Tao Lang and the others nodded repeatedly.
They were completely stunned.
Zhang Wenxu was practically the second senior brother of Listening Mystic Peak.
A Qi Sea Realm Third Layer core disciple.
Yet in front of Lin Ye…
he hadn't even been able to fight back.
He was beaten so brutally it made their bones ache just watching.
Zhang Wenxu had once been handsome.
Now his face was unrecognizable.
And that was the most terrifying part—
Lin Ye was supposed to be the sect's biggest joke.
The least promising core disciple.
A waste who couldn't even touch the Qi Sea Realm.
Yet he crushed Zhang Wenxu like stepping on an ant.
It was beyond belief.
"We'll go right now! Right now!" Tao Lang blurted, voice trembling.
They were all from Listening Mystic Peak—there was no running.
And Lin Ye was still a core disciple.
Not only that…
he was clearly dangerous now.
To Tao Lang, this wasn't a nightmare.
It was worse.
It was punishment.
And it was all because of Zhang Wenxu.
That bastard had insisted on provoking Lin Ye.
Now they were all paying for it.
Tao Lang spun around, ready to run as if his life depended on it.
"Stop."
Lin Ye's voice cut through the courtyard like a blade.
Tao Lang's heart dropped.
Did he… not get enough?
Was he about to keep beating people?
He turned around stiffly, forcing a trembling smile.
"Senior Brother Lin Ye… what else do you need?"
Lin Ye's eyes were calm.
"Chu Mengxi."
"What happened to her?"
Chu Mengxi.
The Senior Sister of Listening Mystic Peak.
In the past, Lin Ye had only survived because she protected him. People mocked him behind his back, but they never dared touch him openly.
Now even a minor figure like Zhang Wenxu dared to do this…
That meant Chu Mengxi had likely fallen.
Lin Ye didn't care much about his previous body's friendships.
But he hated trouble.
And he wasn't interested in more complications.
The person who had been Lin Ye's closest brother had betrayed him.
That had taught Lin Ye something very clearly:
In this world, the only thing you can trust…
is the sword in your hand.
Tao Lang hesitated.
"…Senior Sister?"
Hearing Lin Ye speak her name so directly made him uncomfortable.
He scratched his head awkwardly.
"We… we don't really know."
"Only that… people say she tried to break through and failed…"
"She almost suffered qi deviation…"
Lin Ye nodded slowly.
So something really had happened.
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Go."
Tao Lang and the others looked like they'd been pardoned from execution.
They immediately rushed away to buy furniture and bedding.
Pooling their money together, they could at least afford decent quality.
Before leaving, Lin Ye casually stripped Zhang Wenxu's storage ring clean.
He discovered something interesting—
Zhang Wenxu had apparently taken interest in alchemy.
The ring even contained several small pill furnaces.
Perfect.
Exactly what Lin Ye needed.
Chu Mengxi could wait.
For now, Lin Ye's priority was clear:
Strength.
He searched Zhang Wenxu's room but found nothing else of value.
Then he left.
Zhang Wenxu's injuries were mainly external.
He wouldn't die.
Tao Lang worked fast.
By the time Lin Ye returned to his courtyard, everything was already done.
The place was spotless.
Every tool and piece of furniture looked brand new.
The bedding was neatly folded, sharp and clean.
Tao Lang stood at the entrance, smiling nervously.
"Senior Brother Lin Ye…"
"Are you satisfied?"
He swallowed.
Then forced himself to speak.
"Should I… call a few outer disciples… to warm your bed…?"
Lin Ye looked at him once.
Just once.
Tao Lang's mouth snapped shut instantly.
He didn't dare say another word.
Lin Ye tossed him a paper filled with medicinal ingredients.
"Go to Donglai Town."
"Buy everything listed here."
"And keep an eye out for any blood-asura type treasures nearby. If you find one, report to me immediately."
Donglai Town was the nearest market settlement to Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect.
Every sect had its territory, and Donglai Town—though not large—was under Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect's control.
Tao Lang stared at the list…
and went pale.
Most of the ingredients were extremely rare.
His wallet couldn't handle this.
"Th-this… Senior Brother…"
Lin Ye flicked his finger.
A pill fell into Tao Lang's hand.
Tao Lang froze.
His eyes widened.
"J-Jade Blossom Pill?!"
He nearly screamed.
The shock hit him so hard his eyes watered.
Then tears actually rolled down his cheeks.
He looked like Lin Ye had just saved his entire bloodline.
"S-Senior Brother Lin Ye… I—"
His voice trembled.
He couldn't even speak.
Lin Ye waved him off.
"Hurry."
Tao Lang wiped his tears with shaking hands, then stood straight like a soldier.
"Senior Brother Lin Ye, from this day forward you are my second father!"
"I would go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"
Then he ran off like his life depended on it—
afraid Lin Ye might change his mind and take the pill back.
The Jade Blossom Pill had come from Zhang Wenxu's ring.
Lin Ye didn't care for such low-grade medicine.
He tossed it to Tao Lang as a reward.
Tao Lang wasn't Lin Ye's enemy.
Just a dog being used by someone else.
And if he could be used…
Lin Ye could use him too.
Not everything required personal effort.
As for Zhang Wenxu—
for now, he was only guilty of being too arrogant.
He had picked the wrong target.
If he truly repented, Lin Ye wouldn't bother pursuing it.
But if he insisted on being stupid…
Lin Ye would erase him.
For Lin Ye, the only real path was cultivation.
The Nine Revolutions Asura Art.
And beyond that—
Lu Jue.
The Heaven-Blessed Imperial Prince.
A peak-level cultivator backed by an entire royal bloodline.
If Lin Ye wanted revenge…
he had to become strong enough.
So Lin Ye sat down in his courtyard and cultivated.
Meanwhile, throughout the sect, disciples returned to their peaks.
And in the Affairs Hall…
Xu Liang received devastating news.
His son Xu Ming…
had not returned from Dragon Void Cave.
Affairs Hall
Xu Liang slammed the table and stood abruptly.
"Impossible!"
"With Xu Ming's cultivation, even if he ran into danger—even if he couldn't win—he could still protect himself!"
"How could he not return?!"
If someone was trapped in Dragon Void Cave when the seal closed, no one survived.
Once the cave sealed, it became a paradise for feral beasts.
Powerful creatures would awaken again.
No one could last a year inside.
An attendant steward lowered his head and spoke carefully.
"I've checked the roster several times. Xu Ming's name isn't there."
"Not only that…"
"Gu Shusen, Jin Liangfei, and more than ten inner disciples also failed to return."
Xu Liang's eyes narrowed.
A cold light flashed through them.
"Could it be…?"
He didn't say the name.
Very few people knew the details of Xu Ming's mission.
Even his subordinates were unaware.
He controlled his expression and gave an order.
"Continue investigating."
"Question disciples from each peak."
"Find anyone who saw Xu Ming's group."
"Yes, Hall Master."
After the steward left, Xu Liang paced back and forth.
Then he turned—
and headed toward Elder Peak.
Elder Peak
Elder Peak was a branch area along Mystic Thunder Peak where the sect elders lived.
The Affairs Hall was also located on Mystic Thunder Peak, so the distance wasn't far.
Xu Liang arrived at a secluded courtyard.
"Elder Geng. It's me."
He knocked and stepped inside.
Inside, a man sat in meditation on a stone platform.
Geng Shiqiu.
The Sixth Elder of Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect.
His ranking among elders wasn't high…
but his cultivation was terrifying.
He was known as the most underestimated elder in the entire sect.
When Xu Liang entered, Geng Shiqiu lifted a hand casually.
A wave of mystic power spread outward, sealing off the area.
Earth Transformation Realm.
Geng Shiqiu's eyes opened slowly.
His voice was cold.
"Any news?"
Xu Liang's voice shook with suppressed grief.
"Something's wrong."
"My son Xu Ming… along with Gu Shusen and Jin Liangfei…"
"They didn't come out."
"But Lin Ye returned safely."
Geng Shiqiu's gaze hardened.
His eyes were filled with killing intent.
"That trash was still only Spirit Spring Realm."
"And you're telling me so many people couldn't kill him?"
Xu Liang clenched his fists.
"Time is short," Geng Shiqiu said, voice icy.
"Less than twenty days remain."
"You must complete it."
"Silently."
Xu Liang bowed deeply, hatred boiling.
"Yes."
"I'll arrange an assignment outside the sect."
"Once Lin Ye leaves Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect's territory…"
"he will die."
A plan failed.
Then they would make another.
Xu Liang had lost his son…
and now every ounce of that grief and rage had become hatred aimed at Lin Ye.
"Good."
Geng Shiqiu's sleeve shifted slightly.
A golden pill appeared between his fingers.
"Condolences for your son."
"If you refine this… you should break through your current realm."
He flicked his finger.
The pill flew into Xu Liang's hand.
A Fourth-Grade pill.
Golden Origin Pill.
The moment Xu Liang saw it…
his grief transformed into burning resolve.
He clenched the pill like it was revenge itself.
"Elder, rest assured."
"Xu Liang will not fail."