Chapter Eighty-One: Return to the Seven Luminaries Sect

“What on earth is happening here? This Divine Possession technique is just a mid-level spell; it shouldn’t be this powerful. There must be something I practiced incorrectly, and that’s why it turned out like this by accident.” Unable to make sense of it, Lin Yanghao decided not to dwell further.

He thought to himself, “Anyway, this only benefits me, there’s no downside. Why worry so much? I’m sure I’ll understand it someday.”

After tidying up the cave briefly, Lin Yanghao set off toward the Seven Luminaries Sect.

…

Night fell, and Lin Yanghao now found himself on the outskirts of the Seven Luminaries Sect’s territory. Barring any surprises, he would arrive at the sect tomorrow.

“Ling’er, say something, won’t you? How are you now? Do you know how worried I am about you?” For a long time, there was no response from Ling’er, and Lin Yanghao grew increasingly anxious.

He had no idea how to help Ling’er; though he desperately wanted to save her, he was powerless to do so. This matter, of course, could not be told to anyone, leaving Lin Yanghao at a loss, afraid that if things dragged on, something terrible would happen to Ling’er.

Before he knew it, morning came. Lin Yanghao pressed on toward the Seven Luminaries Sect.

Along the way, he continued to slay many low-level spirit beasts, collecting their essence blood. The last time he practiced Divine Possession, he had used up nearly half of his reserves; what remained would only suffice for a few more sessions. Essence blood was, for him, the most coveted resource.

Now, concealed outside the Seven Luminaries Sect, Lin Yanghao was full of doubt. It was as though a herd of wild horses thundered through his mind. Wasn’t the sect supposed to have been annihilated? Then what was happening at the gates?

Fortunately, Lin Yanghao had the foresight not to barge in directly. Instead, he hid in the shadows to observe first.

He had just seen the sect’s gatekeepers outside the Seven Luminaries Sect’s mountain gate—a discovery that left him astonished. Moreover, the two at the gate were none other than the trusted aides of Wang Shaohui, whom Lin Yanghao recognized.

He decided to release Ice Howl to test the waters and took out the spirit beast pouch from the Chaos Ring, then released Ice Howl.

“So, you finally let me out? I suppose you need something from me, don’t you?” True to his nature as an old fox who’d lived for countless years, Ice Howl immediately guessed Lin Yanghao’s intention.

“Yes, just a small favor. How about it?” Lin Yanghao said.

“No, no, I won’t help!” Ice Howl glanced at him, thinking resentfully, “You never need me unless trouble arises, then you turn to me at once. You want my help? Dream on!”

Lin Yanghao wanted to slap him. Other spirit beast mounts were obedient to their masters, but this one always did the opposite, and mocked him on top of it.

“How about this? If you help me with this, I won’t keep you locked in the spirit beast pouch when there’s nothing to do. Is that good enough?” Helpless, Lin Yanghao offered a sweetener; Ice Howl was indeed a creature who never helped without reward.

“That’s a promise, then. I’ll trust you this once. Tell me what you want me to do.” Ice Howl, eager to stay out of the cursed pouch, agreed after some thought.

“Here’s what I want you to do…” Lin Yanghao quickly outlined his plan to Ice Howl.

“What? I can’t do that! My powers have diminished; I can’t even beat you now! If I’m discovered, I’ll be killed!” Ice Howl protested, fearing Lin Yanghao’s plan might cost him his life.

“Don’t worry. Just do as I say—you won’t be harmed. If anything happens, I’ll be right behind you and appear instantly if things change.” Lin Yanghao finally persuaded Ice Howl with kind words.

“Great Beast, you’ve come! Please, come in, come in! Our boss said that as soon as the Great Beast arrives, you are to be welcomed inside immediately.” Ice Howl was startled by the sudden reception, and even Lin Yanghao found it strange, thinking the sect must have surrendered to the enemy.

“Who is your boss?” Ice Howl asked. Shouldn’t it be the sect master or head? The term “boss” hinted at something unusual.

Lin Yanghao, meanwhile, used a Burrowing Talisman to hide underground, following Ice Howl and the two men, observing everything above with his spiritual sense.

“Great Beast, you don’t know?” one of the two men asked, puzzled.

“What should I know?”

“Well, you’d better meet our boss and speak to him directly.” Seeing that Ice Howl truly didn’t know, neither dared ask further—after all, this was a high-grade, low-level spirit beast, not someone they could offend.

Before long, Ice Howl followed the two men into the main hall of the Seven Luminaries Sect. The hall was much as it had been, but it had lost its former solemnity and was now eerily silent.

A middle-aged man in Daoist robes waited, bowing respectfully.

“Wang Shaohui at your service, Lord Heavenly Tiger. I have been waiting here for some time.” Seeing Ice Howl enter, the man spoke with deference.

Lin Yanghao nearly sprang out in fury. Yes, the man called himself Wang Shaohui—but what was going on? Lin Yanghao was baffled.

“If there’s something, speak.” Receiving Lin Yanghao’s telepathic message, Ice Howl repeated it. Since they had signed a master-servant contract, their minds could communicate directly.

“It’s like this: perhaps Lord Heavenly Tiger is busy and has forgotten me. Didn’t you promise that after our business was done, you would give me a Beast Transformation Pill?” Wang Shaohui continued respectfully.

“So that was it.” Lin Yanghao, in a flash, leaped before Wang Shaohui, deciding to capture him alive for questioning.

“Lin… Lin… Lin Yanghao! Oh my god, a ghost!” The man to Wang Shaohui’s left was first to cry out, while the other had already become glassy-eyed.

“Are you human or ghost? Don’t come any closer! I didn’t kill you! Sure, I made things difficult for you before, but you killed my own brother then, so we’re even, aren’t we? Lord Heavenly Tiger, save me!” Wang Shaohui’s reaction was even more exaggerated, hiding behind Ice Howl in terror, making Lin Yanghao feel it was all rather comical.