Xiao Tianren not only gained admiration for Lin Xun but also respect.
The fact that a thirteen-year-old youngster could turn a difficult situation around with the art of runes and helped them exterminate the worms in the plantations was enough to win people’s admiration and respect.
But it was only recently that Xiao Tianren came to realize that the thin but handsome youngster had superior intelligence and more courage than his peers.
Lin Xun had deduced many things from one sentence, which was something impossible for ordinary people.
Additionally, Lin Xun’s fighting strength was so out of the ordinary that Xiao Tianren couldn’t believe it. This made him certain that Lin Xun’s background wasn’t ordinary.
After pondering for a good moment, Xiao Tianren sighed out loud. “You’re right. Feiyun Village no doubt will face a huge storm when Lian Rufeng and the others return. So, during this period of time, I will make some preparations.”
As he came to the end of his sentence, his voice turned resolute.
Hearing this, Lin Xun didn’t say anything else. He gave a cupped fist salute and was about to take his leave.
It was at that moment when a child suddenly asked aloud, “Village Chief, Uncle Lu Ting has left, are we still practicing martial arts today?”
Xiao Tianren was a little stumped by this question. He silently thought, ‘Lu Ting has suffered such a blow, how would he have the face to teach you martial arts again.’He suddenly remembered that a few days ago Lin Xun had mentioned the flaws in the Marching Army Fist Art, the technique that the children were learning.
Xiao Tianren glanced at Lin Xun, hesitated, and finally said aloud, “Lin Xun, do you think you can spare some time every day to help train the children in martial arts?”
Shua!
The children nearby all simultaneously looked at Lin Xun. There was curiosity sprinkled with excitement on their faces.
They had witnessed Lin Xun defeat Lu Ting in the blink of an eye and were utterly shocked by the scene.
They were just seven to eight years old. Even if they didn’t know who was right, they could identify the stronger one.
Since Lin Xun defeated Lu Ting, Lin Xun was of course better.
Moreover, after witnessing the tragic punishment that Ying Liu’er suffered, they were extremely terrified of Lu Ting and hoped to switch to another martial arts master.
Lin Xun’s glance swept across the crowd and he finally smiled bitterly at Xiao Tianren. “I have only just started cultivating, so I have limited knowledge in this area. I’m not qualified to be a teacher.”
Then, he immediately changed his tone. “But if it’s just the Marching Army Fist, I can help a little.”
Xiao Tianren laughed heartily. “That’s already enough! I won't make you work for nothing. You will have a share in the materials that the village exchanged for in the future!”
The children burst into cheers when Lin Xun agreed. They all looked forward to practicing martial arts with Lin Xun because he was only a few years older yet possessed remarkable strength.
Lin Xun smiled and agreed to the request. After discussing with Xiao Tianren, he decided to wait until all the worms in the village’s fields had been exterminated before taking on the role of the village’s martial arts master full-time.
There were no more delays after this. Lin Xun hurried home, eager to solve the mystery of the mysterious door in his mind.
……
Feiyun Village wasn’t particularly huge, so by the time Lin Xun returned to his residence, the incident that happened on the martial arts training field had already spread throughout the villagers.
Many villagers were infuriated to hear what happened. They felt Lu Ting was too cruel and that if Lin Xun hadn’t stepped in, Little Liu would have been crippled or beaten to death.
The villagers saw a different side of Lin Xun. They learned that he was not only a rune apprentice, but his martial arts were also impressive. At the very least, Lu Ting was no match for him.
The villagers couldn’t help but click their tongues in amazement.
Only Lu Ting felt suffocated, bitter and furious. He hated Lin Xun to the core. While the villagers were marveling at Lin Xun’s ability, he was drinking unhappily at home.
Opposite of Lu Ting sat a slim and fierce-looking man in gray. His skin was dark but his eyes were as bright as a falcon’s.
He was Qian Qi and was an expert in the village second only to Lian Rufeng. He possessed a cultivation base of the Organ Opening Stage and was known for his ruthlessness.
“That kid’s blade must be a treasure since it could slice your whip in half in one slash,” remarked Qian Qi.
Lu Ting's whip was constructed from the spine of a water leopard and a hundred strands of golden silk. Although it wasn’t considered a treasure, it was extremely flexible and impenetrable by ordinary blades.
From this, it was easy to deduce that Lin Xun’s weapon certainly was no ordinary item.
“Of course I know this. If that kid’s blade wasn't that sharp, how would I have suffered such a humiliating loss?” fumed Lu Ting. The thought of his defeat in front of everyone made his heart blaze like fire and almost drove him into a frenzy.
“He’s just a youngster but not only does he know the art of rune, he also possesses a cultivation base of the second True Martial Stage as well as a treasured blade. This is indeed strange.” Qian Qi said with scrunched brows. “Have you investigated his background?”
Lu Ting shook his head. “I heard from Xiao Tianren that he came to Feiyun Village on his own initiative, and no one knows about his past.”
Qian Qi snorted. “You believe that?”
Lu Ting was taken aback before he said through gritted teeth, “Do you mean that old man Xiao Tianren deliberately concealed the little trash’s background?”
Qian Qi smiled without responding.
Lu Ting reddened in fury. “That old thing! It never crossed my mind that he would dare play such a move on us!”
Qian Qi narrowed his eyes, looking like a snake hiding in the dark. “It won’t be too late to deal with that old thing when Big Brother Lian Rufeng and the others return. Our priority now is to get rid of Lin Xun.”
Lu Ting felt his spirits lift instantly. “I’ve been waiting for you to say this. There will no doubt be trouble as long as that boy remains. When do you plan to act?”
Qian Qi leisurely sipped the wine and whispered, “It’s not the time to ruin our relationship with Xiao Tianren yet. If we want to kill Lin Xun, we have to find a good opportunity.”
Lu Ting frowned. “How long do we have to wait then?”
Qian Qi smiled. “Do you remember Sun Mazi's aeth grain plantations?”
Lu Ting answered without any hesitation, “Of course I remember. It’s at the bottom of a mountain slope just over twenty miles from the village, and on the other side of it is Fiery Smoke Mountain.”
Qian Qi nodded. “Correct, from what I know, in about five days, Lin Xun will set off with Sun Mazi to exterminate worms in his fields.”
Lu Ting’s face lit up with understanding and he sounded pleasantly surprised as he said, “You mean you want to act that day?”
Qian Qi smiled. “Isn't that a good opportunity? We should lure Sun Mazi away first, and then kill Lin Xun together and throw his body into the abandoned mine at the bottom of Fiery Smoke Mountain. After that, who would know we did it? Even if Xiao Tianren asks us, we can say we don't know anything.”
Lu Ting grinned sinisterly. “Then I will wait another five days. In five days, I can bury his corpse with my own hands!”
……
Lin Xun sat down cross-legged the instant he got home. He breathed steadily until there were no more distracting thoughts in his mind. Then, he focused on the mysterious blood-red door in his mind.
Boom!
Soon, Lin Xun felt his whole body quivering as if he had been struck by lightning, and his consciousness blurred as if his body no longer belonged to him.
By the time he regained consciousness, he was situated in an unfamiliar space. It was pitch black and silent making it seem like time didn’t pass there.
At his foot was a huge path that led straight ahead. The path, which seemed to be formed from azure clouds, looked incredibly mysterious.
At the end of the path stood a blood-red door.
The door seemed to be standing in nothingness. Standing at over thirty meters tall, the door was entirely red like it had just been fished up from a sea of blood and resembled a portal to hell.
An unfamiliar space, a straight azure cloud path, and a mysterious blood-red door…
Everything felt both real and illusionary!
Lin Xun drew several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself. Only then did he realize that the blood-red door at the end of the azure cloud path was identical to the mysterious door that appeared in his mind.
Lin Xun vaguely had the idea that his appearance there was connected to the mysterious door in his mind.
What secrets were hidden beyond there?
Was there something there that could defy heaven and change his fate?
Lin Xun pondered for a good while and ultimately shook his head. He stepped forward, hoping to find out after passing through the mysterious blood-red door.
But a bizarre rumble and a wave of energy spread out from below.
The wave was so strange and simply swept over Lin Xun and vanished without a trace.
Immediately after, a light screen emerged a foot in front of Lin Xun. It glistened and emitted dazzling light as a mysterious and complicated pattern emerged within it.
Startled, Lin Xun did not dare to step forward and only stared at the light screen.
It was then that a clear, icy, and emotionless voice reverberated throughout the world.
“If you want to get close to the Omega Door, you need to pass the nine tests of the ‘Great Azure Cloud Path’."
“The first is called Spirit Refining. If you pass this level you will be rewarded with a method to refine your Spirit, the Little Divine Meditation Art.”
“Dao Seeker, do you want to take the challenge?”
The voice was neither quick nor slow and he couldn’t tell where it came from, but it made Lin Xun’s body stiffen and come to his senses.
The Omega Door, the nine tests of the Great Azure Cloud Path, the Little Divine Meditation Art…
Could that be the secret that Mister Lu spoke about?
Excitement fluttered in Lin Xun’s heart. He almost even thought he was dreaming.