Chapter 72: Lin Xian'er!
"I am healed, fully healed!"
Duanmu Qingshan exclaimed with tears of joy, feeling his strength restored to its zenith.
While this may not suffice to break him free initially, a mere period of seclusion, during which his cultivation would surge anew, would grant him the stability to confidently dismantle this Sealing Array. Then, he could settle old scores and grievances with assurance.
"Congratulations, Master."
Ling Feng stepped forward, bowing deeply in genuine happiness for Duanmu Qingshan.
To him, Duanmu Qingshan wasn't just his master; he was also the first person, aside from his grandfather Ling Kun, to make him feel a sense of familial warmth.
"It's all thanks to you." Duanmu Qingshan turned to look at Ling Feng. "You once said that between master and disciple, there's no need for thanks, so I won't be thanking you. However, know that I'll always remember this favor."
Duanmu Qingshan gazed deeply at Ling Feng, knowing that this disciple's talent would eventually surpass his own, stepping onto even higher realms.
However, until this genius seedling has matured, he will dedicate all his strength to safeguarding and guiding him.
...
At Liuxian Peak.
Lin Canglang was engrossed in studying a sword manual within a side hall. Suddenly, an unsettling feeling washed over him.
"What's happening?"Lin Canglang furrowed his brow as he sensed the impending arrival of something significant.
"Father, what's the matter?"
Across from Lin Canglang sat a young girl in a light blue gown, her eyebrows resembling willow leaves and her skin as smooth as cream, truly a charming and delightful beauty.
Observing Lin Canglang's unease, the girl couldn't resist asking curiously.
"Oh, it's nothing," Lin Canglang said, regaining his composure, smiling warmly at the girl in blue. "Xian'er, the sword manual you brought back this time is truly remarkable!"
"Of course it is," Lin Xian'er replied, her eyebrows lifting in pride. "This is the sword technique passed down to me by my master. How could it not be powerful?"
This girl in the blue dress, named Lin Xian'er, was Lin Canglang's daughter.
However, even within the Wenxian Sect, very few people knew about Lin Canglang's daughter. From a very young age, Lin Canglang had sent her to a larger sect for cultivation.
Furthermore, a year ago, Lin Xian'er's exceptional talent earned her admission to the prestigious Tianwei Academy for advanced studies. She was now a student there.
In the Tianbai Empire, despite the multitude of sects, the ultimate aspiration for all young martial artists was the four major academies in the imperial capital:
Tianwei Academy, Shenlan Academy, Zhenlong Academy, and Wenyuan Academy.
These four major academies, supported by the empire, were not sects but martial academies. Any martial artist, whether from a distinguished family or a sect disciple, could enroll for further studies upon passing the academy's assessment.
The sole requirement for assessment participation was being under twenty-four.
Lin Xian'er, with exceptional performance, seamlessly passed the Tianwei Academy assessment, supported by the endorsement of her sect's leader. Consequently, her experience at Tianwei Academy has been smooth, benefiting from favorable conditions and guidance from esteemed mentors.
Despite her tender age of sixteen, she had already attained the seventh level of the Pulse Formation Realm.
Lin Canglang felt immensely satisfied with his daughter.
His ambitions were grand, yet the modest Wenxian Sect could not fulfill them.
Recognizing his own limited talent, he relied on his daughter to realize his ambitions.
"By the way, Xian'er, the Tianwei Academy is where the most outstanding young talents of the empire gather. Have you taken a liking to any young gentlemen there? Hehe..."
"Dad!" Lin Xian'er blushed with shyness. "How can you, as my father, ask such a question to your daughter? Hmph, I won't talk to you anymore!"
"Alright, alright, I won't ask. Since you've come back so rarely, let me evaluate your swordsmanship. Have you made any progress? That should be okay, right?"
"Hmph, that's about right."
With a pout, Lin Xian'er retrieved her sword from the dimensional ring and giggled, saying, "Watch out!"
...
In the blink of an eye, three more days had passed!
Ling Feng stood atop the cliff's edge, his gaze fixed on the billowing sea of clouds ahead, feeling a new sense of enlightenment stirring within him.
In recent days, Ling Feng's swordsmanship had taken on an increasingly ethereal and elusive quality, seemingly influenced by the environment or by the practice of the Boundless Sword Steps, appearing more like a dream than reality.
"Haha, young man, you've made remarkable progress in just a few days!"
Suddenly, a gentle voice echoed from afar, gradually drawing nearer. In the blink of an eye, a middle-aged man clad in dark green robes landed behind him.
Ling Feng turned around calmly and greeted with a faint smile, "Senior, you've finally arrived."
"Not bad at all." Wen Tingguang chuckled. "In just under two months, you've advanced to the tenth level of Qi Formation. Your talent is truly exceptional! It's surprising to see such a genius emerge even from the modest Wenxian Sect."
"Senior, your praise is too generous." Ling Feng modestly waved his hand, thinking it would be great if he possessed a treasure to conceal his cultivation. Otherwise, his strength would be fully exposed in front of those experts, leaving no secrets.
While swift progress was acceptable when his cultivation was low, Ling Feng couldn't shake his concern for the future. Once his realm grew higher, concealing the secret of the Eye of Emperor would become increasingly challenging.
"After all, when the divine inscriptions of the Human Dao converge, they enable a hundredfold increase in the absorption speed of spiritual energy!"
"Alright, judging by your appearance, you should be ready by now, right?" Wen Tingguang chuckled, observing Ling Feng's composed demeanor and feeling a surge of respect towards him for not fleeing.
After all, he had made it clear last time that if Ling Feng failed to heal the esteemed individual, he would personally disable his arms.
Though this statement carried a certain degree of threat, Ling Feng remained oblivious to it.
"Indeed, I can depart at any time." Ling Feng nodded. After the sword qi within his body was purged, Duanmu Qingshan immediately entered seclusion, exerting all his efforts to break through to the Transcendent Realm.
Should he succeed in this breakthrough, it would undeniably be advantageous for both himself and Ling Feng.
While support in the Transformation Realm may not amount to much, the support he could provide in the Transcendent Realm holds considerable significance.
"Alright, I'll take you with me now." Wen Tingguang sighed. "The condition of that noble individual has worsened recently and requires urgent treatment. Many physicians have already rushed over. Although I don't have much confidence in you, it's worth a try to take you there."
With those words, Wen Tingguang reached out and grabbed Ling Feng.
Although Ling Feng's strength has made remarkable progress in the past two months, in the presence of Wen Tingguang, he still appears pitifully weak.
"Senior, I can fly by myself."
Preferring not to be carried, he retrieved the Clear Spirit Wings gifted to him by Duanmu Qingshan. Though slower, Ling Feng hesitated to use the Purple Thunder Wings confiscated from Yan An.
"Alright, although it's a bit slow, it'll do for now." Wen Tingguang pursed his lips, refraining from forcibly grabbing Ling Feng.
Not long after, they ascended into the sky, vanishing into the distant sea of clouds.
"By the way, Senior, who is the person we are going to treat?" Ling Feng couldn't resist asking as they soared through the air.
"It's a significant figure, someone beyond your imagination," Wen Tingguang replied with a mysterious smile, "You'll know once we arrive."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺