Chapter 72: Time For A Vacation

The kneeling crowd slowly rose to their feet as the tension in the ruined swamp finally dissolved.

Now that the adrenaline had settled, a very, very annoying problem hit him squarely in the forehead.

He looked up at Bai Xuan’s massive, pristine white frame, which easily rivaled a two story pavilion.

"Uh, Senior Bai," Lin Feng said, scratching the back of his neck.

"Quick question. How exactly am I supposed to take you through mortal towns and back into my sect if you’re the size of a small mountain? People are going to ask questions, and ’I found him in a puddle’ isn’t going to cut it."

Bai Xuan turned its majestic head down toward him, its intelligent eyes narrowing with mild disdain.

"Do you take me for a common, brainless mud-lizard, keeper? Compression of one’s physical vessel is basic celestial power."

"Great. Do that, then. Preferably something low profile."

Bai Xuan let out an irritated snort that blew Lin Feng’s hair straight back, then folded its massive wings inward. Blinding sapphire light flared from the star-like gem on its forehead, wrapping around its colossal body like a shrinking cocoon of pure starlight. Within two breaths, the blinding glow collapsed inward with a soft pop.

Where the towering myth had stood, a sleek, snow white falcon now perched proudly on the edge of the stone pedestal.

It was slightly larger than a normal bird of prey, with razor-sharp talons, immaculate silver-tipped feathers, and a tiny, glinting blue diamond mark embedded between its eyes, looking like a particularly arrogant bird.

With an effortless hop, the white falcon fluttered over and landed squarely on Lin Feng’s left shoulder, digging its talons lightly into his robe fabric before tucking one wing against its side.

"Adequate?" Bai Xuan’s deep, booming voice echoed directly inside Lin Feng’s skull, creating an absurd contrast with the sleek bird currently preening its chest feathers on his shoulder.

"Honestly? Solid ten out of ten," Lin Feng grinned, reaching up to flick a speck of mud off the falcon’s wing, only to get his fingers sharply pecked for the audacity.

"Ow! Alright, alright, no touching the wings "

Across the clearing, Bai Yan and Su Qing walked up to escort them out, both disciples staring wide eyed at the sudden transformation from terrifying ancient deity to grumpy bird.

Lin Feng caught their stares and immediately flashed his widest, most shameless grin, puffing out his chest.

Bai Yan’s jaw clenched, her muscular shoulders tensing as a familiar vein throbbed at her temple, while Su Qing let out a cold, exasperated huff and turned her head away.

[Mild irritation detected — Targets: Bai Yan, Su Qing]

[Rage Value: +320]

[Current Rage Points: 204,720]

"Still got it," Lin Feng muttered happily under his breath. With the Orchid Veil elders remaining behind to station guards around Shen Murong’s sealed pedestal, Yue Lian and Yu Mei led the vanguard out of the newly purified swamp. Without the dark spirit’s corruption choking the air, the mist along the middle and outer channels had already begun to thin, letting shafts of warm sunlight pierce down through the canopy for the first time in centuries.

By the time they reached the Orchid Veil Sect’s outer diplomatic pavilion, the atmosphere had shifted entirely. Gone were the hostile glares and cold procedural warnings from Lin Feng’s first arrival. Disciples bowed respectfully as they passed, though most kept a cautious, reverent distance from the snow-white falcon perched lazily on his shoulder.

At the entrance to his guest courtyard, Yue Lian paused and turned toward Lin Feng, her expression dignified and sincere. She produced a finely crafted, silver-inlaid storage ring and a jade diplomatic token, offering both to him.

"On behalf of the entire Orchid Veil Sect, thank you, Lin Feng," Yue Lian said, inclining her head slightly. "Inside this ring are five thousand mid-grade spirit stones, rare marsh-born herbs to stabilize your foundation, and healing elixirs. Should you ever need shelter or aid in the future, present this token at any of our outposts."

Lin Feng took the ring and token without a shred of false modesty, slipping the ring straight onto his finger.

"It’s a honour, Sect Master."

He glanced over at Yu Mei, who was standing calmly beside her daughter, finally dressed in clean, dark green sect robes instead of mud-stained hermit rags.

"So, Auntie Yu... now that you’re out, are you coming back to Flowing Wind Sect with me? Pretty sure the old man is going to have a heart attack when he sees you."

Yu Mei’s expression turned ice cold in a heartbeat. She crossed her arms and scoffed dryly.

"Me? Walk into his sect? After leaving me in that mud pit for centuries, that shameless old bastard can crawl across the continent and grovel at my doorstep if he wants to talk."

Lin Feng winced, silently offering a prayer for Yue Qingfeng’s survival.

"Got it. Message received loud and clear."

Yu Mei reached into her sleeve, pulled out a tightly sealed, faintly glowing jade slip, and tossed it to him.

"Give this directly to Yue Qingfeng. Nobody else. And if I find out you tried to pry open the seal to read it, I will personally come break both of your legs."

"Wouldn’t dream of it," Lin Feng said, tucking the jade slip safely into his inner robe as he bowed slightly to both women before stepping into his private quarters and closing the doors.

The moment the latch clicked shut, Lin Feng let out a long breath, tossed his heavy cleaver onto the table, and flopped onto the wooden chair. Bai Xuan hopped off his shoulder, landing gracefully on the windowsill to stare out at the sky in lazy silence.

With 52 days still remaining on his original hundred-day deadline, Lin Feng finally had a quiet moment to inspect his upgraded system.

He closed his eyes and opened the system interface.

With tier restrictions lifted, the clunky discount store layout was gone, replaced by a sleek, golden bordered catalog packed with high-tier skills, passives, and items. Lin Feng skipped straight past the flashy offensive techniques,Asura’s Wrath was already devastating enough and zeroed in on what he actually needed next.

If he walked around in public radiating a flawless, overfilled Qi Condensation Level 10 aura, every sect disciple and passing elder would immediately know he had encountered a massive fortune. Better to hide it for now.

[Passive Skill Unlocked: Shameless Concealment (Mortal Tier Peak)]

[Effect: Masks the host’s true cultivation realm and spiritual pressure, allowing the host to freely project any lower realm level down to Qi Condensation Level 1. Only detectable by Nascent Soul elders or direct physical inspection.]

[Cost: 35,000 Rage Points]

"Sold," Lin Feng muttered, instantly buying the passive and dialing his projected aura down until he felt like a Qi Condensation Level 8 disciple.

Next, he scrolled down to his movement and defensive foundations, upgrading both to keep pace with his new Level 10 physical output.

[Fleet Footed Dash — Upgraded to Max]

[Cost: 22,000 Rage Points]

[Thick Face Counterstep — Upgraded to Max]

[Cost: 25,000 Rage Points]

[Total Spent: 82,000 Rage Points]

[Current Rage Points: 122,720]

Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction at his remaining wallet. He stood up, stretching his arms until his joints popped, and looked over at the snow-white falcon on the windowsill.

For the past several weeks, his life had been nothing but toxic mud, near-fatal injuries, poisonous fruit, and screaming undead monsters. He had survived on willpower, ugly tricks, and pure spite—and now, sitting at Qi Condensation Level 10 with fifty-three days still left on his original deadline and nearly a full month remaining on his public suspension, there was zero reason to rush straight back into Elder Mo’s sour face.

"You know what, Senior Bai?" Lin Feng said, a lazy, satisfied grin spreading across his face as he left his cleaver leaning against the wall.

"I’m not rushing back to Flowing Wind just yet."

Bai Xuan turned its sleek white head toward him, its intelligent eyes blinking slowly.

"Oh? Have you finally developed a sense of self preservation, keeper?"

"Better. I’m taking a vacation," Lin Feng declared, flopping back onto the plush guest bed and lacing his fingers behind his head.