Abandon Needless Curiosity to Live Long

Facing Xiao Rang's question, Lin Heng answered, "I'm ready."

There was not really anything to prepare. He had long since learned the relevant ceremonial procedures; tomorrow, he only needed to follow them.

"Then get some rest early."

Xiao Rang nodded, preparing to leave.

Lin Heng did not think much of it and immediately prepared to wash up and sleep.

But just then, a commotion broke out outside.

Lin Heng looked out the window in the direction of the disturbance and saw blazing fire erupt from a distant pavilion. The entire building was burning.

"That way... is that the Alchemy Room? Is someone stealing something?"

Lin Heng asked curiously.

"Yes. A Grandmaster Realm expert. The patrolling disciples cannot take him down for the moment. He is likely trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain, while another group takes the chance to make a move against you, Heng'er."

Xiao Rang glanced toward the Alchemy Room, speaking calmly without any intention of going over to deal with it.

Cloud Sword Palace normally had several thousand experts stationed within it. Tomorrow was Lin Heng's Master Acknowledgment Ceremony, and many experts who had been away had returned, making the sect's defenses even stronger.

But accordingly, because many guests had been invited to witness the ceremony tomorrow, some people with ulterior motives had found an opportunity to sneak in.

The many high-ranking Elders of Cloud Sword Palace regarded Lin Heng as their hope for the future. Other factions that bore grudges against Cloud Sword Palace, as well as rival factions, naturally could not stand to see Cloud Sword Palace prosper. Under such circumstances, finding an opportunity to assassinate Lin Heng was perfectly normal.

As it happened, this was an ideal opportunity.

Since Lin Heng remained within the sect and did not go out, this might be the only chance to assassinate him for many years to come.

"Then I'll wash up by myself tonight, so that in the pitch-black darkness, I won't fail to notice if a Maid has been replaced by someone in disguise."

Lin Heng nodded and could not be bothered to pay attention to the commotion outside.

He fetched hot water and washed up by himself, then went straight to bed, without the slightest curiosity.

At his current Xiantian Third Level cultivation, he was already considered fairly strong in the Jianghu. He could become a local powerhouse ruling over an entire county and establish a respectable faction.

But such strength was utterly insignificant in contests at the level of a Martial Arts Holy Land. Only upon becoming a Grandmaster would he have a little ability to protect himself, while only a Great Grandmaster could truly influence the course of events.

Thus, Lin Heng was not at all curious about the disturbance outside. Only by abandoning unnecessary curiosity could one live a long life.

To die of old age was also Lin Heng's goal in this life simulation.

"Disciple, sleep peacefully. Leave the matters outside to your master."

Xiao Rang said.

That night, Lin Heng shut off his hearing, ignored the clamor outside, and slept soundly.

The next day, Lin Heng rose and still washed up and dressed himself, not allowing the Maid to attend to him.

While eating breakfast with Xiao Rang, Lin Heng asked curiously, "Master, was that person caught last night?"

Xiao Rang nodded.

"They were caught. The one causing trouble in the Alchemy Room was from Li Hen Pavilion, a Grandmaster Realm expert exceptionally skilled in lightness arts."

"Your master guessed correctly last night. That person was luring the tiger away from the mountain. A Great Grandmaster from Li Hen Pavilion had taken the place of a disciple who had completed their training and infiltrated the sect, lying in ambush near Cloud Sword Palace disguised as a Maid, ready to assassinate you."

"Unfortunately, their plan was exposed. That Great Grandmaster from Li Hen Pavilion was severely wounded by your two Martial Uncles last night. But others were there to receive them, so they ultimately escaped. The other one, serving as bait, was killed on the spot."

The defenses around Cloud Sword Palace were extremely strong. Not only were there many experts, but there were also formations composed of many Cloud Sword Palace disciples. Even Great Grandmaster Realm experts would not dare charge in recklessly; one misstep, and they could be trapped in the formation until their cultivation was exhausted and they died.

They could only circle around, infiltrate, and launch a surprise attack.

Unfortunately, such an unexpected plan was thwarted by the caution of Lin Heng and his master.

"Li Hen Pavilion? That is not surprising. They are probably the ones who want me dead the most."

Lin Heng commented.

Although the matter of Lin Heng being nearly killed by Li Hen Pavilion's Tiger Wolf Medicine had not been deliberately publicized, it was not difficult to investigate the origins of Lin Heng, this talented disciple.

After all, Cloud Sword Palace did not lack scouts and spies from other factions, just as Cloud Sword Palace had planted scouts and spies in other sects.

Once Li Hen Pavilion learned that this seven-year-old Xiantian Expert had such a history with them, they knew that once Lin Heng grew up, they would certainly be the first ones he dealt with.

At that thought, Li Hen Pavilion immediately developed murderous intent. This heretic sect, only slightly inferior to Cloud Sword Palace, acted swiftly, but regrettably, they did not succeed in the end.

"Disciple, aren't you angry?"

Xiao Rang looked at his little disciple, whose emotions were stable to an excessive degree, and asked curiously.

Li Hen Pavilion had nearly tortured him to death just a few years ago, and now they had tried to assassinate him again. Even Xiao Rang would have been enraged in his place, yet Lin Heng remained calm.

"Of course I'm angry, but I can't defeat Li Hen Pavilion right now, so being angry is useless."

"Do not worry, Master. Within twenty years, once my divine skill reaches great accomplishment, I will surely leave the mountain and sweep away these demonic heretics, restoring a bright and clear world to heaven and earth."

Lin Heng swallowed the food in his mouth before speaking solemnly.

Helpless rage could only rage for a moment; it could not change reality. Only strength was the foundation that determined one's right to speak. Once he became a Heavenly Being, he would go out and kill them all, even wiping them from their Family Register.

"Good. As expected of my disciple—you have ambition."

"Once this Master Acknowledgment Ceremony is over, I will teach you Cloud Sword Palace's sect-defending Sword Art."

Xiao Rang said with a smile.

Five months ago, Lin Heng had cultivated his Internal Cultivation to the realm of endless vitality and formally become a Xiantian Expert. In truth, he had already qualified to learn Cloud Sword Palace's sect-defending Sword Art.

But Lin Heng had been busy raising his cultivation at the time, while Xiao Rang had wanted him to make a stunning debut at the Master Acknowledgment Ceremony. Not wanting him distracted, he had temporarily set aside the matter of teaching him the Sword Art.

Now that his disciple had found his fighting spirit, it was the perfect time to teach him the Sword Art and cultivate sword intent.

When this divine sword left its sheath, it would surely be astonishing.

Although Xiao Rang was already one hundred and three years old, he could still wait twenty years.

After that, master and disciple spoke no more.

They quietly finished their meal, then sat in meditation and refined Qi for their morning cultivation.

Next, with the help of Maids who had been checked again and confirmed safe, Lin Heng changed into solemn, magnificent ceremonial robes and headed toward the Cloud Sword Palace Main Hall.

There, Cloud Sword Palace's many high-ranking Elders, mid-level stewards, envoys from the five Affiliated Dynasties, and disciples from the other two Martial Arts Holy Lands had all arrived to witness the ceremony.

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Heng arrived in the hall with his back straight and his expression calm, walking at an unhurried pace. Dressed in the pure white, gold-threaded cloud-pattern robes of the Young Sect Master, his face was like polished jade, and his beauty was peerless, like a banished immortal descending to the mortal world.

"It's true—a seven-year-old Xiantian Expert!"

"With this kind of cultivation talent, none came before him, and none will come after!"

"We must find a way to befriend him in advance and build a good relationship!"

Everyone present was moved, secretly transmitting their voices as they whispered among themselves.