“Hero Lin, I’ve heard how you saved our youths, my son Bai Tong owes his life to you, thank you,” Clan Leader Bai clasped his fists in gratitude.
“Clan Leader, you’re too kind, Bailu saved me once, I’m just repaying that debt, if you’re truly grateful, nurture Bailu more,” Lin Yun replied.
“Absolutely! I’ll reward her with 500,000 spirit crystals soon and keep a close eye on her, if she’s got the talent, we’ll train her hard!” Clan Leader Bai smiled.
Bailu and Bai Yongzhi beamed at this.
Bailu, long overlooked among the youths with scant resources, now had a bright future with this promise!
“By the way, Hero Lin, I heard a first-turn Tribulation foe held you back, how’d you make it out alive?” Clan Leader Bai asked, curious.
“I killed him,” Lin Yun shrugged.
“What?” Clan Leader Bai’s pupils shrank, his calm facade cracking.
“Hero Lin, you’re not joking, are you? That’s a first-turn Tribulation!” He couldn’t believe it.
Lin Yun wasn’t surprised by the doubt—he’d find easy belief odd.
Bai Yongzhi jumped in, “Clan Leader, I didn’t believe it either at first, but it’s true, he’s got the Tribulation Elder’s weapon, I just saw it.”
Clan Leader Bai’s heart surged with awe.
His gaze on Lin Yun shifted—something deeper now!
“Hero Lin, you’ve done us a massive favor, I’d like to offer you a guest elder post, in Jingfeng County, we’re top-tier, even in Dongyuan Prefecture, we rank top ten,” Clan Leader Bai invited.
“Sorry, Clan Leader, I’m a wanderer at heart, can’t sit still, I came back to say goodbye to Bailu so she wouldn’t worry, I won’t stay,” Lin Yun said bluntly.
Fully healed, lingering at Baijia Fort held little point.
He couldn’t settle for comfort—this pond was too small.
He had to roam the wider world!
A heavy burden drove him—revenge in Xingwu Empire awaited!
“Fair enough, if you’re that set, I won’t press, but our doors are always open if you fancy joining,” Clan Leader Bai said.
“Big brother Lin, where’re you off to?” Bailu stepped forward, reluctant.
“Wandering, no clue where, I’ll chase danger and opportunity wherever they lie!” Lin Yun grinned.
“Big brother Lin, can… can I come?” Bailu bit her lip, finally asking.
Bai Yongzhi scolded, “Bailu, nonsense! Your realm, experience, and skill are leagues below Hero Lin, you’d only slow him down!”
“I… I was just saying,” Bailu forced a smile.
Lin Yun looked at her, “Work hard at cultivating, if you make it big, you’ll see the wider world yourself!”
“I’ll double my efforts!” Bailu nodded, her clear eyes firm.
“Then I’ll take my leave, see you if fate allows!”
Lin Yun clasped his fists, soared up, and left Baijia Fort.
Bailu watched him vanish, a goal sparking—she’d catch up to Lin Yun’s level, see him again someday!
“Clan Leader, why not push him to stay? He’s a rare talent!” Bai Yongzhi couldn’t help saying.
Clan Leader Bai sighed, “I can tell he’s extraordinary, unfathomable, our clan can’t hold him, he’s meant for a bigger stage!”
“Aye, he’s a mystery,” Bai Yongzhi agreed.
…
Elsewhere, Lin Yun flew to Taifeng County City.
In a modest inn room.
“Next, a closed-door stint to solidify my realm, use the crystal coffin to master Lightning Mystery fully, then seek a way to grasp Water Mystery,” he murmured.
Planned en route, he’d retreat here awhile.
He entered the One Thought Clarity Tower for cultivation!
…
Two months passed.
In the tower, ten months—outside, just two.
Inside.
Lin Yun bolted up from the coffin.
“Ten months, Lightning Mystery’s fully mine!” He beamed.
With it, he’d mastered four complete mysteries.
Those ten months, he’d also stabilized his realm at third-rank Mahayana peak via spirit crystals.
Plus a huge bonus!
The coffin aided further mystery fusion.
He’d only fused Wind and Fire before.
Now, he’d mastered Wind, Water, and Fire fusion!
Three together doubled the power of two!
“With Lightning done, I’ll try fusing all four in the coffin, wonder how strong it’ll be!” He was eager.
He lay back, weaving Lightning in.
Fusing more complete mysteries was brutally hard.
But the coffin slashed that difficulty!
Its aid for mysteries was unreal!
Three months later.
He raised a hand—Fire, Water, Wind, Earth fused, pulsing together.
*Buzz buzz!*
“Ha, nailed it!” He grinned.
Four mysteries quadrupled the power of two!
“Four’s quadruple two, five’d be eight times, six sixteen, seven thirty-two?” He marveled.
Mastering four boosted his strength again.
Each added mystery multiplied power geometrically!
Seven fused would be monstrous!
“Retreat’s over, time to head out!”
He stood, eyes gleaming.
This stint digested his gains, solidified his base!
At third-rank Mahayana peak, he’d hit the Tribulation bottleneck.
A colossal hurdle—countless stalled here forever!
Mastering seven mysteries was a nightmare for most!
Next, he’d tackle Water Mystery.
Then Light and Dark.
If smooth, Tribulation was within reach!
