The appearance of Zhao Kun, the steward of the Law Enforcement Hall, instantly froze the atmosphere that had just eased for a moment. The two disciples behind him bore piercing gazes, their cultivation aura clearly reaching the late Qi Refining stage—far surpassing the likes of Zhao Hu. This was clearly a premeditated confrontation.
Zhang Xiaoshan turned pale with fright, instinctively shrinking behind Lin Xuan.
Lin Xuan sneered inwardly but remained outwardly composed, bowing slightly. "Steward Zhao. Senior Sister Liu Yunyuan has already adjudicated this matter. She determined Zhao Hu initiated the bullying of fellow disciples, and my actions were self-defense. Where is the accusation of cultivating heretical arts or harming fellow disciples?"
Zhao Kun's eyes darkened with malice. He knew full well that Liu Yunyuan had intervened, but with his nephew Zhao Hu beaten so badly, how could he let it go? Moreover, Lin Xuan's sudden surge in power was indeed suspicious.
"Junior Sister Liu is pure-hearted and kind, easily deceived by a cunning villain like you!" Zhao Kun snorted coldly, his tone unyielding. "You've been in the sect for three years with mediocre talent, yet your power surged suddenly recently, and your methods are ruthless. Unless you've practiced heretical arts, how do you explain this? Stop your evasions! Follow me to the Discipline Hall immediately for investigation! Dare to resist, and it will be treated as treason against the sect!"
The words "betrayal of the sect" struck Zhang Xiaoshan like a heavy hammer, sending a shiver through his body.
Lin Xuan regarded Zhao Kun with calm eyes. He knew that resisting now would play right into their hands, giving them justification to kill him on the spot. Yet if he went along obediently and entered the Discipline Hall, he would be at their mercy, a fish on the chopping block. His fate was all too clear.
"Since Elder Zhao insists this disciple practices heretical arts, does he possess evidence?" Lin Xuan stalled for time, his mind racing for a countermeasure.
"Evidence? Arrest you, then extract it through soul-searching and spirit-refining—evidence will emerge naturally!" Zhao Kun sneered, his patience exhausted. With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Seize him!"
Two enforcement disciples behind him immediately advanced. One lunged for Lin Xuan's shoulder, while the other summoned a rope-like magical artifact shimmering with spiritual light, clearly intending to bind him.
The instant the hand neared Lin Xuan's shoulder, the peak sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivation within him erupted violently! His feet shifted, and his body slid away like a fish gliding through water. Simultaneously, he pointed his fingers like swords, striking toward the vital pressure point on the wrist of the grabbing hand!
The law enforcement disciple hadn't expected Lin Xuan to dare resist, let alone with such blinding speed. His wrist went numb, and his attack dissolved instantly. Shock and fury surged through him. "You dare resist?!"
Another's rope artifact already lashed out, coiling toward Lin Xuan like a venomous serpent.
Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. Without an artifact of his own, direct confrontation was ill-advised. He kicked a fist-sized stone from the ground, sending it hurtling toward the rope's midpoint with pinpoint accuracy, while simultaneously leaping backward!
"Boom!" The stone shattered under the spiritual energy coursing through the rope, but its trajectory was momentarily disrupted. Seizing the opening, Lin Xuan retreated several paces.
"How dare you!" Zhao Kun, enraged, laughed bitterly. "Openly defying the law? Your crime is compounded! This steward will personally take you down!"
His form shifted, his palm transforming into a claw. A pressure far surpassing the Qi Cultivation stage instantly enveloped Lin Xuan! It was the spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Lin Xuan felt the air around him freeze, his movements becoming painfully difficult, and the circulation of spiritual energy within his body stalled. The absolute gap in cultivation levels was laid bare in this moment!
His eyes flashed with resolve as he made his decision. If there was truly no other way, he would risk triggering the death energy of the Nine Deaths Nirvana Technique once more. Even if the backlash was severe, he would never fall into the enemy's hands!
At this critical moment—
"Halt!"
A cold, commanding voice rang out once more, accompanied by a piercing sword qi that sliced through the air. It struck precisely between Zhao Kun and Lin Xuan, carving a deep trench into the ground!
Liu Yunyuan had returned, sword in hand, her fair face frosted with resolve as she stood not far away. Behind her followed an elderly man in a blue robe, his features ancient and dignified, his aura solemn and deep.
"Elder Zhao, I have already reported this matter to Elder Li of the Transmission Hall," Liu Yunyuan's voice was icy. "Elder Li believes there are still unresolved doubts and requires a thorough investigation. Until the truth is uncovered, no one is permitted to torture Lin Xuan on their own initiative!"
The elder in the blue robe was none other than Elder Li of the Transmission Hall. His gaze swept across the scene, pausing briefly on Lin Xuan with a flicker of surprise before turning to Zhao Kun. "Junior Brother Zhao, the Law Enforcement Hall must also follow proper procedures. Though this youth's cultivation has risen rapidly, his aura is upright and free of malevolent energy. To resort to soul-searching techniques based solely on conjecture is excessive."
Zhao Kun's face drained of color. He hadn't expected Liu Yunyuan to act so swiftly—she'd actually summoned an elder! Elder Li held considerable standing within the sect and was known for his impartiality; Zhao Kun couldn't help but feel apprehensive.
"Elder Li, this youth..." Zhao Kun attempted to argue.
"Enough." Elder Li cut him off. "This matter shall be recorded for now. Lin Xuan, accompany me to the Transmission Hall. I have questions for you. Until the matter is clarified, you shall remain where you are and not leave the sect."
This temporarily spared Lin Xuan.
Zhao Kun shot Lin Xuan a hateful glare but could do nothing. He could only leave grudgingly, accompanied by the two law enforcement disciples.
The immediate crisis had passed.
Lin Xuan's heart settled slightly. He bowed to Senior Sister Liu Yunyan and Elder Li: "Thank you, Senior Sister Liu. Thank you, Elder Li."
Liu Yunyan glanced at him with a complex expression, said nothing, and turned to leave.
Elder Li, however, studied Lin Xuan with a gaze that seemed to pierce through one's soul: "Boy, come with me."
Lin Xuan signaled Zhang Xiaoshan to return first, then followed Elder Li to a quiet chamber within the Transmission Hall.
"Sit." Elder Li gestured for Lin Xuan to take a seat before getting straight to the point. "Your cultivation has advanced so rapidly—what extraordinary encounter brought this about? I observe your spiritual energy is solid and well-grounded, far from superficial. This cannot have been achieved by ordinary elixirs alone."
Lin Xuan knew that facing this elder with his sharp insight, his previous explanation needed refinement. He maintained the story of his "near-death encounter," but subtly hinted at the "Incomplete Body Tempering Technique." He also vaguely suggested that the inheritance seemed tied to "life-and-death trials," implying that the closer one came to death, the more effective the cultivation became.
This blend of truth and fiction both explained his power growth and laid groundwork for the unique cultivation nature of the Nine Deaths Nirvana Technique.
Elder Li pondered for a long while. He truly sensed no aura of forbidden arts emanating from Lin Xuan; instead, he perceived the youth's resolute will and recognized him as promising talent.
"Very well. Personal destiny cannot be forced." Elder Li sighed finally. "Since you've received this inheritance, focus on your cultivation. But remember: the path of cultivation is rooted in the Dao Heart. Never lose yourself in the pursuit of power. I'll handle matters within the sect for you, but you must be cautious around Zhao Kun."
"This disciple will heed your teachings, Elder," Lin Xuan replied respectfully. This Elder Li was indeed a reasonable man.
By the time he emerged from the Transmission Hall, dusk had fallen. Returning to the dilapidated wood shed, he found Zhang Xiaoshan waiting anxiously.
"Senior Brother Lin, are you all right?" Zhang Xiaoshan asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Lin Xuan shook his head, his gaze sharpening. After today's events, he felt an even more urgent need to strengthen himself. Zhao Kun would never let this rest. He must gain the power to protect himself swiftly!
He retrieved the bone-corroding rat demon core and several relatively pure ore fragments from the mine. The demon core's energy was chaotic and impure; absorbing it directly would be inefficient and harmful to his body. He needed to purify it.
Lin Xuan had Zhang Xiaoshan fetch a worn earthenware jar and brought back clear water from the mountain stream. He placed the demon core and ore into the jar, using his faint spiritual energy as a catalyst. Drawing upon his past life's understanding of energy's essence, he began the most primitive form of refinement.
This process demanded immense mental and spiritual energy. Without the insights of a Demon Sovereign, it would have been impossible to complete. Sweat soon soaked through his clothes, yet his gaze remained focused, his hands steady as he controlled his spiritual energy to meticulously strip away the impurities and violent aura from the demon core, guiding the faint spiritual energy within the ore to separate out.
After several hours, the clear water in the earthenware jar turned murky, with impurities settling at the bottom. Within the water now lay a trace of an extremely thin yet relatively pure energy liquid.
"Drink it." Lin Xuan handed a small portion of the jar to Zhang Xiaoshan.
Without hesitation, Zhang Xiaoshan tilted his head back and drank it down. Instantly, a warm current surged through his limbs and bones. He felt his cultivation level had actually increased noticeably! He looked at Lin Xuan with surprise and delight.
Lin Xuan downed the remaining bulk of the energy liquid in one gulp. He then sat cross-legged, circulating the first level of the Nine Deaths Nirvana Technique. He began guiding this energy to temper his physical body and consolidate his cultivation.
The energy entered his body like a trickling stream, nourishing his meridians and strengthening his bones and flesh. Though far less intense than the inheritance he had received in the mine, it was gentler and more enduring, steadily enhancing his foundational cultivation.
The night passed without incident.
When the first rays of dawn filtered through the cracks of the wood shed the next morning, Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes. His eyes held a subdued brilliance, his aura more stable and refined than the day before. His cultivation had solidified at the peak of the sixth layer of Qi Refining, just a step away from the seventh layer.
More importantly, after a night of tempering, the foundation of this body had been forged even more solidly, and his meridians had widened slightly. The Demon Sovereign's path to rebirth had finally taken its first solid step within this most humble wood shed.
Zhang Xiaoshan also awoke, feeling the increased spiritual energy within him, and became utterly devoted to Lin Xuan.
However, just as Lin Xuan prepared to rise and plan his next move, a commotion erupted outside the shed, as if a crowd was gathering.
A shrill voice bellowed:
"Lin Xuan! Get out here! The monthly outer sect disciples' sparring competition is about to begin. All disciples must participate! You've been hiding for three years—let's see where you hide this time! Senior Brother Zhao ordered that he'll 'instruct' you properly on the stage, in front of everyone!"