Attacked by the Female Demon at the Beginning - Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Finding a Scapegoat

The surrounding grass and trees gently swayed.

Lin Zhi struggled to his feet, trembling slightly from pain, his hair disheveled and a bruise visible on his mouth, with many footprints on his clothes.

He hung his head low, not daring to look around, fearing it would attract unwanted attention.

Currently, only Jiang Hao was looking at him, with a flash of divine light in his eyes.

The Daily Appraisal provided feedback.

【Lin Zhi: Qi Refining first level, ordinary cultivation talent, Tianyin Sect outer disciple. As a child, he encountered a dying ancient sage, Gu Ming, who was touched by a simple act of kindness involving a simple cake. Gu Ming let go of his regrets about his impending death, perhaps out of gratitude or because he felt a destined connection, and thus he bestowed the Mingyue Sect’s treasured Starry Moon Pearl into Lin Zhi’s soul. His cultivation has been stagnant because the Starry Moon Pearl absorbs spiritual energy, which, once sufficient, can nourish him in return, helping him leap into the Foundation Establishment stage. Suitable for practicing the Stellar Sun and Moon Technique.】

“So that’s how it is.”

Jiang Hao understood and felt a sense of fate; his connection with the Mingyue Sect was indeed profound.

Chu Chuan was related to the Mingyue Sect, and so was Lin Zhi, surprisingly.

What would others do if they discovered this secret?

The question surfaced in Jiang Hao’s mind.

And the answer he arrived at was that they would kill him, attempting to seize the treasure.

Jiang Hao had no interest in this treasure; even if he did, he wouldn’t resort to violence.

He had treasures of his own; one more wouldn’t make a difference, nor would one less.

There’s no need for any physical intervention.

“Feeling unwilling to accept it?” Jiang Hao asked.

Lin Zhi lowered his head and did not respond for a moment.

After a pause, he finally said, “I-I didn’t steal anything.”

Jiang Hao smiled slightly and said, “I know, and so do the people who hit you. They were just looking for an excuse to snatch the spirit stones from you. Such things are not uncommon in the sect, and they have always been there.”

Lin Zhi’s fists clenched subconsciously, then relaxed weakly, as if resigning to his fate.

Jiang Hao saw all of this and spoke with a calm tone.

“Having two friends with exceptional talent is something you can’t choose. But how you act and face the situation is your choice. Just remember, whatever choice you make, you need to understand where you stand.”

Lin Zhi looked at Jiang Hao with a hint of confusion, not understanding the meaning of his words.

With a light chuckle, Jiang Hao, walking ahead, said,

“Whether you like it or not, this is the Demon Sect, feared by outsiders. Most of your fellow disciples are covetous, and what you need to do is not to save spirit stones or think about how to face the two friends from your hometown. Instead, use the spirit stones in your hand to cultivate as quickly as possible. However, your path is indeed more difficult than many others.”

Bearing a treasure also means bearing the series of consequences that come with it.

In the early stages, it’s hard to make progress in cultivation, and you have to endure the strange looks from your fellow disciples, experience the warmth and coldness of human relationships, not only face them but also withstand the pain.

The mental pressure far exceeds the physical pressure.

If you succeed, you may rise rapidly.

If you fail, you’ll be like dust in the soil, living in a daze.

On the way back, Jiang Hao did not say much else but asked,

“Are you having any difficulties with your cultivation?”

“I’m accumulating spiritual energy, but there’s some difficulty when I try to cultivate.” Lin Zhi replied, knowing that his Senior Brother was going to guide him in cultivation and not daring to hesitate.

“The cultivation technique of Tianyin Hundred Revolutions is related to sonic vibrations. When it’s operated, the meridians will vibrate slightly. Try to feel it and resonate with it. It can help you cultivate a bit faster,” Jiang Hao began to explain.

He talked a lot along the way, but only to help explain.

He didn’t do anything more.

Whether it was about the situation with the Starry Moon Pearl or whether to change the cultivation technique, he didn’t mention it.

After talking all the way, he was somewhat puzzled as to why the ancient sage, Gu Ming, would take an interest in Lin Zhi.

“Average talent, average temperament, average perseverance, average in other aspects as well. How could such a person be suitable for possessing a treasure? Isn’t this harming him?”

Watching Lin Zhi return to his place, Jiang Hao was baffled.

He hid himself and stood at a distance.

No matter how average Lin Zhi was, he was ultimately the owner of a treasure.

His future had already been affected, but such a person would find it very difficult to get out of his current predicament.

The subsequent encounters with fellow disciples and friends from his hometown could deal him endless and fatal blows.

He would become increasingly embarrassed, and the psychological pressure would be like an immovable mountain weighing on his heart.

Hesitating for a moment, Jiang Hao walked to the window and looked inside.

This glance surprised him.

In the corner of the room, Lin Zhi was sitting on the ground, continuously wiping away tears.

The large teardrops were like a flood that couldn’t be stopped.

Jiang Hao then remembered that the other person was just a child in his teens.

Being beaten, robbed, and wrongfully accused of stealing, how could he not be sad and upset?

Watching him trying hard to control himself, preventing himself from crying out loud, Jiang Hao couldn’t help but sigh.

After observing for a while, Lin Zhi finally dried his tears.

He took a small box out of the drawer and carefully placed the amulet inside.

Looking at the amulet, he touched it gently, his eyes filled with reluctance and becoming slightly red again.

Before the tears could fall, he closed the box.

Then, he left the room and went to the back of the house to dig a hole.

Finally, he buried the box in the ground.

From now on, he had nothing left. And nothing to fear.

Watching all this, Jiang Hao did not make a sound, nor was he discovered.

“I may have misjudged,” he said with a light chuckle, then turned and left.

This one was stronger than he thought. But still not enough.

This was just the beginning.

Jiang Hao knew Lin Zhi’s situation and had a suitable cultivation technique for him.

But he did not step in to help him, at least not now.

He needed to observe for a while longer.

……

On the way back, Jiang Hao saw someone else being beaten.

Bang!

A girl punched a boy into a mound of dirt.

Blood stained the surroundings.

“It seems you’ve killed him, too bad Lord Rabbit doesn’t eat common folk,” a rabbit said regretfully as it hopped onto the girl’s shoulder.

“Junior Sister Xiao Li, why did you suddenly strike with such force?” Cheng Chou asked in surprise.

“He asked me to be serious, he said he had advanced to the same realm as me,” Xiao Li said innocently.

“The same realm?” Cheng Chou sighed internally.

Didn’t Junior Brother Chu Chuan have any sense at all?

At this moment, Chu Chuan had already passed out, his life hanging by a thread.

He never imagined that despite getting stronger, the beatings he received were getting worse.

Jiang Hao looked at the severely injured Chu Chuan and realized he had reached the second level of Qi Refining.

“Second level of Qi Refining in one year? That’s fast progress.”

Especially compared to Lin Zhi.

Lin Zhi had started training earlier than Chu Chuan.

But compared to Lin Zhi, Chu Chuan was quite lucky.

Jiang Hao walked over.

Meanwhile, the rabbit on Xiao Li’s shoulder was boasting:

“It’s almost lunchtime, let’s catch a tender and rich fairy to eat. Friends on the road will give Lord Rabbit some face and won’t interfere. It’s decided, today we won’t eat anything else, we’ll eat… we’ll eat carrots! Nothing tastes better than carrots!”

As Xiao Li and Cheng Chou looked on puzzled, the rabbit addressed the approaching Jiang Hao:

“You agree, right, Master?”

Curious, Xiao Li turned her head to look.

Indeed, it was Jiang Hao coming over.

She instinctively looked at the half-dead Chu Chuan, then grabbed the rabbit and hugged it tightly in front of her.

It was as if she had done something wrong and was caught red-handed, needing a scapegoat.