FVN Chapter 17 Entrance
Chapter 17 Entrance
The night was deep, and the Dragon King Temple in the southern suburbs of Qinghe Town had been abandoned for many years. The crumbling walls cast eerie shadows under the pale moonlight, and the night wind blew through the broken window frames, making strange, whistling sounds.
As midnight approached, Lin Mo, dressed in an inconspicuous gray outfit and with his face slightly made up, appeared quietly in the shadows near the Dragon King Temple, like an ordinary martial arts traveler.
He didn't utilize the so-called "canal gang connections" that Zhao Xiaosi might have provided, as those connections were too complex and could easily leave loose ends.
He chose a more direct approach.
"Breaking through the mountain gate".
He hid behind a withered tree, his aura almost completely concealed, blending into the surrounding darkness, with only his sharp eyes scanning ahead.
The open space in front of the Dragon King Temple appeared deserted, but he could sense several hidden presences lurking in the shadows, like venomous snakes watching over every creature that approached.
Time passed slowly, and at midnight, even the moonlight seemed to dim for a moment.
Suddenly, a very slight movement came from the direction of the temple gate. The seemingly rotten wooden door silently slid open a crack just wide enough for one person to pass through.
Two dark figures emerged from the doorway like ghosts, standing on either side of it.
They were shrouded in wide black robes, their faces covered with expressionless, pale masks, revealing only a pair of gleaming eyes that scanned the empty surroundings.
Immediately afterwards, figures appeared one after another from different directions and headed towards the temple gate.
Most of these people walked with a steady gait and their aura was restrained, clearly indicating that they all possessed martial arts skills.
They rarely communicated with each other and appeared very cautious.
When everyone reaches the temple gate, they show something to the two guards in black robes. Sometimes it's a token, sometimes a keepsake, and sometimes they whisper a name or code word.
Only after the guards have verified that everything is correct will they allow him to enter the eerie temple gate.
Lin Mo waited patiently, observing the entry process.
He noticed that, apart from checking the tokens, the two guards had extremely sharp eyes, as if scrutinizing the background and condition of every visitor.
Several guys who tried to bluff their way through or acted aggressively were stopped without hesitation and even directly driven away. Their actions were clean and efficient, demonstrating their considerable strength.
It seems that the gatekeepers of this black market not only look at the tokens, but also value the "qualifications" of the visitors.
After a group of people entered, the area in front of the door temporarily returned to silence.
Lin Mo knew it was his turn to step in.
He stopped hiding and slowly emerged from behind the withered tree, heading straight for the temple gate. His steps were steady, neither fast nor slow, and his breathing was calm, as if he were simply going to keep an ordinary appointment.
As soon as he stepped into the open space in front of the temple gate, two cold gazes locked onto him instantly.
The black-robed guard on the left stepped forward, blocking their path. A hoarse voice came from beneath his mask: "Halt. Token, introducer?"
Lin Mo stopped and calmly met the other person's scrutinizing gaze, shaking his head: "I have no token, nor any introducer."
The guard's eyes instantly sharpened, an invisible pressure spreading out: "Without an introduction, what are you doing here? Leave at once!"
At the same time, Lin Mo could feel that the lurking presences in the surrounding darkness also tensed up instantly and locked onto him.
"I heard that this place is a place to trade, so I came to give it a try." Lin Mo's tone remained calm, as if he could not feel the oppressive pressure. "I know the rules, I'll break through the mountain gate."
"Break through the mountain gate?"
The guard let out a low, cold laugh. "Young man, do you know the price of breaking into the mountain gate? At best, you'll lose your martial arts; at worst, you'll be buried here!"
"I know the price I'll pay."
Lin Mo's gaze was frank. "Whether we can give it a try is up to your discretion."
The guard stared at Lin Mo for a moment, seemingly assessing his strength and intentions.
The young man before me did not possess an overwhelming or outward aura, but standing there, he exuded a calm and composed demeanor, with deep and serene eyes, clearly not an ordinary, impetuous person.
"good!"
The guard shouted coldly, "If you can withstand three of my moves without falling or retreating, I will grant you entry into the sect!"
Before he finished speaking, the guard's black robes fluttered without wind, and his right palm struck out with lightning speed, the palm wind sharp and carrying a chilling aura, aiming straight for Lin Mo's chest.
This palm strike, though seemingly simple, blocked Lin Mo's space to dodge left and right. Its speed and power were perfectly controlled, demonstrating the skill of a master who had opened up at least several meridians.
Lin Mo's pupils contracted slightly, but he did not take the hit head-on.
He shifted his feet slightly, his body moving like a ghost, as the sharp palm wind grazed the hem of his clothes. At the same time, his left hand, fingers pointed like a sword, silently struck the opponent's wrist pulse point, its speed surprising that it arrived before he did.
The guard clearly hadn't expected Lin Mo's movements to be so strange and swift. He couldn't react in time, his wrist went numb, and most of his palm strike was instantly dissipated.
He was startled, thinking to himself, "This kid's technique is incredibly fast!"
"The first move."
Lin Mo spoke calmly, his figure already back in place, as if he had never moved.
The guard's expression turned serious, and he growled, "Impressive footwork! Watch the second move!"
He unleashed both palms simultaneously, the palm shadows flashing and instantly transforming into several afterimages, enveloping Lin Mo's major acupoints. The force was even greater than the first palm strike.
This is his signature move, "Illusory Yin Palm," which blends reality and illusion, making it impossible to defend against.
Lin Mo still did not choose to fight head-on.
His eyes were like lightning, precisely capturing the only real palm strike amidst the myriad of palm shadows.
Just as the palm strike was about to hit him, his body twisted at an incredible angle, like a boneless snake, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow. At the same time, he brought his right index and middle fingers together and silently struck the opponent's ribs with an extremely condensed finger wind.
"laugh!"
The wind swept past, and although it did not hit the guard, it made him feel a chill under his ribs, his blood and qi stagnated slightly, and his palm strike was thwarted once again.
"The second move."
Lin Mo's voice remained steady.
The guards completely abandoned their underestimation and were utterly shocked.
The opponent dodged and countered twice with ease, especially with his accurate eyesight and unpredictable movements, which were definitely not ordinary martial arts.
He took a deep breath, his internal energy surging, his black robe billowing, and decided to use all his strength.
"The third move! Watch out!"
He sprang up, transforming into a black whirlwind. His palms crossed, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound. Layer upon layer of palm force pressed down on Lin Mo like a raging storm.
This palm strike was the culmination of his life's work, and its power was astonishing.
Faced with this devastating attack, Lin Mo finally moved.
He stopped dodging, instead slightly lowered his waist and sat on his horse, simply throwing his right fist forward.
This punch was without any fancy moves, and it didn't even make much of a sound, but wherever the fist passed, the surging palm force melted and dissipated like ice and snow meeting the sun!
"Bang!"
The fist and palm collided, producing a dull thud.
The guard felt a powerful, condensed force, as solid as a mountain yet carrying a strange, chilling quality, surge into his body through his fist. The shock caused his blood to churn, and he involuntarily staggered back three steps before barely managing to regain his balance. His expression beneath the mask had changed drastically.
Lin Mo remained standing in the same spot, his figure as steady as a rock, not even the hem of his clothes swaying.
The auras that had been locking onto him in the surrounding darkness instantly became disordered, revealing the shock of their owners.
The guard who had attacked regained his composure, his gaze towards Lin Mo filled with surprise and a hint of awe. He clasped his hands in a deep voice and said, "Your martial arts are superb; I was mistaken. Three moves have passed; you are qualified. Please!"
He stepped aside to make way, and the other guard nodded slightly, no longer obstructing him.
Lin Mo's expression remained unchanged, and he returned the salute with clasped hands: "You flatter me."
Having said that, he said no more and strode toward the deep temple gate.
The moment he stepped through the door, he felt a faint spiritual force sweep over him, as if making a final confirmation. He remained calm, letting it probe him, and steadily stepped into the darkness behind the door.
The temple gate slowly closed behind him, isolating him from the outside world.
The entrance led not to the temple or halls one might have imagined, but to a downward-facing, dimly lit passageway. Fluorite, emitting a ghastly green glow, was embedded in the walls, barely illuminating the path ahead. A strange stench, a mixture of musty, medicinal, and slightly bloody smells, filled the air.
Two masked guides, dressed in black, appeared silently ahead. One of them said in a hoarse voice, "New here? Follow me, register, and get a mask."
Lin Mo silently followed...