Chapter 349: A New Mission
Hearing Lin Langtian's assurance, Fen Cang studied him intently before nodding. Now that Lin Langtian was the Spirit General of the Fire Division, his high status required him to put the sect's interests above all. That Lin Dong was showing early promise in the Dao Sect, and given his talents, he could very well rise to an influential position there. The Gate of Origins and the Dao Sect were in unrelenting conflict, having clashed openly and covertly for centuries, and Fen Cang couldn't risk Lin Langtian having any lingering connections to someone from their enemy faction. To do so would be nothing short of betrayal.
Lin Langtian fully understood Fen Cang's concern and wasted no time in giving his unwavering pledge. Both he and Lin Dong were set for futures far beyond the limits of the Gate of Origins and the Dao Sect, so for now, a display of loyalty was just a temporary compromise.
Fen Cang took Lin Langtian's firm response at face value without further suspicion. Intelligence reports had noted that although both Lin Langtian and Lin Dong came from the Lin Clan of the Great Yan Empire, Lin Langtian hailed from the main branch while Lin Dong was a less noteworthy branch family member. Given the difference in their status and backgrounds, their connection would have been minimal at best. Moreover, Lin Langtian had once crippled Lin Dong's father, making any lingering goodwill between them seem highly improbable.
What Fen Cang didn't know was that those reports were outdated. Lin Langtian's first move after being reborn was to mend his relationship with Lin Dong. Over their shared trials in the Great Yan Empire and later on the ancient battlefields, their mutual hostility faded, and the bond between them had only grown stronger.
Unaware of the brothers' reconciliation, Fen Cang continued, "Lin Dong defeating Yao Ling was a huge morale boost for the Dao Sect, but a real blow to our Gate of Origins' reputation. As the dominant sect in the Eastern Plains, we cannot let this insult go unanswered, especially from the detestable Dao Sect."
Fen Cang's cold eyes fixed on Lin Langtian. "So, I've decided on a mission for you. Not only will it even the score, but it will also show the Dao Sect we aren't to be trifled with."
"A mission?" Lin Langtian was momentarily surprised, searching his mind for any possible ideas. Coming up short, he asked, "What would you have me do, Master Fen?"
Instead of answering immediately, Fen Cang brought up a name. "Have you heard of Wang Yan?"
"Wang Yan?" Lin Langtian's brows knit slightly at the name, which sounded vaguely familiar but didn't immediately register. Seeing Lin Langtian's hesitation, Fen Cang explained, "You're still new to the Gate of Origins, so it's natural that you wouldn't know many key figures in the Eastern Plains. Wang Yan is a disciple of the Dao Sect's Heavenly Hall. He also happens to rank second on the Blood Rock Grounds' Most Wanted list."
"Most Wanted, rank two… Wang Yan," Lin Langtian murmured as his eyes flashed with understanding. He remembered the man's story from his previous life. Wang Yan was a standout disciple of the Dao Sect's Heavenly Hall, with a deep-rooted grudge against the Gate of Origins. Following the murder of his sister at their hands, Wang Yan's character grew dark and his hatred consumed him to the point of confronting the Dao Sect's leader. Unable to count on his sect's support for revenge, he took matters into his own hands, venturing to the Blood Rock Grounds to hunt down members of the Gate of Origins, eventually earning him a place high on their wanted list.
Now that Fen Cang had brought him up, Lin Langtian suspected what his new mission would be. Sure enough, Fen Cang's tone turned icy as he continued, "Wang Yan earned his spot on the wanted list by targeting and killing our disciples, including one of the Fire Division's own elite disciples. We've tried to eliminate him before, but the Dao Sect has taken great care to shield him, and his own strength is formidable. Your mission is to go to the Blood Rock Grounds and eliminate Wang Yan. Since Lin Dong was able to injure Yao Ling, we'll respond in kind by taking down Wang Yan, the second-highest on the wanted list. Doing so will restore our honor and put a dent in the Dao Sect's morale. If you succeed, the Three Masters themselves are bound to be pleased."
He clapped Lin Langtian on the shoulder with a smile, clearly satisfied with his scheme.
Lin Langtian silently cursed in his heart; this old man's plans were always this layered. Killing Wang Yan would serve not only as an act of revenge, but also as a demonstration of his loyalty to the Gate of Origins. It was a clever way to achieve two aims at once. Refusing was out of the question; as Fire Division Spirit General, fighting against Dao Sect members was technically his duty.
"So be it, Master Fen. I'll depart for the Blood Rock Grounds right away and hunt down Dao Sect's Wang Yan!" Lin Langtian declared with feigned zeal.
"No need to rush. You just had a strenuous battle with Ling Chi, so take a few days to rest. I'll arrange for your departure soon," Fen Cang replied.
Lin Langtian nodded, but his thoughts were racing. Should he kill Wang Yan… or spare him?
Two days later, Lin Langtian landed on a massive mountain platform in the northern region of the Gate's domain, where he was met by two familiar figures approaching.
"Brother Lin!" they called in unison, and as Lin Langtian turned, he saw Song Yun and Pang Yan, two fellow elite disciples.
"Oh, it's you two! What brings you here?" Lin Langtian asked in surprise.
"It was Master Fen's arrangement," Song Yun explained with a smile. "He knew that while your strength is impressive, you haven't been with the Gate long enough to know the Eastern Plains well. So, he thought it best to have us accompany you and lend a hand if needed."
As Lin Langtian now held the prestigious position of Fire Division Spirit General, even the senior disciple Song Yun showed him full respect, without the slightest hint of superiority. Pang Yan was a bit more restrained but nodded in agreement, "Before we left, Master Fen gave strict orders that Senior Brother Lin would be in command for this mission, and we are to follow your instructions."
Lin Langtian nodded, pleased. Not being too familiar with the layout of the Blood Rock Grounds, he welcomed having two guides with him. "In that case, let's move out," he said.
At his command, Song Yun responded quickly, smiling. "Our Fire Division has the Red Flame Roc, an excellent mount. Just a moment, Senior Brother." He raised his hand, and with a sharp, whistling call, his fingers sent a clear sound ringing through the air.
Before long, the call was answered by a piercing cry from within a nearby mountain, and soon a massive red roc emerged, soaring over to the platform on powerful wings. The three of them wasted no time leaping onto the bird's broad back.
The giant roc's wings beat, creating a gust of wind as they ascended into the sky at lightning speed. Seated on the roc, Lin Langtian felt a sense of familiarity—it was reminiscent of the Giant Eagle from the Wood Division he had once ridden.
With Lin Langtian at the front, Song Yun and Pang Yan took their seats behind him, maintaining a respectful distance, a clear sign of their recognition of him as the leader. Lin Langtian found himself approving of this arrangement; the ranking-based culture of the Gate of Origins had its advantages.
In other sects, senior disciples like Song Yun and Pang Yan might have resented being surpassed by a newcomer, resulting in conflict or hostility. Here, however, they accepted Lin Langtian's rapid rise with respect. Sensing this, Lin Langtian considered forging an alliance with them. Both Song Yun and Pang Yan were highly-ranked disciples, well-regarded even within the Gate of Origins, and winning their loyalty could help him gain wider support within the Fire Division.
As they traveled, he made casual conversation with Song Yun and Pang Yan, gradually building rapport.
The Blood Rock Grounds were quite far from the Gate of Origins. Despite the roc's considerable speed, it took them nearly eight days to reach their destination. On the morning of the ninth day, Lin Langtian sensed a shift in the air. Looking ahead, he saw the forest's lush greenery abruptly end, giving way to a vast expanse of blood-red terrain stretching to the horizon—a land marked by an ominous aura that seemed to seep from the ground itself.
"We're here—the Blood Rock Grounds," Song Yun sighed with relief, adding, "Let's head to Black Rock City first. We have Fire Division disciples stationed there, and we'll need information to locate Wang Yan."
Both Song Yun and Pang Yan had been briefed on their mission beforehand: they were to retaliate against the Dao Sect by locating and, if possible, killing Wang Yan. However, both had their doubts. Wang Yan was known as one of the Dao Sect's most formidable disciples, with strength rivaling even the top talents in the Gate of Origins, save for the Three Young Kings. They could only hope Lin Langtian was strong enough to face Wang Yan—if not, they risked being killed by someone who loathed the Gate of Origins.
Within half an hour, the towering Black Rock City came into view. The city's massive walls, built from dark rock, exuded an aura of resilience, and within the city boundaries, tall structures and bustling crowds filled the streets, confirming its significance in the Blood Rock Grounds. Song Yun, familiar with the area, directed the roc to a slower descent, and they soon landed in a large plaza in the southwestern part of the city.
No sooner had they landed than the sound of approaching footsteps filled the air. A dozen figures appeared, bearing the distinctive insignia of the Gate of Origins. At the head of the group, a squad leader named Su Qi approached with respectful deference. "Senior Brother Song! Senior Brother Pang!"
Song Yun seemed to recognize him and walked forward with a friendly clap on his shoulder. "Su Qi, you're on duty today?"
Su Qi nodded, but his eyes quickly drifted to Lin Langtian. Recognizing him, Su Qi's face paled, and he quickly approached, bowing deeply in respect. "It's an honor, Senior Brother Lin!"
His words alerted the others, and all Fire Division disciples present followed suit, bowing with admiration. "It's an honor, Senior Brother Lin!"
Surprised, Lin Langtian raised a brow. "You know who I am?"
"Yes, Senior Brother. Three days ago, we received a message from Master Fen, informing us of your victory over Senior Brother Ling Chi and your ascension to Spirit General of the Fire Division. He also ordered us to fully cooperate with you in locating and eliminating Wang Yan of the Dao Sect."
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