The Prodigies War

Unexpectedly, Zhao Jingxuan shook her head. “No. Killing this Flame Vine King won’t change the situation the empire is facing, and it may even alert the enemies instead.”

She then took a deep breath, her eyes radiating resolution as she said, “After we return to the Forbidden City, I will quickly gather all information on the demonic plague in the empire so that once I strike, I can sweep them out in one fell swoop and destroy their hideouts!”

Lin Xun’s eyes flashed with praise and approval. “I support you.”

At a time like this, it was indeed hard and therefore laudable of Zhao Jingxuan to be able to keep calm and consider the big picture.

“Let’s go.” Zhao Jingxuan urgently wanted to return to the Forbidden City.

“Alright.”

The two instantly hit the road.

On the way, they kept encountering more areas infested with monsters. Some of the cities had been destroyed completely, leaving nothing but fields of ruins.

Abject misery was nothing more than this.

However, the closer they got to the central area of the empire, the fewer traces of monsters they saw along the way.

This was because there was an elite army of imperial cultivators stationed in every city. On top of that, major clans and organizations had also joined hands to resist and counterattack.

Seeing that the situation was not entirely bad for the empire, Lin Xun and Zhao Jingxuan heaved a sigh of relief.

However, what they had seen still let them feel the surging tensions and murderous currents under the prosperous and bustling appearance of the safe areas.

So long as the demonic beasts remained roaming about, the empire would not be able to rest in peace!

……

A day later.

In the distance was a lofty and ancient city with layers upon layers of violet clouds floating above it. In the sunlight, it was dyed with a magnificent and sacred violet-gold glow, making the vast city look like something that had existed since the beginning of time.

It was the Forbidden City!

Having finally returned and seeing this majestic city again after more than ten years, Lin Xun and Zhao Jingxuan were in a trance.

“I only realized now that this city is open to the heavenly auspicious aura above and guarded by the fortune of the fengshui at its four corners from below. It encompasses a vast land and overlooks all directions, which can be said to capture the luck of heaven and earth. What a work of art,” commented Lin Xun.

He stood with his hands crossed behind his back, his eyes shining. Now that his cultivation was vastly different from what it was in the past, he could tell at a glance that the Forbidden City was a huge blessed land with many mysteries under its orderly layout that gave it the extraordinary power to gather the luck of heaven and earth.

“That is natural. It’s the imperial capital, the heart of a country, of course it’s not simple.” Zhao Jingxuan smiled.

“Let’s go.” Lin Xun took a deep breath, feeling a sense of relief and joy like that of a tired bird returning to its nest.

Zhao Jingxuan flew with him toward the distance.

Along the way, Lin Xun’s thoughts wandered to his old friends Lin Zhong, Xiaoke, Spirit Vulture, Third Old Zhu…

He also thought of Ning Meng, Shi Yu, Ye Xiaoqi and many other close friends from his youth.

Are they well?

And how has Mind Cleansing Peak changed after all these years?

Upon entering the ancient city gates that were a thousand feet tall, they were greeted by the crowded and noisy streets.

The Forbidden City was bustling and lively, just like in the past.

Lin Xun and Zhao Jingxuan concealed their aura and walked side by side on the streets, their thoughts flying as they looked at the familiar scene.

Before long, Zhao Jingxuan stopped walking.

“I’m going home,” she said as her clear eyes gazed at the distance, where there were rows of ancient buildings with vermilion walls and golden roofs, emitting a brilliant aura.

It was the imperial palace.

“Go. Time for me to go back to mine as well. If there’s anything, you can always find me at Mind Cleansing Peak.” Lin Xun smiled.

“Okay.” Zhao Jingxuan nodded. After waving good-bye with a big smile, she turned and walked toward the palace.

Watching her disappear from his vision, Lin Xun took a deep breath and walked alone through the bustling streets toward the location in his memory.

The Lin Clan’s Mind Cleansing Peak was one of the seventy-two peaks in the Aristocratic Mountain Range, which was one of the Forbidden City’s finest blessed lands.

It was impossible for Lin Xun to forget its location.

When he was halfway there, a burst of noisy conversation from a restaurant caught his attention.

“The Lin Clan is finished! Once the treason charge is confirmed, their entire clan will be executed!”

“It can’t be that bad, right? Didn’t they say that it was just a monster-beast cultivator that they kept that defected? How did this turn into the entire clan committing treason?”

“Heh, you don’t understand... They can always trump up a charge against somebody.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve heard that a very powerful character has their eyes on Mind Cleansing Peak. Since the recent changes have turned the seventy-two aristocrat peaks into veritable heavenly blessed lands, who wouldn’t covet it?”

“There are also rumors that it’s because that young leader of the Lin Family has offended too many great powers.”

“But isn’t the Lin Clan under the protection of the imperial family?”

“You don’t understand. Third Prince Zhao Jingwen has been taking over the supervision of the country and handling the political affairs. From what I know, he is quite close to the Zuo and Qin clans. If those two clans were to deal with the Lin Clan, how could the royal family possibly keep sheltering the Lin Clan?”

“Hmph, you’re all wrong. If their young master whose ‘brilliance fills the capital’ was still around, who would dare to lay a finger on the Lin Clan?”

“But he went to the Ancient Wasteland Domain to cultivate. After the drastic changes in the heavens and earth, he can no longer return!”

……

Amidst the noisy discussions, Lin Xun’s eyes gradually became cold, and the joy of returning home in his heart was gone.

Treason?

What a big crime they’ve come up with!

“It seems that the Lin Clan has had a hard time during my absence…” Lin Xun frowned.

Unfortunately, he didn’t get anything else from those conversations.

Taking a deep breath, he calmed his expression and continued on the road.

No matter what had happened to the Lin Clan, now that he had returned, he would deal with it!

Suddenly, a treasure carriage sped past Lin Xun on the road. It then came to a screeching halt, and a surprise voice rang out, “Clan Leader?”

Lin Xun stopped in his tracks and turned around to see a young man in a pearly-white outfit jump out from the carriage. The young man then looked at him with an expression of disbelief.

Lin Xun instantly recognized him: Lin Xuefeng!

He was the first son of Lin Huaiyuan, the head of the North Light Lin Clan. After Lin Xun had unified the four branches of the Lin Clan, Lin Xuefeng had been serving on Mind Cleansing Peak.

Moreover, Lin Xuefeng was also one of the first clansmen to submit to Lin Xun back then.

“Long time no see, Xuefeng.” Lin Xun smiled.

Those destined for great things needed to be able to maintain composure at all times, especially in big events. While Lin Xun very much wanted to verify the current situation and safety of his clan, he also knew he must not get anxious before that.

“It’s really you, Clan Leader!” shouted Lin Xuefeng in excitement, his emotions spiraling out of control.

It had been over ten years since they had parted. He had thought that he would never see the clan leader whom he respected and worshiped ever again in his lifetime, but here they were!

He felt like he was dreaming.

Lin Xun patted his shoulder. “First calm down, then tell me what exactly happened to our clan during these years.”

Lin Xuefeng nodded. He took several deep breaths to calm his emotions, then scanned the surroundings and said, “Clan Leader, this is not the place to talk.”

He invited Lin Xun into the treasure carriage.

After taking a seat and noticing the unmistakable worry on Lin Xuefeng’s face, Lin Xun had a bad premonition in his heart.

“Just tell it to me straight. I’ve already heard some chatter about the Lin Clan on the way.”

Lin Xun’s calm demeanor reassured Lin Xuefeng. He started talking with an indescribable bitterness in his voice, “Ever since the drastic changes, our situation has become unpleasant…”

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes, puzzled. “There are still people in the empire who dare to make things difficult for our clan?”

After all, he had only departed from the empire after clearing all the obstacles for the Lin Clan, suppressing the seven high clans to the point that they had thrown in the towel and endured.

Among those high clans, the Hua, Song, and Qi had even resolved their misunderstanding with Lin Xun in front of the principal of Qinglu Academy to show that they had no longer held any grudges.

Moreover, Blood Kill King Zhao Tailai had promised Lin Xun that he would protect the Lin Clan.

Under these circumstances, Lin Xun really couldn’t imagine who in this Forbidden City could still touch his clan.

“When you were still around, naturally no one in the Forbidden City dared to, but during the last several years, there have been rumors spreading that you will never be able to return from the Ancient Wasteland Domain, so…” lamented Lin Xuefeng.

Lin Xun instantly understood the situation.

He had already left the lower world for more than a decade. When there was news that he would no longer be able to return, how could those forces who had been hostile to the Lin Clan remain indifferent?

Lin Xun had known very early that when he was present in the Forbidden City, no one would dare to touch Mind Cleansing Peak. Even those high clans had no choice but to accept it.

Moreover, the Lin Clan had been under the protection of the royal Blood Kill King Zhao Tailai, so those who wanted to offend it would really need to reconsider their decision.

But if Lin Xun could never return to the lower world, then the entire situation would change.

Such was the superficiality of human relationships.

Lin Xun frowned. “That old fox Zhao Tailai has been turning a blind eye to this?”

Lin Xuefeng smiled bitterly and shook his head. “When the drastic changes occurred, Blood Kill King Zhao Tailai left the empire in a hurry. Before he left, he had specifically instructed that if the Lin Clan ran into trouble, they could go to Third Prince Zhao Jingwen for help.”

Lin Xun frowned again. “Zhao Jingwen?”

He vaguely remembered this person. When he had been an instructor at Qinglu Academy, Zhao Jingwen had been an outstanding student in the Hidden Dragon Department.

“Yes. The emperor and the empress haven’t been showing their faces these past years. It’s the third prince who has been supervising the country and handling the government,” said Lin Xuefeng as helplessness welled up in his eyes. “But when we asked him for help, we were repeatedly rejected. He does not care about the Lin Clan at all.”

“Mhm.” Lin Xun didn’t feel too angry about this. External forces were ultimately unreliable, and it was very possible to ask for help and be rejected.

Then, he asked, “What’s with the rumor circulating about the Lin Clan’s treason?”