Chapter Forty-Two: The Purple Sun Sect

Seemingly struck by a thought, Lin Cheng rose from his seat. He glanced at Fatty Lin and said, "If you return to the Qingyang Sect before me, remember to look after Little Demon for me. I've left it in the cave to cultivate alone."

Lin Hu asked, "Is that the black dog you brought back?"

Lin Cheng curled his lips. "It's not a dog. Forget it... I'll explain later. Just take care of it for me."

Lin Hu replied, "With me there, you can rest easy. But are you leaving for a long time this time?"

"Don’t forget the Three Sect Grand Competition in a year. We’ll go together to witness the top talents from the three great sects."

Lin Cheng reassured him, "Don’t worry, I won’t forget..."

A hundred miles from Lin Family Village, atop a high mountain—

Lin Cheng stood with hands clasped behind his back.

After bidding farewell to Fatty Lin, he was about to set out.

To journey to the distant world he had once yearned for.

He looked toward the village where he had lived for more than ten years.

After a long while, he sighed softly, a trace of melancholy in his heart, then slowly clenched his fists.

As though encouraging himself, he murmured, "The world outside must be even more magnificent..."

Stretching his arms and loosening his muscles, Lin Cheng smiled, casting away the lingering melancholy.

He turned, and the Clear Wind Sword flashed beneath his feet as he stepped forward.

He transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the sky...

The skies of Zhao Kingdom.

I am coming!

Ziyang Sect, one of the three great sects of Zhao Kingdom.

As one of the most powerful forces in Zhao, its sect was established directly atop a majestic mountain several thousand miles from the capital, Chang’an.

Due to its name, this mountain was also called Ziyang Mountain.

Ziyang Mountain, with its overlapping peaks and precipitous cliffs, its main summit towered above the clouds.

A thousand miles to the south lay Chang’an City.

To the east and north, it backed onto the ancient Jade Mountain Range, and to the west, ten thousand miles away, flowed a grand canal encircling the entire territory of Zhao, which could also be called the kingdom’s border.

Ziyang Sect stood like a fierce tiger, occupying the northern frontier of Zhao Kingdom.

At the summit of Ziyang Sect’s main peak, immortal mist swirled and purple aura surged, as if it were a celestial realm among mortals.

On a steep cliff’s edge,

An elder in a crimson brocade robe was performing hand seals, seemingly divining something.

Looking closely, one could see countless fine green filaments in the air around him, stretching outward, interwoven like a vast spider web.

As the elder’s hand seals changed, soon a single red filament appeared among the dense green threads.

His eyes snapped open, and with two fingers, he pinched the red thread, trying to draw it forth.

As more than half of the red thread emerged, the elder cast another seal, a mysterious force coursing along the filament.

In an instant, ripples spread through the space before him, presenting a scene.

Within it, a young man in red staggered forward, glancing back as though being pursued. A mocking voice sounded: "Run, why aren’t you running…" A brocade-robed man appeared—this was the scene when Si Miao chased Wang Shan.

Next, Lin Cheng appeared, attempting to rescue Wang Shan, but was easily crushed by Si Miao. When Si Miao was about to kill both in anger, a black dog launched a surprise attack, only to be swatted aside by Si Miao.

The elder stared at the scene, enduring the backlash from wielding such a heaven-defying secret art.

Just then, the red thread between his fingers snapped, and the vision vanished abruptly.

He spat a mouthful of blood, his expression grim as he looked up at the sky.

His aura faded; he clenched his fist in frustration. His robe flapped in the wind, and amidst his thick black hair, a few strands of white had appeared.

"Master, did it fail again?"

Seeing the elder’s condition, a yellow-robed youth who had been waiting nearby hurried forward, bowing deeply.

"Who possesses such skill, that even when I have drawn out Miao’er’s thread of karma and invoked the secret art of temporal reversal, can so easily break the thread and block others from peering in…"

"Who is this person?"

Ignoring the youth, the elder muttered with furrowed brow.

He paced by the cliff, twisting his beard, his face dark.

The youth said nothing more, standing quietly to the side.

"Any news from Qingyang Sect?" Unable to unravel the mystery, the elder turned his mind back and asked.

The youth answered respectfully, "Reporting, Master, our spies in Qingyang Sect say that Wang Shan escaped Senior Brother Si Miao’s pursuit because a mysterious person appeared midway and, seeing injustice, rescued Wang Shan."

The elder’s eyes glinted. "A mysterious person... Could it be that youth? But as far as I observed, even if the two joined forces, they would not be Si Miao’s match. It seems... there must be another."

He asked again, "Any information on this Lin Cheng?"

The youth replied, "Master, the youth named Lin Cheng is a newly recruited disciple of Sword-Hidden Peak this year. He was accepted as the personal disciple of Master Hidden Blade."

The elder’s gaze sharpened. "Hidden Blade’s personal disciple? Interesting… Ever since his son died, he hasn’t taken a true disciple... If so, this Lin Cheng may not be simple."

"Master, shall we send someone..." The youth gestured a cutting motion with his hand.

The elder turned, pondering.

"Be efficient. Have those below handle it..."

"Yes, Master."

The mountain wind howled, biting to the bone, but nothing could match the chilling cold of the words exchanged.

In the dark night sky, a bright moon hung alone, casting a pale, enigmatic light.

Beside a mountain path, within a small grove, a faint campfire flickered, its dancing flames bringing a trace of warmth to the silent night.

Turning the spit of wild rabbit over the fire, Lin Cheng examined the map he carried.

It had been three days since leaving Lin Family Village. Walking and stopping along the way, the initial excitement had faded amidst the solitude.

According to the map, beyond the forest and the mountains ahead, a small town should be about a hundred miles away.

He opened his flask, took a sip, and seeing the rabbit was done, tore off a leg and ate.

Just then, he noticed torchlight flickering on the distant mountain road.

Soon, a caravan loaded with goods appeared on the path beside the grove. Perhaps noticing Lin Cheng’s campfire, a few people from the caravan approached.

Leading them was a young girl in a pink dress.

She had an oval face, fair skin, delicate features, and a cherry-red mouth that moved constantly as she spoke to those behind her.

Beneath her arched brows were lively eyes; when she smiled, two dimples appeared, making her adorably charming.

Before she even reached Lin Cheng, her sweet voice rang out,

"Young hero, are you alone?"