Chapter Forty-Four: The Gathering Storm, Clouds Move from All Directions

The final five days passed in the blink of an eye.

In the Guest Elder's courtyard, Lin Xuan sat cross-legged, his aura as profound and still as water. After twenty days of bitter cultivation, not only had his injuries fully healed, but his strength had reached a new level. The spiritual energy core within his Dantian had grown from its initial size of a grain of rice to the size of a fingertip; as it rotated, the faint sound of wind and thunder could be heard. The nine hundred and ninety-nine wisps of Source Martial Spiritual Energy had transformed into nine hundred and ninety-nine fine streams, circling the core in a perfect cycle.

His cultivation of the Divine Forging Record had also crossed the threshold of 'Spirit Concentration,' reaching the stage of Minor Achievement. Within his Sea of Consciousness, that wisp of Divine Soul had condensed into a faint, ethereal phantom. Although it could not yet be projected externally, it could clearly perceive everything within a hundred-zhang radius. The rustling of grass in the wind and the chirping of insects and birds were all within his grasp.

He opened his eyes and cast his gaze toward the north.

There, a faint sense of pressure was slowly approaching.

Late Stage Golden Core, Half-Step Nascent Soul—such an existence was enough to make the entire Bailian Villa feel the pressure.

But in his eyes, there was not the slightest hint of fear.

There was only calmness, and beneath that calmness, a slowly burning Battle Intent.

The courtyard gate was gently pushed open.

Li Dali walked in quickly, his expression grave: "Brother Lin, Miss Liu is here. She says she has important matters to inform you of."

Lin Xuan stood up and walked out of the house.

In the courtyard, Liu Yanran stood quietly in a green dress. She hadn't brought the man in grey today, coming alone. The habitual lazy smile on her Face had vanished, replaced by a rare gravity.

"Young Master Lin," she said, getting straight to the point, "Zhao Yuanzhen will arrive tomorrow at noon."

Lin Xuan's gaze narrowed slightly: "Tomorrow at noon?"

"Correct." Liu Yanran nodded. "Our Pavilion's scouts in the Northern Region just sent back word. Zhao Yuanzhen's flying light has already passed Sirius Mountain; he will arrive here in a day and a half at most. He has brought two Disciples with him, both in the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, and one... hidden figure."

"A hidden figure?" Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Liu Yanran lowered her voice: "That person has been hiding in the shadows and hasn't shown their Face. But our Pavilion's scouts used a secret technique to sense them; that person's aura is extremely obscure, suspected to be... Middle Stage Golden Core."

Middle Stage Golden Core, plus the Late Stage Golden Core Zhao Yuanzhen, and two Late Stage Foundation Establishment Disciples.

Such a lineup was enough to crush any faction within Bailian Villa.

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment before slowly asking, "Do you know that person's identity?"

Liu Yanran shook her head: "I don't. But anyone who can stay by Zhao Yuanzhen's side and deliberately hide themselves is certainly no friend. You must be careful, Young Master."

Lin Xuan nodded: "Thank you."

Liu Yanran looked at him, hesitating before finally saying, "Young Master, my Pavilion's offer is still valid. If you are willing to leave with me, my Pavilion can arrange a secret passage to avoid Zhao Yuanzhen. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"It's just that if you do, you will no longer be able to show your true Face to the world." Liu Yanran sighed. "And as for Su Qingyue... you will be powerless to help her anymore."

Lin Xuan remained silent.

After a long while, he looked up, his gaze calm as water: "Please thank your Pavilion for their kindness on my behalf. But... my mind is made up."

Liu Yanran looked at him, a flash of complexity in her eyes, and finally nodded: "In that case, take care, Young Master. If you have any need, crush that token at any time."

She turned to leave. Reaching the courtyard gate, she suddenly stopped and looked back:

"By the way, news has also come from Leng Ningshuang's side. The Xuanbing Valley Grand Elder has arrived a hundred miles outside the villa. She will appear on time tomorrow at noon."

With that, her figure vanished into the bamboo forest.

Lin Xuan watched the direction she left, his gaze deep.

Tomorrow at noon.

All the chess pieces will surface.

...

At dusk, another visitor arrived.

Leng Ningshuang.

She was still dressed in white, pure as snow. But today, there was less coldness on her Face and more gravity.

"Young Master Lin," she said directly, "Our Elder has arrived. Tomorrow at noon, she will be present alongside Senior Ouyang Ye under the guise of a 'passing visit.' At that time, if Zhao Yuanzhen wants to move against you, he will have to Face two Late Stage Golden Cores simultaneously."

Lin Xuan looked at her and gave a slight nod: "Thank you, Miss Leng."

Leng Ningshuang shook her head: "There's no need to thank me. I am helping you not just for the sake of that promise of a favor."

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

Leng Ningshuang looked at him, a complex light flashing in her eyes: "My Xuanbing Valley and the Yunni Sect have long-standing grudges. If we can use this opportunity to take the Yunni Sect down a peg, why wouldn't we?"

She paused, then added: "Besides, a person like you, Young Master, is worth befriending."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Miss Leng, if tomorrow's matter succeeds, should Xuanbing Valley have any need in the future, I, Lin, will certainly not refuse."

A faint smile blossomed on Leng Ningshuang's Face as she nodded and turned to leave.

...

Night fell.

Lin Xuan sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

Tomorrow at noon.

All the waiting and all the preparation would finally reach a conclusion.

He looked down at his own hands.

With these hands, twenty days ago, he had defeated the Early Stage Golden Core Wolf Seven with a single punch.

Twenty days later, could they block the Late Stage Golden Core Zhao Yuanzhen?

He didn't know.

But he knew that no matter the outcome, he would never back down.

The courtyard gate was pushed open once again.

This time, it was Old Wu.

He still wore that expressionless look as he walked up to Lin Xuan, took a Jade Slip from his sleeve, and handed it over.

"The Old Ancestor gave this to you," he said hoarsely. "He wants you to look it over carefully tonight. Tomorrow... you might find it useful."

Lin Xuan took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense.

A moment later, he looked up, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Recorded in the Jade Slip was a secret technique—the 'Blood Burning Escape Method.'

By burning one's essence blood as a price, one could gain a short burst of extreme speed, allowing one to flee a thousand miles in a moment of crisis. The cost was a severe depletion of Origin Qi afterward, and the possibility of a drop in cultivation level.

This was the final escape route Ouyang Ye had prepared for him.

Lin Xuan put away the Jade Slip and looked at Old Wu: "Please thank the Old Ancestor for me."

Old Wu nodded and turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked back at Lin Xuan:

"Kid, the Old Ancestor told me to bring you a message—tomorrow, no matter what happens, don't force it. Staying alive is more important than anything else."

With that, his figure vanished into the bamboo forest.

Lin Xuan watched the direction he left and remained silent for a long time.

Staying alive is more important than anything else.

Of course he knew that.

But some things are more important than staying alive.

...

Midnight.

Lin Xuan was still sitting in the courtyard, motionless.

Wang Mang and Li Dali had come out at some point, standing behind him on his left and right. Neither spoke, simply keeping him company in silence.

After a long while, Wang Mang suddenly spoke: "Brother Lin, tomorrow... what can we do?"

Lin Xuan didn't look back, only saying calmly: "Stay alive."

Wang Mang grew anxious: "That won't do! We're following you because we want to help! You can't just let us watch!"

Li Dali also said: "Brother Lin, I know our cultivation is low and we can't help with much. But doing some chores or blocking some small fry is still possible."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment, then slowly stood up and turned to look at the two of them.

Under the moonlight, these two men who had followed him all the way from Qingshi Town were filled with determination.

He suddenly smiled.

The smile was faint, but it carried a hint of warmth.

"Fine," he said. "Tomorrow, if there really are any blind small fry, I'll leave them to you."

Wang Mang was overjoyed: "That's more like it!"

Li Dali also grinned.

The three of them stood under the moonlight, none of them saying another word.

The night wind blew gently, and the bamboo forest rustled.

Tomorrow at noon was fast approaching.

...

Meanwhile, a hundred miles away.

A streak of green flying light sped through the night sky.

Within the light, Zhao Yuanzhen stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the distant, looming silhouette of the mountain peaks.

Bailian Villa was almost there.

Behind him, a Disciple said respectfully: "Revered Master, when we arrive at Bailian Villa tomorrow, shall we be courteous first and use force later, or..."

The corner of Zhao Yuanzhen's mouth curled into a faint smile: "Courteous first? My personal arrival is already giving them Face. If that Ouyang Lie knows what's good for him and obediently hands over Lin Xuan, I can let bygones be bygones. If he doesn't..."

He paused, a cold light flashing in his eyes: "Then I wouldn't mind letting this Bailian Villa change its Revered Master."

The flying light continued forward.

Behind him, the Middle Stage Golden Core hidden in the shadows followed silently as always.

...

The night before dawn is the darkest.

Lin Xuan was still sitting in the courtyard, his aura as still as water.

He was already prepared.

No matter what came tomorrow, he would Face it head-on.

In the eastern sky, the horizon gradually began to brighten.

A new day had begun.

(End of Volume 2, Chapter 44)

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[Next Chapter Preview]: The gathering storm, clouds move from all directions. Zhao Yuanzhen arrives tomorrow at noon, and the undercurrents of various factions are surging. Liu Yanran's intelligence, Leng Ningshuang's promise, Ouyang Ye's escape route—all preparations will be revealed tomorrow. Lin Xuan sits quietly through the night, waiting for the impending storm. And in the darkness before dawn, a faint gaze is quietly watching the Guest Elder's courtyard... Next Chapter: Powerful Enemies Pressing In, Swords Drawn and Bows Bent!