A few days later, outside the Stone Tower in the center of the city.
Lin Dong, Lin Ke'er, Lin Xue, and Huangfu Jing, who had received the message, exchanged glances. Huangfu Jing, in particular, didn't understand why Lin Xuan had summoned her. After all, the first three were members of the Lin Clan, but she was not.
"Creak!"
The gate of the Stone Tower slowly opened. Lin Ke'er and Lin Xue exchanged glances before entering the tower.
As soon as Lin Dong stepped into the Stone Tower, his gaze was drawn to the white-robed figure sitting by the window on a stone stool, head lowered, gently wiping a dark, bladeless Divine Sword.
"He actually mastered the Nirvana True Meaning to such a superb level so quickly. What a perverted talent! I'm afraid he's another monster capable of weathering three tribulations!"
Yan exclaimed in amazement, sensing the fluctuations emanating from Lin Xuan. On the day Lin Xuan finished his enlightenment, Yan could still feel the Nirvana True Meaning lingering around Lin Xuan's body.
At that time, Lin Xuan clearly had a deep understanding of the Nirvana True Meaning, but he hadn't truly reached a superb level. Moreover, he clearly lacked control, which was why he could trigger the vast tide of Nirvana Qi with every breath.
But at this moment, Yan couldn't sense the slightest fluctuation of Nirvana Qi from Lin Xuan. It was as if the Nirvana Qi in this world had disappeared the moment Lin Dong stepped into the Stone Tower.
It wasn't that the Nirvana Qi had really disappeared, but that the person before him was already capable of influencing the energy of the surrounding space with his own aura. This was an extremely clever technique.
"Weathering three tribulations?"
Lin Dong murmured. Just as he was about to ask, he saw a pair of calm eyes fall upon him.
That gaze easily penetrated Lin Dong's body and landed on the Ancestral Stone hidden deep within him.
Hiding in the Ancestral Stone, Yan met Lin Xuan's gaze through Lin Dong's body, a look of astonishment flashing in his eyes. Although Lin Xuan was looking at Lin Dong, Yan could clearly feel that Lin Xuan's gaze was on the Ancestral Stone, looking at it within the Ancestral Stone.
Little Marten, standing to the side, watched Lin Xuan's gaze, then looked at the astonished Yan, chuckling mischievously. Clearly, Little Marten, who had been overshadowed by Yan and even looked down upon by Lin Dong during this time, had deliberately withheld this information from Yan.
After Lin Xuan's gaze swept over the Ancestral Stone in Lin Dong's body, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He really hadn't expected the Ancestral Stone's spirit to have recovered.
After all, Lin Xuan never liked to pry into other people's secrets. He would only use his Sword Heart to investigate if he sensed unusual energy fluctuations around him.
A few days ago, when Yan woke up, Lin Xuan was completely immersed in enlightenment and didn't sense the surrounding energy fluctuations at all.
After moving his gaze away from Lin Dong, Lin Xuan's gaze swept over Lin Ke'er and Lin Xue, finally landing on Huangfu Jing. He nodded to Huangfu Jing and said softly,
"Next, I should go pursue my own path, so we shall part ways here."
Lin Ke'er and the others weren't surprised by Lin Xuan's words. Lin Xuan's strength naturally couldn't be the same as theirs, training in this area. Not only Lin Xuan, but even Lin Ke'er knew that Lin Dong would eventually leave and train on his own.
Therefore, after Lin Xuan finished speaking, they all nodded in agreement.
As Lin Xuan spoke, he raised his hand, and Sword Qi condensed in his hand, turning into three small swords only an inch long. He handed them to Lin Ke'er and said again,
"The path of cultivation is ultimately one's own. External objects are just that. I hope you all take care. If you can enter the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, help me thank the Palace Master for the grace of teaching. Lin Xuan will remember it in his heart!"
Lin Ke'er, who had just given Lin Xue a small sword for protection, silently retracted her hand and gave the other small sword in her hand to Huangfu Jing.
Huangfu Jing hesitated for a moment. Seeing that Lin Xuan's expression didn't seem to change, she hesitantly accepted it. Mainly, according to Huangfu Jing's limited understanding of Lin Xuan, she was afraid that Lin Ke'er had given him the share that originally belonged to Lin Dong, and the Sword Saint probably still wouldn't have any reaction.
This genius, who even the Palace Master marveled at, seemed to always be rather indifferent in various emotional aspects, almost similar to Ling Qingzhu.
Thinking of Ling Qingzhu, Huangfu Jing always felt that this Sword Saint in front of her and Ling Qingzhu had a strange resemblance, their personalities were really similar. However, Ling Qingzhu's arrogance was slightly more flamboyant. She seemed polite to everyone, but you could feel the cold indifference beneath that politeness, keeping people at arm's length.
And this Sword Saint in front of her seemed to be genuinely polite to everyone, as if everyone was the same. But it was precisely because of this equal politeness that there was an air of aloofness. Perhaps in his eyes, there were no opponents who could truly be taken to heart.
Lin Xuan looked at Huangfu Jing's eyes, his brow furrowing slightly. He always felt that her eyes seemed a little impure, but he didn't say much. He just said to Lin Ke'er and the others,
"As for whether you choose to travel Together, it's up to you. I hope to see you on Hundred Dynasty Mountain!"
While speaking, Lin Xuan's gaze swept over Lin Dong and Lin Ke'er, his intuition telling him on the way here that there seemed to be something different between these two.
However, Lin Xuan had never liked meddling in other people's affairs, and he kept a respectful distance from the so-called emotions that those people pursued.
The Sword should always be decisive and clean. Drawing the Sword should be fast, and sheathing the Sword should be even faster. In Lin Xuan's view, Lin Dong's hesitation and uncertainty were not a good sign for the Sword.
"Hehe, Lin Dong, look at Sword Saint, how decisive. You should learn from him."
Having suffered a lot of grievances during this period, Little Marten quickly used the Lin Xuan in front of him as a positive example for Lin Dong. However, in front of Lin Xuan, Lin Dong could only suppress the urge to roll his eyes and not bother with this young, single Marten.
Seeing that Lin Xuan had finished speaking and didn't say anything more, Lin Ke'er and the other two immediately understood and retreated from the Stone Tower. However, when they were about to leave the tower, they subconsciously glanced at Lin Dong.
After seeing Lin Ke'er and the others leave, Lin Xuan turned his gaze to Lin Dong and said in a calm tone.
"To think that one day, I would be able to see the Ancestral Stone Spirit. It is Lin Xuan's good fortune in this life. Moreover, if it weren't for your help, I'm afraid Lin Xuan would have already fallen."
Yan, who appeared from within Lin Dong's body, looked at Lin Xuan with a strange expression. There was nothing wrong with the words, and the tone did match the character of this peerless genius, but when combined, it always felt a bit odd.
However, since Lin Xuan had personally spoken, Yan naturally responded politely, with a hint of gratitude in his words.
"Sword Saint is too kind. Speaking of which, it is thanks to Sword Saint. If Sword Saint hadn't killed the Nine Kings Hall's clone and left behind that Demon Emperor Armor, I wouldn't have been able to recover so quickly. Moreover, Sword Saint is suppressing demons for the sake of the world, so Yan, as the Ancestral Stone Spirit, should naturally help Sword Saint."
Saving Lin Xuan was not actually controlled by Yan, but rather the Ancestral Stone's own recognition of Lin Xuan. In fact, if Lin Xuan himself didn't want the Ancestral Stone, Lin Xuan would already be Yan's new master.
Although some words might be hurtful, Yan always believed in his heart that compared to the peerless genius before him, Lin Dong's future path could be said to be a long and arduous one, with quite a bit of difference.
Little Marten, who had appeared with him, stood on Lin Dong's shoulder, his Marten face tense, afraid that he would not be able to help but laugh out loud. Only a naive guy like Yan would believe the words coming out of this genius's mouth.
If it were someone else, burning their life force would inevitably lead to death. But if that person were replaced by Lin Xuan, not to mention burning his life force, even if he was already dead and lying motionless on the ground, Little Marten believed that this genius would emerge again at some point.
Standing there, listening to Yan and the Young Clan Leader speak, Lin Dong, who was lost in thought, suddenly sensed a gaze falling on him. He quickly turned his head to look, only to hear Lin Xuan speak again.
"Since you have obtained the Devouring Ancestor Symbol and inherited the Black Eyes Legacy, I should have given you a Sword Talisman for protection. However, with the Ancestral Stone Spirit assisting you, if you can find a Life and Death Reincarnation Pill for this Sky Demon Marten, you will naturally have a capable assistant by your side, and there is no need for external assistance."
Lin Dong subconsciously nodded upon hearing this, completely unaware of the look of disappointment in Little Marten's eyes.
Looking at the high-spirited Lin Dong, Lin Xuan's eyes couldn't help but reveal a bit of unusual emotion, and he rarely spoke more, continuing.
"The Devouring Ancestor Symbol is a divine object of heaven and earth. There are countless people in the world who covet it, so be careful when using it! Also, be careful of Yuan Gate. If you encounter them, it is best to avoid them first!"
There was a hint of deep light flowing in Lin Xuan's eyes. He couldn't remember many small things anymore. After all, compared to the so-called 'precognition,' as a Sword practitioner, Lin Xuan believed more in the Sword in his hand!
But there were some things that Lin Xuan still remembered. Yuan Gate was a group of demons that should be eliminated! If Yuan Gate knew that Lin Dong possessed the Ancestor Symbol, it would be very difficult for Lin Dong to leave this space of the Ancient Battlefield.
After hearing the name Yuan Gate, Lin Dong's eyes couldn't help but narrow slightly. This was not the first time he had heard the name Yuan Gate. Little Marten had mentioned it once before, but at that time, Lin Dong was not clear about what Yuan Gate was.
Listening to Lin Xuan's words, Little Marten's small eyes rolled around, and looking at the rather solemn expression on Lin Xuan's face, an extremely bold guess rose in his heart.
"Sword Saint, could it be that you think that Yuan Gate is colluding with the Otherworldly Demon?"
As he spoke, before Lin Xuan could open his mouth, memories of Yuan Gate's rise flashed through Little Marten's mind, and a look of horror gradually emerged in his eyes.
"These bastards, they might really be the Otherworldly Demon's lackeys. Back then, Yuan Gate was just a small sect, but it rose at an extremely strange speed. Since then, it has stood in the Eastern Xuan Region for countless years, enduring without decline."
"Even the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace, the super sect in the Eastern Xuan Region with the longest history, has risen and fallen many times. Even the overlord of the Northern Xuan Region, the Darkness Hall, has experienced prosperity and decline. But Yuan Gate has always been the overlord of the Eastern Xuan Region since its rise. There must be a conspiracy in this. These damned bastards!"
Little Marten cursed angrily, with a hint of surging killing intent in his eyes. Yuan Gate was originally the opponent of their Sky Demon Marten clan, and the Otherworldly Demon was the real culprit that caused his fall back then, so the anger in Little Marten's heart was naturally conceivable.
Even Little Marten suspected that the reason the Yuan Gate had been deliberately antagonizing the Sky Demon Marten clan was to use the pressure on the Sky Demon Marten clan to draw the attention of the Eastern Xuan Region, and even the forces of the Four Xuan Regions, to the Sky Demon Marten clan, so that the Yuan Gate's group of bastards could hide themselves nicely.
Damn it, not only was he their enemy, but they also treated his entire Sky Demon Marten clan as a tool. It infuriated Little Marten!
"I haven't encountered them yet. In short, be careful and try not to be noticed. The three great head teachers of the Yuan Gate are all Revolving Wheel Realm experts, and their strength is a thousand times greater than mine. If the Yuan Gate finds out, it will be difficult for me to protect you."
When Lin Xuan spoke, his tone inevitably became serious, which made Lin Dong, who was used to Lin Xuan's nonchalant appearance, feel a slight weight in his heart. He nodded seriously and cupped his fist.
"Thank you, Young Clan Leader, for the warning. Lin Dong will keep it in mind."
"Well, go!"
In front of the window, Lin Xuan watched Lin Dong's back leave. The silver-white long hair behind his head quietly turned into a deep, dark color, as if all the light had been swallowed up.
In the palm of his right hand behind his back, there was a surge of special energy. Among them, a special fire energy was particularly strong, occupying most of the space. In the remaining space, there were black, white-gold, and deep cyan energies surging.
As the energy surged, the surrounding space seemed to distort, and even the special laws of this space began to become active.
It wasn't until Lin Dong's figure disappeared that Lin Xuan turned his gaze away, looking towards the more eastern direction.
Previously, Lin Xuan had seen the map that the Nine Heavens Great Purity Palace gave to Huangfu Jing. Lin Xuan remembered that in the northeast region, there seemed to be the inheritance of the Four Great Demon Sects.
According to Lin Xuan's guess, the inheritance of the Four Great Demon Sects most likely contained the true inheritance of the Four Fiend Beasts from the ancient times.
Even, Lin Xuan's intuition told him that if he could unlock the inheritance of the Four Sacred Beasts and the Four Fiend Beasts, perhaps he could completely unlock the true secret of this ancient world.
Thinking of this, Lin Xuan silently took out his wine pot and drank the wine in it.