Seeing Chen Lin scatter the soul of the Long Family's Void Refinement expert without so much as moving, Shang Xuelian was both shocked and delighted.
"Senior, you've ascended to the Dao Monarch realm!"
She stepped forward excitedly and asked, scarcely able to believe it.
"Heh, merely a stroke of luck."
With his confirmation, Shang Xuelian's emotions grew impossibly tangled.
Back when they were in the Lower Realm, his cultivation had been lower than hers. She had never imagined that he would not only become someone she could only look up to, but leave even her master far behind.
But she quickly composed herself and offered a deep, formal bow. "Congratulations on attaining the Dao Monarch realm, Senior. May your path be smooth from here onward."
Chen Lin silently shook his head.
It was far too early to call his path smooth. A road strewn with thorns would be more accurate.
There was no need to reveal any of that to her, however. He said calmly, "Have you packed everything? Then let's go!"
Seeing them nod, he swept his sleeve and vanished with them.
"Senior, this is...?"
Their surroundings flashed, and they appeared before a mountain gate. Shang Xuelian immediately cried out in surprise and uncertainty.
They were not outside the city, but at the Long Family's headquarters.
"No rush. I have a few things to deal with first."
Chen Lin looked at the majestic mountain before him and replied offhandedly.
Then, with a flick of his hand, he released Scholar and instructed him, "Stay here and protect them until I return."
Without further explanation, he soared into the air like a goshawk and shot toward the Long Family's headquarters.
Shang Xuelian and the others looked at Scholar, then at Chen Lin's departing figure. Anticipation filled their faces, along with gratitude