Three days later.
Mind Cleansing Peak.
Lin Xun suddenly awakened from his meditation, and his eyes rippled for a split second.
He had been immersed in a strange dream moments ago. In his dream, he had seen several titanic beings that were said to exist only in legend.
Some were covered in dragon scales with bodies that were crystal-clear like ice. They moved above the nine heavens, breathing clouds and mist as they roamed freely in the skies!
Some carried ancient rock tablets on their backs and ruled over the land with eyes filled with disdain!
Some sat on the mountains and rivers and could shatter stars with a single roar!
Some turned into secret seals that gave off boundless auras that soared into the heavens!
……
These enormous creatures possessed either dragon heads, dragon bodies, dragon scales, dragon whiskers, or dragon claws, and came in all sorts of strange shapes and forms. However, all of them were incomparably terrifying existences!Lin Xun honestly could not imagine how he managed to have such a strange dream.
It was why he was still somewhat dazed and shook with fear after awakening.
“Those seem to be the divine beasts that are to exist only in ancient times, the Hornless Ice Dragon, Ba-xia, Chao-feng, Bi-an…” [1]
After regaining some composure, Lin Xun was vaguely able to figure out the origins of the enormous entities in his dream.
He could not help but feel bewildered. However, he soon recalled something and began to investigate his mind-sea.
Another object had joined the Omega Door and Heavenly Water Sacred Bead in his mind-sea. It was an ancient and cryptic-looking word that looked as if it was made from gold—‘Tribulation’.
It was formed from the fusion of the nine rune arrays inside the Dragon Gate Nine Tablets and contained a mysterious inheritance—the Tribulation Dragon Nine Transformations!
When Lin Xun’s senses touched it, he returned to that strange dream and began to see the same enormous beasts appear one after another, freely flying in the sky and lording over the land…
Boundless roars thundered in his ears and shook his soul.
“So it is related to this thing!”
Contrary to expectation, the sight eased Lin Xun’s worries. He was now certain that the mysterious dream came from this word.
“I wonder what this inheritance is. Why was it hidden in the Dragon Gate Nine Tablets and why has it remained undiscovered till now?”
Lin Xun was filled with curiosity as he concentrated on the word.
In an instant, the figure of a hornless ice dragon appeared in his mind. It soared above the nine heavens, dove into the yellow river, and was the very embodiment of freedom. The sight of it traveling through the clouds and mist perfectly described the idiom ‘to see a dragon’s head but not its tail’.
Meanwhile, cryptic information began pouring into Lin Xun’s head.
Hornless Ice Dragon Step, the first transformation of the tribulation dragons. A dragon can be big or small and always has control over whether it wishes to be seen. When big, it can manipulate the clouds and mist to hide it. When small, its scales can conceal all traces of it. The tribulation dragon transformation is the embodiment of movement-arts…
A few minutes later.
Lin Xun’s eyes brightened. His expression was filled with astonishment.
Hornless Ice Dragon Step!
The first transformation of the tribulation dragon was a profound and complex ancient foot technique. With its power, the user would be able to swim in the sky, tread across the ocean bottom, and manipulate the clouds and mist to conceal themselves!
When mastered to perfection, a single step could summon the power of a Hornless Ice Dragon that can be used to slay one’s enemies!
Although Lin Xun had never learned a complete movement-art inheritance before, how could someone with his rich combat experience be unable to tell that the Hornless Ice Dragon Step was overwhelmingly powerful?
It was an apex-level secret art!
When Lin Xun tried to continue accessing the Tribulation Dragon Nine Transformations, he was shocked to discover that it had become an invisible wall that completely blocked him off.
Do I have to fully master the Hornless Ice Dragon Step before I can access the next part of the inheritance?
Lin Xun pondered. He soon shook his head and decided not to dwell upon it.
He was already more than satisfied after passing the Dragon Gate Nine Tablets test and obtaining an unexpected, ancient secret-art inheritance.
Moreover, it just so happened that the only combat-art he currently lacked was a movement-type technique. With the addition of the Hornless Ice Dragon Step, his overall combat ability had become one step closer to perfection.
……
“Young Master, you’re finally out.”
When Lin Xun walked out of the private cultivation chamber, he found Lin Zhong waiting outside with a slightly vexed expression.
Lin Xun was slightly taken aback and asked, “Uncle Zhong, did something happen?”
“Young Master, I’ve already lost count of how many different representatives have visited us ever since you went into seclusion three days ago. The invitation cards they’ve left behind have accumulated into a huge stack. Since many of these factions are not small fries, we have left it to you to decide what to do about them.”
Lin Zhong explained as he led Lin Xun to the main hall where a neatly arranged pile of invitation cards waited. The cards were stacked up to his waist and there were most certainly more than a hundred of them in total.
Lin Xun was surprised. “So many?”
He casually flipped through them. Although most of them came from the Forbidden City’s numerous factions, there were even some from regional governors.
Moreover, these were already the ones Lin Zhong had carefully sifted out. There would be so much more if he were to bring them all out!
“Young Master, you might not yet be aware that your fame in the Forbidden City has reached an all-time high! I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t know the master of our Mind Cleansing Peak is a peerless young rune grandmaster.”
Lin Zhong’s voice was filled with pride. However, his tone soon turned sour. “But that is also the reason why too many guests have been visiting Mind Cleansing Peak, some of whom are very difficult to send away. If you did not come out today, it would have soon become impossible for me to manage.”
Lin Xun was speechless. He casually threw the invitation cards to the side and said, “Didn’t I say to turn everyone away? You can ignore them all in the future.”
Lin Zhong hesitantly asked, “Eh?! Young Master, isn’t that a little inappropriate?”
“I didn’t see any of them when we needed help the most, but now everyone is coming when things are going well. We will ignore all these invitations.”
Lin Xun nonchalantly said, “Moreover, it’s they who wish to seek an audience with me and not me asking them for something. The initiative is in my hands. What can they do if I ignore them?”
Lin Zhong asked, “But…won’t others criticize our Lin Clan?”
“Let them say whatever they want. Uncle Zhong, I’ve already made my decision. You don’t need to worry about it.”
At this point, Lin Xun suddenly recalled something and said, “Right, there’s something I have to trouble you with.”
Lin Zhong hurriedly said, “Young Master, please go ahead and tell me.”
“In three days, invite the Rune Master Association HQ’s Grandmaster Yu Beidou, Divine Workshop’s Grandmaster Cheng Jing, and Qinglu Academy’s Grandmaster Shen Tuo over.”
Lin Zhong joyfully said, “That will be good. They’ve sent representatives several times to seek an audience with you over the past few days. They can’t wait to meet you.”
Lin Xun thought for a while before he said, “Uncle Zhong, tell me everything that has happened over the past few days in detail.”
Lin Zhong quickly sorted through his thoughts and began to recount the events of the past few days.
When Lin Xun found out how famous he was now in the Forbidden City, he could not help but chuckle. It was not pride, however, but relief.
Ever since he entered the Forbidden City, he had constantly been on the move and always thinking of a solution to solve his problems. There had not been a moment’s rest because of the constant pressure he had been under.
Today, he had finally managed to find his footing in the Forbidden City and changed Mind Cleansing Peak’s situation for the better. How could Lin Xun not be overjoyed by this?
More importantly, Lin Xun now had some influence and power that would potentially help him resolve Third Old Zhu’s cultivation problem, cure Spirit Vulture’s Demon Tribulation Poison, and solidify and expand Mind Cleansing Peak’s influence.
This was the ‘killing many birds with a single stone’ method he had mentioned to Spirit Vulture before!
“Young Master, this old servant has one more thing to inform you about.”
Lin Zhong suddenly said, “Yesterday, the West Creek, Cloud Weight, and Flying Peak branch clans sent representatives to tell us that if they are allowed to return to Mind Cleansing Peak and be given a portion of the clan authority, they will immediately return with their people.”
Somewhat surprised, Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed. After a long time, he icily chuckled and said, “It seems that they’re nearing their limits.”
Lin Zhong grinned. “Naturally. Their businesses are losing several million gold coins every month, which has caused a huge fuss in their respective factions. Many people have become very vocal about their complaints, and the situation has become unstable.”
“To make matters worse, you’ve successfully become a rune grandmaster and become a sensation in the Forbidden City, which has in turn increased Mind Cleansing Peak’s influence. With such contrasting circumstances, how can they remain calm?”
Lin Xun thoughtfully asked, “Uncle Zhong, what do you think?”
Lin Zhong cupped his hands together. “Young Master should decide.”
Lin Xun was taken aback. He grinned and said, “Uncle Zhong, tell them it’s simple to return. They only need to agree to two conditions.”
Lin Zhong asked, “What two conditions?”
“First, return all of the treasures they stole from Mind Cleansing Peak! Not a single item must be missing!”
Lin Xun’s eyes were filled with iciness as his voice turned frosty, “Second, all the traitors who collaborated with outsiders to divide the Lin Clan’s assets will be sentenced to death regardless of status!”
Lin Zhong’s heart trembled. He turned emotional as he nodded. “That is exactly what they deserve!”
“If they agree, I will welcome them back to Mind Cleansing Peak anytime.”
Lin Xun took a deep breath before he slowly said, “If they don’t, I will personally pay them a visit in the future to resolve these matters!”
“Understood.”
Lin Zhong left to carry out Lin Xun’s instructions.
Lin Xun was left in the hall. He was lost in thought for a long time before he finally said, “Want me to forgive you guys so easily? Keep dreaming!”
He deeply hated all of these traitors. Instead of avenging their clansmen, they cooperated with outsiders to divide the clan’s assets. In Lin Xun’s opinion, all of them should be slowly carved into a thousand pieces!
An unquenchable hatred threatened to suffocate Lin Xun whenever he thought of this. Under these circumstances, how could he possibly forgive them so easily?
After some time, Lin Xun walked out of Mind Cleansing Hall and took a stroll around the mountain.
Wherever he went, the servants and the North Light Lin Clan members would bow respectfully with looks of reverence and adoration.
It was a sincere display of respect. They had heard of the commotion Lin Xun had caused in the Forbidden City, which had naturally changed their attitudes toward him.
Lin Xun was finally able to experience what it was like to be the master of a peak.
Of course, there was still a long way to go to reach his expectations. At the very least, he would have to first resolve the Lin Clan’s internal conflicts and external problems before he would truly be recognized as the Clan Leader!