themonasnovels Chapter 81 Incarnation of the Innate Realm!
Chapter 81 Incarnation of the Innate Realm!
Chapter 81 Incarnation of the Innate Realm!
"Clang!"
The spear emitted a clear, resonant tremor, as if it had a life of its own, breaking free from the broken wood and transforming into a streak of black light that flew back and landed steadily in the captain's broad and powerful palm.
The spear tip pointed diagonally at the ground, and a few drops of dark green, viscous liquid slowly slid down, dripping onto the bluestone slab with a soft "hissing" sound and rising in wisps of blue smoke.
The captain did not look at the mangled tree, nor did he immediately pay attention to the fierce fighting still taking place outside the post station.
His sharp, icy eyes, like those of a hawk, were now piercing through the dim light, fixed firmly on Zhang Yuan as if they were a physical object!
His gaze was sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to cut open his skin and see the surging blood and qi in his body and the strange sight of his bones and muscles resonating in that instant.
"Qi and blood are like a furnace, and muscles and bones resonate naturally?" The captain's deep, even voice rang out in the quiet courtyard, without the slightest ripple, yet carrying a penetrating power. "At eight years old—you already have such a foundation. You have not disgraced Zhang Zhenshan's reputation."
He seemed unsurprised by the appearance and demise of the strange demonic tree, but instead showed more interest in Zhang Yuan's martial arts foundation, which he instinctively displayed in the moment of crisis.
The shouts of battle outside the post station gradually subsided.
The piercing sounds of fire and weapons clashing were replaced by heavy breathing and suppressed groans.
Before long, the Fengming County guards who went to investigate returned. The leader, Zeng Bo, had a livid face and a fresh knife scar on his arm guard.
Chen Zijing and the others also turned around from the side of the corridor.
"Damn it!" Zeng Bo spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, his voice filled with exhaustion and resentment. "They're a bunch of blind bandits, quite a few of them. They got greedy and wanted to rob the Guzhu Gang's caravan under the cover of darkness."
"After a fierce battle, they fled, leaving behind more than a dozen corpses, and even wounded several of our brothers!"
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the still-silent, enormous prison wagon in the center of the courtyard, finally settling on Zhang Yuan and several other still-shaken young men from Fengming County. He sighed heavily, "This world—it's getting more and more chaotic every day."
"Evil spirits are causing trouble, natural disasters are constant, and man-made calamities are even more frequent."
"We, the county government's armed guards, risk our lives to protect the area within a hundred miles around the county seat, which is already quite an achievement."
"In the more remote villages and mountains, the bandits and evil spirits that roam about are truly beyond our reach."
A young guard with bruises on his face couldn't help but chime in, his voice tinged with helplessness and resentment: "It's not just our county government! I heard that the other day in Yuntai County, when they were suppressing the notorious bandit Iron-Backed Wolves, they also suffered heavy losses, losing many of their elite troops!"
"It's said that the Cangwu Sword Sect is behind those bandits, stirring up trouble—alas, the world is truly in chaos!"
Upon hearing this, the Black Scale Army captain, who had been standing silently in the shadows of the corridor, suddenly darkened his expression, as if covered with a layer of frost.
His hawk-like gaze swept coldly over the young guard who had spoken, and the invisible pressure made the latter instantly fall silent, lower his head, and dare not say another word.
The captain said nothing, but gripped his black spear, snorted coldly, turned and strode toward the main room of the west wing. The heavy wooden door slammed shut behind him, cutting off all outside noise.
That silhouette exuded an indescribable melancholy and chilling aura.
The somber atmosphere in the courtyard did not dissipate after the captain left; instead, it became even more heavy.
Zhang Yuan silently withdrew his gaze, turned around, and pushed open the door to his room.
Zhang Jiumei immediately sprang up from the kang (a heated brick bed), maintaining a vigilant posture. Her cool eyes quickly swept over Zhang Yuan's entire body, and only after confirming that he was unharmed did she relax slightly.
"Young Master?"
"It's alright, you go to sleep first." Zhang Yuan's voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion.
Zhang Jiumei didn't ask any more questions. She followed her instructions and leaned back against the edge of the kang, hugging the long knife and closing her eyes. However, her breathing remained light and slow, indicating that she had not truly fallen asleep.
Zhang Yuan walked to the table and sat down.
The flame of the oil lamp danced in his eyes.
He slowly opened his left palm.
In the palm of my hand lay a broken tree root, about a foot long.
The roots were twisted, as if still twitching slightly, and the dark green sap that had seeped from the broken ends had long since dried, gleaming eerily in the dim light.
A faint, sweet, and slightly fishy smell seemed to linger around it.
"Buzz!"
Deep within Zhang Yuan's sea of consciousness, the pale golden panel suddenly appeared, and rows of dazzling golden characters were projected directly into his consciousness like a brand:
[A trace of innate Wood elemental essence has been detected!]
[You could try to analyze the incomplete demonic technique contained within: [The Innate Green Wood Incarnation Technique]!]
[Would you like to expend 120 years of your lifespan to exchange for and initially master this technique?]
[Note: This technique is a demonic secret method. It uses one's own lifespan of a hundred years as a catalyst to condense a demonic aura of green wood with the strength of an innate realm.]
[The avatar is under the absolute control of the original body and can act as a substitute for the main body in battle, explore dangerous places, and deceive enemies to take their place—its uses are endless. However, demonic magic is unpredictable; forcibly cultivating it will damage one's foundation of humanity and easily attract a backlash from demonic energy. Beware!]
The words were like thunderclaps, exploding in Zhang Yuan's mind!
A manifestation of the Innate Realm!
Acting as a proxy for killing!
Deceive the enemy into taking their place!
The temptation is immense!
It's practically a trump card tailor-made for him!
In particular, he can replenish his lifespan through killing!
Zhang Yuan's expression changed rapidly in the dim light.
He stared intently at the demonic root in his palm, his knuckles turning white from the force.
Magic————
A variety of thoughts collided violently in my mind.
He could clearly feel the allure emanating from the panel, as if from the abyss. As long as he had a thought, the profound and obscure incarnation technique would flow into his consciousness.
Time seemed to stand still.
The flame of the oil lamp flickered uneasily, casting Zhang Yuan's stiff, seated shadow on the wall.
Sweat silently seeped from his forehead.
Finally, he abruptly closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and when he opened them again, all the struggle and longing in his eyes were forcibly suppressed, leaving only a deep, still gaze.
"It's not the right time yet—"
A cold voice echoed in his heart, filled with resolute restraint.
He held back.
He wasn't sure if practicing demonic arts would be unacceptable to the imperial court and the righteous path of the martial arts world in the Great Yu Dynasty.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the convoy set off again.
On the open ground outside the inn, traces of last night's fierce battle remained; dark brown bloodstains seeped into the soil, and the embers of several charred fires emitted a pungent smell.
The Guzhu caravan was cleaning up the mess, and the atmosphere was heavy.
Several trucks were covered with white sheets, and human figures could be vaguely seen underneath.
There were also seven or eight gang members with blood-soaked strips of cloth wrapped around their bodies, their faces pale as they leaned against the carriage shaft.
Chen Zijing, Fang Jingsong, and several other outstanding individuals from Fengming County gathered together, their faces filled with reluctance and solemnity as they looked at the scene.
"Last night was truly dangerous," Chen Zijing sighed softly, still shaken. "Those bandits were fearless, ruthless with their swords, and their teamwork was impeccable. They were nothing like ordinary bandits."
"I saw with my own eyes a brother of the Guzhu Gang who had already cut down one of the enemy, but was then stabbed through the ribs by another bandit who pounced on him from the side with a short spear—alas, in the battles of the martial world, life and death are truly only a matter of a moment."
Fang Jingsong also said solemnly, "Yes, some of the leaders are probably no weaker than the late stage of the Acquired Realm."
"If it weren't for the timely intervention of the garrison commander Zeng, who then personally led the pursuit and dispersal, the casualties would probably have been several times greater."
""
Zhang Yuan's gaze swept over the wounded and the vehicles covered with white sheets, and he paused slightly.
He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Wang Ziteng directing people to move the wounded. Although he looked exhausted and had bandages wrapped around his arms, he seemed to be in good spirits and was not seriously injured.