Half a month later, Wuqu City.
As one of the cities closest to the Forbidden City, Wuqu City was very well-known in the empire.
It guarded the Forbidden Cities with the other eleven cities like the stars surrounding the moon. It wasn’t only bustling but also provided residence for many rich and powerful forces.
It was noon. The sun was blazing high in the sky, and it was incredibly dry and hot.
A youngster covered in dust and dirt was trotting along a spacious street a dozen miles from Wuqu City.
He was dressed in plain clothes, and his black hair was loosely tied behind his head with a straw string. It highlighted his handsome and determined face, jet-black eyes, and the faint, imperceptible smile on his lips.
Naturally, it was Lin Xun.
Lin Xun perked up when he saw the grand outline of Wuqu City from afar, and he quickened his pace.
He counted the days and realized that over one month had passed since he left Haze City. He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief now that he had come to the neighboring city of the Forbidden City.
He knew that he didn’t need to fear any more roadblocks or attacks from the Chi Family as long as he stepped into Wuqu City.This was because as one of the twelve cities guarding the imperial capital, Wuqu City had many military forces. Additionally, many cultivators and sects resided in the city so the Chi Family wouldn’t dare to blatantly attack him there.
When I get to Wuqu City, I shall hire a carriage and try to enter the Forbidden City before night falls... Lin Xun thought as he continued forward.
Suddenly, a stream of light streaked towards him. Standing atop a sword, a youngster sped across the sky. His brows were shaped like swords, his eyes were bright as stars, his lips were red, and his teeth pearly white. A tall, golden feather hat crowned his head. The sword glinted and roared as his wide sleeve fluttered in the breeze.
The Spirit Sea Stage!
Lin Xun almost couldn’t believe his eyes. The youngster was at most thirteen years old yet he could travel through the air with ease. Additionally, the youngster’s body was shrouded in violet qi, and he exuded an imposing and threatening aura.
It was Lin Xun’s first time seeing such a young Spirit Sea cultivator. He had always been viewed as a monster-like being, but he was nothing when compared to the youngster.
However, Lin Xun was most surprised that the youngster atop the sword was aggressively heading toward him.
“You’re Lin Xun?” The youngster paused in the air and looked down at Lin Xun. His eyes swept over Lin Xun like a flash of cold lightning.
“You know me?”
“I knew it was you. I’ve been waiting for you for over half a month. Now, it’s time to kill you.” the youngster stated indifferently.
Violet qi circled his entire body, making him appear like an unsheathed sword blazing with murderous intent.
Before Lin Xun could respond, he lifted his hand into the air and the sword at his feet rose with a clang!
Chi!
A wave of stunning and magnificent sword qi swept across dozens of feet, easily cutting apart the space like a bolt of lightning splitting the ground.
The world paled and the air seemed to be wailing.
Lin Xun subconsciously darted to the other side. The sword qi was too terrifying. It was filled with the power of heaven and earth.
Boom!
A spear-straight crack split the ground, stretching across dozens of feet. Smoke and dust whirled into the air.
Lin Xun felt a throbbing sensation in his left arm. A wave of sword qi had slashed off a chunk of his arm when it brushed past him!
His dark eyes suddenly turned chilling, and murderous intent uncontrollably surged in his heart. He had almost been caught off guard and sustained severe injury. How could he not be angry?
Bang!
Without any hesitation, Lin Xun brought out his last Flying Star Crossbow and fired it. Arrows bloomed across the sky like dreamy fireworks.
In the past, Lin Xun has always had good results when he resorted to the Flying Star Crossbow.
However, a sudden change happened!
Just when the dazzling rain of arrows neared the youngster’s body, they froze in the air like a giant hand had grabbed onto them.
Chi!
The violet qi visibly sizzled around the youngster like strands of lightning and melted the dazzling arrows like snow!
He had transformed his qi into the power of lightning to counter the attack!
The power was remarkable even among Spirit Sea cultivators. Only a person who had mastered an ancient and powerful secret art could display such power!
“He drew power to protect his body. That guy has learned such a strong cultivation art at such a young age? He can’t be a nobody!” Lin Xun exclaimed in shock.
Spirit Sea cultivators were able to begin to control and comprehend the mysteries and wonders between heaven and earth. They possessed the amazing ability to manipulate lightning, maneuver in the air, and dive into the ground. They could kill from a distance and control the power of heaven and earth!
Once a person stepped into that cultivation realm, it was akin to stepping into the heaven ascension path. They wouldn’t have a problem soaring through clouds and riding the mist or summoning the wind and rain.
There were countless cultivators in the world, but very few could cultivate to the Spirit Sea Stage.
It was even rarer to find people able to reach the Spirit Sea Stage at such a young age and master profound secret arts!
Although Lin Xun could crush Heaven Dipper cultivators despite being only at the Earth Dipper stage, he still felt tremendous pressure in the face of the outstanding Spirit Sea cultivators such as this youngster.
“You are the first person at the Earth Dipper Stage able to block my attack. But that won’t be enough!”
Just as the youngster disintegrated the Flying Star Crossbow bolts, he indifferently flicked his fingers in the air.
With a sizzle, a cloud of violet qi transformed into three beams of sword qi, each one over ten feet tall!
The terrifying sword qi seemed capable of tearing the void apart.
Bang!
Lin Xun could only dodge the attacks with all his strength. Even though he narrowly evaded the three beams of sword qi, he had sustained severe injuries to his left leg, back and shoulder. His bones were exposed and blood was trickling everywhere.
Too terrifying!
A person would only truly understand the terror of the Spirit Sea Stage when they faced a Spirit Sea cultivator. Unsurprisingly, Spirit Sea cultivators could effortlessly suppress Spirit Dipper cultivators.
Although the Violet Hero Battleships were powerful, they lacked intelligence, unlike true cultivators.
“Huh?”
The youngster seemed a little surprised to see Lin Xun evade the second attack. His face grew overcast as he uttered coldly, “I’m curious to see how long you can struggle?”
He stretched out his hand and made a grabbing motion in the air.
Clang!
His sword rose into the air and spun around his body, spewing out frightening sword power.
The fabric of space collapsed, turning into a vacuum space. There was no doubt that the sword was about to launch an earthshaking blow!
It was impossible to escape because the sword qi had blocked all exits!
Lin Xun suddenly clenched his teeth as a fierce glint flashed in his dark eyes. He frantically mobilized all his power, causing it to rumble and pulse around his body.
The Flowing Light Blade produced a clear cry in his right hand.
Clasped in his left hand was a smooth, round black bead the size of a pigeon’s egg.
Just as the fierce battle was about to break out, a gentle and kind voice rang in the distance.
“If you dare attack, I will kill you here.”
The young man’s face dramatically changed, and a ruthless look crossed his features. The sword blasted out with a swoosh.
Rumble—
This fabric of space was crushed, collapsing inch by inch.
However, a wrinkled hand reached out to clutch the sword. It couldn’t break free regardless of how it struggled.
At the same time, an old man appeared. His tall and slender figure shielded Lin Xun like a towering mountain.
“Old man, how dare you stop me!” the youngster roared in fury.
With a flick of his fingers, the old man shattered the sword, and the youngster’s face blanched as he grunted from the impact.
”If you don’t leave within three seconds, your life will have to stay here.” The old man’s voice was gentle and kind but it was devoid of emotions like it was a trivial matter.
The youngster gnashed his teeth. “I will remember what happened today and will pay it back ten times!” He flung his sleeve and stormed away.
It wasn’t until the youngster was out of sight that the old man turned around and looked at Lin Xun apologetically. “I didn’t think the kid from the Chi Family would come to deal with you.”
Lin Xun shook his head. “It’s okay. I must thank you for your timely help.” As he was speaking, he bandaged his wounds, looking very calm, almost unusually calm. After he treated his wounds, he asked, “Elder, who was that person just now?”
“Chi Cangfeng, one of the most outstanding children of the Chi Family. He was born with the talent, Golden Sea Violet Lotus,” the old man explained.
He wasn’t praising Chi Cangfeng, but in truth, he had to admit that Chi Cangfeng was a dazzling demon-like figure of his generation. He had been acknowledged by many influential figures in the Forbidden City.
“Why does he want to kill me?” Lin Xun continued to ask.
“Because of Xia Zhi.” The old man’s unexpected answer took Lin Xun completely aback.
Only after a good while did he scrunch his brows and ask further, “What's going on?”
“It’s a long story. Come with me. I will tell you everything you want to know when you get to the Forbidden City.”
Lin Xun nodded.
The old man flicked his sleeve. A gentle force spread outwards, lifted him and Lin Xun up into the air, and brought them to the distance.
Lin Xun quietly put away the black bead in his left hand
The bead was called the Sky Suppressing Bead. It was a mysterious item that the azure turtle had created to pass time during his thousands of years in the ancient ruins.
However, it was extremely difficult and complicated to make. The azure turtle had only succeeded in producing nine. When they parted ways, he gave Lin Xun three beads to protect himself as a gift.
Lin Xun would have brought one out to test its power if the old man hadn’t appeared.
Unfortunately, he had to wait for another opportunity to experiment.