Kill Heng Society

"It was all thanks to my master and the Sect's many years of cultivation."

Lin Heng smiled as he thanked Xiao Rang. He had not become so arrogant after reaching the Great Grandmaster realm that he no longer knew his own name.

Leaving aside the many resources the Sect had invested in him, over the past several years, Xiao Rang had painstakingly demonstrated the martial arts of the Hundred Schools every day, exchanging moves with him. This had continuously broadened his martial knowledge and allowed him to Comprehend Ethereal Sword Intent more quickly.

If Lin Heng's own diligent cultivation accounted for half of the credit for his achievements today, and the resources invested by the Sect accounted for another thirty percent, then the remaining twenty percent had to be credited entirely to Xiao Rang.

He had truly done everything a master could possibly do.

"Congratulations to the Young Sect Master on your breakthrough and achievement of the Great Grandmaster realm."

At this time, the Sect's many Elders also gathered around, smiling as they congratulated Lin Heng.

"Lin Heng's achievements today could not have happened without the care of all the Elders."

Lin Heng smiled and returned the courtesy.

These Elders had fully supported Xiao Rang's training of Lin Heng and never held him back. That alone was exceedingly rare.

In his daily cultivation, they had also helped whenever they could, so they deserved no small share of the credit as well.

The Elders' smiles became even brighter at his words, basking in reflected glory.

When history later spoke of Lin Heng's cultivation speed, these Elders would share in the honor too.

"Today is a joyous occasion. Prepare a feast! None of us shall leave sober!" Xiao Rang declared, sweeping his hand.

No one had any objection.

Lin Heng had no objection either. After cultivating so hard for so many years, it was time to relax.

Breaking through from the Great Grandmaster realm to the Heaven-Human Realm was no simple matter. It required a very long time.

Only by relaxing now could he better embark upon the long road and journey ahead.

Before long, Cloud Sword Palace became lively.

Delicacies and fine wine were brought forth, while a Silk Bamboo Orchestra performed. The atmosphere became joyous.

During the banquet, everyone decided to prepare a celebration for Lin Heng three months later to mark his becoming a Great Grandmaster.

As Morning Practice came to an end, the entire mountain gate became bustling. The Elders directly arranged a joint celebration, sharing the joy with everyone.

The commotion caused by Lin Heng's breakthrough had been immense. Since everyone already knew, there was no need to hide it. This was the perfect chance to spread the fame of Cloud Sword Palace.

A fourteen-year-old Great Grandmaster.

The existence of such an expert meant that even if Cloud Sword Palace suffered a drought of talent for many years to come, it would still be enough to ensure the Sect's safe continuation. This was indeed something worth celebrating properly.

Cloud Sword Palace was delighted and began celebrating.

Yet some spies hidden among the crowd were deeply uneasy.

One man's hero was another man's sworn foe.

Lin Heng's existence was a great boon to Cloud Sword Palace, but to other factions, it was dreadful news.

Their hearts were in turmoil. They hurriedly found opportunities to spread the news that Lin Heng had become a Great Grandmaster at fourteen, leaving the upper ranks of their respective factions equally restless, unable to sit or lie in peace.

The thought that this fourteen-year-old Great Grandmaster might one day become an unimaginable expert, a being surpassing even Peerless Experts, left many unable to eat or sleep.

Although it had long been rumored throughout the Jianghu that someone of Lin Heng's Peerless Talent would inevitably become a Legendary Level Invincible Expert of the Jianghu.

That was still only an expectation. There were too many variables along the way. What if Lin Heng suffered a cultivation deviation midway through his training, or simply became lazy?

But things were different now. Lin Heng had already become a Great Grandmaster. This proved that his resolve was steadfast and unshakable. His becoming a being beyond the Great Grandmaster realm was practically set in stone.

For that very reason, the pressure Lin Heng brought upon the world had directly reached its peak.

Some people took it in stride. Since an Invincible Expert was about to emerge, they might as well embrace his thigh early and secure as high a position as possible in the new era to be led by this Invincible Expert.

But some people had no intention of surrendering so readily. They began secretly joining forces.

When Hao Shuang, an Elder of Li Hen Pavilion, heard this terrible news, she smashed quite a few cups.

The Anti-Cloud Sword Palace Alliance, which Li Hen Pavilion had taken the lead in organizing, had prepared meticulously for years. They had merely been waiting for Lin Heng to descend the mountain, then they would deliver a fatal blow and snuff out this genius.

A genius merely at the Grandmaster Realm could be killed in countless underhanded ways, even if Cloud Sword Palace experts accompanied him as bodyguards.

Yet before they could wait for Lin Heng to leave the mountain, they received the terrible news that he had become a Great Grandmaster.

A Great Grandmaster was no longer a genius, but an undeniably powerful expert.

And when such an expert traveled, many other experts would accompany him as guards.

Now, all the methods they had prepared had become useless. They had been made complete fools of.

What they could do next was gather overwhelming combat power and kill Lin Heng by force.

That was their only way to turn things around.

But they did not possess that capability, for Lin Heng was not alone.

At this moment, the four other factions in the Anti-Cloud Sword Palace Alliance besides Li Hen Pavilion were all considering running away.

After all, only Li Hen Pavilion had offended Lin Heng, this fourteen-year-old peerless genius, beyond all reconciliation. The other four had not offended him too deeply. It was still entirely possible for them to abandon darkness and turn toward the light.

As long as they dropped to their knees fast enough and behaved themselves in the future, they would no longer have to endure the terrifying psychological pressure of being enemies with a peerless genius.

Yet at that moment, several shadowy figures swiftly contacted Li Hen Pavilion, the leader of the Anti-Cloud Sword Palace Alliance, in secret. They expressed their desire to join them and eliminate Lin Heng, this peerless genius.

This good news gave new life to the organization that had been on the verge of collapse.

The Anti-Cloud Sword Palace Alliance reorganized. An organization called the Kill Heng Society was reestablished, with killing Lin Heng at any cost as its foremost goal.

A fourteen-year-old Great Grandmaster was simply too terrifying.

He was destined to become a legend, invincible beneath the heavens.

They could tolerate the existence of a genius, but they could not tolerate an Invincible Expert standing above everyone's heads.

For once such an Invincible Expert appeared, everyone's lives and fortunes would rest upon a single thought of that expert. They would no longer possess any sense of security.

The threat was too great. It harmed the interests of far too many who already held power and benefits.

Therefore, before he fully grew to the point where he could no longer be opposed, they had to act—act without mercy.

Driven by this will, many experts gathered. Even some figures who had lived in seclusion for many years were invited to join the Kill Heng Society.

Once Lin Heng left the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate, what awaited him would be a thunderous strike.

This time, it would no longer be the minor skirmishes of the previous Anti-Cloud Sword Palace Alliance.

Even if Lin Heng continued to remain inside the mountain gate as before and refused to leave, they would force their hand.

These people had already prepared to storm the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate and kill Lin Heng by force!