Along the road leading to Eternal Sun Prefecture, a lone puppet steadily advanced.
Its form was unsettlingly bizarre, its entire frame dripping with fresh blood, giving it an exceptionally savage appearance that made ordinary travelers shrink away in terror. Affixed to its chest was a paper talisman; a single glance revealed it pulsed with the faint but distinct aura of a Nascent Soul, yet it radiated no discernible killing intent. This curious combination ensured it faced no undue complications on its journey, for who, after all, would willingly provoke a Nascent Soul-level being without just cause?
Not until it reached the very borders of Eternal Sun Prefecture did the puppet cease its advance.
It came to a stop upon the summit of a tall mountain, its gaze fixed on the distant territory of Qilin Mountain, nestled in the prefecture's outskirts. A series of dry, clicking 'ka-ka-ka' sounds, like some grotesque form of laughter, issued from it.
Meanwhile, within the Lin family's Qilin Mountain estate, none were yet aware of the puppet's ominous arrival.
In Lin Wudao's courtyard, this particular avatar of Venerable Tianxing maintained his usual air of breezy nonchalance.
He continued his cultivation as if nothing were amiss, occasionally strolling out from his chambers to idly provoke the 'caged sparrows' he kept imprisoned.
Every last one of those 'caged sparrows' was an enemy who foolishly courted death with their defiance. Day in and day out, this very courtyard would echo with their sound of curses and abuse. Yet 'Tian Xing' (Lin Wudao) savored it all, as if listening to the sweetest music. For he understood profoundly: these were merely the impotent railings of the weak, each curse a testament to his own triumphs and magnificence. Every cry was but a praise to his victory. These useless scraps could do nothing but remain imprisoned, forced to witness his inexorable ascent towards godhood.
As he was reveling in this daily chorus of curses, Lin Wudao's brow suddenly furrowed.
His gaze shifted towards the cage housing the 'sparrow' that was Li Kuangren.
When word had first reached them that he 'Tian Xing', was preparing to act against the Li family once more, Li Kuangren had flown into an uncontrollable frenzy. But after two days of this, Kuangren had unexpectedly fallen silent.
This change puzzled Lin Wudao. "Why am I not hearing any curses from you today?" he inquired of Kuangren.
Li Kuangren, still in his avian guise, merely rested against the bars of his cage, his gaze locked onto Lin Wudao with unwavering intensity.
At this silent defiance, Lin Wudao chuckled derisively. "Ah, well, suit yourself. If not today, then some other day you'll find your voice again. This Eternal Sun Prefecture of mine... clans that have risen to prominence, much like yours did? Their numbers are countless. And as for the geniuses, they boast – they far outstrip any your pitiful Li family ever produced."
"Take a look at this specimen," Lin Wudao said, gesturing towards another cage.
Lin Wudao pointed to the birdcages one by one, idly poking at the listless 'caged sparrows' within, each one now possessing barely a flicker of its former spirit.
He chuckled. "Once, within the Azure Dynasty, there lived a prodigious talent," he began. "This one bolstered his own cultivation by consuming the Spirit Qi and Blood of other humans. Golden Core by thirty, Nascent Soul by fifty!"
"And this one," he gestured to another cage."This individual's clan was uniquely blessed by Heaven and Earth. From the moment of their birth, their people could call forth heavenly lightning from within their own forms, holding no fear for any Heavenly Tribulation. In those days, much like your own Li family, they too harbored ambitions to quietly seize control of Eternal Sun Prefecture."
"Then there's this one: born with extraordinary eyes. Any spiritual technique, any cultivation manual it laid eyes upon, it could master almost instantaneously."
"And all of them..." Lin Wudao concluded, a cruel satisfaction in his voice, "...now, they can do nothing but hurl curses at me."
"And yet, it's also a shame..." A slight, self-satisfied smirk touched Lin Wudao's lips.
"Your Li family – mere frogs at the bottom of a well, yet surprisingly adept at currying favor and gathering a following. More than a hundred lingering dregs from other fallen houses now dare to call themselves "Li Affiliated" – a pathetic band of fools courting their own doom. Those remnants should have perished like scattered motes of dust just a short while ago. How interesting," Lin Wudao mused.
"To think they actually managed to locate some of your Li kin, and were then conveniently guided all the way to the Imperial Capital. And you people actually imagine that just because some of you have made it to the Imperial Capital, you'll now be perfectly safe?" Lin Wudao scoffed.
As Lin Wudao coolly detailed these supposed developments, Li Kuangren could finally contain his fury no longer.
He erupted in a furious cacophony of squawks and screeches, lunging desperately to peck at Lin Wudao through the bars! A wave of true, soul-crushing despair washed over him. In all his long life, he had never, ever witnessed a monster such as this 'Tian Xing'!
It seemed that in this world, regardless of how prodigious one's talent, before this 'Tian Xing,' all were reduced to utter insignificance!
"He... was in absolute control of everything!"
"Hahahaha!" Seeing Li Kuangren at last break and descend into helpless rage, Lin Wudao threw back his head and roared with unrestrained, triumphant laughter.
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