Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

"We’re not going back?"

Gu Nanzhi suppressed the joy in her heart, feeling a little confused.

The two of them had successfully ambushed and killed the Mountain-Smashing Dragon, which had already greatly reduced the pressure on the Government Office.

Moreover, they had obtained this Dragon Bone Plum. With this primary ingredient, she just needed to have it refined into a pill, and her injuries would greatly improve.

Even if Lin Shu completed his trial and was taken away by his Master, and even if that Immortal Descendant didn’t intend to get involved in the affairs of Black Water City, she was confident she could suppress the entire Black Water Gang, gradually clip its wings, discipline the constables under her command, and restore the rule of law.

Although it still wouldn’t solve the ultimate problem, it would at least allow the common people to live more comfortably.

The situation was changing for the better. The only time an unexpected mishap could occur was right now.

She felt the volatile, malevolent energy stirring within her. She was in terrible shape.

If they ran into a formidable enemy now, she would be of little use. Everything would truly depend on Lin Shu.

"I’ll do as you say!" Gu Nanzhi gritted her teeth and put the medicine box away.

He always seemed so clean and decisive when making decisions, his face never showing any hesitation or worry.

It inspired an inexplicable sense of confidence in him.

’Come to think of it, if I knew an Immortal Family was backing me, I could be that self-assured too.’

"Don’t worry. We’re just going to take a look."

Lin Shu turned and walked out of the wreckage-strewn Chenlong Hall.

’So far, this whole affair hasn’t actually deviated from Cheng Yi’s plan.’

’Mountain-Smashing Dragon might be dead, but that wasn’t something a mere Greedy Wolf in the Qi Cultivation Stage like me could control.’

’I can only blame Gu Nanzhi for being too strong, and that old man for being useless.’

’In other words, even if the secret of Black Water City is different from my suspicions, I still have a fallback plan. As long as Gu Nanzhi hides and feigns severe injury, I can still go back to being the Gang Leader.’

"Where are we going?" Gu Nanzhi hurried to catch up.

"Bring the body. We’re going to the river where you were injured." Lin Shu strode quickly into the night, taking the opportunity to find out what exactly had happened back then.

"..."

Upon hearing his words, a trace of fear instinctively appeared on the woman’s face. "There’s a flood dragon in that river!"

Even though ten years had passed, she was still full of trepidation about what had happened.

"So the rumors are true?" Lin Shu glanced back, slightly surprised.

He had thought the stories about the Black River being occupied by a flood dragon were just rumors among ordinary people.

’Did Yu Sheng guess wrong?’

"Half true, half false, I suppose. There is a flood dragon, but it’s not the living creature they imagine."

Gu Nanzhi picked up the Mountain-Smashing Dragon’s corpse and recalled for a long time, "When I fought it back then... well, it wasn’t really a fight. I had just leaped out when it sent me flying with a whip of its tail. From start to finish, all I saw was that section of black tail."

She had a helpless look on her face. "It’s at least a Top Grade Magical Artifact, maybe even stronger. Otherwise, it couldn’t possibly possess such might without anyone controlling it."

When he heard the words "Magical Artifact," a glint flashed in Lin Shu’s eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. "Magical Artifacts have grades? I don’t think I saw you use one just now."

"Of course they do. For Immortal Sect Disciples like us in the Foundation Establishment Stage, we need to struggle for decades to accumulate enough merit for a chance to be bestowed a Low Grade Magical Artifact. With one, you can dominate others at the same level."

"As for Mid Grade Magical Artifacts, they are an extravagant hope for World Traveler Disciples. For the most part, only Mountain Master Disciples are qualified to wield them."

"As for Top Grade Magical Artifacts, among those in the Foundation Establishment Stage, I’ve only ever seen them in the hands of an Immortal Descendant. They’re simply too precious for Cultivators; even some Core Formation True Masters still use them."

Gu Nanzhi didn’t find it strange that Lin Shu didn’t know these things.

This young man had clearly never even left the city.

Judging by how he was empty-handed earlier, his Master probably hadn’t told him about these external items before his trial was over, being more concerned with training his intrinsic abilities.

"It’s perfectly normal that I don’t have a Magical Artifact. Since I entered the Immortal Sect at the age of six, I’ve only been in Cultivation for a little over ten years. Before I even had a chance to do anything for the sect, I got trapped in this godforsaken city."

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but sigh, her expression filled with lament.

Ten years wasted; her Cultivation had not only stagnated but actually regressed.

It had caused her originally decent talent to plummet to a lower grade, and her relationship with her Master had also grown distant.

Even if she returned to the Immortal Sect, she would have to start all over again.

"If Top Grade is the highest, what did you mean by ’even stronger’?" Lin Shu adjusted his breathing and quickened his pace again.

"When it sheds its physical form as an artifact and gives birth to its own spirit, it can be called a Magical Treasure."

Gu Nanzhi noticed the young man’s emotions fluctuating, but she didn’t know what to say.

’The stronger the thing in the river, doesn’t that mean our hope of escaping is even slimmer?’

’Besides, the owner of this item must have a high status.’

’Even if Lin Shu’s Master really is an adult Immortal Descendant comparable to a Core Formation expert, he couldn’t just snatch someone else’s property and cause a grudge between two Immortal Sects.’

’At that level, they are all prominent figures in Yongzhou. A wisp of Divine Thought is enough to declare one’s identity.’

’I mean, the owner just tossed this treasure into the river without a single worry.’

As they spoke, the two of them had already left North City, crossed the desolate wilderness, and arrived before the great black river that was as thick as ink.

The river was no more than thirty zhang wide, its surface calm and wave-less. It seemed like it could be crossed with a single sampan, yet it had trapped this entire city.

It was like a slumbering, vicious python, ready to wake at any moment.

"You should focus on recovering. I need to recover as well."

Lin Shu sat cross-legged on the riverbank, staring at the water’s surface, and then activated the Spirit Sparrow Foundation Establishment Method.

At this moment, the information he had gathered from different people finally formed a complete thread.