Chapter Thirty-Two: Father and Son Reunited

In the Wind and Snow Pavilion, every elder was entitled to claim a mountain peak as their personal domain, and Pine Extension Peak belonged to Lin Tian. The realm of the Spiritual Way was formidable; even with Lin Xiaobao in tow, it took them only the time it takes to brew a cup of tea to fly from Mu Capital Peak to Pine Extension Peak.

The Pine Extension Hall was exceedingly simple, furnished with only a few chairs in the main chamber and nothing else. Fortunately, although Lin Tian had never taken a direct disciple, regular cleaning was performed by rotating official disciples, and now the hall was spotless.

“What exactly happened? Why did the Law Enforcement Hall seek you out?” Although Lin Tian had just taught Long Xingtian a lesson without much regard for the details, he still needed to know the whole story. If Lin Xiaobao was at fault, so be it; but if the other party was in the wrong, once Xiaobao was settled, Lin Tian would not hesitate to storm Mu Capital Peak and cause a disturbance in the Law Enforcement Hall.

If at first Lin Xiaobao had only tried to placate Lin Tian to infiltrate the Wind and Snow Pavilion, today, after witnessing Lin Tian’s imposing figure at his most helpless moment, Lin Xiaobao’s heart underwent a subtle transformation. Now, he recounted the events in full detail.

“What? You crippled an outer disciple at the ninth tier of Martial Arts?” Lin Tian looked at Lin Xiaobao in surprise, his eyes alight with excitement, which quickly turned to guilt. “It’s all my fault, for being careless. I was only thinking of petitioning the Grand Elder for a Recasting Pill to restore your meridians, but I forgot the Pavilion’s unwritten rules. Thankfully, you are favored by fate and have achieved such remarkable progress.”

Learning that Lin Tian’s neglect stemmed from his efforts to secure a pill for him, Lin Xiaobao’s last bit of resentment dissipated entirely. At this moment, he himself didn’t realize he had fully embraced the role of a son.

“How did you manage to cultivate to the seventh tier of Martial Arts in just half a year?” Despite his excitement, Lin Tian was puzzled. Even if Xiaobao had inherited his astonishing talent, such rapid progress was unprecedented—after all, it had taken Lin Tian himself a full year to reach the seventh tier.

“I simply followed the methods recorded in the Wind and Snow Primer,” Lin Xiaobao replied, taking out his copy. “I practiced the Dragon-Slaying Sword Technique and the Dragon Concealment Skill from the Martial Arts section, brewed the meridian-cleansing potion under the Alchemy chapter, and then drew a basic spirit-gathering array in my room as described in the Array chapter.”

“What? The Wind and Snow Primer contains these?” Lin Tian’s brows knit tightly. In the Pavilion, everyone possessed a copy, but it was supposed to cover only the most rudimentary knowledge. How could it possibly have these techniques? He snatched Lin Xiaobao’s book and flipped through it, but found it no different from his own.

“Where are these methods you mentioned? I don’t see them.” Lin Tian asked, perplexed.

Lin Xiaobao took back the Primer, opened it, and began to read aloud line by line, as though the words truly appeared before him. Clearly, this was a tactic he had prepared in advance.

Lin Tian, master of the Spiritual Way, immediately sensed these were advanced techniques, far beyond what Lin Xiaobao could fabricate. Though he did not understand the reason, he was convinced—or perhaps, he had never doubted Xiaobao from the start.

“Regarding these methods, never tell anyone you learned them from the Primer. If someone presses you, just say I gave them to you when you joined. If anyone wants them, let them come to me!” At this, a fierce gleam flashed in Lin Tian’s eyes. He felt he had wronged this son; Heaven had finally shown mercy and granted him this opportunity, yet Xiaobao had nearly lost his life. How could Lin Tian not be enraged?

Lin Xiaobao had worried that his solution might not fool the Pavilion’s higher-ups, but now, with Lin Tian’s support, his heart was at ease. “Thank you, Father!”

Hearing that word, Lin Tian was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place, his eyes moist as he looked at Xiaobao. “What did you just call me?”

“Father…” In truth, as he uttered the word, Lin Xiaobao felt something unusual—a sensation he had never experienced in either of his two lives, as if Lin Tian before him truly was his father.

“Lin Tian, hand Lin Xiaobao over to me!” The touching scene was abruptly shattered by a furious shout.

“The Grand Elder Cen Yuanbai? Why is he looking for you?” The mood broken, Lin Tian suppressed his anger and asked Xiaobao.

Lin Xiaobao stuck out his tongue and reluctantly explained the incident with Cen Shuyai that he had omitted earlier.

“There’s such a matter?” Lin Tian was momentarily at a loss. “Have you caused any other trouble? Tell me everything at once!”

Once Xiaobao confirmed there were no further mishaps, Lin Tian told him to remain in the hall and stepped outside himself.

“What is the meaning of this, Grand Elder? Do you think Pine Extension Peak is so easily bullied?” With someone coming to his door, Lin Tian’s expression was far from pleasant, especially since Xiaobao was not at fault.

“I am here for Lin Xiaobao. Hand him over, and I shall personally apologize to you another day!” The Grand Elder assumed that, having spoken so frankly, Lin Tian would surely accommodate him.

But he was unaware of the bond between Lin Tian and Xiaobao. Even if, at this point, Cen Shuyai was in the wrong—or even if Xiaobao had truly harassed her—Lin Tian would still protect him. “The Grand Elder’s status is exalted; surely there’s no need to fuss over an outer disciple?”

“So, you refuse to give me face?” The Grand Elder flicked his wrist, and a compass appeared in his hand.

The Thunderwind Celestial Disk?

Lin Tian hadn’t expected the old man to be so aggressive, revealing his treasured artifact at the slightest disagreement. At this, Lin Tian’s mind stirred, and he soared upward, hovering parallel to the Grand Elder. “Since you so utterly disregard me, I shall properly test your skills today!”

The Grand Elder had not anticipated Lin Tian would go so far for an outer disciple, but provoked in turn, his anger flared. “Lin Tian is famed as the Pavilion’s greatest genius in recent years—surely you possess extraordinary abilities. Today, I shall see for myself!”

With a casual toss, the Grand Elder sent the Thunderwind Celestial Disk up, where it grew larger in the wind, flying toward Lin Tian’s head, the space beneath it rumbling with thunder and streaked with violet lightning.

Facing the Pavilion’s foremost array master, Lin Tian dared not be careless. As the Grand Elder struck, the Violet Gold Sacred Sword appeared in Lin Tian’s hand. He pointed the sword in midair, and explosions echoed around the Celestial Disk, greatly slowing its advance.