Lin Yun returned to the flying vessel and resumed piloting it back toward the prefecture city.
On the deck…
“Big Brother, your back robes are torn,” Huo Zhen said, pulling out a white fur cloak and draping it over Lin Yun’s shoulders.
“Thanks,” Lin Yun said with a smile, surprised that the burly Huo Zhen had such a thoughtful side.
“Big Brother, your strength is insane! You took that Qu Ru Beast’s ferocious attack straight to the back and didn’t even get hurt!” Wei Qi stared at Lin Yun, still reeling with shock.
The events that had just unfolded kept his heart pounding, unable to settle.
“Yeah, I was sweating for you back there, Big Brother,” Huo Zhen added with a sigh.
“It’s just some defensive tricks,” Lin Yun said with a casual smile.
His ability to withstand that blow owed much to the Frost Heart, paired with his formidable body-refining techniques.
Without the Frost Heart, relying solely on his own defenses, he’d have been injured.
“Big Brother, I never imagined your strength had reached this level. A Third-Turn Tribulation Realm cultivator taking down those two demon beasts so easily—your progress these past few years is unreal,” Wei Qi said, awestruck.
That battle had undeniably shown him Lin Yun’s true power.
It drove home just how massive the gap between them had become!
Wei Qi chuckled bitterly. “Big Brother, today’s fight was all you and Brother Huo Zhen. I was useless—against a battle of this caliber, I didn’t even qualify to step in.”
He’d once thought himself impressive, but in a clash of this magnitude, he couldn’t even participate.
“That’s why you need to work hard. I’ll help you improve. Once you hit Tribulation Realm, I believe your strength will soar to new heights. You’re still young—your future’s bright,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Yeah!” Wei Qi nodded firmly.
He’d wanted to join the fight but lacked the power, and that frustration fueled his desire to grow stronger!
Huo Zhen sighed in admiration. “Big Brother, today I finally saw your real strength. You’re way beyond what I’d imagined. No wonder His Majesty values and admires you so much—you’re incredible!”
Yang Wan chimed in, “Even the demon clan misjudged your strength, Big Brother. They thought dealing with you would be a walk in the park.”
Lin Yun turned sharply to Yang Wan.
“Yang Wan, since you sided with the demon clan before, you must know some of their secrets. Tell me—where are their hidden bases in Dongyuan Prefecture? And which human cultivators here have defected to them? Spill everything you know,” Lin Yun demanded.
Beyond Yang Wan’s strength, Lin Yun had taken him in to extract intelligence.
If Yang Wan could reveal those details, Lin Yun could dismantle demon clan outposts and eliminate human traitors in Dongyuan Prefecture—crucial steps!
“Big Brother, I honestly don’t know much about that,” Yang Wan said helplessly.
“Oh? How’s that?” Lin Yun frowned.
Yang Wan quickly explained, “Big Brother, it depends on how you join the demon clan. There are two ways. The first is a soul contract—if you sign one, you’re their slave, forced to obey even if they order you to die. Many human cultivators refuse to become total puppets, so the demon clan offers a second option: voluntary allegiance without a soul contract. I chose the second.”
“With the first method, they trust you completely and share their deepest secrets, plus you get more resources.”
“But with the second, they don’t fully trust you and keep you at arm’s length. They hide their secrets and treat you like a tool—using you to gather intel or act as muscle in human territory. This time, they sent me to kill you, but I didn’t even know who the target was until we got here.”
Lin Yun nodded, understanding.
With their soul contract, he could tell Yang Wan wasn’t lying.
Yang Wan had chosen the second option to avoid enslavement.
He’d only agreed to a soul contract with Lin Yun because it was that or death—no other choice.
“So, Big Brother, I know little about the demon clan. I’ve got no clue where their bases are in Dongyuan Prefecture. As for human traitors here, I know a few—just three,” Yang Wan said.
“Three’s enough. What’s their strength and where do they live? Do you know?” Lin Yun asked.
“Two are Mahayana Realm, and one’s Third-Turn Tribulation Realm,” Yang Wan replied.
“Good. Later, you and Huo Zhen will take them out. Their loot’s yours—I won’t take a share,” Lin Yun said.
Their strength was low enough that Lin Yun didn’t need to handle it personally.
“Got it, Big Brother! Don’t worry, I’ll handle it,” Yang Wan agreed eagerly. As his first task under Lin Yun, he wanted to prove himself.
And keeping all the spoils? That was an unexpected bonus.
“By the way, Yang Wan, why’d you join the demon clan? Tell me,” Lin Yun said, eyeing him.
“Yeah, why’d you betray humanity?” Huo Zhen and Wei Qi both fixed their gazes on him.
“I joined them a while back, when I was still Mahayana Realm, stuck and unable to break into Tribulation Realm. I had no big background or access to decent resources—breaking through felt hopeless. The demon clan approached me, dangling resources as bait. I’m obsessed with cultivation, so to reach Tribulation Realm someday, I agreed without thinking too hard,” Yang Wan explained.
“In short, you chased profit,” Lin Yun said, shaking his head.
It was the demon clan’s classic tactic—they’d tried luring Lin Yun with massive rewards too.
Huo Zhen bristled with anger. “Yang Wan, you took their resources, but do you know what they’re after? The human world! They want to wipe us out! It’s traitors like you that give them a shot at invading our lands!”
“I… I…” Yang Wan stammered, speechless.
“Go on,” Lin Yun said, waving a hand.
“Big Brother, after joining, I did a lot for them to earn those resources, which got me to where I am now. Without them, I’d probably still be stuck at Third-Stage Mahayana—I can’t deny that,” Yang Wan said.
“Sounds like you’ve done plenty of dirty work for them. Since you’re with me now, make up for it with good deeds,” Lin Yun said.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Yang Wan nodded repeatedly.
