Hearing this, the Xingwu Emperor’s brows furrowed slightly, his tone turning a touch cold.
“Fine, since you’ve made your choice, I’ll say no more, you may leave.”
With that, the Xingwu Emperor lowered his head, resuming his reading, not sparing Lin Yun another glance.
At his core, the Xingwu Emperor was proud, even ruthless.
Being personally refused left him displeased, naturally, he had no desire to dwell on it.
Having lived for thirty thousand years, he’d seen and experienced far too much, in those long ages, countless geniuses had emerged, many far more dazzling than Lin Yun over tens of thousands of years, yet most never reached immortality, ultimately perishing.
Even within the Xingwu royal family, generations had come and gone, born and died endlessly!
Over these vast years, the royal family had recruited countless external prodigies, but only one, Cao Jun, had ascended to immortality, the rest had long turned to dust.
Since Lin Yun wasn’t willing to join, he couldn’t be bothered to say more, in thirty thousand years, had he seen few prodigies? There’d be plenty more in the future, one less made no difference.
In the Xingwu Emperor’s eyes, perhaps in a few thousand years, Lin Yun would be dust, lost to the world, after all, reaching immortality was too difficult.
Yet he’d endure forever, hosting the next Wanhua Banquet in another ten thousand years, his perspective was simply on a different level.
So when Lin Yun made his stance clear, he didn’t bother trying to persuade him further.
“Your Majesty, I take my leave,” Lin Yun clasped his fists again, then exited the hall.
After leaving the palace, Lin Yun returned straight to the inn.
He wasn’t in a rush to use the Devil Fruit, since he planned to head back tomorrow, he didn’t know how long it’d take to assimilate.
Lin Yun intended to consume the Devil Fruit aboard the flying ship on the way back to the Heavenly Sword Sect, inside the One Thought Clarity Tower space.
At the inn.
Back at the inn, Lin Yun entered the One Thought Clarity Tower, continuing to digest the vast collection of books to broaden his knowledge, including many precious ancient texts.
Reading didn’t boost his strength directly, but it enriched his understanding, which was just as vital to Lin Yun.
The next day.
Lin Yun set off with the Heavenly Sword Sect Leader, Elder Mei, and the others to return to the sect.
Mo Qing said she’d be heading out to train and wouldn’t return to the sect for now, but she still saw Lin Yun and the others off at the city gates.
Outside the city.
“Mo Qing, this is far enough, take care out there, if you run into trouble, crush the Heavenly Sword Sect’s jade token, we’ll find a way to help you,” the Sect Leader said to her.
“Thank you, Sect Leader,” Mo Qing clasped her fists.
Elder Mei added, “Mo Qing, you’re a fine seedling of our Heavenly Sword Sect, keep working hard at your cultivation.”
“I will,” Mo Qing nodded earnestly.
“Senior Sister Mo Qing, keep it up,” Lin Yun said with a smile, cheering her on.
Mo Qing chuckled, “Lin Yun, don’t slack off either, or I might overtake you.”
Both Lin Yun and Mo Qing knew this parting meant they wouldn’t know when they’d meet again, perhaps in ten years, a hundred, or even centuries, as Lin Yun would soon leave the sect to apprentice under an Immortal.
“Let’s head back to the Heavenly Sword Sect,” the Sect Leader summoned the flying ship, leading everyone aboard.
Only Lin Yun remained outside the ship.
“Senior Sister, before we part, I’ve got something for you, this is a Thousand Miles Vanishing Talisman, and this is a Void-Breaking Pearl, both are top-notch escape tools, if you ever face grave danger, these could save your life.”
As he spoke, Lin Yun handed the two items to Mo Qing.
“Lin Yun, these are so precious, they’re just as important to you, no… this won’t do!” Mo Qing shook her head quickly.
She hadn’t expected Lin Yun to give her such valuable treasures.
“Mo Qing, don’t worry, I’ve got more than one of each, I’ll be fine,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Come on, no hesitating, take them!”
Lin Yun grabbed Mo Qing’s slender hand, placing the items in her palm.
When Lin Yun took her hand, Mo Qing trembled as if shocked by lightning, caught off guard, flustered like a little girl, a stark contrast to her usual calm and steady demeanour.
“Lin Yun, thank you… thank you!” Mo Qing bit her lip lightly, whispering her thanks.
“The next time we meet, who knows how long it’ll be, maybe ten years, a hundred, or even centuries, but I believe we’ll see each other again, goodbye, Senior Sister!” Lin Yun said with a smile.
With that, he turned and leapt onto the flying ship.
The ship started up, speeding away!
“He’s gone…” Mo Qing gazed at the sky, standing still for a moment.
…
Meanwhile.
Just moments after the flying ship set off.
*Boom!*
A massive spatial fluctuation rippled outward.
On the ship.
“What’s happening?” the disciples cried out in alarm.
Sensing the disturbance, the Sect Leader and Elder Mei rushed to the ship’s deck.
It was a spatial lockdown.
Whoever was sealing the space was clearly looking for trouble!
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!*
Over a dozen figures flew in, surrounding the Heavenly Sword Sect’s ship.
“That’s… the Gu family head!”
“Next to him are the Soul Refining Sect Leader, the Qingyuan Sect Leader, the Demon Subduing Sect Leader, the Seven Stars Sect Leader…”
“Good heavens, eleven renowned sect leaders, they’re all here! What are they up to?”
Zhi Jin and the others quickly recognised them.
“Sect Leader, what’s going on?” Elder Mei asked urgently.
“I don’t know, but it doesn’t look good,” the Sect Leader’s expression grew grave, a sense of unease creeping in.
At that moment, Lin Yun emerged from the cabin.
He’d been about to enter the One Thought Clarity Tower to consume the Devil Fruit when he sensed the disturbance and rushed out!
“The Gu family, and eleven renowned sects? What are they planning?” Lin Yun’s face darkened as he saw them.
Their menacing aura clearly signalled ill intent!
“Stay calm for now,” the Sect Leader said.
Then he looked up, his voice booming, “Gu family head, esteemed sect leaders, you’ve locked down space and intercepted our Heavenly Sword Sect’s ship, what’s the meaning of this?”
“Sect Leader Xiao, isn’t it obvious? We’re joining forces to wipe your Heavenly Sword Sect from this world!” the Gu family head’s voice thundered back.
His words struck the Heavenly Sword Sect members like a bolt of lightning, their faces turning pale.
They all knew trouble had arrived, and it was big!
