Chapter 294: Chapter 294: Du Ying
Upon hearing the Valley Master’s command, Tang Chenming sneered inwardly. ’Once I bring Lin Yun to him, the Tang Family’s troubles will be easy to resolve.’
His mind at ease, Tang Chenming took a single stride and appeared before Lin Yun. Having just gotten back to his feet, Lin Yun was instantly subdued.
Although Lin Yun’s cultivation had now reached the Qi Sea Realm Eighth Layer, the gap between him and Tang Chenming of the Celestial Spirit Realm was still immense. In Tang Chenming’s grasp, Lin Yun was utterly powerless to resist.
He paid no mind to anything else. The Valley Master had spoken, so he no longer needed to concern himself with the remaining matters. Right now, Tang Chenming’s most pressing concern was the feud between Lin Yun and the Tang Family.
Tang Chenming deeply regretted not being able to kill Lin Yun, but with the Valley Master stepping in, he was confident the Tang Family’s situation could still be resolved.
Gripping Lin Yun with one hand, Tang Chenming flew rapidly toward the depths of Celestial Eagle Peak. Upon arriving before the peak’s most magnificent Main Hall, he led Lin Yun inside respectfully.
The Main Hall of Celestial Eagle Valley was massive. The two eagle statues standing before its entrance were especially noteworthy. Though only stone, they were so lifelike they seemed like two real eagles guarding the valley.
Stepping into the Main Hall, one could see its ceiling towered at least a hundred meters high, with dozens of thick pillars lining its sides. In the deepest part of the hall, an old man with completely white hair sat upon the main throne.
Unlike Tang Chenming, this elder not only had white hair but also a deeply wrinkled face. His most distinguishing feature, however, was his aquiline nose.
As Tang Chenming brought Lin Yun to a stop more than ten meters from the elder, the old man, whose eyes had been shut, slowly opened them. Lin Yun’s first impression of those eyes was that they were murky.
The elder’s eyes were cloudy, devoid of any light. Yet, this same pair of murky eyes seemed capable of seeing right through Lin Yun.
The elder’s simple, direct gaze made Lin Yun feel as if he were being peeled back layer by layer, as if none of his secrets could remain hidden.
"Flawless Flesh Body, Second Layer... You must be Lin Yun?" the elder asked after observing him for a moment. He hadn’t glanced at Tang Chenming once, and the latter dared not interrupt, simply standing silently to the side.
Lin Yun didn’t respond to the elder’s question. He simply stared back warily, unsure of the man’s intentions. He was deeply on guard. The elder was so powerful he could kill Lin Yun with a single breath, but that didn’t lessen his vigilance.
Seeing that Lin Yun had no intention of answering, the elder didn’t get angry. A dry laugh echoed through the hall as he continued, speaking as if to himself. "Heh. My name is Du Ying, and I am the Valley Master of Celestial Eagle Valley. If you don’t wish to answer my question, then so be it. You can just listen."
"I know you have a death feud with the Tang Family of Yanhuang Country, but things have not yet reached an irreparable point. How about this: become a disciple of my Celestial Eagle Valley, and I can put in a good word for you with the Tang Family."
Du Ying continued speaking, but his words greatly displeased Lin Yun. ’Become a disciple of Celestial Eagle Valley and he’ll put in a good word with the Tang Family? What kind of joke is that?’
’It’s utter nonsense. With Du Ying’s status and power, why would he ever need to ’put in a good word’ with the Tang Family? Forget the Tang Family—if Du Ying gave a command, would even the Yanhuang Royal Family dare to disobey?’
"So you’re saying that even if I join Celestial Eagle Valley, you can’t guarantee you can save my parents?" Lin Yun asked coldly. Even if this man was one of the supreme experts of the Eastern Domain, when his parents’ lives were at stake, Lin Yun would never compromise.
At this, Du Ying replied with indifference, "I can guarantee your parents’ lives. But whether or not they are released is up to the Tang Family. After all, Celestial Eagle Valley cannot interfere in the affairs of another family without reason."
Du Ying’s intentions were actually quite simple. The talent and aptitude Lin Yun displayed had made him want to recruit a genius. However, because of Tang Chenming’s actions, Lin Yun certainly held no goodwill toward Celestial Eagle Valley.
Therefore, to make Lin Yun join Celestial Eagle Valley while also ensuring he could be completely controlled, the key was to hold his parents firmly in his grasp.
In Du Ying’s mind, he had given Lin Yun only two choices. First: accept his offer, join Celestial Eagle Valley, and serve it wholeheartedly, eventually becoming the valley’s second greatest Demon Fiend.
Second: death. Du Ying did not want Flawless Palace to obtain Lin Yun. He believed the other major powers in the Eastern Domain would also be against Flawless Palace acquiring someone with the potential of a Demon Fiend, as it would drastically affect the balance of power in the Eastern Domain.
"And if I don’t agree, you’ll kill me?" Lin Yun asked calmly, having understood Du Ying’s intentions.
Looking at Lin Yun’s placid expression, Du Ying grew even more satisfied. ’He understands my intentions, yet he can remain so calm. This boy’s Mental Realm is truly extraordinary.’
Forget a mere Qi Sea Realm cultivator; even a Celestial Spirit Realm expert like Tang Chenming couldn’t help but be nervous in his presence.
"Celestial Eagle Valley can give you a brilliant future, and I can guarantee your parents’ lives. Do you not think that joining us is your only way out?" Du Ying retorted.
He had already said more than enough to Lin Yun. Given his status and power, he would normally never deign to speak to a mere Qi Sea Realm ant. The fact that he was doing so now was definitive proof of how highly he regarded Lin Yun.
Lin Yun, however, was not the least bit grateful. ’He can guarantee my parents’ lives, but they’ll lose their freedom. That’s not the outcome I want.’ But the problem now was...
If he didn’t agree to Du Ying’s terms, he would die for certain, and his parents would surely not survive either.
He desperately did not want to agree to Du Ying’s terms, and he wanted even less to join Celestial Eagle Valley. At this point, Lin Yun felt absolutely no goodwill toward the valley.
Lin Yun struggled internally, but Du Ying showed no intention of rushing him. Facing a cultivator at the Qi Sea Realm, no matter how fiendish his talent, Du Ying paid him no mind. Even a Demon Fiend needed time to grow, and in Du Ying’s eyes, the current Lin Yun was just an ant he could crush with a single finger.
The entire hall fell into silence. Tang Chenming, who had remained quiet all this time, finally felt his heart settle. ’Du Ying doesn’t intend to abandon the Tang Family; he just wants to rope in Lin Yun.’ This realization was a great weight off his mind. As for what Lin Yun chose, Tang Chenming no longer cared. No matter which path Lin Yun took, he would no longer pose a threat to the Tang Family.
After a long silence, Lin Yun finally looked up at Du Ying. As a Martial Artist of the Qi Sea Realm, he was the first person to ever dare to look Du Ying directly in the eyes. In the past, forget someone at the Qi Sea Realm; even an expert at the Ninth Layer of the Primordial Ocean Realm wouldn’t dare to meet his gaze.
"If I agree, can you give my parents their freedom?" Lin Yun asked.
"Freedom?" Du Ying scoffed. "I can guarantee your parents will live, but their release is up to the Tang Family. As the Celestial Eagle Valley Master, I will not do something as crude as using my position to bully others."
Du Ying’s hypocrisy filled Lin Yun with disgust. But right now, he had no better choice. It was either submit or die.
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