Chapter 9 – Running Away from Home
Lin Qinghan continued silently following his cultivation plan, and another year passed.
Family Training Grounds, Arena
Electric arcs crackled all over Lin Qinghan's body. Three soul rings — two purple and one black — revolved around him. Opposite him sat a young man in his twenties, slumped on the ground, also surrounded by rotating soul rings — two yellow, two purple, and one black.
This opponent was Lin Kai, the eldest among the Lin family's younger generation. His martial soul was a strange curved blade imbued with thunderlight, reportedly called the "Thunder Blade." At only 23 years old, he was already a high-level Soul King.
Before Lin Qinghan, he had always been the most talented genius in the family. But now, he appeared utterly defeated — not only had he lost to someone more than ten levels below him, and ten years younger, but he hadn't even managed to injure Lin Qinghan.
"Thanks for the match, Brother Lin Kai," Lin Qinghan said, panting lightly. Despite crossing a gap of more than ten levels to win, he showed no signs of weakness.
Although the Lin family peers were reluctant to accept his challenges, after Lin Tian became the clan head, he permitted Lin Qinghan to challenge older members of the family at Lin Qinghan's strong request.
For the past two years, Lin Qinghan had done nothing but cultivate, nearly driving himself mad. Over the past six months, he challenged someone nearly every week. His peers were developing psychological trauma from the constant beatings.
They called his strength unreasonable. At first, when he began challenging peers with over ten levels of difference — starting from level 31 — many didn't take him seriously. Though his two-purple-one-black soul ring configuration was impressive, they never expected he'd challenge and defeat those at level 40 and above.
Now even Soul Kings had fallen to him. One by one, his peers were stunned.
His combination of mental field and dual martial souls severely limited opponents' actions, while allowing him to perceive and manipulate his surroundings with incredible detail — like having cheat powers. Almost anything around him could become a weapon.
After briefly tidying himself up, Lin Qinghan left the training grounds, leaving the shocked crowd behind.
"Dad, can you change my cultivation plan? I want to go out and get some real experience. Doing the same thing every day is driving me insane."
He had reached a level comparable to a high-tier Soul King. Most of the family's heavenly materials and treasures had already been used up by him. Staying home to train was no longer meaningful.
For the past year, his daily routine consisted of eating, sleeping, and training — just like his miserable high school life in his previous life. If not for the recent arena fights, he might have become depressed.
Although his strength had grown rapidly, and his soul power had reached level 39...
"The cultivation plan was made by all the senior members of the family. I don't have the authority to change it," Lin Tian replied helplessly. Lin Qinghan had been complaining repeatedly ever since returning from Heaven Dou City six months ago.
"Don't lie. You said the same thing before you became the clan head. Now you're the head — and you want me to believe you still don't have the power?"
"Besides, you promised two years ago that once I completed this cultivation plan, I could have some freedom. Now you're going back on your word?"
"Also, I'm already level 39. I've beaten everyone in the family. They're all traumatized and avoid me now. Why should I stay home?"
"You're the future of the clan. Just hold on a bit longer. I've got business in the council hall." Lin Tian, knowing he couldn't win the argument, quickly slipped away.
Lin Qinghan felt frustrated. Being born into a prestigious family had its downsides — such as having no personal freedom at a young age.
But today, he was determined to leave. What's the point of strength if you can't enjoy some freedom?
That night, dressed in black, Lin Qinghan slipped out through the back gate.
"Young master, what are you doing out here this late?" said one of the guards.
All of the guards were Soul Emperors, and Lin Qinghan hadn't tried to hide himself. They noticed him easily and were confused by his sudden appearance.
"Don't say anything. I'm heading out to have some fun. Just pretend you didn't see me," he said as he quickly vanished into the distance.
The guards looked at each other, puzzled, and decided to report to their captain.
"Clan head, that's what happened. The young master ran off."
In the middle of the night, Lin Tian and Jiang Wan got out of bed and listened to the captain's report with a sense of helplessness.
"It looks like Qinghan really snapped from staying home too long. He actually ran away from home. Why is his desire to go out so strong at such a young age? We should've just sent him to a junior academy," Jiang Wan said, worried and exasperated.
"Let him go. With his strength now at the level of a high-level Soul King, Qinghan is mature and won't cause trouble. He likely won't run into danger either. Once he's had enough fun, he'll come back." Lin Tian decided to let him go.
"Should we send someone to protect him in secret? I volunteer," the guard captain asked.
"No need. He left so openly — he clearly wanted me to know he'd be fine."
Meanwhile, Lin Qinghan had already traveled dozens of miles away from the family estate, nearly leaving the core of Star Luo City.
Anyone watching him would've been shocked — he was floating in mid-air.
Flying unaided was something only Soul Sages and above could do, and even then, it consumed so much soul power that only Title Douluo would use it casually.
Yet Lin Qinghan, at just over level 30, could distribute his body weight into the air using his mental field and apply a small amount of soul power to propel himself — achieving true flight.
This was a new technique he had developed recently using his mental field. It significantly improved his mobility and gave him enough confidence to leave without an escort.
With this technique, his flying speed rivaled that of Soul Emperors with flying martial souls, and the energy cost was low.
While part of his motivation to run away was to escape his boring life, the bigger reason was concern for Tang Ya.
According to his predictions, the fall of Tang Sect would happen around this time — he had to go check.
(End of Chapter)
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