Weakness Period: 0 hours remaining.
On a worn stone meditation cushion in Tianmen Village's rear courtyard, Lin Che's eyes snapped open. Two piercing gleams of light flashed and vanished. The sluggish, blocked feeling that had plagued his meridians completely dissipated. Spiritual energy now surged through his veins like a raging river, his dantian sea brimmed with power, and the hidden injuries from previous battles had fully healed. Even his aura felt several times more profound than at his previous peak.
[System Congratulations: Weakness period terminated. Current status: Peak Perfection.]
[Main Quest Update: The Initiation (Destroy Black Wind Village) Countdown: 3 hours. Quest Rewards: 1,000 Slaughter Points, +50% Basic Cultivation Technique Mastery.]
Lin Che rose and pushed open his door. His joints emitted crisp cracking sounds, and an invisible aura quietly spread outward.
"Brother Lin, have you truly made a full recovery?" Shi Jin hurried forward, his eyes scanning Lin Che repeatedly. Seeing his rosy complexion and steady aura—completely devoid of his former pale weakness—his gaze filled with joy and admiration.
"Mm." Lin Che lightly flexed his wrist, spiritual energy wisping around his fingertips. "Time is short. We move."
[System Detecting Host's Intent to Raid Black Wind Village at Night. Tactical Analysis: Frontal assault on Black Wind Village's main gate results in 97% casualty rate for our side. Recommendation: Avoid frontal battlefield. Optimal Solution: Infiltrate via rear mountain sewage tunnel, strike directly at the heart.]
Lin Che's steps halted. He turned to Shi Jin. "Chief Shi, does Black Wind Village have any secret entrances besides the main gate?"
Shi Jin was taken aback, then slapped his thigh. "Indeed there is! There's a sewage tunnel on Black Wind Village's rear mountain. They dump waste and filth there. The passage is narrow and hidden, leading straight to the stone hall where the bear demon resides. But it's filthy and reeks—no one wants to go near it normally."
[System Note: Sewage Tunnel Stench Index: 99%. Warm Suggestion: Host should hold breath in advance to prevent foul qi from invading meridians.]
Lin Che nodded and rapidly deployed tactics. "Chief Shi, you lead men in a feigned frontal assault. Set off torches, beat war drums, create a raucous show of force to draw Black Wind Village's main troops. Delay them as long as possible. I'll take five agile Body Tempering warriors through the sewage tunnel to strike at the bear demon's vitals."
"That's far too dangerous!" Shi Jin urgently劝阻. "That bear demon is a Foundation Establishment stage beast—far stronger than me. If you infiltrate alone and encounter an ambush..."
"Rest assured." Lin Che interrupted, tone resolute. "I hold an ace up my sleeve—self-preservation will be sufficient. Remember: the feigned assault must not become entangled in combat. Upon seeing my signal of success, immediately withdraw your forces and retreat. We regroup before tallying results."
[Ace Detection: Xiang Yu Inheritance Unlock Rate: 0%. Warning: Forced unlocking consumes massive Slaughter Points. Host current Slaughter Points: 860.]
Seeing his determined attitude, and recalling his effortless defeat of Third Brother days ago, Shi Jin ultimately nodded. He selected five of the village's most resilient elites and handed them to Lin Che. "These men are the toughest in the village, familiar with mountain terrain. Take them, but be extremely careful!"
---
Black Wind Village, Zi Hour (11 PM - 1 AM).
Night was dark as ink, mountain winds howled. At Black Wind Village's main gate, flames suddenly shot skyward. War drums and battle cries intertwined as Shi Jin led his men, torches in hand, launching a fierce feigned assault on the gate. The entire show was thoroughly convincing.
Inside the stone hall, the Foundation Establishment bear demon heard the commotion and released a roar that shook the entire mountain range. Its massive body surged upright, violent demon qi erupting around it. Leading a horde of lesser demons, it charged furiously toward the main gate.
Meanwhile, Lin Che led his five elites around to Black Wind Village's rear mountain. The sewage tunnel entrance was concealed by dense thorny undergrowth. As they pushed aside the branches, a wave of nauseating stench assaulted them, nearly making them vomit. The five warriors' faces turned pale, yet they gritted their teeth and endured, not making a sound.
[Host Breath-Holding Duration: 89 seconds. Remaining Breath-Hold Time: 111 seconds.]
"You five guard here. Seal the tunnel entrance. Prevent any lesser demons from escaping or reinforcements entering. I'll go in alone." Lin Che ordered in a low voice. Then he took a deep breath and darted into the sewage tunnel.
The passage was narrow and damp, allowing only one person to crawl through bent over. The tunnel walls were coated with filth, the stench nearly breaking through his breath-holding barrier. Yet Lin Che paid it no mind, relying on his keen perception to swiftly advance toward the tunnel's depths.
Moments later, faint light appeared at the tunnel's end. Lin Che silently emerged, landing in a corner of the bear demon's stone hall. Several lesser demons remained on guard, frantically peering toward the main gate where the sounds of battle echoed, completely oblivious to the danger now in their midst.
Lin Che's eyes turned cold. Moving like a ghost, his fingertips erupted with spiritual energy. In a few swift moves, he silently eliminated the demons without making a sound.
Suddenly, the bear demon's roar came from the main gate direction, followed by rapid footsteps. Clearly, the frontal feigned assault had been too convincing, making it turn back. The bear demon's massive frame crashed through the hall doors, fur bristling, eyes filled with savage fury. It had been enraged by Shi Jin's distraction and now vented its fury on the lesser demons present.
Lin Che no longer concealed himself. He stepped slowly from the corner, his voice ice-cold: "Filthy creature, your time of death has arrived."
The bear demon whipped its head around. Seeing Lin Che, its eyes flashed with murderous light. Foundation Establishment demon qi erupted instantly, making the stone hall's floor tremble: "A mere Qi Condensing peak ant dares invade my lair? You're simply seeking death!"
Lin Che dared not be careless. He pushed his spiritual energy to its limits. His Slaughter God Domain silently expanded, faint black killing intent swirling around him, his gaze sharp as knives. He understood well—the gap between Qi Condensing and Foundation Establishment was a qualitative chasm. Even at his peak, a direct confrontation would be suicidal.
[Battle Analysis: Power gap between both sides is immense. Pure combat win rate: 12.3%. Recommendation: Immediately unlock Xiang Yu Inheritance to boost combat power.]
"System, force unlock Xiang Yu Inheritance!" Lin Che commanded mentally.
[Warning: Forced unlocking of Xiang Yu Inheritance consumes 500 Slaughter Points. Remaining Slaughter Points will fall below 300. Confirm unlocking?]