Chapter 28: An Unexpected Turn

When Lin Hao finished speaking, the man opposite him stepped onto his ship and soared into the sky. Lin Hao immediately rose as well, and the two faced each other in midair.

Lin Hao produced his personal magical artifact, the Cloud-Swallowing Sword. This was the first time he had used it since forming a contract with the blade. After the contract, the sword’s purpose revealed itself to him—after all, it was a fragment of a chaotic artifact, far superior to ordinary magical implements, though its appearance was rather unremarkable.

The man opposite him sneered at the sight of Lin Hao’s sword. He himself wielded a superior spiritual sword, its length ten times that of the Cloud-Swallowing Sword and glowing with a green light. Anyone could see at a glance it was a top-tier implement of considerable power. He stared at Lin Hao’s sword in surprise, while the disciples of the Clearwind Sect watched anxiously, brows furrowed.

“What’s going on?”

“Yes, why is he using such an artifact?”

“Are you sure you’re going to fight me with just that?” the white-robed youth taunted, thinking Lin Hao must be joking.

Lin Hao calmly looked at his Cloud-Swallowing Sword. “This is enough. More than enough to honor you.”

His words sparked anger and murderous intent in the other youth’s eyes, who felt belittled and resolved to teach Lin Hao a lesson. He raised his superior spiritual sword and charged at Lin Hao. A streak of green light shot toward Lin Hao’s head, but Lin Hao dodged swiftly. With a casual wave, a lotus of strange flame flew toward his opponent, who parried it with his sword.

He hadn’t expected the power behind Lin Hao’s flame lotus. As the fire touched his sword, smoke began to rise from the blade. When the flames finally died, a black mark marred the sword’s surface.

Staring at his weapon in disbelief, the man exclaimed, “You wield a strange flame!”

Lin Hao ignored him and launched another wave of the mysterious fire. Now the man began to take him seriously, dodging the attack. Still, he dismissed the Cloud-Swallowing Sword, as Lin Hao had not wielded it thus far, relying only on his strange flame. He assumed this was Lin Hao’s greatest asset.

With a dark glint in his eyes, after another close call with the flame, the youth muttered an incantation and suddenly vanished.

Everyone below watched the unfolding battle with tension. As the man disappeared, the Clearwind Sect disciples’ pupils widened with concern and confusion.

“Ah! Where did he go?”

“This is bad. Lin Hao is in danger.”

The other side looked smug and triumphant.

Lin Hao’s heart skipped a beat, his expression growing grave as he scanned his surroundings. Suddenly, he sensed a gust behind him and instinctively spun around.

At that moment, the man had already appeared behind Lin Hao—everyone below saw it. The Clearwind Sect disciples were so worried they could barely speak, as the spiritual sword nearly pierced Lin Hao’s back.

The spectators from the opposing sect were certain of victory.

But Lin Hao spun around, drew his Cloud-Swallowing Sword, and plunged it into the attacker’s abdomen before the youth could react. As the blade was withdrawn, a white flash descended from the sky, and the youth felt his organs burn as if set ablaze. Lin Hao pulled out the sword, causing the youth to plummet rapidly.

With a crash, he landed atop his sect’s ship, unable to stand, blood gushing from his mouth.

Lin Hao had won!

That was the thought echoing in every member of the Clearwind Sect—utter astonishment. No one had expected Lin Hao to triumph, and the opposing side was equally incredulous. Their people rushed to help the white-robed youth, administering pills and medicine to his wound. Gradually, he recovered enough to stand with assistance.

Lin Hao slowly descended onto the ship, his Cloud-Swallowing Sword already stowed away within his spiritual sea. As he stood on the deck, all eyes from the Clearwind Sect followed him, unsure how to react. Even the elder in charge gazed at Lin Hao with a complex expression.

He was pleased for the sake of the sect’s reputation, though he had braced himself for humiliation and defeat that day. Unexpectedly, Lin Hao emerged as a dark horse, creating a sensation. Yet the elder was also uneasy. Based on Lin Hao’s apparent strength, such power should have been impossible, and none had ever seen his artifact before—who could have anticipated its potency?

After a moment of silence, the Clearwind Sect disciples erupted in cheers. “We won! Incredible! Lin Hao, we did it!”

Everyone surrounded Lin Hao, smiling and congratulating him.

On the other side, as the white-robed youth was helped to his feet, the elder’s expression darkened, watching Lin Hao and his supporters celebrate. Suddenly, his demeanor shifted to affable, and he stepped forward, applauding.

“Well done, Clearwind Sect’s top disciple, Qingyun. To defeat our core disciple proves your strength. Such talent is wasted in Clearwind—would you consider joining our sect? I assure you, you would be welcomed as a core disciple, your status never beneath that of Clearwind’s finest.”

He was recruiting Lin Hao outright, his eyes gleaming. The offer was tempting, and the Clearwind Sect’s smiles froze into grim expressions. Even the elders glared at their rival, thinking him a despicable opportunist.

But the offer was made; all eyes now turned to Lin Hao’s response. The elder genuinely worried Lin Hao might accept.

Indeed, Lin Hao’s talent was remarkable. The elder had not expected such prowess, and if he were in Lin Hao’s place, he might well be tempted. He watched Lin Hao anxiously, as did the other Clearwind Sect disciples.

If Lin Hao defected on the spot, it would mean their sect had just lost again. Moreover, apart from Lin Hao, no one present could defeat their rival.

The scene fell silent.

Lin Hao listened to the elder’s words, glanced at those around him, and stepped forward. “I’m sorry, Elder. I am not Qingyun. I am but a minor figure in the Clearwind Sect. Only recently entered the inner sect, just a few days ago, in fact. I was an outer disciple not long ago and haven’t even attended the initiation ceremony. I am unqualified to be your sect’s core disciple. You flatter me.”

The elder’s face fell, staring at Lin Hao in disbelief. “You’re not Qingyun?”

“Of course not. I never claimed to be Qingyun. The disciples of Clearwind can testify.”

The elder looked to the Clearwind Sect’s elders. Upon hearing Lin Hao’s refusal, their own elder was relieved, and he quickly nodded. “Indeed, Lin Hao is but a humble disciple of our sect. To call him Qingyun is to overrate him. Clearwind is not lacking in talent—such strength is not uncommon here. You needn’t exaggerate.”

The opposing elder’s face darkened further, especially the injured youth, whose eyes flashed with shock. He shouted, nearly hysterical, “Impossible! You’re not Qingyun? How could you not be Qingyun? How could you defeat me? Impossible! How could a mere novice of the inner sect best me?”

Clearly, he was deeply unsettled.

Just then, another voice rang out from the opposing ship—soft yet carrying an unmistakable pressure.

“What’s going on here?”

All turned to look, and saw a woman emerge slowly from the ship. Her attire was revealing, her makeup exquisitely applied, and on her head bloomed a crimson poppy—deadly poisonous, yet breathtakingly beautiful. Few dared wear such a flower, and it often outshone the wearer’s beauty. Yet this woman’s appearance was striking; the flower only accentuated her allure.

Her makeup was seductive, and as she spoke, she approached the Clearwind Sect’s group. Everyone from the opposing side fell silent, making way for her as she strode to the edge of the ship, her gaze settling on Lin Hao.

She had witnessed the earlier events from within the ship, and as she looked at Lin Hao, a flicker of admiration shone in her eyes.