Wizards begin with Occlumency.

"Mr. Lin is joking."

Master Jingxu remained calm and said, "I am but a mortal; how could I possibly know any Taoist arts?"

"I was just curious, I didn't mean anything by it, I hope the real person will understand."

Link smiled and smoothed things over.

"It's alright."

As Master Jingxu spoke, he picked up the teapot and poured tea for Lin Ke, saying, "Layman Lin, please have some tea."

Link glanced at the full teacup, understanding Master Jingxu's intention. He picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, like an ox chewing a peony.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Master. Please forgive any inconvenience caused."

After setting down his teacup, Link nodded to Master Jingxu and took his leave.

Master Jingxu closed his eyes and sat quietly on the low futon for a long time, making sure that Link had really left this time, before opening his eyes again.

Looking at the two teacups on the coffee table, one empty and the other only seven-tenths full, Master Jingxu sighed softly.

Teacups are like people.

One is destined to have no connection with this world, and the other is destined to have only seven parts fulfillment in this life, but not ten parts joy.

After expressing his feelings, Master Jingxu left the meditation room and came to a very quiet courtyard behind the side hall of the Taoist temple.

There is a ginkgo tree in the courtyard that is several hundred years old.

There is a stone table and stone benches under the tree.

An old Taoist priest with white hair and a youthful face was sitting on a stone bench, playing chess with himself.

The black and white pieces resemble several dragons, locked in fierce combat.

Master Jingxu stood aside, quietly waiting for the game to end in a draw.

"What do you want with me?"

The old Taoist priest slowly arranged the chess pieces while asking questions.

"Master, the source of the information about Dead Man Valley has been identified. It was the work of Hu Songqi of the 'Witchcraft' organization in the provincial capital after he resigned from his position as the leader of the witchcraft."

Master Jingxu bowed respectfully and then said, "In addition, the young hero Lin Kelin from the Bajiquan Martial Arts School, who seems to be undergoing tribulation, visited my temple earlier and displayed extremely peculiar techniques. They were neither like magic nor related to ancient witchcraft or evil witchcraft. Before he left, he seemed to have sensed something and specifically asked me, 'Is the method of interpreting divination slips a Taoist technique?'"

The old Taoist listened patiently to Master Jingxu finish speaking, pondered for a moment, and after putting away the chess pieces, calculated with his fingers.

It's alright if it doesn't count.

The more I calculated, the more alarmed I became.

His brow, which hadn't furrowed for decades, suddenly tightened.

"Master, has something happened?"

Upon seeing this, Master Jingxu quickly spoke up to inquire, fearing that something unspeakable, such as a backlash, might occur.

The old Taoist priest shook his head and sighed inexplicably, "Young people these days have no respect for the elderly at all."

After his reflections, the old Taoist continued playing chess against himself, while nonchalantly instructing, "The matter of Dead Man's Valley is none of your concern; someone will handle it. As for Young Hero Lin, there's even less to worry about. From today onward, keep the mountain gates tightly shut and quietly discuss matters in the Yellow Court."

"Yes, Master."

Master Jingxu fully understood the old Taoist's actions.

The world is full of illusions and tribulations, and conflicts arise frequently.

Those who renounce the world do not concern themselves with these things; they simply live a life of seclusion and spiritual cultivation.

Outside Qingyun Temple.

Link, who still chose to take the carriage back to the hotel, exchanged a glance with the old Taoist priest across the distance. Having made the other man suffer a hidden loss, Link shook his head and smiled.

Taoist arts are Taoist arts; there's no such thing as joking.

This world is getting more and more interesting.

Human Immortal Martial Arts, Mechanical Martial Arts, Magical Arts, Ancient Witchcraft, Evil Witchcraft, and... Taoist Arts that further demonstrate the orthodox nature of the Xuanmen (Mysterious Sect).

With a sense of inexplicable anticipation, Link returned to the hotel.

Previously, when Link told Jiang Demiao about this place, he wasn't just making it up.

He really intended to stay here for a few more days to see how the Jiang and Zhong families would react to his arrival.

This was a pre-arranged plan, and it remained unchanged even after understanding the karmic threads and shackles binding me.

"This is the only thing I can do for you."

Link severed his connection with single mothers at the causal level.

However, in reality, single mothers may encounter some troubles because of Link's appearance.

Before leaving the county town to explore the Valley of the Dead, Link was willing to clear away all the troubles for the single mother.

If the Jiang family, the Zhong family, and even the so-called Lin Nantian are blind...

The Jiang family residence.

The first thing the siblings did after returning home was to find their eldest brother, Jiang Dehao, who had taken charge of the household.

The three siblings' parents were actually in good health, but they had retired to the sidelines and handed over the large Jiang family business to Jiang Dehao.

Therefore, the three siblings were still referred to as the young master and young lady, both within the Jiang family and among other forces and ordinary people in Tianshui County.

"Um?"

Jiang Dehao, taking a rare break, was playing the zither in the pavilion to amuse himself.

Jiang Dehao was startled when he saw the siblings rushing over, especially the younger brother Jiang Demiao, whose face looked terrible.

In Tianshui County, there are probably not many people who could cause the third young master of the Jiang family to be in such a state.

Every possibility is not a good thing.

"Big brother..."

Jiang Demiao called out, about to continue speaking.

"Please sit down for a while."

Jiang Dehao immediately raised his right palm to stop Jiang Demiao from speaking, and turned to his second sister Jiang Yu'er, "Yu'er, you speak."

Jiang Yu'er slowly sat down opposite Jiang Dehao and calmly said, "Ke'er came to see me, and she is extremely powerful, capable of instantly killing my third brother. The methods she used were not the martial arts of immortals, but rather similar to magic, yet different; I cannot discern her true nature."

Jiang Dehao didn't care whether Jiang Yu'er couldn't see it or she saw it but didn't want to talk about it.

He only cared about one thing: whether Link, whom the two brothers had abandoned years ago, was here for revenge.

Seeing her elder brother's probing gaze, Jiang Yu'er shook her head: "Ke'er has no intention of taking revenge on you two heartless uncles, or on the Jiang family."

Jiang Dehao didn't care about Jiang Yu'er's accusations.

Turning to his third brother, who had calmed down considerably, Jiang Dehao asked, "What are your plans?"

"I'll listen to my older brother."

Jiang Demiao had a thousand words in her heart, but at this moment she could only say one.

From childhood to adulthood, as the younger brother, Jiang Demiao always obeyed his elder brother's every word and never disobeyed him.

Especially after the father, under pressure from the clan elders, forcibly handed over the position of clan leader to his eldest brother ahead of schedule.

As the eldest son of the clan leader who also had the right to inherit the Jiang family business, Jiang Demiao never had any disagreements with his elder brother Jiang Dehao, either in public or in private.

At most, he would secretly complain to his older brother a couple of times when he was in a bad mood.

"Then let's do nothing and just let this matter pass."

Jiang Dehao made a decision instantly.

In Jiang Dehao's view, this matter was a complete mess.

To be honest, even if Link were to launch a large-scale retaliation against the Jiang family, he would still have a valid argument.

Now that Link has the ability, yet he still restrains himself, it's a win-win situation.

The Jiang family has no need to provoke Link, or the sharpshooter Li Shuwen behind Link.

As for the Zhong family and Lin Nantian, let them die!

The Chung family residence.

After the person in charge heard that Lin Ke had appeared at the Sitong Hotel in the county town in his true form, he was in charge.

He specifically instructed that no member of the Zhong clan should take any action against Link.

The rumors circulating that the Jiang family is willing to join forces with the Zhong family to take down Link and force Lin Nantian into the Valley of the Dead are pure nonsense!

Which clan, with its long-standing tradition of martial arts, would dare to provoke the Valley of the Dead?

Not to mention that exploring the Valley of the Dead would result in the deaths of a whole valley of people.

Even if they survive, regardless of whether they gained anything, they will face extermination from the entire martial arts world and even the imperial court.

Others might not know, but surely these long-established clans with a rich history wouldn't be unaware?

"I don't care who's looking for death!"

"Anyone who dares to act in the Zhong family's name, I'll kill them first!"

Before long, these two sentences from the Zhong clan chief reached Link's ears.

"Oh……"

Link's only response was a sneer.

Lin Nantian, who was living in seclusion not far from the city of Tianshui, had his own channels of communication and knew about Link's appearance and his vaguely indicated intentions.

In the end, Lin Nantian's response was to have someone deliver a broken mirror and a basin with some water stains.

"Hahaha!"

Link's reaction was to sneer three times.

They were all people with a difficult and unpleasant personality.

No wonder the grudges between the Jiang family, the Zhong family, and Lin Nantian over Jiang Yu'er's out-of-wedlock child have lasted for almost twenty years and they still haven't settled things.

Those who are petty and despicable don't know how to waste time.

So, the morning after visiting Qingyun Temple.

Link left the Sitong Hotel and the city of Tianshui.

On the city gate tower, Jiang Yu'er, who had known the news in advance, stood on the high ground and looked out at the passenger ship that Lin Ke boarded to return to the provincial capital.

Her face was no longer as pale as it had been over the past decade, and her demeanor had changed considerably.

She remained gentle and still appeared somewhat frail.

However, a hint of sharpness had already appeared in her phoenix eyes.

The once-famous female swordswoman of Tianshui County recovered from her chronic illness, and her cultivation not only returned to normal but also reached a higher level.

He had even reached the edge of the Void Realm before his nemesis, Lin Nantian.

This is exactly Link's method.

Last night, he quietly entered the Jiang family mansion and found the single mother's bedroom.

After a series of actions, he almost exhausted the true essence he had cultivated through the martial arts of the Immortals, and also used a lot of spiritual energy, before finally curing the single mother's chronic illness with a newly comprehended secret technique.

On a passenger ship.

Looking listless, Link leaned against the window, silently watching the reversed river view. He was exhausted, but also incredibly relaxed inside and out.

Indeed, merely severing the causal link does not completely resolve the cause and effect.

After receiving responses from the Jiang family, the Zhong family, and Lin Nantian, and making up for the debt owed to single mothers, Lin Ke finally repaid the debt of giving birth to him.

This discovery sparked many thoughts in Link's mind.

For example, did the mystical saint Nostrodam, who was skilled in prophecy, also understand the "cause and effect" rules of the universe in which the wizarding world is located?

For example, his repeated revisions of his guesses about the criteria for judging whether the test was completed.

Various thoughts arose, but Link suppressed them one by one.

yawning, Link left the window, lay down on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep.

Four days later.

The passenger ship traveling against the current arrived at the dock.

Link was not among the passengers who disembarked.

Link had already disembarked a day earlier after recovering his full strength.

He didn't rush to conduct experiments on implanting "constructs" into martial arts practitioners, nor did he rush to explore the increasingly bustling Valley of the Dead.

Instead, they avoided all sight and quietly returned to Fuli County.

"Master, Mistress, I'm back."

Inside the main hall of the Bajiquan Martial Arts School.

Link transmitted his voice secretly, asking Li Shuwen to dismiss the other secret disciples before revealing himself.

"You're finally not hiding it anymore?"

Li Shuwen, who had reached the end of the Human Immortal Martial Arts Void Realm and was trying to find a way to break through to the legendary fifth realm, "Seeing God," looked at his eighth disciple and joked with him.

"I never intended to hide it from my master and mistress."

What could Link say? That was the only answer he could give.

The teacher's wife didn't say anything, sitting there with a frosty expression, occasionally glaring at Li Shuwen.

The fact that her daughter, Li Sisi, took the blame for her father greatly displeased the teacher's wife.

She then blamed her husband, who lived in Fuli County, for refusing to move or come to her daughter's aid.

Didn't she know that Lao Ba, Link, had already arrived in the provincial capital and was conducting an investigation, and that he had already made progress?

She just wanted to vent her anger herself!

Link noticed the awkwardness between his master and mistress, but pretended not to, and continued talking about magic, ancient witchcraft, evil witchcraft, and Taoist arts.

After finishing his explanation, Link said, "Master, Mistress, I don't want to deceive you, so I can't explain the origin of the secret techniques I know. But please rest assured, Master and Mistress, I will not do anything that would harm the Bajiquan Martial Arts School family."

"I'm very relieved."

Li Shuwen glanced at his still angry wife, "I just don't know if your master's wife is at ease."

The teacher's wife scoffed, "Ke'er is much more reliable than you!"

"Ha ha……"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuwen was not annoyed at all; instead, he laughed heartily, "The student has surpassed the teacher—isn't that wonderful!"

After the interlude, Li Shuwen solemnly warned, "It's fine if you're interested in magic, ancient witchcraft, evil witchcraft, and Taoist arts. There's only one rule: don't practice them. From ancient times to the present, why has only the Human Immortal Martial Arts been passed down? I hope you can understand the profound meaning behind this."

"Because it's harmless."

Link immediately gave an answer.

By comparing various magical arts, ancient witchcraft, evil witchcraft, and the martial arts of the immortals, Link had long ago discovered that only the martial arts of the immortals followed the path of balancing essence, energy, and spirit.

I don't know much about Taoist arts in this world, but judging from the fact that they are based on "magical arts" and were sealed away by the Taoist sect itself, they must be biased and have great problems.

"Well, it's good that you understand this."

Li Shuwen nodded, very satisfied with Link's answer.

The teacher's wife glared at Li Shuwen, then suddenly spoke, saying sternly, "Ke'er, you absolutely mustn't go to the Valley of the Dead. You mustn't go there!"

The incident at Dead Man's Valley has caused quite a stir, spreading throughout the martial arts world of the North and South.

It is said that the imperial court also intends to organize a group of elite troops to enter the ranks.

The emperor was over fifty years old and had been working day and night. His health had long since declined, and he urgently needed to replenish his body.

"I won't go anytime soon."

Link truthfully stated his plans, then changed the subject, explaining the concept of the "Construct" system after combining the "Totem" philosophy and the Human Immortal Martial Arts, as well as his idea of ​​implanting "Constructs" into Human Immortal Martial Arts practitioners.

"Master, what's your opinion on this matter?"

Three people, there must be my teacher.

Link wanted to perfect his path by implanting "constructs" into the martial arts practitioners of the Immortal Path in this world, so of course he needed to seek their opinions.

In terms of understanding the martial arts of the Immortals, who can compare to Li Shuwen, who has already reached the peak of the Void Realm?

Make the best use of all resources! (End of Chapter)