Cover Blown

Having accidentally overheard this enormous secret, Lin Xuan did not even dare breathe loudly. Though he had caught only scattered fragments, from the discussion between the Yan father and son, he could already roughly infer what had happened.

The Yan Family's patriarch was a master at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Movement Stage, on the verge of joining the ranks of Foundation Establishment cultivators. He had originally planned to have his son purchase an intermediate cultivation manual while the Lingyun Sect was disbanding, only for Lin Xuan to buy it first.

This enraged Yan Tianheng. The Yan Family was merely a mid-sized cultivation family and lacked the power to pull strings behind the scenes or reserve it in advance. With the only intermediate cultivation manual being sold already in someone else's hands, Yan Tianheng had no choice but to take a desperate gamble. He ambushed another cultivation family and stole the intermediate cultivation manual they had purchased.

The plundered Wang Family had originally been the largest cultivation family in the area. Their Master was an elder of Floating Cloud Valley. Though he had later established his own household, he still maintained good relations with Floating Cloud Valley. Moreover, the Wang Family had more than a hundred cultivators, including three Foundation Establishment masters. Among the cultivation families within several miles, they ranked among the very best.

Yet fate had played a trick. The Wang Family's three elders were all at a critical juncture in their cultivation. Besides, they had never imagined anyone would dare attack their family, so they had only sent several juniors to attend this gathering. Yan Tianheng seized the opportunity and murdered them for their treasures.

Having pieced together what had happened, Lin Xuan naturally dared move even less. He already had a grudge with Yan Ming, and now that he had learned of their filthy deeds, if he were exposed, they would surely kill him to silence him.

This Yan father and son were ruthless and vicious, no good birds, but their cultivation was indeed formidable. Yan Tianheng was only a single step away from Foundation Establishment, and even Yan Ming had cultivated his technique to the fourth layer, just like Lin Xuan.

Of course, if things truly reached the worst possible point, Lin Xuan would not simply wait to be bound. If they fought, he still had a sliver of hope. First, he had mastered the Ice Needle Technique. Though it was an intermediate Spell, its power was no weaker than that of a low-level one. Second, he had collected quite a few Talismans. Aside from the hundred-odd low-level Talismans from this trip, he still had many intermediate Talismans inherited from Zhang Yu and Zhou Yan.

Lastly, there were his Spirit Tools. Setting aside the other two, he had at least become quite proficient with the Gold Binding Rope. Though Object Manipulation Technique could only unleash part of its might, it could still serve as a trump card.

Still, although he had some confidence in himself, Lin Xuan would not voluntarily fight two cultivators. After all, one of them was a master at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Movement Stage. Better fewer troubles than more. It seemed the two also intended to spend the night here, and Lin Xuan could only lament his bad luck. Tonight, he would have to sleep on a tree branch.

A flock of geese cried out overhead. Yan Tianheng rose to his feet. The rations tasted terrible; since prey had delivered itself to his door, he might as well shoot one down to fill his stomach.

Seeing the man raise his head and look up, Lin Xuan inwardly cried out in alarm. Without time to think, his body flickered, and he drifted down from the branch. This was not recklessness. Since the man had looked up, with Yan Tianheng's cultivation, Lin Xuan's Concealment Technique would certainly be unable to hide him. Rather than remain in an unfavorable position and wait for him to strike, it was better to strike first and gain the advantage!

In any case, he had heard their filthy secret. The Yan father and son would never let him leave safely. Since they were bound to tear off all pretense, he might as well make the first move.

The presence of someone in the tree above startled the Yan father and son as well. Once Yan Ming clearly saw Lin Xuan's face, he cried out, "Father, he... he's the one who used Mid-Grade Pills to buy that cultivation manual..."

Before his words had even faded, red light flashed before him. Several basin-sized fireballs came roaring toward him.

Lin Xuan fired Fireball Talismans with one hand while preparing the Ice Bullet Technique with the other. Amid sharp hissing sounds, the Spell had already activated. More strangely, Lin Xuan even held a Talisman between his lips. Driven by spirit power, it turned into smoke and seeped into the ground.

Yan Ming was horrified. Though fireballs and ice bullets were merely low-level Spells, being struck by them could still take his life. In his panic, this young master of a great family revealed his inexperience. Flustered and scrambling, he did not even have time to activate his Spirit Power Shield, only thinking to dodge to the side. He did not realize that such clumsy movement had already fallen into Lin Xuan's calculations. The Quicksand Technique was the deadly trap.

Quicksand swallowed his feet, while the fireballs and ice bullets were already rushing toward his face. Yan Ming's expression changed drastically. Though he too had reached the fourth layer of the Spirit Movement Stage, he had been pampered since childhood and rarely fought anyone. With his father always protecting him, when had he ever faced such danger?

"Useless trash!"

Lin Xuan sneered inwardly. Having cultivation alone was not enough; if one fumbled about in battle, a cultivator like this who bullied the weak and feared the strong by relying on his family's power had no future at all. Just as Yan Ming was about to be struck by the Spells, a figure slid sideways and pulled him aside.

The Yan Family patriarch!

Lin Xuan's expression turned solemn. This man was the true enemy. To avoid being surrounded, Lin Xuan had targeted the weaker Yan Ming the instant he appeared. He had intended to take advantage of their lack of preparation and eliminate one enemy first. At first, everything had gone smoothly. Yan Ming's cultivation was not weak, but he was nothing more than a useless spoiled young master. Yet the Yan Family patriarch had reacted swiftly.

Although he had saved his son's life, he could not ensure Yan Ming escaped unscathed. An ice bullet struck Yan Ming in the chest, and blood streamed down. Taking advantage of the opening exposed when the Yan Family patriarch saved his son, Lin Xuan naturally would not let such an opportunity slip away for nothing.

He reached into his robes. When he withdrew his hand, five Talismans had appeared between his fingers. Driving them with spirit power, Lin Xuan tossed the Talismans into the air.

Boom!

In an instant, a scorching wave rushed at them. The five Talismans transformed into dozens of fireballs, roaring toward the Yan father and son...

Yan Tianheng's face darkened. He had not expected this young brat to be so decisive despite his age, striking ruthlessly without wasting a single word.

Compared to him, his own son was far too inferior. He possessed decent cultivation, yet panicked and became flustered before an enemy, unable to display even a tenth of his strength. Not only had he failed to help, he had instead become a burden.