Chapter Thirty-Three: Turning Calamity Eastward

Seizing the opportunity, Lin Tian’s entire body twisted, and a crescent-shaped golden sword light surged from the tip of his blade, swiftly slicing toward the Grand Elder. Instantly, the Grand Elder produced a Violet Lightning Wave-Breaking Talisman in his hand; with a flick of his fingers, the talisman transformed into countless arcs of purple lightning that smashed toward the rapidly approaching sword light.

Thunderous explosions echoed above Songyan Peak, while Lin Xiaobao had already fainted during the first clash between the two. As it turned out, the boy had wanted to secretly observe the duel between these masters. After Lin Tian left, he quietly released his spiritual sense, never imagining that the mere backlash from the clash of two experts at the Spirit Dao level would easily shatter his spiritual sense to pieces. Suffering the rebound, his mind went blank and he lost consciousness instantly.

Above Songyan Peak, sword light and talismans collided, casting countless dazzling rays across the sky. Half an hour passed, yet the two remained evenly matched, neither able to gain the upper hand.

The thrill of meeting an equal only fueled their fighting spirit, and neither could recall the last time they had enjoyed such a satisfying battle.

“Enough!” Just as the duel raged on, a deep voice tinged with anger echoed from the void.

At the sound, both men immediately withdrew, the Wind-Thunder Heavenly Disk flying back to the Grand Elder’s hand, while Lin Tian, still gripping the Violet-Gold Sacred Sword, had battle-lust flickering in his eyes.

Several figures sped over, the leader shouting, “As elders, fighting so brazenly within the sect—what sort of example is this? Both of you, follow me to the Hall of Snow and Wind!”

“It’s the Sect Master!” the two replied in unison. The Grand Elder turned to Lin Tian and said, “Bring that boy along as well!” Lin Tian hesitated, then decided it was indeed safer to keep Lin Xiaobao close, and so, gathering himself, moved toward Songyan Hall.

The speaker was none other than Hua Zhengchun, the current master of the Hall of Snow and Wind. Looking at the two of them, he could only shake his head, “You two… what sort of example are you setting for the disciples?”

By the time Lin Tian entered Songyan Hall, Lin Xiaobao had already regained consciousness, though his face was still pale. Lin Tian assumed the earlier duel had frightened him, so he thought nothing of it, gave a few instructions, and then, taking Lin Xiaobao with him, soared toward the Hall of Snow and Wind.

The Hall of Snow and Wind.

When Lin Xiaobao entered alongside Lin Tian, he immediately felt an invisible pressure emanating from the person seated at the center. Was this Hua Zhengchun, the Sect Master? It was the first time Lin Xiaobao had come so close to the current head of the sect, and, given the circumstances, he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

“What happened here? What drove two dignified elders to such a fight?” Hua Zhengchun said sternly once everyone was assembled.

The Grand Elder glared at Lin Xiaobao, his eyes nearly spitting fire. “This brat bullied Shuyah. Today, I must slaughter him!”

Lin Tian immediately stepped in front of Lin Xiaobao. “What, you want another fight?”

“Fine, let’s fight—see who’s afraid!” The Grand Elder was not one to be outdone, and seeing Lin Tian stand up for an outer disciple only infuriated him further.

“Insolence! Do you know where you are? If you want to fight so badly, shall I arrange a duel to the death?” At this, Hua Zhengchun’s expression turned even colder.

With the Sect Master’s anger clear, the two finally calmed down. Lin Tian shrugged—since his son hadn’t suffered, he saw no reason to pursue the matter further.

“Disciple Lin Xiaobao greets the Sect Master. May I speak a few words?” Lin Xiaobao asked politely.

No one had expected that a mere novice would dare speak out in such circumstances. Hua Zhengchun was briefly taken aback, then nodded. “Go on, tell us everything in detail. But if there is even half a lie, I will not be lenient!”

“I wouldn’t dare…” Lin Xiaobao immediately began his prepared account, starting with the bullying he suffered upon entering the sect, continuing to how he was summoned to the Disciplinary Hall by Long Xingtian, and how he was beset by six direct disciples. Even as several elders’ faces darkened by the moment, Lin Xiaobao did not stop. Clearly, many of those six must have been their own disciples.

The more Lin Xiaobao spoke, the more convincing his story sounded. As for Cen Shuyah, Lin Xiaobao explained that she had once met him in the Mission Hall and intended to help him, but for some unknown reason, she suddenly fell victim to the Dream-Reversal Herb, her body paralyzed. Just as he went to support her, the six other direct disciples burst in—leading to all that the Grand Elder had described.

On this point, Lin Xiaobao had calculated well. Cen Shuyah, being a young woman, would never confess such a matter to her own grandfather. Thus, it must have been Long Xingtian and the others, fearing exposure after Lin Tian rescued him, who decided to incite the Grand Elder to act as their weapon. In their eyes, Lin Tian was perhaps willing to help Lin Xiaobao due to his talent, but would never go so far as to break with the Grand Elder for his sake, especially since most of the sect's treasured artifacts were products of the Grand Elder, the foremost master of formations.

In fact, the truth was not far from Lin Xiaobao’s deductions. He had not directly stated why Cen Shuyah was poisoned, but none present were fools. Seeing Lin Xiaobao’s aggrieved appearance, they could more or less piece together the truth. The Third Elder’s face darkened to an alarming degree.

“Shouldn’t the Third Elder have Long Xingtian verify whether Xiaobao is lying?” At the mention of Long Xingtian, Lin Tian’s anger surged. If he had arrived a moment later, he might never have seen his son again. As he spoke, he produced a messenger crane talisman from his robe. With a flick of his fingers, the paper crane spoke in Cen Shuyah’s voice: “Lin Xiaobao is trapped in the Disciplinary Hall—Elder Lin Tian, come quickly!”

Lin Tian turned to the Grand Elder. “Surely the accusation against Xiaobao didn’t come from Shuyah herself? If he had truly bullied her, she would never have summoned me for help.”

At this point, all evidence pointed straight at Long Xingtian. The Third Elder, though fuming at his disciple, could not lose face. “That is only his side of the story!”

“I’ll ask Shuyah myself. If things are as this boy says, don’t blame me if I seal off your Mudou Peak!” With these harsh words, the Grand Elder stormed off.

Having deflected suspicion, Lin Xiaobao wisely chose to remain silent. Now that he was surrounded by the sect’s highest-ranking members, any further attempt to defend himself might backfire.

“If the Third Elder insists this is only Xiaobao’s side, then summon Long Xingtian to confront him directly. I demand an explanation!” Lin Tian’s rage flared again. Had he known the full story earlier, he would not have hesitated to cripple Long Xingtian on the spot.

Hua Zhengchun was surprised to see Lin Tian, usually detached from worldly affairs, pressing so hard for the sake of an outer disciple. The Third Elder, in charge of the Disciplinary Hall and nephew to one of the sect's Supreme Elders, was not someone to offend lightly. He said, “It’s late. We shall discuss this tomorrow. Everyone else, you may go. Elder Lin Tian, stay behind.”

“Xiaobao is my son!” As everyone else departed, Lin Tian understood the reason for being asked to stay, and with a single sentence, cut off any further argument.