There was only silence in the field. Everyone was shocked and no one dared to speak.
Even for a typically silent type of person as Zhu Laosan, there was a trace of surprise on his face. With horrible lights surging in his eyes, he was clearly in excitement.
Judging from his experience, there were only a handful few who could attract such a great divine scene and heavenly anomalies when breaking through just by standing there holding his sabre as Lin Xun had done.
It was only in ancient times that such legends existed.
It was so amazing.
With no exaggeration, he had just accomplished unparalleled achievements!
In the distance, Lin Huaiyuan wore a complex expression. There was awe in his eyes, but also a noticeable touch of gloom.
Lin Xun’s performance was way out of his expectation today. He had originally been seriously injured and about to collapse. But who could have imagined that he could make such a breath-taking transformation under the eyes of everyone?
The divine light, and the heavenly power …
It was supposed to only exist in the legend!
Now it appeared that his son Lin Xuefeng was obviously inferior.
In the arena, Lin Xun opened his eyes, and all of a sudden, a touch of cyan light emerged in his pupils and reflected the sky, which was of full of mysteriousness.
At this time, there was surging spiritual energy in his body. His body was more robust and his skin was glittering as if newly born. In his Sea of Consciousness, a full of seven hundred and twenty two spiritual stars were sparkling right up there!
The number of spiritual stars had just decupled!
It meant that his perception power had been elevated for several levels after reaching Sea Spirit Realm.
Lin Xun could now feel him finely coordinated with the power between heaven and earth, which was fundamentally different from when he was still in Heaven-gang Realm.
He had now reached a whole new level in cultivation, and the way he understood the world had also changed. There was more of magnificence, wonder and kaleidoscope, which he could not notice before.
For example, the clouds moving in the sky were no longer as unreachable as before. On the contrary, as long as he wanted, he could fly onto the clouds in a minute!
This was Sea Spirit Realm!
It broke the limits of mortals and made practitioners’ moving space no longer confined to the land. Instead, they could embrace the void and move in the sky!
For practitioners, this leap was actually the most extraordinary step in their cultivation. After this, nothing would be the same again.
Lin Xun was now trying to perceive his own self in silence, and no one dared to make a noise in the field, as if no one was willing to spoil such a solemn atmosphere.
In the end, Lin pulled back his thoughts and broke the silence.
He looked at Lin Xuefeng in the distance and said, “It’s precisely ten minutes. If you are not satisfied with the result, come and fight.”
Even though he said with a plain tone, it still held invisible deterrence because of the spectacle he had just attracted.
Hearing the words, Lin Xuefeng woke up as if from a dream. Dragging himself back from the daze, Lin Xuefeng looked at the person across from him, and felt an inexplicably sense of inferiority to him.
Everyone in the field also wore a strange look.
How was this fight supposed to be going?
Lin Xun could already wound Lin Xuefeng when he was in Heaven-gang Realm.
Now, he had stepped into Sea Spirit Realm, and he even attracted heavenly anomalies in the process. Under such circumstances, how could Lin Xuefeng be his opponent?
Despite of unwillingness, all people present had to admit that the winner had been decided from the moment Lin Xun broke through to Sea Spirit Realm.
“Xuefeng, step down.”
In the distance, Lin Huaiyuan let out a sigh.
“I …”
After struggling inwardly for a while, Lin Xuefeng finally shook his head dejectedly and cupped his hands towards Lin Xun and said, “I … am not as good as you!”
Then he turned away.
It surprised Lin Xun a little that he would admit defeat openly, which Lin Xun thought highly of.
Seeing this, everyone in the field could not help but wear a complex look.
Minutes before, Lin Xun was still a target to ridicule, alienation and mockery because he should dare plan to take charge of Heart-Cleansing Peak. They even prepared to make him hand over the Heart-Cleansing Peak.
Now, Lin Xun had proved that at least in cultivation he had surpassed even Lin Xuefeng, who they regarded as the chosen one.
This was the brutal truth, but also the most powerful.
“Lin Xun, come with me.”
In the distance, Lin Huaiyuan spoke again, with solemnness reemerging on his face.
Lin Xun instantly realized that the victory of this duel had won him an opportunity to meet his fifth granduncle, Lin Beiguang!
…
…
Lin Xun and Lin Huaiyuan walked side by side on a secluded gravel path.
Lin Zhong and Zhu Laosan did not follow, because the person Lin Xun was about to meet was a legendary figure in Northlight Lin.
“Before your appearance, I’ve devoted all my painstaking efforts to Xuefeng, hoping that he can grow up and revive Family Lin one day.”
On the way, Lin Huaiyuan slowly opened his mouth. “All people of Northlight Lin also believe that according to his talent, Xuefeng can definitely grow up to be a big spot and be able to unite all the other branches and bring the whole kin back to Heart-Cleansing Peak in the future.”
“Therefore, many people could not accept it when hearing of your arrival. They could not adapt to such unforeseen change, either. To admit your identity would mean that Xuefeng would lose very many things.”
Lin Xun listened silently and did not comment.
“But no one has ever thought that you’re stronger and better than Xuefeng in terms of strength and talent.”
Lin Huaiyuan sighed lightly, “Maybe this is the fate of Xuefeng.”
“I never believe in fate.”
Lin Xun suddenly uttered a strange comment.
Stunned for a while, Lin Huaiyuan soon shook his head, “Let’s not talk about this. Xuefeng has a strong personality, but his heart is not bad. I hope you don’t hold any grudges against him because of what happened in the battle just now.”
Lin Xun casually said, “We’re both members of Family Lin. I’ll certainly not care about this.”
Lin Huaiyuan took a deep look at Lin Xun, but was disappointed to find that he looked so calm. Lin Huaiyuan could not tell whether Lin Xun said those words from the heart.
Before long, Lin Xun walked into a small and austere courtyard under the guidance of Lin Huaiyuan.
There was only a hut, a stone table and an old locust tree. Although very unadorned, it was quite quiet and clean.
A tall and lean old man dressed in cloth was sitting before the stone table, with his eyes narrowing slightly as if in contemplation.
This old man was precisely Lin Beiguang, Lin Xun’s fifth granduncle!
“Lin Xun comes to meet fifth granduncle!”
Lin Xun walked into the courtyard and bowed. Lin Huaiyuan had left. It was supposed to be a conversation of the two.
“You look just like your father.”
Lin Beiguang raised his eyes and gazed at Lin Xun for a moment before saying exclamatorily, “Come and sit.”
Lin Xun then went forward and sat down calmly.
“I’ve seen your duel with Xuefeng just now, and even I have to admit that among the young generation of the whole Family Lin, no one surpasses you in terms of talent and the foundation of cultivation.”
A touch of admiration fleeted across Lin Beiguang’s eyes.
“Fifth granduncle, you flatter me.”
Lin Xun hurriedly cupped his hands.
“It’s true. Just take a look of the anomalies attracted by your breakthrough. Few in the whole Forbidden City could do this.”
Suddenly, Lin Beiguang changed to say, “But, if this is all you’re capable of, I cannot rest assured to let you take control of Northlight Lin.”
Lin Xun narrowed his eyes and knew it was time to get down to business.
“When Northlight Lin moved away from Heart-Cleansing Peak, we took away a large number of ancient books, elixir, and other spiritual materials handed down from the clan with us, and at the same time we gained control of thirty-seven properties distributed in the empire under Family Lin.”
Lin Beiguang continued, “The reason why I did this at that time was to preserve a legacy for the ancestors of Family Lin so as not to let the inheritance destroyed.”
Lin Xun narrowed his eyes slightly and did not comment.
But Lin Beiguang seemed to see through his mind, so he said calmly, “Of course, you may not believe this. You may probably be thinking that Northlight Lin was just like the other three branches and took advantage of the upheaval to carve up the property of the clan.”
Lin Xun looked a little embarrassed. He said it so bluntly that he didn’t know how to answer it.
However, Lin Beiguang waved his hands and kept saying, “Although I’m old, I am not a geriatric yet. Now that you have made up your mind to take charge of Family Lin, the treasures and properties I brought away can be returned all intact to Heart-Cleansing Peak!”
Lin Xin felt a shock in his heart for he couldn’t believe what he had heard.
So had he nailed it so easily?
He was proved wrong very soon.
Lin Beiguang said, “But in my opinion, with your current strength, you are not strong enough to protect these treasures. Nor are you strong enough to make the whole of Northlight Lin back under the control of the linear clan of Family Lin.”
Lin Xun raised his eyebrows, “Then may I ask fifth granduncle when do you think I’m qualified enough?”
Lin Beiguang laughed instantly, and patted on his shoulder, “Boy, more haste, less speed. You’ll understand me later. In short, I think very highly of you at present. But that’s all. If you want to get more support, then show me some real stuff!”
Then, a luster flickered in his eyes, “Remember, you are the direct heir to Family Lin. If you can’t even pass these small tests, it will certainly not be your turn to take charge of Family Lin.”
Lin Xun thought for a moment, then took a deep breath and solemnly said, “Fifth granduncle, I just want to be sure of one thing.”
“You say.”
“Do you mean Northlight Lin stands on the side of Heart-Cleansing Peak from now on?”
“Yes, but you can’t control Northlight Lin at the moment. If you have enough power to control Northlight Lin one day, even I can be at your disposal.”
“Good.”
Lin Xun nodded and felt a lot of relief.
As long as Northlight Lin was not against him, it was already enough. As for whether Northlight Lin would support or help him, Lin Xun did not think that mattered very much.
With the help of Vulture, Young Ke, Zhu Laosan, Ci Xue, Yang Ling and Old Diao, he was confident that he could make Heart-Cleansing Peak regain its previous prosperity.
When Heart-Cleansing Peak truly rose up, it would be the time when Lin Xun truly held control of his clan, instead of being as helpless as now and having to pass the so-called tests to earn recognition.
But Lin Xun also knew that this was the reality, and he could only accept it.