"Well, it was my master... a Upper Grade Rank-Four Life Preservation Talisman he gave me before he left."
Lin Feng had no choice but to invoke his fabricated 'master' yet again, offering this barely passable excuse. An Upper Grade Rank-Four Talisman was equivalent to a full-force strike from a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, making it indeed capable of slaying Loong Tengyu, who was at the ninth layer of Golden Core.
"Your master? An Upper Grade Rank-Four Talisman?!" Lu Danxin's gaze sharpened. A cultivator capable of producing such a talisman was undoubtedly extraordinary, at least a mid or even late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. That Lin Feng possessed such a formidable master yet still joined the Lingyue Sect inevitably raised a sliver of doubt in his mind. However, his trust still outweighed the suspicion, primarily due to the favorable impression Lin Feng had left on him.
Truthfully, Lin Feng was inwardly anxious. He genuinely hadn't anticipated encountering Lu Danxin here. No wonder he wasn't present when the Absolute Sword Sect pressured Lingyue Sect, he thought; he must have already come to the Lanling Ruin. He wasn't sure what Lu Danxin thought of him now. If the Sect Leader intended to pursue the matter of him joining Lingyue Sect with potentially ulterior motives, it could become troublesome.
Lin Feng's impression of Lu Danxin was also reasonably positive, so he prioritized trusting him. Of course, he prepared for the worst. If Lu Danxin truly harbored malicious intent, Lin Feng was ready to fight. He believed that with his various means, even if he couldn't win, he stood a decent chance of escaping.
Lu Danxin remained silent for a long while, then finally let out a heavy sigh. "Sigh... It seems there really are many secrets about you that I didn't know... No wonder you hesitated when I offered to take you on as a personal disciple back then. You were worried it would be difficult to leave afterward, weren't you? The fact that you thought that way – rather than agreeing solely to obtain Lingyue Sect's core legacies and then leave – is truly commendable... Add to that, this time you willingly faced the Absolute Sword Sect alone to protect Lingyue Sect... Enough. Since you have already departed from Lingyue Sect, I will not pursue other matters further. Consider this matter settled... I only hope you won't forget, going forward, that you were once a disciple of Lingyue Sect..."
His tone carried distinct regret, likely lamenting the inability to retain such a 'genius' disciple. Lu Danxin had indeed wrestled with the decision. He faced two choices: forcibly detain Lin Feng to uncover his secrets, or take a step back, accommodate Lin Feng, and foster goodwill. After consideration, he chose the latter.
After all, Lu Danxin wasn't naturally ruthless. Even knowing Lin Feng likely harbored secrets, he wasn't consumed by greed to the point of killing for treasure. He also considered the possibility that Lin Feng truly did have formidable backing. Acting against Lin Feng and provoking such a significant threat would be profoundly unwise.
Hearing Lu Danxin's words, Lin Feng mentally exhaled in relief. He reminded himself that the world wasn't solely filled with malice; there were still people worthy of trust. He bowed respectfully to Lu Danxin once more, his voice sincere. "Thank you, Sect Leader, for your understanding!"
...
Seeing that the matter between Lin Feng and Lu Danxin seemed resolved, Lu Su finally interjected, "By the way, Lin Feng, why did you come here?"
He was intensely curious about why Lin Feng had joined Lingyue Sect and found the recent tale about the Absolute Sword Sect incredible. However, he wisely avoided prying into those questions, focusing instead on the immediate situation.
Lin Feng smiled slightly, turning his hand over to reveal the formation disk. "I came here because I unintentionally acquired this. I imagine... this is precisely what you need right now, isn't it?"
As he spoke, he glanced towards the colossal stone door at the far end of the chamber. He could clearly see two circular sockets positioned vertically at the point where the two door leaves met. The upper socket was already filled – containing the very formation disk he had repaired for Lu Su back in Lingyue City. The lower socket, however, was empty. It was evident where the disk in his hand belonged.
"The other formation disk!!" Lu Su exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with surprise and delight as he saw the object Lin Feng held. "You actually found the second disk?!"
"Yes," Lin Feng nodded. "In fact, I obtained this disk from Loong Tengyu himself. After acquiring it, I intended to find you in Lingyue City. However, fearing the Absolute Sword Sect made that too risky, I abandoned the plan. While passing through the Lanling Ruin, I accidentally noticed an unusual fluctuation emanating from the disk. Following its guidance led me here. I had speculated that the resonance might be linked to the disk in your possession – it seems I was right. I simply didn't expect Sect Leader Lu to also be present..."
"Sect Leader Lu joined us at our invitation," Lu Su explained. "While investigating information about Master Lanling's cave dwelling, I inadvertently learned that a group of cultivators from the Yunhuang Sect of Yue Kingdom had come to Xia Kingdom. Rumors suggested they had uncovered some clues about Master Lanling's cave dwelling. Fearing they might find it first, we invited Sect Leader Lu to join our search within the Lanling Ruin. Reports indicated the Yunhuang Sect group included a Nascent Soul cultivator."
"Yunhuang Sect?!" Lin Feng's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "They're also here for this cave dwelling?"
Lu Su looked startled. "Huh? Why? Have you encountered Yunhuang Sect members?!"
"Yes," Lin Feng's gaze flickered, a slight frown forming. "On my way here, I encountered a Golden Core cultivator from Yunhuang Sect... At the time, he was being chased by another cultivator. That cultivator later told me that the Yunhuang Sect man had killed one of his companions in Cold Mist Valley..."
Lin Feng didn't finish, but Lu Su, Lu Danxin, and the others all exchanged troubled glances, sensing something amiss. Duan Chenglian voiced the concern, "That Yunhuang Sect cultivator came to Cold Mist Valley?! Coincidence? Or..."
"I fear it's not so simple as coincidence..." Lu Danxin's eyes gleamed sharply. As he spoke, his formidable spiritual sense swept out like a tidal wave, probing the surroundings. Moments later, he continued, "I detect nothing unusual. Perhaps we are overthinking it. Or perhaps... they are lurking just beyond the range of my spiritual sense, or employing some special concealment technique..."
Lu Su stroked his chin thoughtfully. "I admit I found it strange too. If Yunhuang Sect truly also possessed clues about this cave dwelling, why have we encountered no trace of them since entering? I previously thought perhaps they were searching for a different target altogether. But since one of theirs appeared in Cold Mist Valley... it likely isn't coincidence. Sect Leader Lu, in your opinion, what should we do?"
Lu Danxin withdrew his spiritual sense, pondered for another moment, then stated decisively, "We proceed with caution. Even if we cannot confirm the presence of Yunhuang Sect forces, we must prepare for all contingencies. Now that Lin Feng has brought the second disk, we should be able to open the cave dwelling directly. If anyone truly intends to play the mantis stalking the cicada, only to be ambushed by the oriole... the moment the cave dwelling opens will likely be when they strike. We cannot afford to be caught unprepared..."
At this moment, the unfamiliar middle-aged male cultivator who had remained silent since Lin Feng's arrival finally spoke up. "Since that's the case, allow me to lay down a Killing Formation! Should anyone dare attempt to snatch the prize, we'll trap them like turtles in a jar! They shall come only to perish!"
Lin Feng was momentarily startled by the man's confident declaration and looked at him in surprise. Lu Su, realizing the introductions hadn't been made, quickly said to Lin Feng, "This is Fellow Daoist Zhao Qian. He belongs to our Myriad Treasures Pavilion Merchant Association. He is a Third-Grade Formation Master. Given that cave dwellings invariably contain restriction arrays, we invited him to join us. It was entirely thanks to him that we discovered and dismantled the concealment formation at the outer entrance. Otherwise, we might never have made it this far."
"A Formation Master?" Lin Feng was slightly surprised. He had wondered how such an obvious platform and cave entrance could have gone unnoticed; now it made sense – a concealment formation had originally hidden it. He clasped his hands respectfully towards Zhao Qian. "Junior greets Senior Zhao."
Zhao Qian gave a slight nod. "Young Friend Lin, I have heard Fellow Daoist Lu speak of you. I never imagined we would have the fortune to meet so soon. That you effortlessly shattered the defensive barrier I erected is truly impressive technique."
Lin Feng felt a pang of awkwardness – so that barrier had been Zhao Qian's work. "Senior Zhao flatters me."
Lu Danxin addressed Zhao Qian directly. "Fellow Daoist Zhao, you mentioned you can deploy a Third-Grade Killing Formation? What level of confidence do you have?"
Zhao Qian smiled confidently. "Sect Leader Lu, set your mind at ease. I possess a set of formation flags capable of setting up a peak Third-Grade Killing Formation. With this formation active, the opposing Golden Core cultivators pose little threat. As for the Nascent Soul cultivator, while it won't defeat him outright, the formation will significantly suppress his power. At that point, dealing with him will be entirely within your capable hands, Sect Leader."
A sharp light flashed in Lu Danxin's eyes. "Very well. Then we trouble Fellow Daoist Zhao to arrange the formation. How long will it take?"
"Fifteen minutes is sufficient."
Zhao Qian smiled with assurance, nodded to the group, and flicked his right hand. Several formation flags materialized in his grasp. With a deft flick of his wrist, they shot towards specific corners of the spacious chamber. Then, his hands began weaving a series of intricate formation seals, directing pulses of energy towards the flags. Instantly, the flags vanished – not just from sight, but seemingly from spiritual sense perception as well.
Zhao Qian paced around the chamber, periodically tossing down another formation flag. In less than ten minutes, he had placed nearly twenty flags in strategic locations. Returning to the group, he gave a final, satisfied nod.
"It is done."