Outer Sect Upheaval

Chen Dazheng was puzzled, unable to understand why Elder Fang had come in person.

Could something be wrong with the treasured weapon? Chen Dazheng thought. That shouldn't be it. If there really were a problem, he wouldn't have used that tone.

He hurried toward the outer sect disciples' residence. It seemed that only by finding Lin Xuan could he learn what had happened.

However, what gave him an even bigger headache was that Lin Xuan was not in his room at all. Chen Dazheng asked the disciples nearby, but no one knew where Lin Xuan had gone.

Left with no choice, he could only steel himself and return to report to Elder Fang.

After hearing this, Elder Fang stroked his beard. "When he returns, have him come see me immediately."

"Yes," Chen Dazheng replied respectfully.

After Elder Fang left, Chen Dazheng suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh no, I forgot I'm still holding a treasured saber Lin Xuan just repaired!"

"Forget it, I'll deliver it after Lin Xuan comes back." He did not dare go looking for Elder Fang now, and could only hope that Lin Xuan would return soon.

Meanwhile, a storm was about to descend upon the outer sect of the Profound Heaven Sect.

The Divine Might Corps disciples mobilized all their strength to search for everyone Zhang Bin had contacted before his death. In the end, a square-faced disciple revealed shocking news.

He had been injured while fighting someone, and Zhang Bin had seen the signal he sent and gone to rescue him. Later, Zhang Bin and the others tracked that person deep into the mountains, where they ultimately died in the forest.

In the end, the Divine Might Corps disciples drew a likeness of Lin Xuan, and an operation to hunt him down unfolded throughout the outer sect. After probing from many sides, they finally uncovered Lin Xuan's background.

"A sword slave who just joined the outer sect?" Upon hearing this, a scar-faced youth flew into a rage. "You think he could kill a fourth-stage Spirit Warrior and two third-stage Spirit Warriors?"

This youth was one of the outer sect leaders of the Divine Might Corps, Yan Kong. His cultivation had reached the sixth stage of the Meridian Condensation Realm. Hearing the news about Lin Xuan now, he could not help but rage.

"Brother Kong," the square-faced disciple said tremulously, "when I fought that Lin Xuan, I found that although he is only a third-stage Spirit Warrior, his strength far surpasses that level."

"Brother Kong, this is our only lead right now. Whether it's him or not, let's capture him first. Otherwise, when Zhang Rui returns, we won't be able to account for it," said the disciple beside Yan Kong.

"Come, let's go take a look first!" Yan Kong waved a hand and led a group toward Lin Xuan's residence.

In the outer sect disciples' residential area, a group of Divine Might Corps disciples suddenly appeared. They swiftly surrounded a small house, and one of them kicked the door to pieces.

The disciples living nearby all came out. Seeing the fierce-looking Divine Might Corps disciples, they wore blank expressions.

"Brother Kong, that kid isn't here!" Someone went inside to investigate, then came out and reported.

"Not here? Did he run away?" Yan Kong frowned deeply. "Quickly send people to search around the sect. Leave some people here to wait. I refuse to believe he can fly into the sky!"

At the command, the outer sect disciples of the Divine Might Corps began moving at once. The nearby disciples gradually understood what was going on, and the name Lin Xuan became known to everyone for the first time.

When they learned that Lin Xuan was merely a minor disciple who had just joined the outer sect, with no background or support whatsoever, they were nearly dizzy with disbelief. The ignorant truly knew no fear—a minor disciple actually dared provoke a colossal force like the Divine Might Corps.

After Tang Yu heard the news, she hurried to find Lin Xuan. She had not expected him to cause such enormous trouble—not only had he provoked the Divine Might Corps, he had even killed people!

She rushed anxiously toward Lin Xuan's residence, terrified that he had already been taken away by the Divine Might Corps. Fortunately, aside from a house full of Divine Might Corps disciples, she saw no trace of Lin Xuan.

Little bastard, at least you knew enough to run. Hmph! Tang Yu cursed Lin Xuan over and over in her heart.

After circling around without finding Lin Xuan, she stomped her foot resentfully and stormed off in a huff.

A group of onlooking disciples discussed among themselves. "I heard Lin Xuan used to be Tang Yu's sword slave?"

"Yeah, didn't Tang Yu just leave?"

"Oh no, could this have been arranged in secret by the Battle Group?"

In just half a day, this murder case had turned into rumors that the two colossal forces, the Divine Might Corps and the Battle Group, were about to go to war. News spread everywhere throughout the outer sect.

Soon, the same rumors appeared in the inner sect as well. However, the Battle Group's higher-ups personally stepped forward to clarify that the matter had nothing to do with the Battle Group, finally suppressing the rumors.

The Divine Might Corps waited for an entire day without seeing any sign of Lin Xuan. As a result, they became even more convinced that Lin Xuan was the murderer and had fled.

As for Lin Xuan, the person at the heart of it all, he was currently standing before a huge boulder, carving words into it.

After several days of training, he had gained an initial grasp over the spiritual energy within his body. His ten fingers danced, and rows of evenly deep characters appeared on the stone.

"Very good, even faster than I expected!" Wine Lord snorted softly.

"Then I can practice swordsmanship now, right?" Lin Xuan asked excitedly.

"You're young, and you still won't admit it. This is only the first step," Wine Lord reprimanded. "The second step is to carve words onto leaves, but you must not pierce the leaves."

Lin Xuan knew that this demanded even stricter control over his strength, but he was not afraid.

Picking up a leaf from the ground, Lin Xuan circulated his spiritual energy and was about to begin.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Wine Lord suddenly roared.

Lin Xuan looked utterly bewildered. "You said to carve words!"

Wine Lord looked helpless. "Kick that big tree behind you."

"Oh." Lin Xuan turned around and kicked the trunk.

Although he had not used much force, the great tree still swayed three times. Leaves throughout the tree danced in the wind and scattered through the air.

"Now you can begin," Wine Lord said.

"Ah!" Lin Xuan stared at the leaves filling the sky, and his little face instantly fell.

In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.

In the forest, a figure leaped and danced. The black iron longsword in his hand flashed out like lightning, each strike carving the character for martial onto a drifting leaf.

The sword touched the leaves without piercing them. Its force was precise enough to make one's heart tremble.

That figure was Lin Xuan. After half a month of cultivation, he could now accurately carve words onto leaves without puncturing them.

"Drunkard Uncle, I've completed this training. What comes next?" Lin Xuan asked with a grin.

Wine Lord nodded in satisfaction. "You can begin practicing swordsmanship. Start with the first level."

The first level of Thunder Movement Swordsmanship contained thirteen sword strikes. Every strike carried the force of rushing thunder, sharp and unstoppable. Moreover, the way Thunder Movement Swordsmanship exerted force was extremely peculiar: use only seventy percent of one's strength, holding back thirty percent to combine with the next attack. It was like lightning within storm clouds, constantly gathering power.

"Practice in the water. Make good use of the resistance in the water—it will greatly help your swordsmanship," Wine Lord advised.

Water resistance was immense and tested one's control over strength even more. Lin Xuan did not hesitate. He remembered there was a waterfall not far ahead.

After arranging his belongings, Lin Xuan headed to the waterfall to cultivate his swordsmanship.