Chapter 87

The faint blue light spots from the shattered blockade array had not yet fully dissipated in the air, and the edge of the Cangmang Mountain Range returned to its usual silence, though this silence was permeated with an unshakeable, thick scent of blood and the daze of having survived a disaster.

Captain Li Feng, Ye Chen, Brother Huangfu, the Tianji Scholar, and all the Demon Suppression Division cultivators and the few surviving rogue cultivators stood where they were like clay statues, their gazes staring almost blankly at the green-robed figure standing with his hands behind his back ahead.

The Star-Nether Domain had already been withdrawn, and Lin Xuan's aura was peaceful and restrained, as if the earth-shattering feat of killing four late-stage Soul Formation experts in the blink of an eye and shattering the blockade array with a wave of his hand just now was merely a collective dream everyone had experienced.

But the residual, pure spiritual energy that had dissipated when the late-stage Soul Formation cultivators fell, the ripples of laws that had not yet calmed in the air, and the few magic treasures that had lost their masters and fallen to the ground with dim light (such as the damaged Soul-Summoning Banner), all silently told of how real and cruel everything that had just happened was.

"Gulp." Someone swallowed hard, which sounded exceptionally clear in this deathly silence.

Captain Li Feng was the first to come back to his senses. This Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, known for his iron-blooded coldness, looked at Lin Xuan now with eyes full of unprecedentedly complex emotions: awe, gratitude, and even a trace of indescribable... relief. Relief that this person was not an enemy, at least not for now.

He took a deep breath, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Lin Xuan, his tone filled with heartfelt respect: "Senior... Senior Lin! I will never forget your life-saving grace! On behalf of the Demon Suppression Division, I thank you, Senior!" He had already automatically changed his form of address; in the Cultivation World, the capable come first, and the strength Lin Xuan displayed was worthy of him being called "Senior."

Ye Chen also sheathed his sword and bowed to Lin Xuan with cupped hands. Although he did not speak, that recognition and respect were fully revealed. In his heart, Lin Xuan had become a peak he must surpass on his path of cultivation.

Brother Huangfu and the Tianji Scholar bowed even more hurriedly, keeping their posture extremely low: "Many thanks to Senior Lin for turning the tide!" Their hearts were already churning, elevating Lin Xuan's status to that of the Imperial Dynasty's ancestors and Sect Leaders, and even valuing him more due to his mystery and potential.

The surviving cultivators knelt on the ground, kowtowing incessantly, filled with gratitude.

Lin Xuan flicked his sleeve gently, and a soft yet irresistible force lifted everyone up. "You don't need to be so formal; we are in the same boat, it was my duty." His gaze swept over the messy battlefield and the remaining ambushers (mainly low-rank cultivators from the Zhao Clan and Youming Sect) who were trembling and dared not flee, and he said indifferently: "Clean up, and return to the city."

"Yes!" Captain Li Feng immediately obeyed the order; at this moment, he had no more doubts about Lin Xuan's commands.

The Demon Suppression Division cultivators acted quickly, collecting spoils, disposing of corpses, and escorting prisoners. Those remaining ambushers had long since been scared out of their wits and obediently allowed themselves to be captured.

On the way back, the atmosphere was even more silent than when they came, but there was also an invisible cohesion, and the core of this cohesion was Lin Xuan.

Heiyan City, City Lord's Mansion.

Yue Qingtian had already received the news and personally welcomed them outside the mansion gate. When he saw Lin Xuan, who was safe and sound and whose aura seemed even more profound, as well as Captain Li Feng and the others who were exhausted but filled with excitement and awe in their eyes, the heart that had been hanging finally dropped. And when Captain Li Feng secretly transmitted his voice to briefly inform him of the dangers in the Star Burial Valley and the ambush on the return journey, especially the feat of Lin Xuan showing thunderous means to kill four late-stage Soul Formation experts (including Zhao Song), scare away the Ghost Bone True Person, and shatter the blockade array, Yue Qingtian, this battle-hardened general who had experienced many storms, could not help but gasp, and his gaze toward Lin Xuan changed completely.

He invited Lin Xuan into the quiet room, dismissed the attendants, personally served spirit tea, and smiled bitterly: "Fellow Daoist Lin... no, I am being presumptuous, let me call you Young Friend Lin. Your trip to the Southern Wasteland this time has... poked a hole in the sky!"

Lin Xuan sipped the spirit tea, his expression calm: "City Lord Yue, you are exaggerating, it was merely self-preservation."

"Self-preservation..." Yue Qingtian's mouth twitched. If this was self-preservation, how were others supposed to live? "Zhao Song has fallen, and the Zhao Clan will never let this go. And the Youming Sect, having lost elders one after another, is even more vengeful. Although you have heaven-defying strength, open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against..."

"No matter." Lin Xuan put down the teacup, his gaze calm. "If they want to come, let them come. It just so happens that I have some old accounts to settle with them."

His tone was flat, yet carried an unquestionable confidence and decisiveness, making Yue Qingtian's heart tremble. He knew that this young man had made up his mind and was definitely not a creature of the pond; the small temple of Heiyan City could not keep a true dragon.

"What are your plans, Young Friend?" Yue Qingtian asked.

"Now that things here are settled, it is time to leave," Lin Xuan said. "I intend to head to the Imperial Capital."

Yue Qingtian was not surprised by this. The Imperial Capital was the place where the winds and clouds of the Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty and even this realm gathered. With Lin Xuan's ability, he would inevitably go to that bigger stage. "Since you are going to the Imperial Capital, I can write a letter to introduce you to a few old friends, which might provide some convenience."

"Many thanks for the City Lord's kindness." Lin Xuan nodded and did not refuse. Having a local guide would always save a lot of trouble.

"In addition," Yue Qingtian's expression turned serious, "regarding your merits in this mission, especially the destruction of the Youming Blood Curse and the killing of the traitors from the Youming Sect and the Zhao Clan, Commander Li has recorded it in detail and will report it to the Imperial Dynasty in a few days. With your merits, you will definitely receive a heavy reward, and perhaps you will even have the opportunity to meet the Emperor."

Lin Xuan was noncommittal. He did not care much about the Imperial Dynasty's rewards, but meeting the Emperor might allow him to access more information about the top level of this realm, including the Heaven-Cutting War and the secrets of the Ruins Abyss, which was not a bad thing.

Staying in the City Lord's Mansion for another day, Lin Xuan further integrated the "Zhou Tian Star Art (Fragment)" obtained from the ruins with his own Chaos Dao, making his use of the Star-Nether Light increasingly proficient, and his cultivation base was completely stabilized at the late-stage Soul Formation. The fusion of the star core and the Chaos Dao Seed was even more seamless, as if they were one from the beginning, providing him with a steady stream of pure star power and insights into the Dao.

During this period, Ye Chen came to visit and solemnly proposed a duel again, with the time set in the Imperial Capital. Lin Xuan gladly agreed.

Brother Huangfu and the Tianji Scholar also came to visit many times, trying their best to befriend him in their words, and left their respective tokens, stating that if he reached the Imperial Capital, he could contact them at any time.

Captain Li Feng personally handed the organized copy of the mission report and a token representing the status of a guest of the Demon Suppression Division to Lin Xuan, his attitude extremely respectful.

The next day, the morning light was just appearing.

Lin Xuan declined the carriage and honor guard arranged by Yue Qingtian, still in a green shirt, and quietly left Heiyan City.

On the city tower, Yue Qingtian, Captain Li Feng, Ye Chen, and others silently watched his departing back until the figure merged into the distant horizon and disappeared.

"A hidden dragon leaves the abyss, and the winds and clouds gather. I fear the Imperial Capital will be stirred into a monstrous wave because of him," Yue Qingtian muttered to himself.

Captain Li Feng nodded solemnly: "I only hope that this wave can eventually wash away the accumulated filth."

In Ye Chen's eyes, there was only pure fighting spirit and anticipation: "Imperial Capital, I'll be waiting for you!"

At the same time, the name "Lin Xuan," and his earth-shattering battle record in the Southern Wasteland Ancient Domain and at the edge of the Cangmang Mountain Range, were spreading toward the core of the Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty and toward that magnificent and vast Imperial Capital at a storm-like speed through various channels.

A dazzling new star was cutting through the sky with an unrivaled momentum, heading straight for the center of power and turmoil.