Lin Mu's unease grew.
Finding two people with similar Dao Shells was rare. Finding dozens with identical ones was unheard of.
He extended his probe further, scanning ten, twenty, thirty individuals.
The results were the sa.
Fifty people—all bearing the sa temple-shaped Dao Shell.
Would their Dao Embryos be the sa too?
His curiosity demanded an answer.
Finally, he found soone with a higher cultivation base—a young man, perhaps in his twenties, dressed in spirit tools.
Lin Mu's gaze locked onto him.
Let's see what lies beyond the shell…
He should be a spirit cultivator too, Lin Mu reckoned, and checked him.
And sure enough, he found a Dao Embryo within him.
A statue? Lin Mu observed.
The Dao Embryo was in the shape of a strange statue. It wasn't of any person or being but rather of an object.
It looked to be a sphere, with multiple rings around it and curving spikes extending from it.
Hang on… this looks familiar, Lin Mu thought to himself and looked up.
He spotted a building that had the exact sa statue standing on top of it.
It's the sa? Lin Mu tried to find another person of similar cultivation base and discovered that they had the exact sa Dao Embryo too.
This confird his hypothesis—they all had the sa Dao Shell and Embryo.
No Qi and just a Dao Embryo in a shell… how would sothing like this be possible? Lin Mu had no idea.
While pondering, they finally reached their destination.
"You all will be staying here. I believe you've already been inford of the rules beforehand?" the man questioned.
"Yes. We have," Lin Mu replied.
"Follow them without fail if you do not wish to bear the consequences." The man's tone was cold, leaving no room for negotiation, before he turned and walked away.
The group let out collective breaths of relief once the man was gone.
"This feels like I'm in a jail," ng Bai couldn't help but say.
"Indeed," Daoist Chu agreed. "Let's get settled in."
The lodgings they had been assigned to looked to be a simple inn of so kind.
At least on the surface.
A simple na board hung on its entrance stating 'Traveler Lodge Number 5.'
Tall walls topped with barbed wire surrounded the building, looking rather nacing. But of course, this was just for visual intimidation—the real security lay in the intricate arrays hidden within. As Lin Mu and the others entered, they found themselves standing in front of an entry desk, encased in thick tempered glass.
'It really feels like a jail,' Lin Mu thought to himself, noting the oppressive security asures.
"Your entry permit," the clerk behind the desk demanded.
He wore the sa uniform as the others, but a red sash marked his higher status.
"Here." Lin Mu and the others handed over the jade tokens they had been given at immigration.
SHUA
The clerk placed them into a small bowl, causing a formation screen to flicker into existence. Lin Mu watched as all the details they had provided earlier appeared on it. The clerk skimd through them, his expression darkening with distaste.
"More heretics," he muttered, his disdain as clear as day. "And not just that false court, but even one of those Buddhist donkeys."
Hearing that, Monk Hushu remained impassive, but Lin Mu certainly did not.
"No need to be discourteous," Lin Mu said evenly.
"Hah! As if you fiends are worthy of anything but the gallows," the man sneered, his tone dripping with scorn.
Lin Mu's eyes narrowed. His stare bore into the man, but the clerk, emboldened by the protective glass and the authority of his position, only puffed out his chest.
"What? You think you're at ho or sothing?" The clerk smirked, lifting his chin in mockery.
"No. I'm just assessing the worth of this place," Lin Mu replied, voice calm but laced with sothing colder.
"Haha, get the fuck into your rooms." The man tossed their tokens back at them carelessly. "At the very back! I don't want to see your faces until the day you're thrown out of our sacred land."
Lin Mu's face remained expressionless, but a cold aura exuded from him. If the clerk had not been safely behind layers of protection, he might have felt as if an executioner's axe had just been placed against his neck.
Without another word, Lin Mu led the way to their assigned room, silent rage rolling off him in waves.
THUD
The door shut behind them, sealing them within their quarters.
SHUA SHUA SHUA
Several arrays activated simultaneously, embedding a strange mark upon each of them.
It was invisible but pulsed faintly, connecting them to the broader surveillance formations woven throughout the lodge.
They'll be monitoring everything we do here, Lin Mu realized with a grimace.
"Careful. They'll know if we do or say anything," Daoist Chu whispered, before adding in a softer tone, "Jade Slips."
Lin Mu gave a subtle nod, understanding imdiately.
He retrieved a jade slip and held it in his hand, transmitting his thoughts directly to the others.
"I don't like them," Lin Mu stated bluntly.
" neither," Daoist Chu replied just as curtly.
"Amitabha, I most certainly do not prefer such dishonor," Monk Hushu intoned. "Even unorthodox cultivators show more respect than this."
"Yeah, I feel like we've been sentenced to prison and are just waiting for execution day," ng Bai muttered, his heart pounding uncomfortably.
SIGH
"And we have to spend at least a month like this," Lin Mu lanted.
He already regretted choosing this path. He would have much rather taken the long route than subject himself to this oppressive scrutiny and blatant discrimination.
But it was too late to turn back. Even if they wished to leave now, the teleportation array would not be available to them so easily.
They would have to wait the sa amount of ti to go elsewhere.
So there was no point in regretting their destination. For now they would just have to make do with whatever they were given.
User Comments
0 comments from readers