Peerless IX

Pushing the door open, Lin Xin took a long breath, then slowly exhaled.

He glanced over his attributes.

'Lin Sheri—Damage 80, Defense 80, Evasion 80, Constitution 80, Free Attributes 32807.'

These past years of cultivating the Righteous Sun Art had finally brought all his attributes to their limits. If these attributes were placed in the Netherworld, they would make him equivalent to a mid-stage Golden Core expert.

If word got out, it would likely stir up a towering wave in an instant.

A young swordsman who had cultivated for barely over a decade had actually crossed the four realms of mortal, Innate Realm, Qi Refinement, and Foundation Establishment in one leap, arriving directly at Golden Core.

This was no longer something ordinary aptitude could explain.

If his body had not seemingly reached the limit of its development, the tens of thousands of attribute points he had accumulated could have instantly propelled him into the True Lord level, reaching roughly the Apex Realm he had possessed in the Netherworld.

"Unfortunately... it is still far from what I expect." What Lin Xin wanted was to use the complete laws of the Human Realm to break through the level of an Apex Realm demon god. From Ghost Immortal and Human Immortal, he wanted to step into the higher realm of Earth Immortal, and even advance toward greater realms beyond.

He let out a breath, left the small courtyard, and entered the main family's little garden through a side gate, wandering about to clear his mind.

When he reached a pavilion in the middle of the Little Garden, a burst of foolish laughter drifted out from within. It sounded like a man's voice.

Lin Xin's expression shifted, and he headed over.

Several main family maids stood guard around the pavilion. Lin Xin casually stopped one and asked,

"Who is inside?"

"Reporting to Young Master, several of the family head's friends have come as guests. The clan head is entertaining them," the maid answered cautiously.

"Friends?"

Lin Xin's expression flickered as he walked toward the pavilion.

As he drew near, he could clearly see several unfamiliar figures sitting with Lin Yaoyang, chatting and laughing together. The atmosphere seemed quite pleasant.

Lin Xin saw a brilliant smile on Lin Yaoyang's face. It had been a long time since she had smiled so peacefully.

Sitting opposite Lin Yaoyang was an exceptionally wretched-looking old Daoist. At his side sat a simple, honest-looking teenage boy, as well as a delicate young girl with twin horn buns.

The three seemed to be master and disciples. All wore Daoist robes of somewhat similar styles.

The table was piled high with fish and meat. As they listened to Lin Yaoyang speak, the master and disciples stuffed themselves without the slightest restraint.

When she saw Lin Xin approaching, Lin Yaoyang waved to him from afar.

"Little brother, perfect timing. I was just about to send someone to fetch you. Come over and greet Senior."

Lin Xin remained calm and quickly walked over. A maid hurriedly pulled out a seat for him.

The moment he appeared, the delicate young girl among the three nearly dropped the chicken leg in her hand. Her eyes darted toward him, then she could not help sneaking a second look before hastily lowering her head, her face flushed red as she put on an air of concentrating entirely on the chicken leg.

The honest-looking youth showed no particular reaction. His master pulled him to his feet, and he gave Lin Xin a foolish grin, scratching his head without knowing what to say.

"This is my younger brother, Lin Sheri. He has been cultivating bitterly at home all this time and has not shown himself, so he failed to come out and pay his respects to Senior Qu Shen in time. Please forgive us," Lin Yaoyang explained with a hint of respect and politeness.

"This is Senior Qu Shen of Divine Luo Manor, along with his two outstanding disciples. Senior is one of Divine Luo Manor's famed immortal figures."

Lin Yaoyang then introduced them to Lin Xin.

"Greetings, Senior Qu Shen. Greetings, junior brother and junior sister." Lin Xin returned the courtesy calmly, then sat down.

"No matter, no matter!"

The instant the old Daoist saw Lin Xin, his beard trembled. His eyes narrowed, and sharp light flashed from his tiny eyes as he repeatedly swept Lin Xin from head to toe.

Only after a long while did he frown and swallow the fish in his mouth in one gulp.

"Girl Yang..." He appeared somewhat troubled. "His aptitude is beyond question, but his bones have set a little too early, and he is already too old..."

"Age is not a problem." Lin Yaoyang smiled. "With my brother's foundation, wouldn't cultivating the Thunderclap Sword Art be just right for laying the Foundation Establishment of your sect?"

The old Daoist curled his lips.

"That is true, but that is not the main issue... You know Autumn Stone's situation as well. Its rejection of outsiders is far too strong. It has its own inheritance. If he were taken away, I fear..."

"If you have something to say, then say it directly. Why beat around the bush?" Lin Yaoyang's smile immediately faded, and she looked faintly displeased.

The old Daoist sighed miserably and glanced at Lin Xin, his eyes full of regret.

"It is not that this old Daoist wishes to embarrass you, Girl Yang. It is that... your younger brother has already been tainted by some Evil Qi from an evil god. Even if he is not a Secret Blood Warrior, he still..."

"How could that be?!" Lin Yaoyang froze at once.

Lin Xin also roughly understood what was happening.

Lin Yaoyang must have been looking for a suitable sect for him. Given his astonishing aptitude, the special nature of this Lineage, and the relationship between him and Lin Yaoyang, such an arrangement was only natural.

From the moment the seal was inherited, it had gradually been trading life for power, consuming one's lifespan to secure the prosperity of the Lineage.

Lin Yaoyang appeared strong, but a trace of deathly aura had already shrouded her. Her younger brother Lin Xin possessed extraordinary aptitude and unmatched talent. If he were not sent out of Autumn Stone to enter another sect, it would truly be a terrible waste.

"Master, what is Evil Qi?" the delicate young girl suddenly interjected.

Qu Shen shook his beard.

"Evil Qi is a trace of special aura unintentionally leaked by evil gods. In the ancient era, this Evil Qi was called evil power. It is neither spiritual qi, demonic qi, Demon Qi, nor immortal qi.

It is a special thing independent of every power element. It is not among metal, wood, water, fire, and earth; it is not even within the yin and yang of the Three Realms."

"Then what does it do? Why can this little brother not enter the sect just because he has been tainted by it?" the young girl asked curiously. "Master, you must have a way to help him remove it, right? Right?"

The girl spoke with a touch of coquettish pleading.

Lin Yaoyang glanced at Lin Xin with an amused half-smile. Being handsome certainly had its advantages—he had only just met her, yet this young girl was already pleading on his behalf.

But Lin Xin's thoughts were elsewhere.

Divine Luo Manor. This familiar name immediately made him think of the Divine Luo Manor in the Netherworld.

The Netherworld and the Human Realm might appear to be separated by an immense distance, but there must be countless threads binding them together.

Then what connection or difference was there between the Divine Luo Manor here and the Divine Luo Manor in the Netherworld?

As for entering the sect and becoming a disciple of Divine Luo Manor, he was indifferent. At his current cultivation, he had yet to reach the absolute limit of his cultivation art, and there was still room to rise.

If it worked, then fine. If not, there was nothing to regret.

After being pestered by the young girl a few times, the old Daoist stroked his beard and pondered.

"Very well. I do have a method here that can remove the Evil Qi from your brother's body, but the cost will be enormous."

"As long as I can produce it, no price is too great!"

Lin Yaoyang replied calmly and without the slightest hesitation.

She had changed back into her earlier attire: a short black-and-red skirt, long legs clad in black silk stockings pressed together and angled to one side, her long hair drifting gently in the wind and faintly revealing the purple jade pendant by her ear.

"No wonder that brat only knows how to grin foolishly." Lin Xin glanced at the honest-looking youth. Sure enough, he looked simple and honest, but his eyes were strangely focused on the sensitive area of his elder sister's chest.

The brat was clever. He knew that lingering too long would be noticed, so his gaze kept wandering, constantly stealing peeks from the corners of his eyes.

For some reason, Lin Xin felt a faint stir of displeasure.

At this moment, the old Daoist began listing the treasures required.

After naming only two items, Lin Yaoyang's expression changed slightly.

Seeing this, Lin Xin simply stood up.

"Elder sister, there is no need to remove the Evil Qi. I am not going anywhere. I will cultivate at home, and that settles it."

He bowed slightly to the old Daoist, then turned and left.

Once one inherited the seal, one would have at most thirty-odd years left to live. Lin Yaoyang was paving the way for him in advance—how could he not understand?

But others did not know what he knew. Even if he did not enter any sect or learn the highest-grade cultivation arts, he would never live a mediocre, unremarkable life.

"Ah..."

The old Daoist's regretful sigh came from behind him.

Lin Yaoyang fell silent. She knew her younger brother's temperament was resolute; he had always meant what he said. Since he had made this decision, there would certainly be no changing it.

Thus, she could only apologize to the old Daoist and instruct the servants to present generous gifts as compensation.

The old Daoist rose with his two disciples to take their leave. A sweep of white clouds rolled through, and they vanished from the pavilion at once.

Lin Yaoyang stood alone, looking somewhat dazed and weary.

"Not even Divine Luo Manor?"

This was already the strongest friendly sect she could find. She had relied on favors owed from her grandfather's generation to invite them to take a look, yet even Immortal Qu Shen had no solution...

In the end, she remained unwilling to accept it.

Her younger brother possessed such immense talent. If he lost his path forward simply because of the Evil Qi leaked by the Lineage seal, then perhaps she would carry that regret until her death.

"If even Divine Luo Manor cannot do it, then I can only try the evil path..." A trace of determination flashed through her eyes.

Evil Qi was indeed troublesome for the righteous path, but to evil fiends, it might instead have a strengthening effect.

If Lin Xin remained at home, there was not even anyone capable of guiding him.

She might achieve Human Immortal in the future, but that would not be her own power. It would be the power of the evil god sealed within her body.

It could not be learned or passed on.

Therefore, even if others accused her of falling into the evil path, for her younger brother and for the Lineage's inheritance, this small sacrifice would be worth it.

******************

"Master, why couldn't you help that little brother? Aren't you a dignified immortal of Divine Luo Manor?"

The young girl asked in confusion amid the clouds.

The old Daoist held a duck wing in one hand, nibbling at it in small bites as he answered casually.

"It is already too late. Once Evil Qi enters the body, no method will work. Unless his flesh is remolded and his meridians replaced, cultivating Divine Luo Manor's arts would only leave his achievements limited for life, making him unfit for great use."

"Is Evil Qi really that powerful?" the youth also asked.

"It is very powerful." The old Daoist nodded. "In the ancient era, evil gods were the main targets suppressed by demon gods, demon deities, heavenly venerates, and the like. Their abilities were bizarre and varied, and they were exceedingly difficult to deal with. Not one was easy to kill. Moreover, evil power was highly contaminating. One careless mistake could infect a vast region, throwing heaven, earth, and nature out of balance."

"So that was why the gods joined forces in the ancient era to suppress and exterminate the evil gods?" The young girl clicked her tongue in amazement.