Chapter 175: 162, Contemplating Dependent Origination (Requesting Subscription and Monthly Tickets)
The situation was tense, like drawn swords and bent bows.
It seemed like they would start a fight at any moment.
Lu Lin instinctively took two steps back.
When the ninth-level experts started a fight, the only thing he could do was keep his distance.
"Hahaha, you two haven’t changed at all over the years."
"Also, Mr. Wan, you’re quite the talker. Maybe say a little less in the future."
At this moment, Wang Jianfang stepped in to mediate. The two parties looked at each other, then turned their heads away.
"Lu Lin, please don’t mind. We’ve been old friends for several hundred years. We usually make these sorts of harmless jokes."
Lu Lin nodded.
These were goddamn harmless jokes.
He had just felt that both Director Long and Sister Long were ready to attack.
He was still too young to understand the way these ninth-level experts interacted.
"I called you here to ask about that Star Skill you used earlier—the one that stunned people through Mental Deterrence. Is that a Star Skill?"
When Wang Jianfang said this, the other four also turned their heads.
It was well-known that Mental Secret Skills had always been the exclusive domain of Titled Kings. For a thousand years, many experts in the federation had obtained so-called "mental secret books" from the Exotic Battlefield, but they were simply not on the same level as the Mental Attacks mastered by Titled Kings.
Ordinary mental secret books could only achieve deterrence, protection, and enhanced Perception—just simple applications of Spiritual Strength. The mental secret technique that Feng Yuanyu had learned at the East Forest Club for a few days, but hadn’t had time to showcase, belonged to this category.
Yet, the Mental Attack of a Titled King was a profound application of Spiritual Strength. Fetching Objects Through Space, Mental Deterrence, Mental Attack, Enhanced Sensing, and most importantly, Titled Kings had their unique Mental Domains.
Among the four people present, Long Qianli had naturally strong Spiritual Strength and acute Perception. Wang Jianfang cultivated Calligraphy and Painting and had a vast righteous energy in his heart, which allowed him to seal living creatures within his artwork. Wan Shushan, as the President of the Guide Association, had a Space Talent, but his research on Spiritual Strength far surpassed that of ordinary people. Long Qiansu had the Illusion Talent and could create illusions that were 99% realistic. Ordinary people with weak Spiritual Strength couldn’t tell the difference when they entered the environment.
Although Mr. Wan had just said that Wang Jianfang’s Spiritual Strength was good, this was a common pursuit. Among the four people present, and indeed throughout the federation, all Level 9 Martial Artists who had been at that rank for a long time had studied and refined their Spiritual Strength. They did this, seeking opportunities to break through to the Titled King level. Yet no one had expected that the ninth person to advance to the Titled King level would be Zhao Lei, who usually had almost no research on Spiritual Strength.
The Leakless Cottage was an exchange organization formed by Level 9 Martial Artists in the federation. After Zhao Lei was promoted to King, everyone was deeply frustrated and wanted to find out how he had achieved it. However, the information was too well-hidden. Those who knew could not speak, while those who didn’t would only waste their time asking.
Some people had suspected Lu Lin, but when they found out he was just a recently awakened rookie, they gave up on the idea.
Today, Wang Jianfang and the others personally witnessed Lu Lin use the Star Skill Indifference to stun a group of Iron Blood College elites. They exchanged a few words in secret and wanted to learn the truth from Lu Lin.
"Star Skill?"
"I have the Earth Talent. How could I possess a Star Skill associated with Spiritual Strength Talent?"
"However, I picked up a secret book a few days ago and practiced with it. I do feel that my Spiritual Strength has improved a lot."
Lu Lin’s face was full of confusion, which then gave way to a look of sudden realization.
This was the excuse he had prepared a long time ago.
If he hadn’t obtained the Soul Splitting Skill, he could only have feigned ignorance and let others study him.
But then, Heaven’s Gift came his way. All he had wanted to do was get some pet food for Xiao Ru, but he accidentally acquired the Soul Splitting Skill.
And, by a twist of fate, he had even successfully cultivated it.
Although he knew that under normal circumstances, no one except the Kongming White Ape Clan could successfully cultivate the Soul Splitting Skill.
But having an excuse was better than constantly pretending to be dumb, right?
"Secret book?"
"What secret book is it?" Long Qiansu asked curiously.
"It’s called the Soul Splitting Skill. I reported it to Director Long."
Lu Lin turned to Long Qianli.
Long Qianli was puzzled for a moment. "Lu Lin," she said, "are you talking about the items you obtained when you completed the task that day?"
It was a rule of the Star Investigation Office that investigators had to prioritize the completion of their tasks. Rewards obtained from tasks, except for some special items that needed to be handed in, could be kept by the investigator as long as they reported it.
Long Qianli remembered that Lu Lin had submitted a report to her that day, stating that he had acquired a vehicle, some Premium Pet Food, and a Children’s Doodle Album.
Could it be that the Children’s Doodle Album was the secret book Lu Lin was talking about?
"Yes. After submitting the report that day, I went to have dinner with a friend. After dinner, he invited me to help with Guiding Star Skills. You might not have noticed, but not far from Chongnuo, in Feibei City, there are Detective Department elites who are so busy with their official duties that many of them haven’t had time to come to Chongnuo City for Star Skill Guiding for three or five years."
"After I went there, it took about two hours to Guide Star Skills for them. While Guiding a Star Skill for a lady towards the end, I saw that she was holding some information about the Demon Race. The characters on it looked very similar to what I had seen in the doodle album."