"According to what you said before, One Sword should count as a powerful sect among the Four Seas and Eight Wastes, right?" Lin Yu did not understand much about the affairs between sects, so it was only natural for him to ask now.
Nu Sheng quickly nodded and said somewhat nervously, "Young Master, One Sword is indeed a major sect. The ones equally famous as it are Beyond Heaven and Immortal Ascension."
"Oh? There are sects like that too? Tell me about them." Lin Yu suddenly became interested in sects and wanted to hear Nu Sheng explain properly.
"Mm, it is said that hundreds and thousands of years ago, many powerful cultivators in our Four Seas and Eight Wastes could ascend to the Heavenly Realm. Yet in the past thousand years, not a single person has managed to break through successfully. There are three reasons for this. First, the spiritual energy in this world has become far too thin. Second, too many cultivators have been buried in obscurity. Last, the struggles between sects have destroyed far too many geniuses."
As Nu Sheng spoke, his expression did not change in the slightest. Lin Yu was the same. He continued, "The battle from a thousand years ago is known in history as the World-Shaking War. Many people know of it. That battle not only involved the three great sects, but also hundreds of smaller ones. During that battle, many sects turned to ruins overnight."
"According to rumors outside, they said that they fought fiercely in order to enter a secret realm hidden within the Ten Thousand Mountains. That battle was too tragic. The people in the heavens could not bear to see such a scene happen again, so they acted and erased all those powerful cultivators. Some sects managed to survive on their last breath, but those experts were all buried in the Ten Thousand Mountains."
"After that battle, the three great sects vanished without a trace, and there has been no news of them ever since. Now, One Sword Sect seems to have thrown in its lot with Ancient Imperial City. The other two great sects will likely make their moves one after another as well."
Even Lin Yu himself had to mull over those words. Perhaps he truly believed this legend. Yet he really did not believe that Nu Sheng would know so much. His heart was beating like a drum as he wondered whether bringing Nu Sheng out had been right or wrong.
"Forget it. When soldiers come, generals block them; when water comes, earth dams it. We're almost there. Pick up the pace." Lin Yu did not take those matters to heart at all and merely said this calmly.
"Hmm?" Lin Yu narrowed his eyes at the flying arrow. The force behind it was truly too great. This force made it hard for him to imagine who could have fired it.
"Boy, you're not bad. But unfortunately, someone wants your life. I am merely carrying out orders." Seeing that Lin Yu had dodged the arrow, Yan Baiping no longer had any intention of assassinating him. Since he had already been discovered, there was no harm in having an open and honest fight. Lin Yu laughed when he saw him.
"The Ancient Emperor truly intends to tear all pretense apart. But that's fine. You won't live either." Lin Yu had not truly intended to take the Ancient Emperor's head, but since he had sent someone here, taking it was still possible.
The struggle between the Ancient Emperor and the Flame Emperor had not ended. In that battle, the Flame Emperor's three armies had not suffered many losses. Now that the great general had been slain and Lin Yu was returning home, the final battle was bound to begin sooner or later. The Ancient Emperor could not possibly fail to understand that.
Lin Yu did not even believe that the Ancient Emperor had failed to consider this. Since he still sent people time and again to kill him, then Ancient Imperial City was not worth keeping anyway.
"I have already made things very clear to the Ancient Emperor. Nu Sheng, go on ahead. I'll follow shortly. Keep going forward. There is a Lin Residence ahead, and you'll see it soon enough." After saying that, he dismounted.
Lin Residence? Nu Sheng was startled upon hearing it. Who in the Eight Desolations did not know of the hidden lineages of the Eight Desolations? The Lin Family ranked among them. He had never imagined that Lin Yu was actually connected to the Lin Residence.
"Boy, are you sure? That was your only helper." Yan Baiping watched Nu Sheng leave but did not stop him. At the same time, a sword appeared in Lin Yu's hand. It was precisely an earth-grade Spirit Artifact.
Yan Baiping narrowed his eyes at the storage ring on Lin Yu's hand. He had lived for many years and was familiar with storage artifacts, but the storage artifact in Lin Yu's hand was not as simple as it appeared.
"Heh heh, boy, hand over the storage ring on your hand, and I'll spare your life." Lin Yu laughed upon hearing that, without the slightest anger. Only then did he say, "Give it to you? I'm afraid you can't swallow it. My master will come out of seclusion and take it back." Lin Yu's words truly stunned Yan Baiping.
Yan Baiping knew that there were far too many cultivators in the Eight Desolations. Lin Yu continued, "If you want it, then let's see whether you have the ability." As he spoke, he launched a sword strike.
Seeing the sudden sword about to wound him, Yan Baiping roared, "Boy, do you know that treating an elder like this is not a good thing? If you do not know how to respect others, I can teach you." Then Lin Yu was sent flying. At that moment, he understood completely.
Yan Baiping's strength was at Half-Step Netherpassage. He could deal with such strength, but he would still have to use poison. Without that thing, he would die here sooner or later.
Since Yan Baiping had already set his sights on the storage ring in his hand, there was no reason for him to let go. Lin Yu turned his head and said calmly, "Do you really think I can't deal with you?" Lin Yu smiled. The longsword in his hand danced once more. The Body-Slaying Sword emerged, and blood flowed from the corner of Lin Yu's mouth at the same time.
He forced a portion of his blood essence onto the sword, then sent it into Yan Baiping's nostrils along with the airflow. This way, even a living man would be tortured to death alive.
"Tch, I told you already, you can't do it. Go die!" With that furious roar, Lin Yu was blasted back to where he had been. At that moment, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Lin Yu panted heavily as two Spirit Stones appeared in his hand. He looked ahead and said flatly, "Tch, I really did underestimate you, you old bastard."
As Lin Yu spoke, he crazily absorbed the spiritual energy within the Spirit Stones. In an instant, the Spirit Stones turned into drifting sand, while the spiritual energy that had dissipated from Lin Yu's body was replenished directly.
"This is the confidence you have in defeating me? I'd like to see just how many Spirit Stones you have in your hand." This time, Yan Baiping gave Lin Yu no chance at all and pounced straight at him. Lin Yu raised his sword before him to block, thinking secretly, Is this the strength of Half-Step Netherpassage?
(To be continued...)
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