Chapter 61: Ill Intentions
Later, their actions stirred up public outrage. Everyone united, joining forces to resist the natives. Gradually, the number of natives dwindled, and the relentless slaughter wore them down until they finally retreated to Heavenly Feather Mountain.
Yet, the cultivation world did not let them off so easily. Everyone knew that unless the roots were severed, disasters would surely follow. Thus, the most capable members of each sect gathered at Heavenly Feather Mountain to annihilate the natives once and for all.
But when these experts assembled and entered Heavenly Feather Mountain, they found it utterly deserted. Not a single native remained. No one knew where they had gone, and, for a time, every native vanished from the cultivation realm. Search parties scoured every corner, but none could be found. The historical records ended there.
This has always been a mystery. Listening to your story, it seems the natives must have used some secret method to travel elsewhere back then.”
“So that’s how it was. Were the natives really that powerful? Could they threaten the entire cultivation world?” Lin Hao murmured, his understanding of the natives rising to a new level.
“I can’t say for certain. I have never seen a native myself; this is merely what the history books record. Few know the exact circumstances of those years—most of us only learned about it from those records. But, after so many years, the natives have reappeared. Regardless of the accuracy of those ancient accounts, one thing is clear: the natives and the cultivation world are not of one mind. If word of this spreads, chaos will erupt again in the cultivation realm,” the elder sighed, his brows furrowed.
“But, Elder, when I encountered them and crossed swords with them, their ordinary disciples were not especially formidable. However, I did meet a native elder whose strength was astonishing—he could crush me with a single finger. That’s also why my junior, Momin, was injured: that native elder struck him once, and he ended up like this,” Lin Hao explained, recounting his encounter and battle with the native elder.
Hearing Lin Hao’s story, fear flashed in the elder’s eyes. He looked at Lin Hao and said, “What did you say? One blow reduced Momin to this? That must be a formidable opponent. In our sect, perhaps only the sect leader could match him. It seems the natives’ intentions are indeed malicious.
We must hurry back to the sect and prepare our defenses. Who knows what the natives are plotting, or whether their presence this time bodes well or ill.
But how did you escape unscathed?”
“Well, Elder, when I first entered the mountain, I rescued a qilin. Later, when I faced the native elder, the qilin appeared and saved me,” Lin Hao replied, deciding to tell the truth. He recounted the entire story of his encounter with the qilin.
The elder listened and finally understood, looking at Lin Hao with amazement. “So your luck is truly extraordinary. Thankfully, you had the qilin’s help—otherwise, we might never have seen you or Momin again, nor received your warning to leave Heavenly Feather Mountain,” the elder exclaimed, marveling at Lin Hao’s fortune.
Lin Hao simply raised his brows, neither agreeing nor denying.
Seeing the elder still troubled, Lin Hao offered comfort: “There’s no need to worry, Elder. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way. If we once forced the natives to flee to another world, we can do so again—there’s nothing to fear.
Besides, they haven’t emerged yet. Aren’t they still confined within Heavenly Feather Mountain?”
With Lin Hao’s reassurance, the elder’s brow gradually relaxed. “You’re right. It seems my awareness is not as keen as yours, young man. I’ve been stuck in a dead end. Times have changed, and we may not be weaker than our predecessors. If the cultivation world once defeated them, why shouldn’t we be able to do so again?” The elder smiled, feeling relieved and looking ashamedly at Lin Hao.
“Please, Elder, don’t say that. You care for the whole sect and the world, while I only focus on the present—my mind is simple,” Lin Hao replied, waving his hand.
The elder was pleased by Lin Hao’s words and smiled in satisfaction.
“Enough. This matter is not ours to decide. We’ll discuss it with the sect leader when we return,” he said, sipping his tea before leaving the ship.
Lin Hao followed him out.
They saw Wu Wen and the others listening to Momin recount his experiences in Heavenly Feather Mountain, sharing stories of their own encounters.
Just as Lin Hao and the elder stepped out, they heard Momin talking about the natives.
Earlier, Lin Hao had signaled to Momin not to speak of it openly, but faced with his senior brothers’ questions, and being so young, Momin grew animated as he told his tale of valor, inadvertently revealing the natives’ reappearance.
Once he slipped, he decided to tell everything.
As Lin Hao approached, he heard Momin describe his battle with the native elder, lamenting how he was sent flying by a single blow, his face showing deep disappointment.
Upon hearing this, Wu Wen and the others were shocked. “What! Was that elder really so powerful? Could he rival our sect leader?”
“Indeed, are the natives really that formidable?”
All the disciples’ expressions grew grave.
The elder saw this and clapped his hands, saying, “What’s the fuss? Why worry? Everyone made it out alive, didn’t they? There’s nothing to fear—even if he’s strong, there are always stronger people.”
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“Elder, but the natives…” Wu Wen seemed to know something and looked at the elder.
As soon as he spoke, the elder raised his hand, signaling Wu Wen to keep quiet.
Wu Wen immediately fell silent. The elder continued, “Let’s not dwell on the past. Focus on the present. These matters are not yours to worry about. We should hurry back to the Breeze Sect—the entrance ceremony for inner disciples is coming up. Lin Hao is our sect’s hero this time. When we return, I’ll inform the sect leader and see you properly rewarded.”
The elder quickly changed the subject.
No one truly understood the history of the natives.
Hearing the elder’s words, their brows eased. Youthful and eager for excitement, they were soon animated, discussing the entrance ceremony and Lin Hao’s achievements.
“Lin Hao, let me tell you about the entrance ceremony…”
“Hey, Lin Hao, let me tell you how I joined…”
For a while, Lin Hao was surrounded, bearing the enthusiasm of his brothers.
He was somewhat unaccustomed, but appreciated their goodwill, smiling as he chatted and joked with them.
The next day, they were halfway home, nearly back at the Breeze Sect.
Lin Hao and his brothers were enjoying the breeze on the deck.
Suddenly, it seemed something struck the ship.
Lin Hao immediately grew alert and looked down.
The ship had been split by arrows!
He quickly looked toward the direction the arrows had come from.
A group of masked men in black, riding their own ship, were approaching.
Their aura was menacing.
Seeing Lin Hao, they flew over and charged at him with blades drawn.
Swish, swish, swish!
Shadows in black fell from the sky.
Lin Hao pulled his nearby brother close, raised the Cloud-Swallowing Sword, and advanced.
With swift, deadly exchanges, he faced the assassins.
The Cloud-Swallowing Sword summoned wind and thunder, its blade gleaming with strange fire, dispatching several killers in an instant.
These assassins seemed to recognize Lin Hao.
Once aboard, they all targeted him.
The elder and others reacted quickly. “Who are you? What do you want?”
Wu Wen, in particular, raised his weapon—a meteor hammer—and joined the fray.
“Lin Hao, I’ll help you!”
He aided Lin Hao in slaying the assassins.
Lin Hao had his suspicions, his face full of murderous intent as he wielded the Cloud-Swallowing Sword, felling one after another.
Slash, slash, slash!
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Above the ship, chaos reigned. The assassins fought ruthlessly, and Lin Hao and his companions struck back with lethal force.
The clash of blades echoed fiercely.
The sounds of strange fire and icy spikes rang out.
The masked killers targeted only Lin Hao, but the elders and brothers all aided him, making it difficult for them to succeed.
Their numbers dwindled.
Seeing the situation worsen, the leader of the black-clad group raised his hand and shouted, “Retreat!”
They all flew back to their ship.
Lin Hao, standing on his ship, watched them.
His brothers stood beside him, their eyes fierce as they stared at the opposing vessel.
Lin Hao saw the leader’s eyes flash with a sinister light, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
“Quick, retreat!” Lin Hao shouted instinctively.
But it was too late!
The assassins raised their hands and cried, “Loose arrows!”
Swish, swish, swish!
A shower of red light flew toward Lin Hao and his companions.
Boom, boom, boom!
As the red light struck, explosions erupted.
No one had time to dodge.
The ship was blown apart.
“Ah!”
Cries of agony rang out!
His brothers were killed or wounded; Lin Hao barely had time to react.
As he came to his senses, he managed to encircle Wu Wen, Momin, and the elder in a ring of spiritual energy.
The other brothers, he could not save in time.
The ship was shattered with them.
What was this terrifying power?
Seeing the weapons in their enemies’ hands, Lin Hao’s eyes filled with grief, fury, and murderous intent.
The elder, too, cried out in anguish, “Ah! Xiao San! Ruthless! To harm disciples of the Breeze Sect—you must have grown tired of living!”
At that moment, the elder wished to tear them apart.
But helplessly, they survived only by staying within Lin Hao’s protective circle, able to float in the air.