The Martial Arts Holy Land's Sect Master's Direct Disciple

At death's door, the old man saw a young swordsman in black pull a longsword from his chest. With light, graceful steps, the swordsman walked past him as he lay in a pool of blood, heading toward where the old man's card-playing companions were.

"It's Cloud Sword Palace. We're all going to die."

Cloud patterns were embroidered on the black-clad swordsman's garments, allowing him to recognize the swordsman's identity.

Cloud Sword Palace was one of the foremost Righteous Path martial arts holy lands in the Jianghu of Lan Continent, with eradicating treachery and evil as its sect doctrine.

It had always been hostile toward Li Hen Pavilion, one of the Evil Sects. Whenever it found an opportunity, it struck at Li Hen Pavilion's subordinate forces. This time, it had found this manor where they raised Cauldrons.

Given Cloud Sword Palace's hatred of evil, not a single person in this manor would escape.

A flicker of understanding passed through the old man's heart, and his consciousness immediately sank into oblivion.

And indeed, that was exactly what happened. Swordsmen in black robes embroidered with cloud patterns silently appeared throughout the manor belonging to Li Hen Pavilion. They wielded their longswords, slaughtering every Li Hen Pavilion member they saw.

The smell of blood spread through the entire manor. Before long, the Li Hen Pavilion personnel reacted and began organizing a counterattack.

A Great Battle thus began.

Cloud Sword Palace had come prepared and deployed a great number of experts, so naturally no mishaps occurred. In the end, every Li Hen Pavilion disciple in the manor was slain, save for the few who surrendered in time and preserved their lives.

After the battle ended, bodies were cleared away, the battlefield was cleaned up, and the Spoils of War were gathered. Every task proceeded in orderly fashion.

As night fell, Cloud Sword Master Xiao Rang, the master of Cloud Sword Palace and a Peerless Expert renowned throughout Lan Continent, finished pursuing the experts who had previously guarded this place. He then entered the manor to inspect his disciples' battle results.

It was at this time that Lin Heng, soaking in the underground Blood Pool, was discovered.

As a Righteous Path sect, they naturally upheld the tradition of respecting the old and caring for the young.

By then, seven hours had passed since Lin Heng had been placed in the Blood Pool. The crimson medicinal liquid had already faded to pale red. Lin Heng had absorbed an immense amount of Medicinal Power, exceeding the intended effect from the start.

Beginning from the sixth hour, the warm, comfortable sensation inside Lin Heng's body had gradually faded, replaced by icy coldness. He could clearly feel the terror of death drawing ever closer.

Yet there was nothing he could do. He could not even struggle to save himself.

By the time Lin Heng was discovered, his breath was already as faint as a thread.

Zhang Yuan, the Cloud Sword Palace disciple who found and rescued Lin Heng, initially used his own inner force to keep him alive, but the results were minimal.

After interrogating the captives and investigating Lin Heng's identity and origins, Zhang Yuan pitied his plight.

He found Cloud Sword Palace's master, Xiao Rang, and reported, "Martial Uncle Sect Master, this disciple found a child beneath the manor. He was abducted by a Li Hen Pavilion Registered Disciple from a Desolate Village outside Anning County City. He is now in critical condition. I ask that Sect Master lend him aid."

The atmosphere of a sect depended greatly on its leader.

Since he could raise disciples of such upright character, one could naturally glimpse something of Xiao Rang's own character as well.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Rang replied without hesitation, "Take me to see the child's condition."

He followed his disciple to a room behind the manor, where he saw Lin Heng, who had been brought up from underground.

At that moment, Lin Heng no longer looked like the malnourished, gaunt child he had been before. His body had grown under the stimulation and replenishment of the Blood Pool's immense Medicinal Power.

The flesh on his cheeks and limbs had become full. His skin was warm, smooth, and fair as jade, and paired with his excellent bone structure and features, he had become a handsome Youth with red lips and white teeth, as though carved from pink jade and piled snow.

His threadlike breath gave his entire person an air that stirred pity in all who saw him.

"He has absorbed too much Tiger Wolf Medicine. At present, the only course is to draw out the poison, nourish his body, strengthen his foundation, and replenish his vitality. Whether he can pull through will depend on this child's fate."

With a single glance, Xiao Rang could roughly guess what Lin Heng had experienced.

He had rescued many children like this before, but most had failed to endure.

Without wasting time, Xiao Rang pricked Lin Heng's fingertip with a silver needle.

Then, he placed one hand atop Lin Heng's head as he lay on the bed, and the other over his heart. With his own vast inner force, he guided qi through the meridians, helping Lin Heng's qi and blood circulate, dissolving the Tiger Wolf Medicine within his body and expelling the toxins.

Drops of black blood fell from Lin Heng's fingertip. These were the toxins in his body, along with the excess Blood Pool Medicinal Power, being expelled.

As time passed, Lin Heng's breathing gradually stabilized. His life had clearly been saved.

At the sight, Zhang Yuan, who had first discovered Lin Heng, revealed a joyous expression.

Saving a life was, of course, something worth celebrating.

"Although this child has been saved, his lifespan has been cut by more than half. His body's Essence has drained away severely, and he bears the Sign of Early Death. Fortunately, while treating him, I discovered that this child possesses Innate All Meridians Open and excellent natural endowments. He is a fine seedling for cultivation."

"When he awakens, this old man shall accept him as my disciple."

"With Diligent Cultivation, he can slowly accumulate vitality. His body's foundation can naturally be restored, granting him Longevity."

Xiao Rang looked at Lin Heng and spoke with a smile.

Looking at the child who had survived through his own hands, he was delighted that he had saved a Cultivation Prodigy.

At the same time, he sighed inwardly.

What a pity they had not found Lin Heng sooner, allowing the people of Li Hen Pavilion to ruin such a Cultivation Prodigy. Otherwise, his future should have been far broader.

Though his life had now been preserved, his vitality had suffered immense damage. Even with Xiao Rang's help, it would take several years of nourishment to make up for it. All that precious cultivation time had been delayed just like that.

The Evil Sects were truly hateful!

"Martial Uncle Sect Master, you have worked hard. Let this disciple look after the child from here on."

Hearing Xiao Rang say this, Zhang Yuan also breathed a sigh of relief, filled with a sense of comfort.

This child had suffered hardships since infancy. Now that the Sect Master would take him as a Direct Disciple, he would no longer have to drift from place to place. Moreover, for such a Cultivation Prodigy to join Cloud Sword Palace would be an enormous aid to their future cause of vanquishing demons and defending the righteous path.

A Cultivation Prodigy joining the sect was undoubtedly a momentous joy.

After gathering the Spoils of War, the Cloud Sword Palace group did not remain long in the manor affiliated with Li Hen Pavilion. They set it ablaze, reducing it to ashes, then began their journey back to the mountain gate, bringing the gravely injured and unconscious Lin Heng with them.

In order to care for the seriously ill Lin Heng, they slowly drove their carriage across provinces and prefectures. After a full seven days, they finally returned to the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate.

It was then that Lin Heng finally passed through the danger completely and awoke from his long slumber.