Chapter 472: Sneaking In

Chapter 472: Sneaking In

The Demonic Wilt Technique is a latent magic from the Demon Path, resembling a ticking time bomb; as long as the caster wishes, the target will wither away like a plant.

In the end, it turns them into nothing but husks.

The method is quite brutal, but for those practicing dark magic, it’s akin to swatting a mosquito.

The result of withering collects spiritual power and aura, used as nourishment for demon techniques or artifacts.

However, this technique is ineffective against strong opponents, let alone hidden ones; a casual use of internal energy can easily dispel it.

The Wilt Technique differs from other techniques; the more powerful the practitioner, the stronger the fluctuations in their spiritual energy, making them easier to sense.

Conversely, the more potent the Wilt Technique, the harder it is to detect—it’s counter-intuitive.

Lin Nuo quickly realized the person he was meeting had been afflicted by the Wilt Technique and thought to himself, “This caster must be really weak; even I, at Tier Three, can see through it.”

Oh, having spent so long in the righteous path, I’ve seen right through this Tier Three noob’s tricks; this can’t do against demonic arts.

Lin Nuo speculated that the person receiving him had been threatened—he’d likely be taken to a small dark room next.

Countless individuals must have suffered at their hands before, first received, then dragged to some small room, and then… well, no one knows what happens next.

But that’s just a guess; he wasn’t clear on the specifics.

Perhaps this place had already fallen under the Refining Demon Sect, and the Helong Hall folks had all surrendered to them!

The Refining Demon Sect must have used the Wilt Technique to coerce them into loyalty, and any sign of dissent would end with them dead from the withering—there would be no escape.

Such things have occurred throughout history; the people of the Refining Demon Sect are cruel and tyrannical.

Now Lin Nuo kept his wits about him; he wouldn’t just waltz into a meeting with them.

Since they’d never seen him, if Lin Nuo didn’t reveal his true name or present the token given by Mu Yuanfeng of the Helong Hall, they wouldn’t recognize him.

There was no alternate entrance; entering the Tianyuan Domain from elsewhere would make him a target for other cultivators—better to enter from here.

He planned to blend in and investigate; if he didn’t use Ni Daye’s famous name, he could act like an ordinary underworld member to lower their guard.

Moreover, if he claimed to be Ni Daye’s hired hand, they would think he was a fraud.

While others galloped on steeds, he raced on a wild boar.

No shame in making speed.

Lin Nuo mounted the wild boar and approached the man.

The gentleman, seeing Lin Nuo riding a boar, was filled with suspicion.

“Who’s this wild man, riding a boar?”

Could he be that lord?

But that lord shouldn’t be riding such a humble beast; how could he come on a wild boar?

And that lord should have trusted aides and attendants—there’s no way he’d come alone.

“Who are you?”

He inquired.

Lin Nuo brought the boar to a halt and responded respectfully with a smile:

“I am Lin Fanpai, a member of Helong Hall, serving the master Mu Yuanfeng. While on a mission, I was ambushed by cultivators, and my companions perished. Escaping by the skin of my teeth, I learned that there are fellow members of my organization in the Tianyuan Domain, so I came here to seek refuge.”

Upon finishing, Lin Nuo displayed the emblem of Helong Hall but withheld the identity token; they’d trust the badge but without the token, they wouldn’t believe him to be Ni Daye.

The man recognized the item and confirmed Lin Nuo was indeed from Helong Hall but couldn’t assert his identity as Ni Daye without the token.

He asked,

“Do you know Ni Daye?”

“My master? Of course I know my master.”

“No, Ni Daye is a different person, an esteemed guest who’s about to arrive.”

“Not really familiar… I just came to seek refuge, I don’t know anything about Ni Daye…”

Lin Nuo pretended ignorance, acting quite convincingly.

The man was waiting for Ni Daye, not to host refugees; following the orders of the Refining Demon Sect, when outsiders arrive, they guide them to a direction where members of the sect would be waiting.

Once they headed that way, they’d probably be captured by lurking members of the Refining Demon Sect.

“Brother, since you’re here to ally with us, we gladly welcome you. Here’s what you do: follow the road to the east, and our people will be there to receive you.”

Taking the eastern path would surely fall into the Refining Demon Sect’s trap—they’d be lying in wait to catch everyone.

“Okay.”

Lin Nuo nodded, obediently leading the boar inward. There were two paths inside, east and north, and the man had indicated east.

So, he opted for the north.

“Hey! Where are you going? East!”

“This is east!”

Lin Nuo shouted back and then charged off on the boar, speeding away.

“This guy can’t tell east from west? He’ll get eaten by beasts at this rate!”

He paid little mind, remaining at the entrance to await Ni Daye’s arrival, while those lurking members of the Refining Demon Sect sensed something was off—the arriving Lin Fanpai seemed suspicious.

Two demon disciples rushed after the galloping Lin Nuo, channeling wind magic to surround their feet, swiftly transforming into wind-like figures to pursue him.

At this moment, Lin Nuo certainly noticed their pursuit; as expected, there were members of the Refining Demon Sect hiding and waiting for him.

And they were also using wind magic, moving quickly, but they were no match for his wild boar.

The boar, under the influence of a potion, was remarkable; it sprinted away, leaving them far behind—a feat they couldn’t match.

However…

Bang!

The boar, its potion effects waning and having overexerted itself, dramatically collapsed, rolling on the ground a hundred times before crashing into a nearby building, flattening both the boar and the structure.

In its final moments, the pig foamed at the mouth, tragically ending its life.

Lin Nuo possessed extraordinary escape skills; having survived a plummet from the sky, he could certainly evade this boar’s mishap.

He landed, barely steadying himself, but soon those wind magic users had caught up to him.

“You can’t escape.”

They acted swiftly to throw out a magical net, aiming to capture Lin Nuo, but he easily cut through their net with a swift hand gesture.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

In disbelief, they questioned how he could so effortlessly dismantle their magical net.

“You guys really need to step up your game a bit.”

Lin Nuo tossed out a smoke bomb and produced several clones, instantly obscuring his real location.

They realized too late he had come to ambush them and quickly raised magical shields for defense.

However, soon after the smoke cleared, both of them fell to the ground.

“Still a bit lacking.”

Lin Nuo clapped his hands, thinking these two were way too weak; without demon powers, they were nothing—using wind magic, but their actions were as slow as a snail.

After defeating the foes, it was time to loot; Lin Nuo picked up their belongings.

Realizing the Helong Hall’s territory must have been taken over by the Refining Demon Sect, he needed to think of a plan.

First, he’d strip the clothes off these guys and, at the right time, masquerade as a demon disciple.

Meanwhile, the person at the entrance waited until nightfall, but Ni Daye did not appear.