Journey to Barren Region, the Wang Family Attacks

One day later.

Shi Hao and Lin Bai walked out of the Cultivation Hall.

"Ha ha, Senior Brother, my Azure Lotus Sword Art has reached minor mastery."

Lin Bai said in delight.

"Really? Then congratulations, Junior Brother. My Supreme Reincarnation Method has also advanced another step," Shi Hao said, nodding in satisfaction.

After sensing the spiritual energy within his body again, Lin Bai said, "Just burying our heads in cultivation won't do either. How about we spar, Senior Brother?"

"Sure. I was just worrying about having nowhere to stretch my fists and legs. I'll suppress my cultivation level, and we can have a spar."

Shi Hao, a battle maniac and cultivation maniac alike, happily agreed when he saw his junior brother wanted to spar with him.

Their master had said that cultivation was like rowing against the current: if one did not advance, one fell back. Actual combat was the fastest way to improve.

Feng Qingyang: I never said that. Don't you two go overboard. If you start grinding that hard, then I'm just going to slack off!

The two hit it off at once and headed to the sect's Martial Arts Practice Hall.

"Hehe, then I won't hold back, Senior Brother. Be careful."

"Take my sword!"

Lin Bai knew how powerful his senior brother was—the ruthless man who had single-handedly challenged the geniuses of numerous sects that day—so he went all out from the start.

"Ha ha, good!"

"Supreme Reincarnation Method!"

As spiritual energy raced through his body, Shi Hao also went all out immediately.

Fists and sword clashed madly, spiritual energy and Sword Qi crisscrossing the air.

"Supreme Reincarnation Fist!"

Charging forward without hesitation, Shi Hao unleashed his strongest martial skill. Every punch struck with explosive force, creating sonic booms in the air.

"What excellent fistwork!"

"First move of the Azure Lotus Sword Art, Azure Lotus Guiding the Way!"

The Azure Lotus Sword danced with exquisite finesse in Lin Bai's hand, countering every move with another. Countless azure lotuses surged from the ground, while icy Sword Qi shot toward Shi Hao.

"Sword Intent!"

"I never expected Junior Brother to comprehend Sword Intent so quickly!"

However, Lin Bai had little real combat experience—one could say he had none at all—and before long, he was defeated.

It was understandable, of course. He had previously only been at the early stage of Qi Refining. Who could he have trained with? Bullied children? Damn it, even children had higher cultivation than him...

"Senior Brother is still stronger. I lost."

Lin Bai said calmly. Losing to his senior brother left him completely convinced.

"No, Junior Brother. You simply lack actual combat experience. Fight and kill a few more times, and you'll catch up."

"Master said that actual combat is the fastest way to improve."

Lin Bai remembered something. "Right, Senior Brother, I'm leaving the sect for a few days."

"I rushed to the sect the day before yesterday without telling my family. I should take this good news—that I can cultivate and have joined a sect—back to them."

Hearing this, Shi Hao said, "Then, Junior Brother, I wish you a safe journey."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll go inform Master now."

Not long after, inside Azure Cloud Hall.

"You're leaving the sect for a few days?"

"You brat, you miss your fiancée, don't you?"

Feng Qingyang smiled as he saw right through him and said it aloud.

He had heard Lin Bai's words on the day of the Disciple Recruitment Assembly as well.

"Fine, then. Your master will accompany you on this trip."

There were no missions for the time being anyway, and staying in the sect was boring. He might as well take Lin Bai out to travel and see the world.

He himself had only just transmigrated here and had yet to travel and enjoy life. The only sights he had seen were along the way while begging his way to Azure Cloud Sect.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, Master."

Lin Bai was immediately overwhelmed by the unexpected favor.

Wild Province.

Great Zhou Dynasty.

Tianwu City.

Traveling a thousand li a day, Feng Qingyang and Lin Bai arrived at Tianwu City.

To guard against any contingency, Outer Sect Elder Ye Bai had come along as well, though Feng Qingyang had him remain hidden in the shadows.

"We're here, we're here! Master, Tianwu City is right ahead."

Lin Bai said happily. In all his life, he had never felt so excited.

After only a few days apart, he had been reborn, transformed so completely that the changes would surely shock everyone.

When the young man met them again, his bow would be drawn to its fullest; he feared neither the passing years nor the howling wind!

I, Lin Bai, am no longer a joke!

"Let's go, Master. In a moment, I'll take you to the best pleasure house in our city to listen to music."

Back when cultivation had not gone smoothly for Lin Bai, eating and drinking... he had been skilled at everything.

Ahem, ahem! Disciple, now you've got me excited!

Is that pleasure house a proper pleasure house?

After entering the city, Lin Bai found the atmosphere within unusually solemn.

Lin Bai was too famous. The moment he entered the city, someone recognized him.

"Look, isn't that the Lin Family's Young Master, Lin Bai?"

"Huh? Why has he suddenly returned? The Wang Family and the Lin Family are locked in a life-and-death struggle. Has he returned at this time to live and die with his family? He may be a bit of trash, but he has some backbone."

"I heard his childhood sweetheart and fiancée joined an overlord-level force. I wonder if that's true."

"It's true. I have reliable information. What a flower stuck in a pile of cow dung!"

Lin Bai and Feng Qingyang soon arrived before the Lin Family gates.

When the guards standing watch with Personal Swords at their waists saw Lin Bai return, they hurried inside to report.

"The Young Master has returned! The Young Master has returned!"

Lin Bai frowned as he looked at the number of guards before the gates, several times greater than before. Every one of them stood on high alert.

Something's wrong. Could something have happened to the Lin Family during the days I was away?

Lin Bai immediately entered the family grounds and headed straight for the Lin Family's main hall.

"That's wonderful, Brother Lin has returned!"

"Brother Lin is alright! Brother Lin has returned!"

The Lin Family members Lin Bai encountered along the way were all delighted to see him return safely and greeted him happily.

This made him even more certain.

Inside the Lin Family's main hall, Lin Bai discovered the moment he entered that all the elders were present, apparently discussing something.

"Bai'er, you're alright. That's wonderful!"

Seeing Lin Bai return safely, Lin Zhan relaxed considerably.

The elders in the hall also showered him with concern.

"Father, what happened?"

Lin Bai voiced the doubt in his heart. Judging by this scene, something major had definitely occurred.

"That damned Wang Family joined forces with the Bai Family and suddenly launched an attack on us, catching us completely off guard. The family suffered considerable losses."

Lin Zhan said angrily.

"They claimed that Bai'er killed the Wang Family's eldest young master and demanded that we hand you over."

"On top of that, you had vanished without a trace for several days. We feared the Wang Family had captured you and that you had met with misfortune."

"Fortunately, Bai'er, you returned safely."

Feng Qingyang also entered the hall. Having heard their earlier conversation, he thought of the clown he had casually slapped into a cloud of blood mist.

"Father, it's all this child's fault. I was the one who killed Wang Tian."

"It isn't your fault, Bai'er. Your father has long found the Wang Family unpleasant to look at. Sooner or later, there was bound to be a battle."

"That's right, that's right! The Wang Family opposes our Lin Family at every turn. We'll destroy them sooner or later!"

The elders echoed their agreement from the side.

"The eldest young master killed well!"

Wang Zhan and the elders saw another person enter from outside.

A young man dressed in snow-white robes, with swordlike brows and bright eyes.

"Bai'er, who is this?"

"Right, let me introduce him to everyone. This is my master, and also the sect master of Azure Cloud Sect."

"Azure Cloud Sect? Why does that sound so familiar? But I still can't remember."

The forces whose experts had been slain by Azure Cloud Sect had all sealed off the news and were still discussing countermeasures, so the information had not yet spread.

"Bai'er, you joined a sect!"

Lin Zhan said in astonishment. After a full ten years, a sect had finally been willing to take him in...!

"Yes, Father."

"And with Master's help, I awakened my constitution and broke through in cultivation. Feel it for yourself."

With that, Lin Bai released his aura.

"Foundation Establishment Peak!"

This display from Lin Bai stunned the entire Lin Family for ten thousand years.

It had only been a few days, yet he had broken through several realms in a row. That once-fallen genius youth had now returned as a king! Their Lin Family was going to rise!

Quite a few elders even burst into tears on the spot.

"Good! Good!! Good!!!"

Lin Zhan was so excited that he could barely speak.

"So you are Bai'er's sect master."

"Sect Master, please take a seat. Someone, serve tea—bring the finest tea!"

Coming back to his senses, Lin Zhan hurriedly welcomed him.