Chapter 420: Mission: Assassinate Lin Qingtan
After bidding farewell to Jinwu, Lin Langtian set off on his journey back to Yuan Gate. From his brief conversation and observing Jinwu's words and behavior, Lin Langtian understood that something significant was awaiting Jinwu back at his clan. Although he was genuinely concerned, he knew that, with his current strength, even if he wanted to assist Jinwu, there was little he could actually do.
"I need to strengthen myself more quickly…" Lin Langtian thought, clenching his fists as he recalled the pressure he'd felt from Huang Wuzhi and the indifference of Tian Yuanzi and the other two. Though he'd advanced to the Life Transformation Realm and could even rival strong Life Transformation realm experts, he was still powerless against those mighty Reincarnation-level powerhouses.
"Langtian, you're returning to Yuan Gate… Aren't you worried it's a trap?" Aunt Ling's voice suddenly echoed in Lin Langtian's mind.
Lin Langtian hesitated, realizing what she meant. After all, at Yi Mo City, Tian Yuanzi and the other leaders had made it quite clear they'd only use him as a pawn. Who was to say they wouldn't detain him upon his return to Yuan Gate to appease the Tianxuan Sect?
Lin Langtian understood this risk, yet he replied firmly, "I still have followers within Yuan Gate and unfinished business. I won't leave the sect unless forced to." He knew that if he defected, Song Yun and others might suffer as scapegoats, and the mission to locate the Ancestral Space Symbol would be abandoned. In his heart, he also didn't believe they would go through the trouble of setting a trap for him; after all, he was just a minor pawn to the three heads.
Seeing his resolve, Aunt Ling quietly pondered, then said, "If that's the case, then go ahead. But should you encounter any danger, remember, even if I can't defeat the three heads, I can at least help you escape from Yuan Gate."
Her words reassured Lin Langtian, and he replied with a slight smile, "Thank you, Aunt Ling." With that, he transformed into a beam of light and sped toward Yuan Gate.
With his Life Transformation realm strength, Lin Langtian traveled significantly faster than he had before, reaching Yuan Gate in just under three days.
"I'm back. Now, what is it that Tian Yuanzi wants from me?" he wondered, frowning as he recalled the head's mention of an assignment. His instincts told him it wasn't likely to be a good one.
"Well, whatever comes, I'll face it," he murmured to himself. Just then, he looked up to see a group of figures rapidly approaching him. A squad of over a dozen was heading in his direction, the wind whistling around them.
"Oh, it's the Enforcement Division." Seeing them, Lin Langtian instinctively tensed. If this were a trap, these were likely the ones sent to capture him.
"Vice Division Leader, the Head Master wants you to report to him immediately," announced the leader, a man in his thirties, who looked at Lin Langtian with respect rather than hostility. The sect had granted Lin Langtian the title of Vice Division Leader, a role that had been largely honorary. But after the news of Lin Langtian wiping out the Tianxuan Sect disciples spread, everyone knew that he would likely soon be granted real authority within the division.
Lin Langtian nodded at the team and was about to head toward the heart of Yuan Gate when a voice filled with anger reached his ears.
"Lin Langtian, how dare you show your face here!"
Turning, Lin Langtian saw a brawny figure filled with hostility—Yan Ba, the Deputy of the Fire Division. Lin Langtian narrowed his eyes. "Uncle Yan, what exactly are you implying?"
With a furious expression, Yan Ba snapped, "Because of you, the Fire Division lost over half its disciples! Acting recklessly and even wiping out the Tianxuan Sect's disciples—do you deny this?"
Lin Langtian's face darkened. It was clear that Yan Ba had come to stir up trouble. "The Three Heads have already judged my actions, so there's no need for your concern, Uncle Yan."
With that, Lin Langtian turned to leave. However, seeing Lin Langtian's disregard, Yan Ba's anger flared even more. Ever since the battle, Song Yun and others had been recounting Lin Langtian's feats, and his reputation was starting to overshadow that of even the Fire Division leaders, something that made the hot-headed Yan Ba furious.
"Hmph, disrespectful brat! I'll teach you a lesson!"
With a glint of malice in his eyes, Yan Ba launched himself at Lin Langtian, his powerful aura blazing. Fire-imbued fists came crashing down, aimed straight at Lin Langtian's head. Seeing the intensity of Yan Ba's attack, the onlooking enforcement officers gasped.
But Lin Langtian remained unfazed, a hint of disdain in his gaze. As the flaming fist closed in, he shifted back a single step. The scorching wind barely grazed his cheek as his calm, dark eyes stared unflinchingly at Yan Ba.
"Raging Blaze Fist!" Enraged by Lin Langtian's evasion, Yan Ba closed in again, unleashing a barrage of fiery blows that engulfed Lin Langtian. But Lin Langtian's body moved like a shadow, weaving through Yan Ba's relentless attacks with ease, the blazing fists never touching him.
"He's so fast!"
The commotion drew the attention of nearby Yuan Gate disciples, who watched in astonishment. They hadn't even been able to follow how Lin Langtian slipped through such a fierce assault.
As Lin Langtian parted ways with Jinwu, he resumed his journey back to Yuan Gate. From his recent conversations with Jinwu, it was clear that Jinwu's return to his clan was for a significant reason. Though Lin Langtian was deeply concerned, he knew that with his current level of strength, any help he could offer would be limited at best.
"I need to grow stronger… and quickly," he thought, clenching his fist. Memories of the pressure he'd felt at Yi Mo City under the relentless Huang Wuzhi and the cold indifference of the three Yuan Gate leaders resurfaced. Despite reaching the Life Transformation Realm, which even rivaled some advanced Life Transformation experts, he remained powerless against true Reincarnation-level powerhouses.
"Langtian, you're heading back to Yuan Gate—aren't you worried it's a trap?" Aunt Ling's voice echoed in his mind.
Lin Langtian paused, understanding her concern. At Yi Mo City, the Yuan Gate leaders had made it clear he was expendable. Would they now sacrifice him to appease the Tianxuan Sect? The possibility lingered, but after a moment, he shook his head and replied, "I still have followers in Yuan Gate and some unfinished business. Leaving outright isn't an option, not unless I'm forced to."
If Lin Langtian defected, he knew that people like Song Yun and Mo Tie would likely be scapegoats in his absence. Additionally, the search for the Ancestral Space Symbol would be indefinitely postponed. He didn't see this as a trap; to the three leaders, he was a mere pawn, not worth such extensive effort.
Aunt Ling considered his answer. "Very well, then. But should danger arise, I have ways to get you out of Yuan Gate safely, even if defeating the three heads would be challenging," she assured him.
This assurance gave Lin Langtian confidence, and, expressing his gratitude, he transformed into a streak of light, heading toward Yuan Gate.
With his newfound speed from his Life Transformation cultivation, he reached Yuan Gate in just under three days.
"Back at last. I wonder what task Tian Yuanzi has in mind for me…" Looking at the familiar surroundings within the shielded formation, Lin Langtian recalled Tian Yuanzi's mention of an assignment before their departure, his brows knitting slightly. He sensed that whatever this task was, it wouldn't be something favorable.
"Well, I'll deal with whatever comes." Just as he whispered this, he looked up to see a group of figures approaching quickly, the sound of wind rushing around them. A squad of a dozen was now visible in his field of vision.
"Oh, the Enforcement Division," he noted, instinctively on guard. If this was a trap, these would be the ones to capture him.
"Vice Division Leader, the Head Master has instructed you to see him immediately," announced the leader, a man in his thirties, who looked at Lin Langtian with respectful eyes. The sect had granted Lin Langtian the title of Vice Division Leader, which once held little significance but had gained weight after his exploits in the Tianxuan Sect. It was clear that the events at Yi Mo City had transformed him into a significant figure in the eyes of many.
Nodding at the group, Lin Langtian was about to head deeper into Yuan Gate when a voice, thick with anger, reached his ears.
"Lin Langtian, you have the nerve to come back here!"
Turning, Lin Langtian saw the brawny figure of Yan Ba, the Fire Division's Deputy. Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed slightly. "Uncle Yan, what is the meaning of this?"
With fury in his gaze, Yan Ba snapped, "Because of you, the Fire Division lost half its disciples! Acting recklessly and wiping out the Tianxuan Sect's people—isn't that your doing?"
Lin Langtian's expression turned dark. He saw now that Yan Ba had come to stir up trouble intentionally. "The three Head Masters have already evaluated my actions; there's no need for your interference, Uncle Yan."
Without waiting for a response, Lin Langtian turned to leave. However, Yan Ba, seeing his dismissive response, grew even angrier. Since the battle, the fame Lin Langtian had earned in the Fire Division had been overshadowing that of Yan Ba and others, which infuriated the hot-tempered deputy.
"Hmph, disrespectful brat! Let me teach you a lesson!" Yan Ba lunged at Lin Langtian, fire energy blazing around him. The fierce wind from his punch tore through the air as he closed in, his fist aimed directly at Lin Langtian's head.
Nearby enforcement members gasped at Yan Ba's ferocity, but Lin Langtian remained calm, even showing a hint of disdain. Just as Yan Ba's fist closed in, Lin Langtian shifted back a single step, letting the wind brush past his face. His cold, dark eyes stayed steady, betraying no fear.
In a fluid motion, Lin Langtian sidestepped Yan Ba's attacks, weaving through the relentless assault as if it were child's play. Yan Ba, now more shocked than ever, found his confidence wavering, unable to land a single hit.
Yan Ba's attacks grew more frenzied, but Lin Langtian remained elusive, easily avoiding each strike. With a calm smile, Lin Langtian appeared to his right. "Is this all you have?"
Shocked and off-balance, Yan Ba watched as Lin Langtian extended his fingers, flickers of scarlet flame dancing around them, charging with intense energy. Lin Langtian lunged forward, two fingers aimed straight at Yan Ba's throat, his strike carrying a deadly precision.
Without hesitation, Yan Ba summoned a thick shield of elemental energy before him, but Lin Langtian's fingers, radiating scarlet flame, pierced through the shield effortlessly. His fingers halted a mere half-inch from Yan Ba's throat, and though they hadn't touched him, Yan Ba felt a sharp sting as a red line appeared, a reminder of the killing blow he had just narrowly escaped.
"Uncle Yan, don't push your luck," Lin Langtian said calmly, retracting his hand. In his eyes, Yan Ba was no more than a petty nuisance. With his warning delivered, he turned and continued on his way, leaving behind the shocked onlookers who were astonished by the display of his strength.
"This… is the strength of Senior Brother Lin?" one disciple murmured as Lin Langtian's figure receded into the distance.
Yan Ba stood motionless, feeling a chill in his heart. "How did that brat get so strong?" he muttered to himself, touching his throat where the faint pain lingered. A sense of fear crept into his mind, even as he spat out threats under his breath.
Within the depths of Yuan Gate, Lin Langtian arrived at a grand palace. With a deep breath, he approached, pushed open the doors, and entered. The hall was majestic beyond anything on earth, putting even imperial palaces to shame. As Lin Langtian stepped further in, the air before him wavered, and a figure slowly emerged.
The figure, dressed in white, appeared almost unremarkable—except for his eyes, which were black and white, like the merging of yin and yang. Seeing this man, Lin Langtian instantly composed himself, his mind going blank, and greeted, "Disciple greets Head Master Tian Yuanzi."
"You're here. I heard you had a confrontation with Yan Ba," Tian Yuanzi said, his gaze fixed intently on Lin Langtian.
Lin Langtian stiffened, realizing that Tian Yuanzi must have been observing his every move since he'd stepped foot in Yuan Gate. He opened his mouth to explain, but Tian Yuanzi raised a hand dismissively, continuing, "There's no need to dwell on it. I am more interested in your connection to the Seven Fiend Black Gold Crow clan."
Prepared for this question, Lin Langtian answered without hesitation, "Disciple has no ties to that clan. However, one of my sworn brothers is from there, so it's possible that the clan intervened on my behalf for his sake."
"I see…" Tian Yuanzi's black-and-white eyes narrowed, studying him for a long moment. Then he said with a faint smile, "It seems fortune has favored you, introducing you to such valuable connections. Without them, Yuan Gate would not have been able to repel the Tianxuan Sect. And tell me, do you hold any grudges over the challenge I assigned you against Huang Wuzhi?"
"No, Head Master," Lin Langtian replied smoothly, "As a disciple of Yuan Gate, it was my duty to follow your orders. Besides, it was my actions that provoked the matter; I have no reason for discontent."
Tian Yuanzi looked at him intently, then closed his eyes, his expression impassive and unreadable. After a pause, he spoke again, his voice tinged with something Lin Langtian couldn't quite decipher.
"Your surname is Lin, just like that of Lin Dong from Dao Sect and Lin Qingtan from the Palace of Darkness. If I recall, you all come from the same family, don't you?"
Lin Langtian's brow furrowed slightly, sensing the sensitive nature of the question. He was about to brush it aside, but Tian Yuanzi continued with a slight smile.
"If I were to give you a mission to travel to the Northern Profound Territory and assassinate Lin Qingtan, how would you feel about it?"
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