The night was as gentle and still as water.
Xue Jin was lying in a corner, snoring loudly.
Suddenly, Xue Jin’s eyes sprang open. He sensed a sharp blade aura roaming in Lin Xun’s room. It was filled with destructive and tyrannical energy.
This is bad!
Xue Jin’s heart sank. Then, he immediately sped towards Lin Xun's room.
However—
Before he got there, a shaft of blade light split Lin Xun’s room into two.
Just as the shaft of blade light was about to slash the ground and cause even greater damage, Xue Jin stretched out his hand in the air.
An invisible force rushed forth, imprisoning the shaft of blade light. It hovered in mid-air for a brief moment before vanishing with a boom.
Rumble—The house had split in half and the walls had collapsed. It was close to being destroyed. Xue Jin scolded Lin Xun in his mind. Has that kid gone crazy? Why is he destroying things in the middle of the night?
If he hadn’t acted in time, the power of that blade could have devastated the entire courtyard and even impact other buildings and streets!
At that moment, Lin Xun rushed out of his room, his murderous spirit still lingering around his body. His eyes were blazing with rising killing intent. He was akin to an unsheathed treasured blade from an abyss and wanted to wipe out the entire world!
Xue Jin’s pupils shrank, and his expression turned solemn. Something is wrong! Inner demons must have entered his body!
Given Xue Jin’s power, he could immediately tell that Lin Xun was like a barrel of gunpowder at that moment. His mind had been blinded, his will was out of his control, and killing intent had flooded his body. All were signs that he was almost losing his mind!
Only one thing in cultivation could cause such symptoms—inner demons!
“Damn, this kid just started his closed-door cultivation today and he asked me to protect him. But now he encountered an obstacle in his cultivation!”
Xue Jin’s heart sank, finding the situation tricky.
Inner demons were seemingly invisible, but they were the most terrifying obstacle in a cultivator’s cultivation path. Once the so-called inner demons appeared, life and death were out of their control. In the lightest cases, a person’s cultivation base would be destroyed, and in serious cases, they would perish and disappear.
The only one who could resolve one’s inner demon was oneself; no one else could help!
“Die!” Lin Xun yelled with murderous spirit roaming around his body like a waterfall. The blade in his grip roared wildly.
Xue Jin gritted his teeth and rushed forward. He stretched out his hand and whacked Lin Xun hard on the neck before he could react.
With a thud, Lin Xun went limp and collapsed to the ground.
But he hadn’t lost consciousness. He pulled himself up with difficulty, looking deranged and completely different as usual.
Xue Jin was certain that the inner demons were deep in Lin Xun’s body and the situation had reached a precarious stage!
What to do?
Xue Jin’s expression dramatically changed. He had greatly admired Lin Xun, believing that he was a demon-like genius in both cultivation and the art of runes.
It would be a pity for someone like him to destroy himself.
However, Lin Xun was facing inner demons. Even Xue Jin couldn’t do anything to help him.
“It seems like I have to bring him to that place…”
Xue Jin gritted his teeth and made a decision. He immediately grabbed Lin Xun by his arm and was about to leave when Lin Xun suddenly cried out in a hoarse voice, “Old Jin, put me down...let me...go!”
Xue Jin was first taken aback. But when he looked at Lin Xun, he saw that, although he looked deranged, there was a hint of clarity in the depths of his eyes.
However, his body was still enveloped in a murderous spirit and violent aura. His expression constantly alternated between sinister and normal. Xue Jin couldn’t help but worry whether Lin Xun could retain that little trace of clarity.
“Quickly!” Lin Xun roared like a wild beast, his voice hoarse.
Xue Jin sighed as he let go of his arm. Lin Xun collapsed on his buttocks on the ground with a thud, drawing several deep breaths. He closed his eyes and activated the Little Divine Meditation Art!
Xue Jin didn’t dare to be careless. He vigilantly guarded the area, ready to take Lin Xun away if something strange were to happen.
Time passed but Lin Xun was still sitting cross-legged on the ground. He hadn’t shown any more berserk behaviour, though his murderous spirit still lingered around him. Xue Jin breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, his expression grew complex. Inner demons are extremely terrifying. Not many people would survive in the face of them but Lin Xun resolved such a precarious situation with his powers.
Xue Jin couldn’t understand how he managed to do it.
He sat at a stone table, staring silently at Lin Xun.
……
Stone Cauldron Alms.
It was already late at night, but the hall was still buzzing and the atmosphere had reached an unprecedented height.
Many people were screaming with excitement. Even the great influential people were stirred and a myriad of thoughts were swirling in their minds.
Liu Qingyan had long departed the white jade platform but no one in the hall wanted to leave. They were still reminiscing about her wonderful song.
Flying light, flying light, soothes with a glass of wine.
How high is the azure sky, and how deep is the amber ground?
But only the cold moon and warm sun come to fry life.
Those who eat bears are fat, those who eat frogs are thin.
Where are the noble ones? Does peace exist?
Trees grow in the east of the sky and beneath it lies the torch dragon.
Sever the dragon’s feet and chew the dragon’s flesh. Stop it from returning and lying low at night.
The old will not die, and the young will not cry.
What does it mean to consume gold and swallow white jade?
Who rides an azure donkey in the clouds like Young Master Ren?
Bones lay in piles and formations on the great way, why is the way not of complete emptiness?
Flying Light Song!
This was the song that Liu Qingyan sang during the finale of the celebration. The song was rumored to be a reinterpretation of an ancient tune and she had personally composed the lyrics. She had given the tune an indescribable transformation.
The young cultivators most resonated with the verse ‘sever the dragon’s feet and chew on the dragon’s meat, stop it from returning or lying low at night!’
How remarkable was it to slaughter the torch dragon? Sever the dragon's feet and chew the dragon’s flesh. Make night disappear and time stand still!
The influential and powerful people were most moved by the verse ‘How high is the azure sky, how deep is the amber ground? But only the cold moon and warm sun come to fry life.’
The word ‘fry’ was able to express so much loss, struggle, helplessness and bitterness?
For Governor Liu Wujun, Wei Lingzhen, the principal of Haze Academy, and Du Dongtu, the head of the Violet Plume Army, cultivators who had already reached a high cultivation level, the most stirring verse was no doubt the last. ‘Bones lay in piles and formations on the great way, why is the way not of complete emptiness?’
The higher one’s cultivation level, the more one could see the dust of bone remains scattered across the vast great way. It was unknown how many cultivators with great remarkable powers were filled with regrets for not being able to ascend the great way!
It made people wonder whether the way was just a falsehood in the end?
A song moved everyone in the hall in different ways and resonated with them differently. Only an art cultivator like Liu Qingyan would have such magical musical skills.
Many people were sure that the song Flying Light would cause a sensation in the world and would be widely and enthusiastically talked about!
Liu Qingyan had already got onto her carriage and left Stone Cauldron Alms. She only performed the song to fulfill her invitation.
She couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed knowing that Lin Xun gave the invitation to someone else and didn’t attend.
“Granny, everyone who was invited had come to the celebration but I didn’t see Young Master Lin Xun. Do you think he’s still angry at me?” Liu QIngyan suddenly asked.
“Why would that bastard be angry at you, Miss?” Granny Feng frowned in puzzlement.
“He had to duel with Huang Jianchen last time. The entire city knows about it. If it weren’t for me, how would he be drawn into that matter?”
Liu Qingyan pursed her lips, her heart weighing heavy with guilt. Lin Xun was helping her repair the Ancient Law Ocarina but his relationship with her dragged him into disputes with the aristocratic clan descendants. She had been looking for a chance to make it up to him.
She originally thought that if Lin Xun attended the celebration, she could find a chance to apologize to him. Who would have thought that he didn’t come?
Liu Qingyan couldn’t help but wonder if Lin Xun was still upset because of what happened last time.
Granny Feng disagreed, “Miss, you are overthinking. That kid won against Huang Jianchen. He is now enjoying a resounding reputation in Haze City.”
Liu Qingyan shook her head. “That’s a different matter. If Young Master Lin Xun was defeated, his reputation would be ruined. If that happened, who would bear the consequences for him?”
Granny Feng raised her eyebrows. “Miss, what’s the matter with you?” She could tell that Liu Qingyan seemed very troubled.
“I want to talk to Young Master Lin Xun and apologize to him in person. Otherwise, I will feel very bad,” Liu Qingyan explained after a thought.
Granny Feng said suspiciously, “Is there really nothing else?”
Liu Qingyan was taken aback at first and then she shot an annoyed look at Granny Feng. “Granny, you are overthinking.”
Granny Feng was very worried. She knew that Liu Qingyan was upset. If she’s entangled with that bastard Lin Xun, something perhaps may happen in the future!
In this world, emotion is the most complicated thing. Often, an inadvertent little thing leads to a relationship.
Granny Feng was most worried about that.
The only thing that made her feel at ease was that Liu Qingyan hadn’t shown any unusual behavior, at least for now. Otherwise, she would have immediately taken Liu Qingyan away and stopped her every interaction with Lin Xun!
Is this a joke? What kind of person is Liu Qingyan? She is one of the best art cultivators in the empire and is known all over the world. Countless nobles and wealthy men admire her. How would that bastard Lin Xun match up to her?
Granny Feng had decided that she wouldn’t let something like that happen as long as she was around!
“Granny, what do you think?” Liu Qingyan looked at Granny Feng pleadingly.
“This…it’s already so late now. How about tomorrow?” Granny Feng seemed hesitant.
“Let’s do it tonight. I have nothing to do anyway. I can also take this chance to visit Master Xun and ask when the Ancient Law Ocarina will be repaired,” Liu Qingyan said seriously.
Granny Feng pondered for a moment, but she gave in when she saw Liu Qingyan’s pleading face. “All right.”
Immediately, the carriage changed direction and headed towards Lin Xun’s residence.