Hunter 114: The Remaining Scum and Dregs 

"You said some mysterious Outcast wants to see me?"

Lin Jiu asked, intrigued when Wang Mingjian mentioned that some extraordinary people were looking for him by name, sensing an opportunity for profit.

"Let them meet at the usual place."

Lin Jiu was referring to the abandoned building where Wang Mingjian and a few others had gathered for the first time. If these people were troublemakers, they could stay there permanently.

...

"Old Master, I really can't stand this... If it were me, I wouldn't be able to tolerate them meddling like this!"

Lu Jin fumed as he spoke to the old master while they walked down a forest path.

Zhang Zhiwei replied slowly, "Lu Jin, let it go! Letting Zhang Chulan, an Outcast, participate in the selection for the Heavenly Master's successor is indeed baffling. It's normal for others to react this way…"

"Old Master, can't you see? They just don't want Zhang Chulan to join the Heavenly Master's Sect. They're after the source of Qi manipulation! That's why they forced you to expand the selection to include the entire extraordinary world! This way, Zhang Chulan's competition increases, and his chances of entering Longhu Mountain diminish!"

Lu Jin bluntly stated.

"Everything will still depend on Chulan's fate," the old master responded calmly.

"If things continue like this, it definitely won't go as you wish, Old Master. I can't just sit by and let those guys get away with it. I won't tolerate it!" Lu Jin said, his brows furrowed in a stern tone.

"Haha, among the old folks still around, the one I admire the most is you, who've lived a flawless life… You're great in every way, except for that temper of yours that doesn't know how to compromise. So, what do you plan to do since you can't tolerate it?"

The old master's expression remained unchanged as his squinted eyes looked toward Lu Jin.

"They think Zhang Chulan is the only competitor in this competition. I'll give him some minor trouble."

Lu Jin immediately decided to offer the Heaven Communicating Talisman Art he held as a reward for the Raten Taishō tournament. The winner, if unwilling to become the Heavenly Master's successor, could obtain this ultimate technique, one of the Eight Mystery that triggered the Jia Shen Rebellion.

Once this news spread, it would surely attract many extraordinary individuals who initially had no intention of participating in the Raten Taishō.

"This move effectively ruins their plan to focus all their efforts on Zhang Chulan. Now, a bunch of people aiming for the Heaven Communicating Talisman Art will show up, and they will want it too.

This way... Zhang Chulan's opponents will increase, and his chances become even slimmer."

Zhang Zhiwei was torn between amusement and helplessness at his old friend's actions.

"Hahaha, I don't know that kid, and I don't care! I just can't stand those old guys!"

Lu Jin laughed heartily.

"In that case, send an invitation to that young man from the Reincarnation Sect. Let's stir the waters a bit more." the old master said softly.

"Reincarnation Sect?"

"Seems like you're out of touch with the world. This new sect hasn't made much noise, and their numbers aren't large, but their significance is extraordinary. They represent the perfect coexistence of ordinary people and the Outcasts… Young people these days are quite ambitious."

Zhang Zhiwei remarked with a smile.

"I'm curious about this Reincarnation Sect. The name sounds... cough cough, suspicious!"

Lu Jin joked.

...

Meanwhile, the leader of the Reincarnation Sect, Lin Jiu, was sizing up the group of Outcasts across from him.

"They're hiding their faces; they must be up to no good. My sect is not a trash heap…"

Lin Jiu thought as he gripped his sword, [Dawn Shadow], firmly against the ground.

Leader Red, we're all alike. Sooner or later, your sect will face the same fate as ours! We should join forces to become an organization that no one can easily challenge..."

The group, dressed in black robes with shadows covering most of their faces, spoke.

Seeing the Gu insects at their feet and listening to their words, Lin Jiu roughly guessed who these people were.

"Why are you insulting me? This is the first time since birth that I've been so rudely insulted!"

Lin Jiu's expression changed, his eyes turning icy cold.

"I thought Leader Red had a vision, but you're still trapped by worldly concerns!"

The leader of the group revealed a face unfamiliar to Lin Jiu as he spoke.

"The remnants of the Yaoxian Sect, not all dead yet!"

Seeing the remnants of the Yaoxian Sect, Lin Jiu's eyes flashed with rare killing intent.

The Yaoxian Sect was a secretive sect that had existed for centuries, specializing in Gu techniques.

Initially, it was just an ordinary sect, but in their pursuit of the ultimate Gu technique, they began experimenting with infants at some point. They would collect 49 babies and feed them with all known Gu poisons in delicate doses.

After seven years, the children who survived the poison would be brought together to live and be taught various Gu techniques and how to refine poisons within their bodies.

Since each child carried deadly toxins, they would die one after another due to mutual influence. The only way to survive was to master more Gu techniques, becoming more lethal than others.

In the end, only one child survived, the strongest among the 49, becoming the Holy Child of the Yaoxian Sect.

The Yaoxian Sect was officially branded as an evil cult and heavily suppressed, nearly wiped out. Lin Jiu didn't expect the remnants of the Yaoxian Sect to seek him out. Did the name of his sect sound that similar?

Collaborating with them would be a death wish; killing them on the spot was the best solution!

These scum! He hadn't even made a move, and they already started attacking!

Lin Jiu sensed the movement of their Gu insects as soon as they stirred. It seemed they feared he might expose them, so they struck first!

"A careless fool like you, coming here alone, can become a sect leader? You must be lucky!" one of the Yaoxian Sect's extraordinary individuals mocked.

Swish!

[Dawn Shadow] was unsheathed, slicing the approaching Gu insects in half. These insects, being living creatures, had weak souls that Lin Jiu could perceive.

Lin Jiu immediately entered a state of extreme concentration, sword in hand, and charged at the dozen Outcasts. In Lin Jiu's eyes, these Gu users were even more fragile than the weakest contractors; they'd be lucky to survive a single strike.

"Be careful!"

The leader of the Yaoxian Sect felt a strong sense of danger, quickly warning the others while pulling one of them to the side.

One member pulled aside took the blow meant for the leader, unable to react in time, and was decapitated.

"What speed!"

The remaining members of the Yaoxian Sect quickly released their Qi, a black mist-like substance, not like the black of Zhang Lingyu's Water Thunder but more like a twisted black fog.

After killing one, Lin Jiu's eyes gradually turned silver-gray, causing the members of the Yaoxian Sect to feel a chill in their hearts.

"Damn! We underestimated this guy's strength! Retreat!" the leader hastily ordered a retreat.

Lin Jiu was initially cautious of their black poisonous mist, thinking it would be troublesome to deal with, but he didn't expect them to choose to retreat. Seeing them expose their backs to him, the hunter, Lin Jiu inwardly called them brave and pursued them mercilessly.

Before they had even fled 100 meters, several of their members were already dead. Realizing they couldn't simply run, the fleeing members of the Yaoxian Sect began throwing Gu insects at Lin Jiu.