Chapter 6: Massive Bounty

"What is the meaning of this, you two?"

Chen Lin stopped in his tracks, looking at the pair with vigilance.

Although he didn't think they would resort to highway robbery, he couldn't understand why they were blocking his path.

"Fellow Daoist, please don't be alarmed. My junior sister and I mean no harm; we have a favor to ask."

Lu Li cupped his hands and squeezed out a smile.

Chen Lin’s eyes flickered slightly. He seemed to have an inkling of their intentions, but he felt it was unlikely.

At this moment, the other party spoke again: "Let me introduce myself first. I am Lu Li of the Lu family, and this is my cousin, Lan Yuqing. You saw us at the Duobao Pavilion earlier; I am in urgent need of crafting Soul-Detention Talismans. Seeing that you purchased talisman-making materials, I assumed you must be a talisman master, which is why I rashly blocked your path."

Chen Lin’s eyes flashed.

So, he had guessed correctly.

But how desperate must they be to go around bumping into people like headless flies?

"I'm sorry, I am just a low-level talisman master who has only just begun. Currently, I can only craft Strength Talismans, so I'm afraid I cannot be of any help."

Chen Lin waved his hands repeatedly.

His refusal was very blunt.

Although he was tempted to give it a try—and with his "ten-times-guaranteed-success" ability, he was certain he could craft it—he didn't dare to agree.

The secret of his innate ability must never be leaked. If others were to think he possessed some kind of treasure that granted him this ability, he would be beaten into a pulp in a heartbeat.

Even if they believed it was an innate ability, there was a high probability he would be imprisoned and used as a talisman-making slave.

In this world of cultivation, there is no talk of benevolence or morality; only the law of the jungle prevails.

Lu Li didn't mind Chen Lin's refusal.

He squinted and sneered, "I intend to hold a talisman-making assembly at the Lianyun Inn tonight. I cordially invite you to attend. If you have any acquaintances who are talisman masters, feel free to recommend them as well.

I, Lu, have plenty of spirit stones. Whoever can craft the talisman I need will be rewarded with fifty medium-grade spirit stones, and the person who recommends them will also receive a reward of five medium-grade spirit stones!"

A look of shock appeared in Chen Lin's eyes.

The reward was truly generous!

"In that case, alright."

He nodded in agreement.

The massive bounty of spirit stones made Chen Lin incredibly tempted. Regardless of whether he would actually go, he agreed for now.

Seeing this, Lu Li’s expression softened quite a bit.

Then, the pair of senior and junior siblings simultaneously squinted and sneered, their figures flickering as they flew off at a low altitude.

Chen Lin looked at their retreating backs with envy, wondering when he would be able to learn a flight technique so he wouldn't have to crawl through the snow so miserably.

He didn't retract his gaze until their figures had completely disappeared.

He continued to trudge toward his residence.

Besides him, there were many others crawling along.

From a distance, they looked like stiff zombies, occasionally letting out bursts of evil, arrogant, and wild sneers.

There was no grace of a cultivator left; it was simply an eyesore.

Chen Lin quickened his pace.

He returned to his courtyard, heavy-hearted, and happened to run into his neighbor, the sharp-tongued female cultivator with the sallow face, as she was coming out.

"Hmph, old bachelor!"

He had intended to greet her, but she glared at him unpleasantly, forcing his words back down his throat.

Chen Lin couldn't be bothered to lower himself to her level, so he ignored her and walked into his room.

Just as he took off his cotton coat and hat, there was a knock on the door.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, it's me, Zhao Zhengyuan."

Chen Lin’s eyes flashed. He gripped an Evil-Warding Talisman in his hand and opened the door.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, something terrible has happened!"

As soon as the door was cracked open, Zhao Zhengyuan squeezed in urgently, his face filled with panic.

"What is it?"

Feeling the other man's agitation, Chen Lin also became somewhat nervous.

"They're dead, they're all dead!"

Zhao Zhengyuan’s face was pale, and his lips were trembling uncontrollably.

"What is all dead?"

Chen Lin was confused, but he immediately recalled something and exclaimed, "Could it be that those people who were possessed are all dead?"

Zhao Zhengyuan nodded repeatedly.

"That's right. Didn't I say last time that many others had been possessed just like us? I saw you go out this morning, so I went out for a walk too. I asked around and found out that they are all dead, and they died in the same state as Sun Shi and the others!"

This answer made Chen Lin’s heart sink.

The Sun Shi the man mentioned was one of the cultivators who had been possessed along with the original owner; he had died shortly after returning.

There were several others, and not a single one of them had survived.

It was said that they all died miserably, as if they had been air-dried, their entire bodies turning into mummies.

"Are they really all dead? Not a single one survived?"

Chen Lin confirmed again.

If that were the case, then his and Zhao Zhengyuan’s existence would be too conspicuous and would surely attract attention.

Zhao Zhengyuan’s expression was also grim. He swallowed hard and said, "The ones from last time are all dead, but new possessed cultivators have appeared. It has already attracted attention, and many people are discussing this matter."

"More people have been possessed?"

Chen Lin frowned.

The more people who were possessed, the more conspicuous the two survivors became. This was not a good thing.

"Yes, and there are quite a few of them. There are two rumors going around: one is that a powerful evil entity has appeared outside the city and has set its sights on Kaiyuan City; the other is that this situation is a plague."

Zhao Zhengyuan broke free from his nervous state and pulled up a chair to sit down.

"A plague?"

Chen Lin shook his head. "That's impossible, right? Can cultivators even catch the plague?"

Zhao Zhengyuan squinted and sneered, "Of course they can, though it certainly wouldn't be an ordinary plague. But don't worry, I, Zhao, have some research on plagues!"

Chen Lin automatically ignored the man's nonsense and fell into deep thought.

If it really were a plague, that would be fine; he would just need to isolate himself and avoid contact with others. But if they were being targeted by a powerful evil entity, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Furthermore, if a powerful, strange entity had appeared outside, the danger of him trying to flee the area would skyrocket.

"Which one do you think it is?" Chen Lin asked, looking at him.

"Sigh, I don't know. We'll know in a while. Regardless of the situation, there's nothing we can do. With this much snow, we can't even find the road out of the city. We can only wait in the city."

Zhao Zhengyuan sighed, shook his head, and left the room.

After he left, Chen Lin fell into deep thought, but no matter how he looked at it, just as the man said, there was no other way.

Fleeing the city now was definitely not an option.

With snow over half a meter deep, he couldn't travel long distances without a flight technique. Besides, the demonic beasts outside the city were likely starving to madness; going out would be like delivering a snack.

Not to mention the possibility of a powerful, strange entity.

"This world is too crazy; I can't afford to take things step by step!"

Chen Lin gritted his teeth and made a decision.

He had originally planned to play it safe and develop slowly using his "ten-times-guaranteed-success" ability, but this sudden turn of events forced him to change his plans.

He didn't continue crafting talismans. Instead, he cooked a pot of spirit rice porridge, and after finishing it, he began to meditate.

At dusk, he prepared himself, shouldered his pack, and walked out of the room.