“Brother Lin Yi, I thought you weren’t coming today! Quick, quick, the wine party’s just waiting for you,” a young man in a purple brocade robe said, hurrying forward to pull Lin Yi along.
Lin Yi’s face remained dark. “Shu Heng, are you lot coming with me or not?”
“Coming? Brother Lin Yi, where to?” The purple-robed young man looked utterly baffled.
The other young lords and ladies in the room were equally puzzled by Lin Yi’s sudden declaration.
“I’m leaving the Divine Capital to make my mark in the outside world. Let’s carve out a world that belongs to us!” Lin Yi said with fervent conviction.
“Leave the Divine Capital? Brother Lin Yi, are you… are you running a fever?” The purple-robed young man was dumbfounded.
“Brother Lin Yi, what’s going on?” another young lord quickly asked.
“I’ve cut ties with my dad. I’m going out to make it on my own. You’re all my good brothers, so of course you’re coming with me!” Lin Yi flashed a smile.
“This… Brother Lin Yi, our families are here in the Divine Capital. We can’t just leave.”
“Brother Lin Yi, I… I can’t either. If my dad knew I left the Divine Capital, he’d break my legs.”
They all hurriedly declined.
Lin Yi’s mood soured instantly. “Didn’t you all say you’d follow my lead and stand by me no matter what? What’s this now? You’re backing out?”
“Brother Lin Yi, it’s not that we don’t want to follow you. We just can’t leave,” the purple-robed young man said with an awkward chuckle.
These young lords and ladies, all from prominent families in the Divine Capital, lived pampered lives. Leave to wander and adventure? What a joke. Would they ever agree to that?
Wasn’t it better to revel in luxury here?
“Now’s the time to show who’s loyal. Who’s coming with me?” Lin Yi barked angrily.
The elegant room fell deathly silent.
“You… you…” Lin Yi, seeing their response, was both furious and helpless.
“Fine, if you won’t come, then each of you give me some money,” Lin Yi said, arms crossed, his tone commanding.
“Sure, sure, we can’t go, but we’ll definitely help out!”
The young lords and ladies each pulled out some spirit crystals and handed them to Lin Yi.
“This is it? Are you taking me for a beggar?” Lin Yi glared at the crystals, his expression darkening further.
Before him lay seven or eight thousand spirit crystals, averaging about a thousand per person.
To common folk, this was a fortune, but to Lin Yi, it was paltry.
He turned to the purple-robed young man. “Shu Heng, you gave just fifteen hundred crystals? You call that generous?”
“Brother Lin Yi, we only carry so much. My dad’s been strict lately, cutting my allowance,” the purple-robed young man said with a dry laugh.
“You bastards! All those times I treated you lot, did I ever skimp? And now you give me this? Some friends you are. I, Lin Yi, am done with you!” Lin Yi pointed at them, roaring.
With that, he stormed out.
In that moment, Lin Yi saw through his so-called “good brothers.”
“Brother Lin Yi, you forgot the crystals!” the purple-robed young man called after him.
“I don’t need your pathetic scraps!” Lin Yi’s voice echoed from outside.
In a flash, he was gone.
Once certain Lin Yi had left, the purple-robed young man dropped his fawning smile.
“Good, saves us the trouble. He really thought he was something special. Without his father, he’s nothing,” he sneered.
“Everyone, take your crystals back,” he said dismissively.
—
Half a month later, at the Lin residence, inside the One Thought Clarity Tower.
*Boom!*
Lin Yun’s sword unleashed a terrifying gust, its thrust brimming with fearsome power.
“Second form, mastered!”
Lin Yun sheathed his sword with a smile.
Half a month had passed outside, equating to seventy-five days of training in the tower.
He had finally mastered the second form of the Heavenly Source Sword Technique.
Its power far surpassed the eleventh form of the Shadow Sword Technique!
As for the third form, Lin Yun felt it would be a struggle to master.
“Next, I’ll study formations,” he murmured.
To pass the Human Emperor’s trial and inherit his legacy, Lin Yun needed to master formations.
Though he had little interest in them, he had no choice but to study.
—
At the entrance of an inn in Yuanxiang County, Qingliao Prefecture, Huoyun Empire.
Lin Yi stood there, gazing longingly at the fine wines inside.
Before leaving home, he hadn’t brought much money. Days earlier, his inexperience led him to flash his wealth, attracting a gang of bandits who robbed him blind. Now, he was penniless.
Though Lin Yi had some cultivation, he lacked combat experience and real fighting ability.
Just then, a group of young lords strolled out of the inn, fresh from their revelry.
“Brat, why’re you blocking the door? Can’t you see I’m coming through? Get lost!” A short, drunken young lord kicked at Lin Yi.
Lin Yi stumbled from the blow.
“You… you dare kick me? Do you know who I am?” Lin Yi’s face flushed with anger.
“Oh? You’ve got the guts to talk back? Who are you, then? Let’s hear it,” the short young lord said, tilting his head with a mocking grin.
“I’m Lin Yi, son of Lin Yun! Surely you’ve heard of Lin Yun, disciple of the Huoyun Emperor, an Immortal!” Lin Yi declared proudly.
“What? You’re Lin Yun’s son?”
“Haha!”
“You, Lin Yun’s son, looking this pathetic?”
The young lords burst into laughter.
Their mocking laughter made Lin Yi’s face burn red. “You… how dare you! If we were in the Divine Capital, you wouldn’t dare treat me like this. Do you know the consequences? Believe me, I’ll make you pay dearly!”
Back in the Divine Capital, who didn’t fear him? Who didn’t grovel before him? Who would dare treat him this way?
The humiliation was unbearable.
The short young lord, hearing Lin Yi’s words, grabbed him by the collar.
“Still barking at me? Do you know who I am? I’m the fifth young master of the Zhou family of Yuanxiang County!” he said arrogantly.
With that, he punched Lin Yi in the face, sending him sprawling to the ground in a sorry state.
