Chapter 39

"Consider yourself lucky. You may not have earned any Contribution Points, but you did manage to pick up your life."

"Go get some rest. I'll file a report. This sort of thing is quite normal."

The Head Steward did not suspect a thing.

He would never believe that Ling Yan's death had anything to do with Lin Xuan.

After all, how could someone in the Body Forging Realm possibly have the ability to kill someone at the mid-stage of Blood Refinement?

What was more, he knew that Ling Yan had achieved minor mastery in a top-grade Yellow-rank sword technique and proficiency in a top-grade Yellow-rank movement technique.

Although Lin Xuan was fairly capable in combat, before Ling Yan, he probably would not even last a single exchange.

"Yes!"

Lin Xuan said nothing more and turned to leave.

"Senior Sister Ling Yan is dead?"

"Oh heavens, good thing I wasn't the one who went with her. Otherwise, I might not have made it back either."

"That Lin Xuan really is lucky to have escaped back alive."

"Isn't that so? He even brought back Senior Sister Ling Yan's sword. What a pity—Senior Sister Ling Yan possessed such heaven-blessed talent..."

Ling Yan's death caused quite a stir among Lin Xuan's group.

Of course, many people had long grown accustomed to such things.

The path of cultivation had never been smooth sailing. If one wanted to improve quickly, the risk of death would always accompany it.

In the outer sect, within a secluded courtyard.

"Ling Yan is dead?"

A handsome young man in his twenties furrowed his brows deeply.

"Yes, Senior Brother Liu Yan. The Head Steward of the servant disciples personally reported it. Lin Xuan brought back Senior Sister Ling Yan's sword."

Below Liu Yan, a young man spoke respectfully.

Liu Yan narrowed his eyes. "With Ling Yan's combat strength, how could an Earth-Rending Bear kill her so easily?"

"And why didn't Lin Xuan die?"

At that moment, a powerful pressure emanated from Liu Yan.

Cold sweat streamed down the reporting young man's forehead as he hurriedly shook his head. "This Junior Brother does not know."

"Hmph..."

Liu Yan snorted coldly, withdrawing the aura around him. He said indifferently, "Investigate it. Within one day, I want every detail."

"Yes!"

As though granted a pardon, the young man quickly departed.

Liu Yan sank into thought. After a long while, he muttered, "Unless the Earth-Rending Bear broke through to the late stage of Blood Refinement, or someone launched a sneak attack, Ling Yan could never have died."

"The one who should have died didn't, while the one who shouldn't have died did. Interesting."

"It won't be easy to explain this to True Disciple Lu..."

A day quickly passed.

The young man came to Liu Yan again.

"Senior Brother, the Earth-Rending Bear's nest is already empty. The Earth-Rending Bear should be dead, but Senior Sister Ling Yan truly did not return..."

Liu Yan narrowed his eyes. "So there really is a problem. Was it Lin Xuan?"

"About that..." The young man hesitated before saying, "I don't believe so. Lin Xuan is only at the middle stage of Body Forging. Even if he launched a sneak attack, he could never harm Senior Sister in the slightest."

"However, I did find out that one of Senior Sister Ling Yan's servant disciple enemies seemed to have contacted Lin Xuan when Senior Sister Ling Yan went looking for servant disciples to accompany her."

"It's just impossible to determine whether that has anything to do with Senior Sister Ling Yan's death."

"Whether it has anything to do with it or not, since he is Ling Yan's enemy, kill him. And that Lin Xuan must die as well. I'll leave this matter to you."

With a casual wave of his hand, Liu Yan spoke as though it were nothing, his eyes filled with utter disregard for life.

"Yes, Senior Brother!"

After agreeing, the young man left, and the secluded courtyard sank into silence once more.

Meanwhile, Lin Xuan walked out of the Animal Husbandry Garden.

"I won't be coming to the Animal Husbandry Garden anymore."

Lin Xuan spoke to Chen Ze, who had followed after him.

Now that his cultivation had broken through to the Body Forging Peak, the Wild Boars could no longer provide Lin Xuan with cultivation time or vital blood energy.

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin!"

Chen Ze immediately acknowledged.

"Mm. Oh, right—don't forget to look after those two fellow townsmen of mine. You should know what to do."

Before leaving, Lin Xuan added another reminder.

Ma San and Liu Qi were now undoubtedly suffering beyond words. Every day, they worked themselves to death, while Chen Ze deducted their Contribution Points under all sorts of pretexts.

At this rate, forget cultivation—they would likely work themselves to death in the Animal Husbandry Garden sooner or later.

But there was nothing they could do. They had neither backing nor strength. Having stood against Lin Xuan from the very beginning, they were now truly crying out to heaven with no answer and calling to earth with no reply.