn't especially fast, but there were multiple tones materializing at once.
Apart from the Art of Acalanātha he derived previously, this time, Lin Feng derived the assorted mantras he had collected earlier – Nine Heavens Thunder Technique, Earth Tripitaka, Heavenly Wind Taoist Scripture, Art of the Scattered Stars, River Styx Nirvana Mantra, Supreme Mountain Script, Secret Mantra of the Flowing Sand, Oceanus Long River Mantra, et cetera – as well, in order to augment his library.
In addition, there were still the various Abhijnas. The formation, Nine Heavens Thunder Drawing Formation; the martial manuals, Dimensionless Flying Sword and Flail of Bones; the disappearing technique, Cloud Dragon Disappearing Technique; the spells, Heavenly Cage Mantra and Little Samsara Techniques; et cetera…were all derived out by Lin Feng and placed in the Tripitaka Block together.
As for the Abhijnas derived from mantras, such as the Wild Thunder Blade, Kṣitigarbha Golden-Plated Armour, Acalanātha Inferno, Unholy Marionette, Finger of Styx, et cetera; those did not need to be derived individually, but rather, can be acquired naturally by studying the parent mantras.
If those were studied in isolation, it would be impossible to understand precisely their essence.
Time flew past rapidly. After Lin Feng has finished all of this, he again walked onto the second level of the Tripitaka Block. Looking at the scrolls hanging on the walls of the vast, empty second level, Lin Feng nodded slightly.
Of these, two scrolls have images on them. Those were the results after fusing in the Truths of the Scripture of the Great Heaven-Illuminating Sun and the True Understanding of the Grand Moon; apart from these two scrolls, all other scrolls were completely blank.
Lin Feng flicked his fingers, and the Truths of two more mantras landed on two different empty scrolls. On one scroll, illustrations of the vast earth presented themselves; on the other, images of dark, brooding clouds and howling squalls appeared.
Lin Feng had infused the Truths of the Heavenly Book of Nations and the Aeolus Formless Mantra into the scrolls.
After finishing these, Lin Feng exited the Tripitaka Block, his gaze settling on the Disciple's Abode in the distance.
Despite concentrating on deriving the mantras and Abhijnas, Lin Feng retained his keen grasp of time. Right now, exactly three days have passed since he told the disciples that he would personally open court and give lectures.
At this moment, the many second-generation disciples living in the Disciple's Abode were buzzing with excitement as well. In those three days, they have all been anticipating this very moment.
They have all long admired Lin Feng, their Founder, but it was very hard to even see his face. Now that Lin Feng will personally give lectures, it was like a grand festival to them.
That battle before the Sect-Opening Ceremony, outside Shazhou City – the scene where Lin Feng arrived with Mount Yujing like the Gods themselves, completely annihilating the various powers that have ganged up to attack the Celestial Sect of Wonders with a flick of his fingers – was permanently engraved in the heads of these newly inducted disciples.
The opening of the Six Abodes three days ago, meanwhile, added another magnificent glow to the Celestial Sect of Wonders. Every single disciple had felt a strong sense of pride, in addition to a feeling of longing.
A chubby disciple, bent on the windowsill of the Abode, has an expression of deep yearning on his face. "Brother Feng, when will we be able to have such an abode?"
Besides him, another teenager, a cynical smile on his face, yawned. "Focus on cultivation first, then talk about that. Don't aim too high."
Looking at this teenager, Lin Feng smiled slightly. He has an impression of him – his name was Liu Xiafeng.
That day, the Sect-Opening Ceremony outside Shazhou City, it was him and a few companions who wanted to travel to Shazhou to seek a Master, but were intercepted halfway by men from the Aeolus Sect, causing Xiao Yan and Miao Shihao to go to save them – thus opening the curtains for a great battle.
He seems to be always cynical, not caring about anything at all – but he has a strong, unyielding spirit within him. Back then, him, without much Qi within him at all, refused to yield even when faced with pressure from the Aurous Core elder of the Aeolus Sect and still spoke out, in the name of righteousness.
Seeing that the plump boy was still staring into space, Liu Xiafeng patted him lightly. "'Rather than staring at fish in the creek, it's better to go home and weave a net.' (Translator's Note: Chinese proverb, meaning that it's useless to have only wishes but take no action) Study your mantras and techniques carefully; today the Founder will lecture, and also test us afterwards."
The plump boy nodded. "True, later, I must listen attentively. But Brother Feng, you do not need to worry; you will definitely pass the test."
Liu Xiafeng shrugged. "That's hard to say. Who's to know what will be tested? Even those three might not really be confident, let alone me."
Upon hearing these words, the chubby disciple's face collapsed into one of dismay. "Senior Xu and Senior Li were one thing, but why would even that annoying grassland-dweller have such great talent? Where is the fairness in that?"
As he was speaking, the plump boy suddenly felt a chill down the back of his head. He turned - and was almost blinded by the cold glare. Gasping, he yelled, "Ying Luozha, if you aim at me with that stupid throwing knife of yours again, I will really kill you!"
Everyone in the room seemed to be used to this, while Lin Feng watched the scene with some interest.
As a general rule, people love to form circles – with one particular person at the center, a few will be attracted to form a small group.
The second-generation disciples of the Celestial Sect of Wonders were also split into several cliques based on friendships and relations. For example, Liu Xiafeng, being loyal, optimistic, and cheerful as well as having rather high mastery, was the leader of one of those cliques.
But there were exceptions to every rule. There was also a minority that did not like to stick with others and preferred to be on their own.
The scrawny, dark-skinned teenager that the chubby disciple was glaring at now was the archetypal example. He sat alone in the corner, not conversing with anyone else.
With a brief gaze, Lin Feng knew this teenager was one of the best within all second-generation disciples in terms of Mastery. However, whenever they spot him, everyone around him looked as if they rather keep their distance – it was an expression that possibly borders on disgust.
This teenager named Ying Luozha, thin and dark-skinned, has features that bore a strong resemblance to the people of the grasslands. He was like a lone wolf, sitting there silently and radiating an aura that warned strangers to stay away.
In his right hand was the blade of a short knife; he was holding it upside down as if about to throw it. At this instant, he held the knife before him, squinting, staring at the plump boy besides Liu Xiafeng as if aiming.
Hearing the plump boy's enraged yells, Ying Luozha gave a nonchalant smile, revealing his teeth, glaring white as a wolf's would be. "Kill me? Come, I'm waiting."
The chubby disciple was taken aback; from Ying Luozha, he felt an unconcealed intent to kill.
The brows of everyone else in the room knotted up. Almost every single person has been the target of Ying Luozha's throwing knife; although he has never actually launched his knife, every single person could sense that intimate, murderous air, that intense intent to kill.
"Interesting. A wolf cub." Lin Feng's gaze flickered. He could tell that this teenager has really killed before – and he has the blood of more than just a few on his hands. He had zero scruples about killing another human, either.
Aiming at others with throwing knives was actually just a personal habit of his. However, if the person actually was angered and wanted to make a move, Ying Luozha would not mind sending a knife at all.
In spite of his young age, there was an air of insane bloodlust in his bones, a rogue that cares about no law or rule.
Liu Xiafeng stood up, shielding the plump boy with his body. "Ying Luozha, if you feel you're capable, use it on someone else. Where's the honor in acting tough with your fellow disciples? If you really want to play, I'm here." He said lazily.
Ying Luozha smiled, paying no attention. "You? Not enough."
At this moment, a purple-robed teenager pushed the door open. Looking at Ying Luozha standing off with a crowd alone, he frowned. "Stop playing, it is almost time for the Founder to open court. Everyone, come out and gather."
With the appearance of this person, Ying Luozha instantly abandoned Liu Xiafeng. Staring at the purple-clad teenager, his eyes gleamed coldly. "Xu Yunsheng!"
The purple-clad Xu Yunsheng said calmly, "Let's go. Elder Zhu emphasizes punctuality a lot; everyone, don't be late."
"Everyone, let's go." Liu Xiafeng shrugged, following Xu Yunsheng out first. Everyone else followed behind him; the chubby disciple, stopping at the door, turned to look at Ying Luozha. He snorted; "Ying Luozha, if you're as good as you say, why don't you defeat Senior Xu? Hmpf, from induction to now, you haven't won even once, right?"
Hearing this, Ying Luozha wasn't annoyed, instead nodding. "This time, the test after the Founder's lecture would be an opportunity."
He cracked a smile, a subtle tinge of blood behind his snow-white teeth. Despite wanting to mock him some more, the plump boy swallowed, turning to leave.
Lin Feng's Awareness followed them out of the Disciple's Abode, seeing his twenty-eight second-generation disciples all gathered together. He surveyed them with his gaze – there were four of them who were the most outstanding. With only two months since they were inducted, they already have some mastery of Qi cultivation, having made considerable progress.
Apart from Xu Yunsheng, Ying Luozha and Liu Xiafeng, the last person was a teenage girl. She was wearing the Celestial Sect of Wonders' standard purple robes; tall and elegant, she has a warm smile on her face which, coupled with her graceful and exquisite features, gave off an air of instant attraction.
Lin Feng's gaze turned. "I remember that she's called Li Xingfei?"
The three major circles among the second-generation disciples have her, Xu Yunsheng and Liu Xiafeng respectively at their cores.
Zhu Yi was standing before the Disciple's Abode. After watching silently as the second-generation disciples gathered, with a wave of his hand, he brought all of them up with his Mana and placed them on one of the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree's leaves. This leaf measured mus (Translator's Note: Chinese unit of measurement for area; one mu equals one-fifteenth of a hectare) in area, enormous as a vast field.
The disciples sat cross-legged, while Zhu Yi scaled a higher leaf and sat down.
There, Xiao Yan, Xiao Budian, Wang Lin and Yang Qing were already present. Seeing Zhu Yi's arrival, they cupped their hands in greeting, and Zhu Yi returned the gesture.
An instant later, Yue Hongyan flew to the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree along with Xiao Huanzi and the rest of the kids; Lin Feng had given special permission for these kids to attend as well.
As those kids were almost made into human pills previously, they have amassed large amounts of spiritual and medicinal energy within their bodies that can be converted into Qi cultivation mastery with minor help. Thus, right now, their average standard was in fact much higher than the second-generation disciples.
This also led to significant pressure on those teenage formal disciples, such that they did not dare to slack off even a little in their cultivation.
"Alas, in the end, the potential of these kids can't match up to the formal disciples," Lin Feng thought. "Although they can't be as insane as Xiao Yan and co., it's quite possible for a few with great potential to emerge from those second-generation disciples. However…"
Looking at the crowd, a half-smile appeared on Lin Feng's face. "The crops have just ripened and the bear is already here to steal the cob. A little too simple, don't you think so?"
In this batch of disciples, there were moles planted by other powers. Lin Feng has already discovered this at the Discipleship Ceremony; but he did not reveal so, instead passively allowing them to stay.
Right now, Lin Feng was laughing slyly. "A spy whose identity has been exposed, would instead have the opposite effect."