After leaving the palace, Lin Yun headed straight back to Zhu Clan.
Next up—waiting to hit the Divine Capital for the national round!
…
Meanwhile.
At Mo Clan’s mansion.
The Mo duo sat together, faces grim.
This time, Mo Clan had lost the farm and the horse!
“Father, what’s our next move against Lin Yun?” Mo Yangrong gritted his teeth.
“We’ll have to shelve it for now,” Clan Leader Mo shook his head.
“But I can’t swallow this! He killed so many of our Mahayana realm folks, extorted us—why not hit him before he leaves for the Divine Capital?” Mo Yangrong pleaded, eyes hungry.
“Nonsense! He’s Dongyuan’s champ now—you know how bad it’d get if we killed him? If the empire investigates, Mo Clan couldn’t handle the heat!” Clan Leader Mo barked.
“Father, we don’t have to do it ourselves—just keep it clean, no evidence back to us, job done, right?” Mo Yangrong pressed.
“No means no! Mo Clan can’t risk it—I’d love him dead too, but some lines you don’t cross!” Clan Leader Mo’s tone was iron.
Mo Yangrong dropped it.
“Father, what about the 5,000 Tribulation Pills bet? We’re giving them up?” he asked, eyeing Clan Leader Mo.
Clan Leader Mo’s face twitched—sore spot!
“It’s out there—loads saw it at the plaza, if Mo Clan doesn’t pay, we’ll be a joke, tomorrow I’ll send the 5,000, settle it,” Clan Leader Mo said, pale.
Twice 5,000—10,000 Tribulation Pills total.
He’d been hoarding them to hit ninth-turn Tribulation realm, getting close—Lin Yun’s double whammy pushed that dream way back, how could he not be livid?
Tribulation Pills were gold dust, even for a big clan like Mo—scarce as hell!
But for Mo’s rep, he had no choice.
…
Next morning.
Zhu Xu dashed to Lin Yun’s room, “Hero Lin Yun, Mo Clan Leader’s here himself, outside—probably for the bet.”
“He came in person? Saves me a trip,” Lin Yun chuckled.
He’d planned to chase it down before leaving if Mo didn’t cough up.
5,000 Tribulation Pills weren’t peanuts—he’d earned them fair, no way he’d let them slip!
Him showing up made it easy.
“Worried Mo’s up to something?” Zhu Xu said.
“No sweat, Mo can’t pull much here,” Lin Yun grinned, heading out.
Clan Leader Mo waited outside Zhu Clan’s gates, not stepping in.
Lin Yun strolled out.
“Clan Leader Mo, we meet again—here to settle the bet, I take it?” Lin Yun smiled.
Clan Leader Mo’s face soured seeing him.
With his power, offing Lin Yun was a cinch—but not in the city, and not with his champ status.
“Mo Clan keeps its word—lost fair, here’s your 5,000 Tribulation Pills,” he pulled out a small storage ring.
“Grand.”
Lin Yun reached for it.
“Hold up! Your contract first—money one hand, paper the other!” Clan Leader Mo clutched the ring.
“No problem.”
Lin Yun handed over the contract—left hand paper, right hand ring.
Swap done smooth.
Clan Leader Mo didn’t linger—grabbed the contract and bolted.
“Another 5,000 Tribulation Pills—nice,” Lin Yun pocketed the ring, grinning.
Three days flew by.
Lin Yun stayed at Zhu Clan—no chance for Mo to strike!
As for the beast issue, the Prefecture Lord didn’t reach out again.
…
Today—off to Fire Cloud Empire’s capital.
9 a.m., Lin Yun hit the palace gates.
He was early, but the envoy was already there.
“Envoy, kept you waiting,” Lin Yun saluted.
“Just got here—since you’re on, let’s roll, hop in, this carriage from the Prefecture Lord’s taking us out,” Envoy Liang Yuan smiled.
“Sweet!”
Lin Yun nodded, climbing aboard with Liang Yuan, bound for the city’s teleport hub.
They’d zap straight to the Divine Capital!
On the way out.
Inside the carriage.
“Lin Yun, I’m Liang Yuan—no more ‘Envoy’ stuff, I’m older, call me Brother Liang if you like,” Liang Yuan said.
“Uh… Envoy, that’s a bit much, no?” Lin Yun blinked, thrown.
He hadn’t expected the envoy to go so casual.
“You’re a rare find—super-divine soul-sense at forty-odd, five-mystery fusion blew me away, your future’s bright, join the empire, I’ll give you a leg up—I genuinely want you as a mate,” Liang Yuan said.
Liang Yuan was cozying up, betting on Lin Yun’s potential, liking him enough to buddy up.
It was an investment—Lin Yun, green as grass, needed a guide now.
But if he made it big in the empire, Liang Yuan’d cash in!
“Envoy, you befriend every prefecture champ?” Lin Yun teased.
“Ha, nah—I’ve overseen Dongyuan’s exam for over a century, past champs I just ferried to the Divine Capital, job done, barely chatted, you’re the only one I’ve nattered with like this,” Liang Yuan laughed.
He added, “You’re new to the Divine Capital—tons you won’t get, with me, you’ll dodge hassles, skip detours.”
“Then cheers, Brother Liang,” Lin Yun saluted.
He got it—clueless about the empire, Liang Yuan’s help would save headaches.
“Shine in the national round—with your chops, top three’s a lock, top spot depends on the other champs’ level, too early to call,” Liang Yuan said.
“But even if you don’t nab first, with your talent and age, I’ll push hard to recommend you upstairs!” he added.
