Repaying a Debt

Every streak of flowing light was a Saint Domain expert, bringing death to every traitor without discrimination.

Whoosh!

The sound of cutting wind rang out as two red streaks of light raced through the sky at tremendous speed, arriving in the plaza in an instant.

"Baige, long time no see."

An aged voice rang out. The red light faded, revealing Albert.

"Albert, so it was you. Congratulations on breaking through to the Saint Domain." Baige smiled faintly. "Once I break through in a while, we'll have another proper battle!"

Albert noticed the tremendous Dou Qi within Baige and looked stunned.

"Peak ninth rank?"

"You really are a battle maniac. These old bones of mine can't take the strain. If you want to fight, go find my disciple. He's a newly advanced Saint Domain expert too." Albert refused without hesitation, using Xiao Yan as a shield.

"Huh?" Xiao Yan looked bewildered.

You want me, a Saint Domain expert at the limit, to fight a ninth-rank warrior?

Baige: I'm fighting a Saint Domain expert at the limit?

Albert sent Xiao Yan a telepathic message. "Baige has decent talent. More than a decade has passed, so his strength has probably improved considerably. I might not be able to beat him. Are you confident? Can you win?"

Xiao Yan sent back, "I guarantee he'll die!"

"Huh?"

Xiao Yan glanced at Baige. His glabella was dark—a sure sign that disaster was coming.

"Come up and see me."

Suddenly, a deep voice rang in Albert and Xiao Yan's ears.

"Once we're up there, try not to say anything. Let your master handle things." Albert's expression turned serious.

Xiao Yan nodded silently. He sent his divine sense into the Spatial Ring in his hand and wrapped it around the Heavy Ruler, ready to take it out and fight at any moment.

Whoosh!!

"I'll go on ahead." Albert nodded to Baige, then shot into the sky with Xiao Yan.

Baige watched them from the ground, a gleam of fervor in his eyes.

"The Saint Domain? I'm almost there too!"

"Soon, I'll be able to have another satisfying battle!"

"Xiao Yan, I hope you don't disappoint me."

Baige wasn't an Ascetic. On the contrary, he was passionate about fighting.

It was only after he had comprehended the way to break through to the Saint Domain that he was forced to choose a life of secluded cultivation, because he couldn't find anyone to challenge.

"Xiao Yan has arrived. I should get moving too." Within the Roland Empire, Lynn flew toward the imperial capital of the Zhongyuan Empire.

"Once I get the Pseudo Soul Gold Bead this time, I can start making a new clone."

Lynn pondered as he flew.

His Fate Law had now reached its limit. He was only one step away from becoming a god, but no amount of secluded cultivation could help him take that final step.

He needed talent—and, more importantly, the right opportunity.

"Fate Law... Fate Law... How can I take this final step?"

Even as a transmigrator, Lynn had no idea how to make that final breakthrough.

Laws and rules were entirely different. In the original work, Linley cultivated four laws, but only Wind Element and Earth Element were described in detail. The rules were mentioned only briefly.

Lynn had nothing to learn from.

"Forget it. I'll take things as they come."

"Maybe I'll break through one day when I least expect it!"

"So you're Xiao Yan?"

Wilbur had met Albert before. As the two approached, he turned his gaze to Xiao Yan.

The young man had a handsome, refined face, still carrying a trace of boyish innocence.

Wilbur's expression grew distant as he recalled the reports from the Starfire Kingdom.

A Saint Domain expert at seventeen, the greatest genius on the Azeron Continent...

Over the past year, all kinds of accolades had been heaped upon the young man before him. Even veteran Saint Domain experts like Wilbur and the others had been forced to take notice.

"You're quite impressive."

"Would you be willing to join the Zhongyuan Empire?" Wilbur invited Xiao Yan.

"I..." Xiao Yan was just about to refuse.

Wilbur seemed to see what he was planning and spoke before he could.

"Don't rush to refuse. You've only just become a Saint Domain expert and don't yet understand how to cultivate at this level. Joining a major power will help you make better use of your talent."

"You managed to kill Theodore as soon as you broke through. You must have comprehended the Fire Laws."

"If you choose to join the empire, I can guide you in cultivating the Fire Laws. Among all the Saint Domain experts on the Azeron Continent, I rank in the top three in my understanding of them. Think it over carefully."

At his words, quite a few Saint Domain experts nearby looked tempted. They had yet to comprehend any laws.

Wilbur had taken a liking to Xiao Yan's talent. Normally, whenever a new Saint Domain expert appeared within the Zhongyuan Empire, the Imperial Family would try to recruit them and offer certain benefits. But those benefits never included guidance in the laws.

Take the Qingli Sword Saint of the Rivas Family, for example...

When the empire recruited him, all it gave him was Rivas Province and the title of honorary duke. Nothing else was even mentioned.

Hearing Wilbur's offer, Albert hurriedly sent Xiao Yan a telepathic message.

"Accept immediately."

Xiao Yan received Albert's message. Feeling Lynn drawing closer at high speed, he thought it over, then shook his head.

"Sorry, I refuse!"

"What?" Wilbur frowned. His once-gentle expression vanished, and his eyes gradually turned cold.

"Are you sure?"

Seeing Wilbur's face darken, Albert wanted to say something on Xiao Yan's behalf. But when he saw the firm look in Xiao Yan's eyes, he could only sigh and silently stand behind him.

"Fine... The greatest genius on the Azeron Continent, indeed!"

Wilbur let out an angry laugh, and the atmosphere immediately grew tense.

"If you think you're too good for the empire, then don't stay within its borders!"

After speaking, Wilbur turned his gaze to Albert, his expression full of scorn.

"Look at the fine disciple you've raised."

"Albert, if the empire hadn't protected you, the Church of Light would have killed you long ago!"

At Wilbur's taunt, Albert's expression turned cold. He had been hoping to avoid trouble.

"I've always been grateful for the empire's protection. All these years, whenever any of the empire's warriors of seventh rank or above came to me for guidance on the forces of heaven and earth, I taught them to the best of my ability, even sparring with them. I repaid the empire's kindness long ago."

"You say you've repaid it, and that's that? Who the hell do you think—"

Xiao Yan suddenly cut off Wilbur, his eyes glinting coldly.

"Wilbur, my master told me to show you respect. That's why I called you 'sir' and gave you some face."

"But if you don't want it, I can put you in the ground whenever I please!"

As he spoke, Xiao Yan flipped his hand, and a Heavy Ruler appeared in his grasp.

Flames coiled around the Heavy Ruler. A wave of heat surged outward from Xiao Yan, reddening the clouds, and terrifying waves of heat blazed down from ten thousand meters above the ground.

"Flame Splitting Wave Ruler!"

"Die!"

Xiao Yan's expression was cold as he appeared before Wilbur in an instant.

"No!!"

Wilbur's expression changed dramatically as he sensed death closing in.

Just then, a familiar aura suddenly entered Wilbur's awareness.

Recognizing who it was, Wilbur's face lit up, and he shouted, "My lord, save me!"

"Great Desolation Heaven-Imprisoning Palm!"

A hand, white as jade, blocked Xiao Yan's attack.

Lynn, dressed in a black robe, appeared beside Wilbur and looked at Xiao Yan impassively.

"I owe him a favor. You can't kill him!"