The Prodigies War

Truthfully, the reason why Lin Xun could destroy each battleship with an arrow wasn’t that his combat power had reached an inconceivable terrifying level.

It was because he was far too familiar with the Violet Hero Battleship!

After all, the new series Violet Hero Battleship was essentially his design, so he knew its ins and outs like the back of his hand. It would not be an exaggeration to say that besides Old Mo, there was no one who understood the Violet Hero Battleship better than Lin Xun.

Due to these circumstances, every arrow he shot was aimed at the weakest point of the Violet Hero Battleships. Hence, it would instead be strange if he couldn’t achieve such an accomplishment.

The flames of battle raged above the blue sea, marking the end of the entire affair.

Lin Xun stored away the No-Nonsense Bow and soon left with the still-dazed Ye Lingtong.

……

“You’re saying that Ye Xiaoqi has already headed to Ancient Wasteland Domain to cultivate?”

Along the way, Lin Xun was somewhat taken aback after asking about Ye Xiaoqi.

“That’s right. Three months ago, Brother Xiaoqi was personally sent there by our Ancestor. Among the Ye Clan’s younger generation, Brother Xiaoqi is the only one who has received such special treatment. He is the hope of our Ye Clan.”

A look of worship appeared in Ye Lingtong’s eyes. Ye Xiaoqi was publicly acknowledged as the number one heaven pride of the Ye Clan’s younger generation. He was very talented and famous in the East Sea.

However…

When Ye Lingtong compared Ye Xiaoqi to Lin Xun, she helplessly shook her head. They were obviously not even in the same league.

Lin Xun had easily destroyed ten Violet Hero Battleships and was basically an irrational monster. Compared to him, Brother Xiaoqi appeared rather dull and ordinary.

“It seems that many cultivators in the Ziyao Empire have become aware of the Great Dao Catastrophe…”

Lin Xun pondered.

Ye Xiaoqi wasn’t the first person he knew that had been sent to the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

Before him, Bai Lingxi, Song Yi, and Yuchi Ze had been taken to the Ancient Wasteland Domain by representatives from the ancient sects during the Empress’ three-hundredth birthday.

In addition, Little Sword Lord Xie Yutang, Stone Cauldron Alms’ First Young Master Shi Xuan, Song Clan’s First Young Master Song Yunji, Qinglu Academy Successor Gu Yunting…and other top heaven prides of the Forbidden City’s younger generation had all left as well.

This was called following where the wind blew.

In fact, Lin Xun was sure that more and more disciples from the powerful factions would be sent to the Ancient Wasteland Domain in the near future.

After all, it was rumored that a true Great Dao Catastrophe would occur in this ‘lower world’ within the next ten years!

When that happened, the dao would become broken and damaged. Let alone cultivating, even the path to higher cultivation levels would disappear. For cultivators, this was akin to destroying all of their hopes and dreams.

Ye Xiaoqi’s departure was just one of many.

“When I return to the Forbidden City, I shall begin to make preparations to head to the Ancient Wasteland Domain…”

Lin Xun took a deep breath and made a decision.

After experiencing the many ups and downs of his expedition in the Spirit Burial Sea, Lin Xun understood that he needed to head to a bigger cultivation world to pursue his supreme path.

Simply put, the ‘lower world’ was already no longer sufficient for his cultivation.

“Young Master, will you tell me your name before I leave?”

An incense stick of time later, on a beach near the East Sea. Ye Lingtong had decided to leave but had one final request: she wished to know Lin Xun’s name.

Lin Xun was startled before he nodded and agreed.

“Goodbye.”

Lin Xun cupped his hands together and directed the Grand Universe Ark toward the land in the distance.

“So he’s called Lin Xun…” Ye Lingtong mumbled.

She had a feeling that the name was somewhat familiar, but could not recall why.

……

East Sea, the Ye Clan.

Ye Lingtong had returned with news of being chased by the Han Clan, which enraged the Ye Clan’s upper echelons.

On that same day, the Ye Clan dispatched a powerful force to the deeper region of the East Sea to contest with the Han Clan over the aeth vein.

It was also on that same day that Ye Lingtong revealed another piece of news in the Ye Clan Discussion Hall that shook the higher-ups.

A mighty advanced Heaven Ascension cultivator, Han Yunchong, had been killed by a single palm from a youngster?

If Ye Lingtong had not sworn this was true, the Ye Clan’s higher-ups would not dare to believe it.

However, their shock was soon replaced by anger.

“What? Dongke is dead? Weren’t the two of you together? Why are you alive while Dongke is dead?”

Ye Nanlin’s enraged roar thundered in the hall.

He was Ye Dongke’s father. The pain of losing his son made it impossible for him to keep his composure and made him so furious that his eyes turned red with anger.

“Speak! What exactly happened!? If you dare to hide anything, you’ll be the first to face my wrath!”

Ye Nanling glared at Ye Lingtong. The terrifyingly sinister light in his eyes caused the latter to turn deathly pale and mumble incoherently.

The other higher-ups were also bewildered. Since Han Yunchong had been killed, how did Ye Dongke die?

Ye Lingtong knew she could not hide anything and had no choice but to tell them the truth.

The higher-ups immediately frowned while Ye Nanling’s anger hit its peak. “Just because he rejected my son’s recruitment offer, that heartless youngster tried to take revenge on him? That’s too much!”

Ye Lingtong gathered her courage, gritted her teeth, and said, “Third Uncle, it was Elder Cousin-Brother Dongke’s fault because he didn’t show appropriate behavior and repaid goodwill with vengeance. I tried to persuade him, but was instead scolded and blamed by him. Wouldn’t you agree that he brought it upon himself?”

“How dare you! Who do you think you are to say that Dongke doesn’t behave appropriately and repays goodwill with vengeance? You have such a poisonous tongue!”

Ye Nanlin shattered the documents in front of him with a slap and rose to his feet. He murderously glared at Ye Lingtong like an enraged wild beast.

Ye Lingtong shivered in fear and shock as if she was in an ice cave while feeling extremely sullen, frustrated, and angry. Like father, like son. Ye Dongke’s temperament and behavior were exactly the same as his old man’s.

Another higher-up of the Ye Clan declared in a deep voice, “Although the youngster saved you and Dongke was killed by the Han Clan, his involvement in Dongke’s death will not be overlooked.”

“That’s right. Such vile acts have never happened to our Ye Clan in the many years we’ve been here in the East Sea. If word of this spreads, others would laugh at us. In my view, we cannot let off the Han Clan, and we also need to make that youngster pay a price!”

The other higher-ups voiced their agreement.

Ye Lingtong felt increasingly disappointed and could not help but say, “Uncles, if that Young Master did not save me, I would not have been able to immediately bring back news about the Han Clan trying to seize the aeth vein. Wouldn’t what uncles are suggesting be…”

Although she didn’t complete the sentence, the meaning was already very clear. Wasn’t it no different from repaying goodwill with vengeance?

The higher-ups' expressions immediately darkened, and they became rather unhappy.

“Even at this juncture, you are still trying to protect an outsider?” Ye Nanlin snarled as his eyes grew increasingly cold.

Ye Lingtong pursed her lips. Although she did not reply, her stubborn expression caused many of the bigwigs’ frowns to deepen.

One of the higher-ups asked in a gentle tone, “Lingtong, do you know that youngster’s name and background?”

Everyone immediately perked up their ears.

After hesitating for a long time, Ye Lingtong said in a small voice, “I only know that he’s called Lin Xun. Oh right, before we said our farewells, he asked me to say hello to the Old Ancestor on his behalf.”

Lin Xun?

Asked a little lass like Ye Lingtong to help him say hello to the Old Ancestor?

Everyone was taken aback. What an arrogant fellow. Ye Dongke's death had everything to do with him, but he still dared to act so fearlessly. Did he think the Ye Clan couldn’t touch him?

Ye Nanlin was especially furious. The veins popped up all over his forehead and his teeth nearly shattered from the force of his clenched jaw. “How dare he humiliate my Ye Clan in such a manner. The hatred in my heart will not be quelled unless I kill him!”

Ye Lingtong’s hands and feet turned ice-cold as bitterness flashed in her eyes. She had already told them everything, but the Ye Clan’s higher-ups’ reactions were honestly disappointing.

“Wait, did you say the youngster is called Lin Xun?”

One of the higher-ups suddenly spoke up as if remembering something, his expression somewhat bewildered.

“Who is Lin Xun?”

“Could it be that famous young rune founder from the Forbidden City?”

In an instant, all of the higher-ups’ expressions changed as they recalled some of the rumors regarding ‘Lin Xun’.

Lin Xun was famous in the Forbidden City. He was a rising star, and the tales about him were far too many to count.

When he was taking the rune master qualification test, he caused the ‘Nine Draconic Cries’ phenomenon that shook the Forbidden City.

In Precious Laughter House, he beat up the descendants of two high clans, the Hua Clan and the Song Clan.

On the Empress’ three-hundredth birthday celebration, he forced the Marquis of Rising Sky, Zhao Jingyin, to kneel in front of everyone.

At the age of sixteen, he became an instructor at the Qinglu Academy Rune Department.

In less than six months, he had crafted a rune armament that shook the world, the Shattered Tragedy Spear.

He…

All in all, there were too many legendary feats and unbelievable tales about him. Ever since his rise in the Forbidden City, he had outshone nearly all of the younger generation's heaven prides.

Some said that he was cruel, violent, and had no morals. Others said that he was a young heaven pride with youthful arrogance.

However, no one had expected that this very same youngster would be implicated in Ye Dongke’s death.

The hall suddenly became much quieter. If ‘Lin Xun’ was the same rising star of the Forbidden City, then their original plans would become very difficult to carry out!

Ye Lingtong was also stunned. She could sense that Lin Xun’s name seemed to possess some kind of magical power that changed the attitudes of the higher-ups present.

It turns out that he was far more extraordinary than she had imagined…

Ye Lingtong did not know who Lin Xun was. She had been cultivating in the East Sea most of her life and had never taken notice of news from the Forbidden City.

Otherwise, she would have immediately understood why the higher-ups’ expressions had changed.

Ye Nanlin’s fluctuated indeterminately as he roared, “It doesn’t matter if he’s that young rune founder. Since he dared to take revenge on Dongke, he needs to pay the price!”

However, the only responses he received were a few hesitating gazes. Everyone present had become much more silent.

Although the Ye Clan lorded over the East Sea, they were barely equivalent to mid-tier noble clans in the Forbidden City.

According to the rumors, Lin Xun had offended five of the high clans, the Hua Clan, the Song Clan, the Zuo Clan, the Chi Clan, and the Qin Clan!

There were only seven high clans in the entire empire, but he had offended five of them in a short period of time. Truly a savage.

Despite this, he was still living well and had not succumbed to any misfortunes.

It was honestly extremely shocking if you were to think about it.

With all these in mind, who would dare to provoke such a youngster?

“Have all of you become scared? A mere youngster has scared you guys so much?” Ye Nanlin grew increasingly angry.

“You piece of crap! Your son repaid goodwill with vengeance and was killed by the Han Clan, so now you want to seek trouble with our benefactor? Have you become stupid after living for so long?”

A stern voice suddenly sounded from outside the hall, causing the hearts of everyone present to tremble. Everyone immediately rose to their feet and bowed.

Ye Nanlin’s expression changed as he stiffened in alarm.

There was no one outside the hall, but all the Ye Clan higher-ups knew that the voice came from the Ye Clan’s Old Ancestor.

There was only one Old Ancestor in the Ye Clan, Ye Qingtian!

“Even Steel-Blood King Ning Bugui, Stone Cauldron Alms’ Fortune God Shi, Gong Clan’s Old Ancestor Gong Bupo have nothing but praise for that young man. Why has he become such an evil-doer in your mouths?”

Ye Qingtian’s voice sounded again with a questioning tone. It shook everyone’s hearts and caused Ye Nanlin’s expression to grow increasingly ugly.

“Our clan’s Xiaoqi has received help many times from the boy Lin Xun, and I even have to give some respect to a young rune founder who can craft rune armaments. With all this in mind, you guys are pretty damn ballsy to call for revenge!”

These words struck everyone like thunder. Ye Nanlin could no longer endure and fell to his knees as he bitterly said, “Old Ancestor, I was wrong.”

“From today, you will be stripped of all duties and be sent to reflect in the restricted area!”

A single sentence from Ye Qingtian caused Ye Nanlin to turn deathly pale as if he was at a funeral. He could not understand why the Old Ancestor would be so furious because of a mere youngster.

The other higher-ups inwardly shivered, and secretly rejoiced that they had not said too much.

“Little girl, come to my ancestral shrine. I have something to ask you.”

Ye Qingtian’s voice was kind and gentle like a spring breeze, causing everyone to be taken aback.

Soon after, the Ye Clan higher-ups revealed complicated expressions. How could they not understand by now that due to Ye Lingtong’s relation with Lin Xun, she had already entered the Old Ancestor’s sights?

The little lass had obtained fortune from misfortune!

Ye Lingtong dazedly stood on the spot for a moment before suddenly returning to her senses and hurrying to comply.

She was still very dazed inside. Who was Lin Xun? Why…did even the Old Ancestor personally appear because of him?

It was simply inconceivable!

When Ye Lingtong met Ye Qingtian, she was immediately scared silly by the Old Ancestor’s first question.

“There was recent news from the Forbidden City that Lin Xun died in Spirit Burial Sea a few months ago. Are you certain you saw him? Could he have survived and returned?”