Chapter One Hundred and Two: The Four Great Families

After entering the Realm of Heart-Perception, she had already risen two full levels beyond the former Realm of Mind-Reading. By now, Yun Keke could use the Heart-Linking Art to see through another person’s true thoughts, and would no longer be deceived by an opponent deliberately thinking about something else.

To put it simply, if she met Xia Zihao again, no matter how he tried to conceal his intentions, Yun Keke would still detect them. And the power of this art did not stop there; it had only been gradually forgotten by the world as the Charm Clan disappeared.

“It’s very simple. Your previous cultivation had no proper mental method. You relied only on your bloodline instinct to cultivate. In that way, although you accumulated a great deal of mental power, you were unable to use it properly. Now that you have cultivated the Heart-Linking Charm Art, the mental power you once gathered can naturally be put to use. From now on, your cultivation speed will still far exceed that of your clan members, but it definitely won’t be this frighteningly fast again.”

Lin Xiaobao explained to Yun Keke with feigned profundity. Of course, these were also things Old Mo had explained to him while they waited.

Hearing Lin Xiaobao speak so confidently, Yun Keke silently nodded. “I didn’t expect you to know so much more about the Charm Clan than I do. Perhaps making a master-servant pact with you isn’t such a bad thing after all.”

“Of course. If I had taken out the Heart-Linking Charm Art as the condition for a contract in the Yun House, I doubt it would have been your turn to sign with me,” Lin Xiaobao said teasingly.

Mocked like that, Yun Keke’s expression turned somewhat dim. Ever since her eldest brother had fallen ill three years ago and been unable to rise again, her standing in the family had been increasingly squeezed out. Some even hoped her brother would never recover. Otherwise, this trip to seek the demon core would not have been hers alone, traveling without a single guard.

“I won’t let you down!” Yun Keke stood up and looked at Lin Xiaobao. “Let’s enter the city now.”

Lin Xiaobao felt no displeasure at Yun Keke’s attitude toward him. On the contrary, he believed that although the two of them had entered into a master-servant pact, it was better to get along like friends in daily life. Seeing Yun Keke’s cultivation improve, her body and bearing no longer as fragile as when they first met, he was quite pleased. “Then let’s go.”

As they drew near the Blood Victory Empire, there was naturally no need for Lin Xiaobao to be so conspicuous anymore. Although he still used spiritual power to support Yun Keke and speed their advance, his feet never left the ground. From afar, it looked as if the two of them were simply running at great speed.

In no time at all, they had reached the city gates of Blood Cloud City.

“Who goes there? Show your identification!”

As a border city of the Blood Victory Empire, Blood Cloud City was naturally guarded far more strictly than Dongxuan City of the Ningfeng Kingdom. The moment the two approached the gates, a squad of guards immediately surrounded them.

Before Lin Xiaobao could speak, Yun Keke had already produced a token. The token was made of pure gold, with a graceful cloud character engraved at its center.

Seeing the Yun House token, the guards’ expressions changed at once. They bent slightly and said, “Greetings, Miss Yun!”

“Stand down,” Yun Keke said.

At this moment, she no longer appeared as frail as she had on Black Wind Mountain. Instead, she revealed a kind of authority befitting one accustomed to command.

The guards immediately stepped aside to clear a path. None of them dared to inquire further into Lin Xiaobao’s identity. With heads slightly lowered, they waited until the two figures had vanished completely before daring to lift their gaze again.

“Looks like the Yun House has considerable influence in the Blood Victory Empire,” Lin Xiaobao remarked.

“The imperial family of the Blood Victory Empire was raised up by the Xuanyang Hall. But as long as a family does not threaten the imperial family’s ruling position, Xuanyang Hall will not interfere in its development. That is why so many family powers within the empire have swollen to such an extent—more than enough to rival, if not surpass, the protective sects of ordinary small kingdoms.”

As they walked on at an unhurried pace, Yun Keke explained some things about the Blood Victory Empire. “Among them, the four strongest families are the Xia, Yun, Qi, and Long families.”

“So the Yun House is very rich too?” This was the first thing Lin Xiaobao thought of after hearing her explanation. After all, besides seeking refuge in the Blood Victory Empire, he had another purpose in coming here: he wanted to attend the auction held by the Free and Easy Pavilion, which would require a great deal of money.

“Of course. Though the four great families can’t exactly be said to be richer than nations, they have practically divided up the empire’s major industries among themselves.” After answering, Yun Keke suddenly frowned. “Why are you asking about this?”

“I came to the Blood Victory Empire mainly to attend the Free and Easy Pavilion’s auction, so naturally I’ll need some funds. Besides, you can see my cultivation is this high—I must spend every day in constant training. How would I ever have time to make money?”

When it came to asking others for money, Lin Xiaobao showed not the slightest embarrassment. On the contrary, he even did not forget to praise himself a little.

“What kind of person boasts about himself like that?” Yun Keke clearly had never met someone like Lin Xiaobao before, and she was amused into a bright smile. Yet inwardly, she also admitted that what he said was true. Never mind that Lin Xiaobao was only in his teens or early twenties now—if his cultivation were placed on a man in his forties, he could not be called a genius, but he would certainly still be outstandingly gifted.

“I’m only stating a fact. Excessive modesty is just another form of pride,” Lin Xiaobao said with some self-satisfaction.

“But as a cultivator, shouldn’t you attend the exchange fair held by Xuanyang Hall after the auction? The items there can’t be bought with money. They require spirit stones, or else barter for other treasures.” Yun Keke looked at him in confusion.

“An exchange fair?” Lin Xiaobao was hearing of it for the first time.

“The auction mainly offers resources useful for cultivation, and most of those are beneficial to martial practitioners. The exchange fair is the true gathering for cultivators. Don’t tell me you didn’t know that?” In Yun Keke’s impression, Lin Xiaobao even knew the secrets of the Charm Clan—how could he possibly not know about the exchange fair?

“This is indeed the first time I’ve heard of it.” Lin Xiaobao did not defend his ignorance. He had never heard of such a thing in the Snowwind Pavilion, perhaps because its strength had never qualified it to attend such a grand event.

“Greetings, Second Miss!”

At that moment, a group of people came down the street and immediately bowed to Yun Keke.

“Uncle Zhang is here? Then let’s return to the imperial capital first.” Yun Keke looked at the elderly man who had spoken, and replied with a touch of respect.

Peak of the ninth stage of the Spirit Path?

When the newcomer appeared, Lin Xiaobao’s spiritual sense silently swept over him. He immediately discovered that this unremarkable old man was actually a peak ninth-stage Spirit Path expert. The five people accompanying him were also Spirit Path experts. Though they were inferior to Uncle Zhang, their cultivation was still far above Lin Xiaobao’s.

“Please, Second Miss, get in the carriage,” said Uncle Zhang.

With that, a beast carriage soon came galloping over from the street. As for Lin Xiaobao standing beside Yun Keke, Uncle Zhang simply ignored him.

“Come on, let’s get in the carriage,” Yun Keke said to Lin Xiaobao after it arrived.

“Second Miss, we can prepare another beast carriage for this honored guest.”

Because Lin Xiaobao had the concealment array etched upon him, in Uncle Zhang’s eyes he was nothing more than a martial artist of the fifth postnatal stage, utterly unqualified to travel alongside the Second Miss.

“No need. He’ll ride with me.”

Though Lin Xiaobao usually seemed rather casual, Yun Keke absolutely did not dare to be rude to her master. More importantly, after experiencing the benefits of the Heart-Linking Charm Art, she wanted to curry favor with Lin Xiaobao and persuade him to allow her to pass the Heart-Linking Charm Art on to her brother.

Although Yun Keke now knew all the mental methods of the Heart-Linking Charm Art, under the restrictions of the master-servant pact, she could not teach them to her brother without Lin Xiaobao’s consent.