After a moment of hesitation, Liu Qingyan asked in puzzlement, “You...can repair the Ancient Law Ocarina?”
As Lin Xun looked at her pure and beautiful face, he thought of everything that she had done for him and he didn’t have the heart to lie to her anymore.
He nodded. He would feel guilty if he continued to lie.
Granny Feng suddenly grunted and her face grew cold. How dare this bastard deceive us!
“Then...what about Master Xun?” Liu Qingyan couldn’t help but ask another question.
Lin Xun stammered, looking a little embarrassed, “Actually, I am Master Xun.”
Both Liu Qingyan and Granny Feng looked utterly dumbstruck. Master Xun is Lin Xun?
The answer had completely shocked the two. They had never thought that Lin Xun not only knew how to repair the Ancient Law Ocarina but he was also the so-called Master Xun!
This was too unbelievable.
Who was Master Xun? A mysterious master who was able to forge treasures and was known all over Haze City. But who was Lin Xun? A teenager around fourteen to fifteen years old. It was incredibly hard to connect the two.After all, who would have imagined that the renowned Master Xun was just a teenager?
“Impossible!” Granny Feng frowned. “How would you, an immature and inexperienced kid, be able to forge such remarkable treasures?!”
Liu Qingyan also found it hard to believe. In her view, the powerful rune masters were all old fellows. Lin Xun is too young. How could he have such remarkable mastery in the art of runes?
Lin Xun was at a loss for words. He had already confessed but they still didn’t believe him. He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Granny Feng turned to Xue Jin and asked, “Is this true?”
Xue Jin smiled. “It should be.”
Only after receiving confirmation did Granny Feng and Liu Qingyan believe that Lin Xun wasn’t lying. But they still were baffled as to how he could be Master Xun!
It was hard to connect the two!
“Why did you hide your identity?” Granny Feng stared at Lin Xun like she was looking at a monster.
“I don’t want to be famous.” Lin Xun said helplessly, “After all, I’m too young and it will set off storms if people find out.”
Granny Feng thought about it for a while and understanding dawned on her. If even she was so shocked and couldn’t believe that Lin Xun was Master Xun, what sort of a stir would it cause when other people learned about it?
From what Granny Feng knew, a young rune master with remarkable skills and ability like Lin Xun would no doubt draw the attention of the major forces in the empire. Once his identity was exposed, it would set off countless storms that would be more harmful than beneficial to Lin Xun.
Although she understood, after learning that Lin Xun was able to forge such treasured items in his teens, she couldn’t calm the shock in her heart.
“Young Master, you turned out to be remarkable.” Liu Qingyan’s bright eyes sparkled with curiosity as she looked at Lin Xun. She originally thought that Lin Xun was a remarkable cultivation genius, but who would have thought that he had another more dazzling identity.
What she found unbelievable was that Lin Xun could repair the Ancient Law Ocarina at such a young age. In the entire empire, even the rune masters who lived a quiet secluded life weren’t able to repair it!
“Okay, now that we all know the truth, this matter is over. I will supervise and urge the kid to repair the Ancient Law Ocarina as soon as possible. I guarantee to not disappoint you.” Xue Jin suddenly spoke as he sensed the atmosphere had turned a little strange.
”Yes, it can definitely be finished within three days.” Lin Xun nodded. “Also, please help keep my identity a secret. If this matter gets out…”
Liu Qingyan blinked her eyes and smiled. “Yes, I understand, don’t worry, I know how troubled I was after becoming famous.”
Lin Xun smiled. “I knew that Miss Yan’er is kind and understanding.”
“Hmph!”
Granny Feng couldn't stand it any longer. She shot a glare at Lin Xun and said to Liu Qingyan, “Miss, your injury needs immediate treatment. Now that the matter has been resolved, let’s hurry back.”
Not allowing any refusal, she took Liu Qingyan’s hand and left.
“Young master, sorry to trouble you with the Ancient Law Ocarina. I will come and pick it up in three days.” Liu Qingyan looked helpless as Granny Feng dragged her away.
“Don’t worry, you will be satisfied with the result.” Lin Xun waved his hand.
It wasn’t until Granny Feng and Liu Qingyan disappeared that Xue Jin exclaimed, “I didn't think you were that kind of person. You only just got rid of your inner demons and you are already flirting with girls. You’re sick.”
Lin Xun snapped, “Why does everything that comes from your mouth sound weird? Old Jin, it seems that you don’t understand women at all.”
Xue Jin snorted. “I indeed don’t understand women, but I know that the crazy women will immediately castrate you if you try to win the affection of that girl!”
Then, he turned around, headed to the corner, and fell asleep with a huge wine jar in his arms.
Lin Xun smiled, raised his head, and gazed at the sky. His face was relaxed like he was a survivor of a disaster.
Dawn was breaking, and the thrilling and dangerous night was about to pass…
……
Three days later.
Lin Xun had repaired The Ancient Law Ocarina but it wasn’t Liu Qingyan who came to collect it but Granny Feng.
Just as Granny Feng was about to leave, she suddenly asked indifferently, “Do you remember what I said to you after you met Yan’er for the first time?”
Lin Xun smiled. “Of course, I remember.”
How would he forget that Granny Feng had made it very clear that he was not good enough for Liu Qingyan? She also warned him to not have thoughts about her.
In truth, Lin Xun had no intention of pursuing Liu Qingyan. Everything happened only because Granny Feng cared too much about Liu Qingyan.
In Lin Xun's opinion, Liu Qingyan was a very nice girl. She was not only beautiful, smart, and intelligent, but also kind-hearted. She was someone he would be very happy to be friends with.
Lin Xun couldn’t say for certain that he wouldn’t fall for Liu Qingyan in the future, but, at least for now, he was sure that he had no intention of trying to win her affection.
“I hope you remember it. Before I leave, I want to tell you that, like you, Yan’er doesn’t only just have an identity as an art cultivator. She is very special and not everyone can think about her.”
Granny Feng gave Lin Xun a deep look, left those parting words, and strode away.
Lin Xun was speechless for a long while. Then, he muttered, “I’m only fifteen years old. Is there a need to be so wary of me?”
At the same time, a tinge of disappointment suddenly rose in his heart. From what Granny Feng said, it seems like she is going to leave with Liu Qingyan today. I wonder when we will be able to see each other next time, or will we ever meet again?”
Lin Xun felt a little regretful. If he knew that would happen, he would have agreed to attend the Stone Cauldron Alms celebration with Chu Feng. It would be a good memory to look back on if he could listen to Liu Qingyan’s wonderful singing and music.
“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…”
In the courtyard, Xue Jin patted his palms on his legs while drinking. What he was happily reciting in his rough and low voice was precisely the Flying Light Song that had caused a sensation in Haze City.
Lin Xun couldn’t help but exclaim, “Good lyrics!“
Xue Jin said casually, ”That girl Liu Qingyan sang it.”
Lin Xun now regretted even more that he didn’t attend the Stone Cauldron Alms celebration in person.
……
Another four days passed.
Lin Xun again entered the third level of the Great Azure Cloud Path in the Hundred Battles Secret Realm. It was his second chance and was very precious. But Lin Xun was not as afraid as he was the first time.
On his first attempt, he had fought forty-seven cultivators from different clans in forty-seven battles and had to withdraw due to inner demons entering deep into his mind.
His withdrawal allowed him the chance to face the inner demons and wipe out the forty-seven shadows of death lingering in his mind one by one.
In the end, Lin Xun’s mastery of Star-Gather tremendously improved and reached the Precision Realm. He had learned and integrated all the strengths of his opponents and was only one step away from reaching the Perfect Realm!
His mind also underwent a complete transformation. It was no longer as passive and powerless as it was when the inner demons first invaded. This was undoubtedly his most important change.
The third level soon started and the familiar Snake Spirit Clan cultivator was the first to appear. Without any hesitation, he charged toward Lin Xun!
The following battles could only be described as easy as splitting bamboo. One battle after another began and all ended with Lin Xun’s victory.
It was only at the forty-eighth battle that Lin Xun met a secret realm cultivator whom he was completely unfamiliar with. The cultivator’s Star-Gather style was also unfamiliar to him.
However…
He still won!
His victory wasn’t because his opponent wasn’t strong but because he had grasped the Star-Gather essence of the forty-seven cultivators he had previously fought and so the power of his Star-Gather was incredible.
As time went by, battles unfolded one by one. Like an invincible general, Lin Xun defeated his opponents time and time again!
However, as the secret realm cultivator Lin Xun faced next was always stronger than the one before, he was under more and more pressure.
At the 90th battle, Lin Xun encountered an extremely tricky opponent and the battle ended in a draw.
However, in the 91st battle, Lin Xun was defeated despite fighting with his all. He was killed on the spot, and once again, he experienced the fear of death.
However, that had little impact on Lin Xun. His mind was no longer as fragile as it was when he first entered the Hundred Battles’ secret realm.
Most importantly, even if he failed a battle, he would be able to pass the Hundred Battles secret realm as long as he survived through all one hundred battles!
However, Lin Xun chose to give up again when he reached the 100th battle.
He gave up not because he couldn’t bear the attacks of the inner demons but because he remembered that he wouldn’t receive a reward if he passed in such a way.
If he wanted to receive a reward, he had to win all one hundred battles!
Lin Xun still had one more attempt to enter the Hundred Battles Secret Realm so he decided to give up his second chance and challenge the Hundred Battles again in hopes of receiving the reward!