Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

"You talk too much."

Gu Nanzhi’s voice was cold as she formed another sword seal, silently swallowing the metallic tang of blood in her mouth.

This was why she could overpower Mountain-Smashing Dragon, yet wasn’t confident she could actually defeat him.

The Immortal Technique she’d learned from her Master, combined with her relatively pure Immortal Flavor, gave her a massive advantage in clashes with Loose Cultivators like him.

But her internal injuries meant she couldn’t sustain a prolonged Magical Combat.

’Isn’t the Immortal Family going to make a move?’

She forcibly gathered her Spiritual Power and unleashed several more streams of Sword Qi.

Watching Mountain-Smashing Dragon continuously dodge, acting like a scoundrel intent on wearing her down to death, she felt a profound sense of helplessness.

’Is this Immortal Descendant testing Lin Shu, or testing me?’

A few more exchanges, and it would be difficult for her to even escape.

"Are you out of your mind? The worst that can happen is we both end up severely injured. Let’s see who’ll be left to guard this city for you then!"

Blood was streaming down Mountain-Smashing Dragon’s body, but his voice was shrill with mockery.

He had already noticed the wisps of Black Mist appearing on the woman’s fair neck.

He didn’t know what this damn bitch was on about, but for her to injure him this badly, she must have paid a heavy price.

"..."

At his words, a flicker of hesitation appeared in Gu Nanzhi’s eyes.

If she stopped now, the damage wasn’t irreversible. She could recover after a few days’ rest.

But if she kept fighting, she would truly damage her cultivation foundation. She wouldn’t be able to fight again for at least three to five years.

’Just as the old man said, who would be left to guard this city in my place?’

"Heh. Good that you’ve figured it out."

Mountain-Smashing Dragon sullenly wiped the blood from his face. As he formed a series of Finger Formulas, several Earth Pythons slithered out of the ground around the woman, lying coiled and menacingly still.

He used the Formulas to intimidate her but didn’t actually attack.

Instead, he warily took a few steps back, giving the woman room to retreat.

Their goals didn’t conflict. There was absolutely no need to fight to the death.

A fight to the bitter end would benefit neither of them.

As he was backing away, he suddenly caught sight of a slight figure out of the corner of his eye.

Amidst the wreckage of crumbled walls, Lin Shu stood quietly, watching him in utter silence.

It was as if he were waiting for him, the Gang Leader, to die, ready to greedily devour his rotting corpse and inherit all of the Black Water Gang.

"..."

The moment that handsome face came into view.

A tremor ran through the old man, and his retreating steps came to a sudden halt.

He turned his head, looking on in disbelief.

"So, you came to kill me for *him*?"

"You people really want to make *him* the Gang Leader?!"

Mountain-Smashing Dragon let the blood trickle past the corner of his eye as everything suddenly clicked into place.

Why Cheng Yi had lured him away, why Gu Nanzhi had ambushed him for no apparent reason.

The Government Office and the Black Water Gang had conspired to set this up, all to pave the way for this worthless animal, intending for him to replace me!

At this thought, every line on the old man’s withered face filled with venomous hatred.

Then, that venomous hatred swiftly transformed into intense killing intent.

He turned slowly, as if he had suffered the greatest of insults, his lips trembling violently. "I might not be able to kill them, but don’t think for a second I can’t kill you!"

"Get back!"

Gu Nanzhi’s expression changed abruptly. She did need a helper, but the one she needed was the Immortal Descendant.

Besides, even she had to be careful to keep her distance when facing Mountain-Smashing Dragon.

Yet Lin Shu had silently appeared within ten yards of the old dragon!

Her gaze quickly swept over the young man.

’No Magical Artifact! No Immortal Talisman! He’s not even holding a weapon, just standing there brazenly.’

’What on earth is he doing?’

With no time to think, Gu Nanzhi shot forward.

At this distance, if she hesitated for even a second, it would be too late for her to save him.

"Get lost!" Despite being so grievously wounded by the Sword Qi, Mountain-Smashing Dragon hadn’t truly fought back this entire time.

But now, the dormant Earth Pythons lunged violently at the woman!

Just as he’d thought before, he could tolerate many things, but only when his opponent was strong enough to command respect.

"But you, you worthless stray, you think you can replace me?!"

"What gives you the right?!"

With a piercing shriek, the old man charged like a maddened dragon, an earthen glow rippling around him.

Unlike his purely defensive stance against Gu Nanzhi, he now dropped his guard completely, intent only on crushing the young man on the spot with the most cruel and brutal method possible!

CRACKLE, CRACKLE.

Shattered stones were swept up by an unseen force, coalescing into the shape of a menacing dragon’s claw.

This was the Mountain-Bashing Claw!

Even from dozens of feet away, Lin Shu’s clothes began to whip about violently in the surging Spiritual Power.

His hair flew wildly, making his face seem even paler.

The Spiritual Power in his body rapidly shifted from cyan to a spectral black as the Filthy Moon Wolf Lord in his chest poured a continuous stream of Magical Power into his frame.

In an instant, his clear eyes turned a crystalline crimson, like polished rubies.

Their eyes met.

For a split second, the old man’s Divine Soul faltered.

Empowered by the Foundation Establishment Magical Power, the effect of the Red Moon Dharma Eye was amplified many times over.

"ROAR!"

Mountain-Smashing Dragon was suddenly jolted back to his senses.

’Such a treacherous technique! A mere Qi Cultivation Cultivator can actually affect my Divine Soul?’

He jolted his mind with Spiritual Power, finally steadying his consciousness.

But in that brief moment of disorientation, when he looked up again to rip the young man apart with his claw, all he saw was a dense black miasma.

The black miasma roiled thickly, like a vast river rushing forth to drown him completely.

"Die!"

Panicked, Mountain-Smashing Dragon frantically waved his sleeve.

The giant stone claw slammed down, not only scattering some of the black miasma but also leaving a crater several feet deep in the ground.

But the young man was nowhere inside it.

Just as he was about to gather what little Spiritual Power he had left, a ghastly white, sharp bone claw appeared in his line of sight.

Its five sharp talons pierced through the Black Mist, aimed straight at his forehead.

Looking past the bone claw, Mountain-Smashing Dragon once again met those scarlet eyes.

The young man’s expression was impassive; his actions alone were the answer to the old man’s question.

The answer to... what gave him the right.

CRACK!

The bone fingertips tore through Mountain-Smashing Dragon’s aged skin and embedded themselves deep in his skull.

Then, the claw’s owner put forth a sudden burst of strength.

RIIIP—

The sickening sound of tearing cloth, accompanied by the sharp crack of bone being violently snapped, suddenly rang out in the estate’s courtyard.

"..."

Gu Nanzhi unleashed her Sword Qi, shattering several Earth Pythons.

She had just raised her head when her breath caught in her throat.

She saw the Black River of mist churn as a slender figure casually strode out from it, trailing wisps of Fog.

Dragged in his hand was a corpse, the top of its head riddled with bloody holes, its neck snapped halfway!

"Taken care of."

Lin Shu let out a light breath.

He tossed the corpse to the ground and threw the square box in his hand to the woman.

’Since we’re partners, it’s only natural to divide the spoils evenly.’

He hadn’t deliberately made Gu Nanzhi’s fight a struggle.

It was because borrowing the Filthy Moon Wolf Lord’s Magical Power wasn’t free. He was running low on Sin Coins and had to spend them where they would count the most.

Besides, Lin Shu also needed to observe the methods of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Of course, he couldn’t deny that the County Captain had put in a great deal of effort.

So it was only fair to give her the Spirit Medicine.

As for his own gains, they were quite substantial.

Lin Shu glanced at an empty spot in the air.

[Murderers and arsonists wear belts of gold, while bridge-builders and road-menders are left with unmarked graves. One mortal slain. Reward: One string of Sin Coins.]

"You..."

Gu Nanzhi stared at the medicine box in her hand, her mouth suddenly feeling dry.

Standing so close, she could of course sense that the great river of black miasma had contained the aura of the Foundation Establishment Stage!

No wonder the Immortal Descendant hadn’t prepared any Magical Artifacts or Immortal Talismans for Lin Shu. No wonder he’d been so composed, never even showing his face.

A Secret Technique that allowed someone in the Qi Cultivation Realm to forcibly wield Foundation Establishment Power... she had never heard of such a thing, not even during her time in an Immortal Sect.

It was simply... unbelievable!

She struggled to even her breathing, gently stroking the medicine box in her hand as a strange thought popped into her head.

’So, is this what Chang Yi felt like?’

’It feels like I did something, yet it also feels like I did nothing at all, and I still get to accept a great reward for free.’

’If I’d known it was just a matter of getting a free prize, I would have been more than happy to help.’

Gu Nanzhi tore her gaze from the medicine box and looked back at the nonchalant young man in the distance.

Her expression was complex, her voice a little hoarse. "What now? Do we go back to the Government Office together?"

Killing Mountain-Smashing Dragon was undoubtedly a good thing for the Government Office.

But if word got out, it would be very difficult for him to return to the Black Water Gang.

"Back to the Government Office?"

Lin Shu gave her a strange look. "Of course not."

’With both Overseas Dragon and Sea-Covering Dragon finally in East City, of course I have to take this opportunity to go see that Black River that’s holding the entire city captive.’

’And see what’s really hiding in its depths.’