Genius Beyond the Ancient Eight Rulers

After that minor incident, the rest of Lin Xuan and the others' journey was fairly peaceful, with hardly any trouble arising.

Basically, whenever they encountered other groups along the way, those groups would keep their distance and make way upon seeing the Lin Clan's party.

As for demonic beasts, most of the time they only heard beast roars coming from afar. Demonic beasts were not brainless, after all. With Little Flame's aura present, how would those beasts dare approach carelessly?

Only demonic beasts being pursued, utterly enraged, or having lost their minds and rampaging about might accidentally charge into them. Yet before so many experts of the Lin Clan, they were swiftly slain as well.

Indeed, with a party guarded by no fewer than four Great Perfection of Core Formation Realm experts, there were practically no fools who dared provoke them. Especially when it was a group like the Lin Clan's, with several Core Formation Realm experts protecting a crowd of young people—it was obvious at a glance that they came from a major faction.

Only desperate and vicious people like Song Dao, Han Zong, and Han Sheng, who had already begun to touch upon the Shaping Realm, possessed combat power slightly greater than ordinary Great Perfection of Core Formation Realm cultivators, had confidence in their own strength, and had reinforcements on the way, would dare set their sights on the spirit treasures in Lin Ke'er and the others' hands.

It was not until sunset was drawing near that the Lin Clan's group finally stopped and found a relatively open area to make camp.

The Sky Flame Mountain Range was still extremely dangerous at night. Even Lin Xuan did not dare let down his guard too much. Some poisonous insects could cause endless trouble if one was carelessly touched by them.

That night, a bright moon hung high in the sky, scattering flecks of frosty light across the ground. It lent the cold, secluded forest an added sense of profound desolation, making the already deep and mysterious Sky Flame Mountain Range all the more intimidating.

Under that chill, the demonic beasts that had lain dormant throughout the day gradually awakened as well. From time to time, waves of roars echoed through the mountains, adding a hint of bloodiness to the cold night air.

Beneath a tree, Lin Xuan, dressed in a coarse linen robe and holding a longsword, stood quietly. He raised his head slightly, his gaze passing over the clearing before him as he looked toward the bright, cold moon overhead.

The cold moon and clear breeze possessed a unique charm of their own.

Lin Xuan did not know whether he was contemplating the sword in his hand or admiring the moon at the edge of the heavens. He simply stood beneath the shadowy tree, utterly motionless.

Not far away, Lin Ke'er, Lin Xue, and the others did not dare disturb him. Lin Dong, who was sitting in front of a tent eating roasted meat with Little Flame, felt his heart tremble as he looked at Lin Xuan's figure.

"Is this kid really that monstrous? A freak! A mon—no, that's not right, a human freak! Only your human race could produce someone this abnormal!"

Little Marten's loud outcry startled Lin Dong somewhat. Looking at Lin Xuan, who appeared no different from before, he asked in confusion.

"Little Marten, what is it? Uh... and speak properly. Don't forget that the Young Clan Leader can hear you."

Actually, Lin Dong had initially wanted to say that it was not good to speak ill of someone behind their back. Although words like "freak" and "human freak" did not really count as slander, the latter still sounded rather unpleasant.

Moreover, Lin Dong was not an ungrateful person. Lin Xuan had treated him very well, and allowing Little Marten to call him such unflattering names behind his back made Lin Dong feel somewhat uncomfortable.

But then, Lin Dong remembered that, in Little Marten's eyes, his words carried little weight in matters like this. He had to invoke Lin Xuan's name instead.

Sure enough, just as Lin Dong expected, Little Marten hurriedly covered his mouth as soon as he finished speaking. Only after noticing that Lin Xuan had not paid attention to this side did he let out a huge sigh of relief, his face showing the expression of someone who had narrowly escaped disaster.

"Lin Dong, don't go scaring Marten Lord for no reason. Do you really think Marten Lord was scared into growing up?"

Seeing Little Marten putting on such a tough front, Lin Dong could not help laughing. Only after quite a while, amid Little Marten's dissatisfaction, did he say with a smile.

"Alright, can you tell me what's going on now?"

"What else could it be? I have no idea how a small clan like your Lin Clan produced such a heaven-defying freak. He's not even at the Creation Realm yet, but he has already comprehended a trace of Qi of Death! What a monster!"

As Little Marten spoke, his eyes were filled with utter disbelief. He even felt as though he were dreaming.

"Lin Dong, do you know what Qi of Death represents? It is something only Death Profound Realm experts can comprehend. Nirvana Realm, Life Profound Realm, and only then comes the Death Profound Realm. In your Eastern Xuan Region, a Death Profound Realm expert already counts as a powerhouse ruling one side!"

"Does that mean the Young Clan Leader has already reached the Death Profound Realm?"

Lin Dong's eyes were filled with shock, but Little Marten snapped irritably.

"You idiot, he's only at the Creation Realm. How could he suddenly leap all the way to the Death Profound Realm?"

"Yet that is exactly what is most astonishing. This freak is an absolute monster, with talent even more monstrous than the legendary Ancient Eight Rulers."

Little Marten simply did not know how to describe the astonishment in his heart. Among all the peak experts he had heard of, none could compare to Lin Xuan.

At least, at this realm, Little Marten had never heard of anyone comprehending Qi of Life or Qi of Death. Never—not even the Ancient Eight Rulers could do it.

"Oh, right. The Ancestral Symbols I mentioned to you before—their first owners were the Ancient Eight Rulers. Every single one of them was among the absolute strongest experts in the world!"

Seemingly aware that Lin Dong did not understand, Little Marten deliberately added that explanation. It made Lin Dong's pupils contract in shock.

The Ancient Eight Rulers? Even such incomparably powerful supreme experts had been inferior to the Young Clan Leader in their youth. Just how strong would he become?

"Of course, talent does not determine everything. In the end, it depends on one's future achievements. You don't need to lose heart either. Once you find—"

Before Little Marten could finish, Lin Dong saw Lin Xuan, who had been standing beneath the tree, suddenly turn around. A bone-chilling aura burst from his body, and beneath that dead, icy presence, it felt as though blood, souls, everything, would be frozen solid.

The next moment, Lin Dong saw Lin Xuan, who had been standing beneath the tree, vanish from where he stood.

Lin Xuan's sudden change immediately alarmed everyone in the Lin Clan. Lin Ke'er, Lin Xue, and the others all took out their spirit treasures, while Wu Tao and the others hurried out to stabilize the situation.

"Lin Ke'er, Lin Dong, go take a look together!"

Lin Ke'er and Lin Dong were both talisman masters, so it would be relatively safer for them to investigate. With Little Flame accompanying them, there should not be any problem.