Chapter 345-346 (Patreon)

345. Grave Of Liu Yibai

"Where does my martial path stand now?" Lin Fei inquired, fixing his gaze upon his revered master, Zhao Kongming, the leader of the Nine Profound Sect.

"Why do you ask?" Lin Fei responded.

"Great Chang is now teeming with formidable experts. From the Golden Core True Persons of the Immortal Dao to the Martial Sovereigns of the Martial Dao. Their numbers are vast. If Elder Lin continues to display such dominance, I fear..."

The leader of the Nine Profound Sect left his sentence hanging, but his meaning was evident. They wished to ascertain Lin Fei's true strength, to determine if he could withstand the pressure from such numerous powerful figures. Otherwise, if Lin Fei boldly made declarations, yet the pinnacle of martial artists broke through the Nine Profound Sect's gates, disaster would ensue.

Lin Fei remained silent. Instead, Shen Lianxin spoke coolly, "Above a Martial Saint are the Martial Sovereign and the Martial King. And Brother Lin is unmatched beneath the Martial King."

Shen Lianxin's succinct words caused a ripple of shock to surge through the hearts of the sect leader and Zhao Kongming.

Unmatched beneath the Martial King! In just two years, Lin Fei had progressed from a mere Martial Saint to becoming unparalleled beneath a Martial King?

Shen Lianxin was a man of his word, never one for exaggeration. If he proclaimed Lin Fei as "unmatched beneath the Martial King," it would likely be the undeniable truth.

Though they were astounded, on reflection, Lin Fei's rapid progression from a mere body-cultivating martial artist to the unparalleled saber saint of the Nine Profound Sect in Great Chang was no less astonishing.

"Ha! Unparalleled beneath the Martial King!" the sect leader exclaimed. "Splendid! The misfortune of the Hidden Sword Sect is deeply unsettling. Currently, all of Great Chang is on edge. We fume in silence. However, with Elder Lin's return, hope was rekindled.

The Golden Core True Person responsible for obliterating the Hidden Sword Sect is called True Person Youming. Presently, he dominates the Hidden Sword Sect. It was also this True Person Youming who took the life of Liu Yibai. Moreover, the True Person Youming leads a group that includes eight Golden Core True Persons. They rank among the most powerful forces in all of Great Chang, a force even those Martial Sovereigns and Golden Cores revere."

The Nine Profound Sect leader recounted the calamitous events that befell Liu Yibai and the Hidden Sword Sect in detail.

"Youming..." Lin Fei's eyes turned icy. In an instant, he transformed into a streak of light, soaring away from the Nine Profound Sect. As he departed, he left behind a message for Shen Lianxin, "Brother Shen, watch over the Nine Profound Sect for me. I shall make a brief visit to the Hidden Sword Sect and return shortly."

His voice echoed in the ears of the onlookers as his silhouette vanished into the horizon.

...

At the foot of the Hidden Sword Sect's mountain, Lin Fei initially flew directly toward the sect's location. However, upon nearing the base of the mountain, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura. Drawn to this energy, he ventured to the base of the Hidden Sword Sect's mountain. There, he discovered a solitary grave, standing desolate in the wilderness. Its simplicity was heartrending.

Not too far from the grave, there was a faint murmur of voices. Lin Fei chose to ignore it and approached the grave instead. There was a wooden board placed in front, inscribed with the words: "Grave of Liu Yibai Sword Saint of Hidden Sword Sect."

The realization dawned upon him that this solitary grave belonged to Liu Yibai. The grand Sword Saint of the Hidden Sword Sect was laid to rest in such a desolate grave.

"Did you dig this grave?" Lin Fei noticed a figure lurking in the distant bushes. It was a young man. His once pristine white clothes were now tainted with dirt and grime, bearing a rather haggard appearance.

"Yes, I did. Who are you?" the young man replied with caution.

"I could be considered a friend of Brother Liu," Lin Fei responded gently.

"You knew my master?" the young man seemed to recognize Lin Fei. "Then you must be a grandmaster! I indeed dug this grave. I am also a disciple of the Hidden Sword Sect. I was away during the disaster and hence survived. When I returned covertly to the sect, I only found Master's two broken swords. So, it's not him buried here, but his swords. Master's body is nowhere to be found."

The young man's voice quivered with rage and pain, the once glorious disciples of the Hidden Sword Sect now reduced to such a tragic state. But Lin Fei admired the young man's audacity. Not even being at the Innate stage, just an acquired disciple, he had dared to stealthily enter the Hidden Sword Sect.

"Weren't you aware that the Hidden Sword Sect is occupied by several Golden Core True Persons?" Lin Fei questioned. "How did you manage to sneak in without being detected?"

"I've been watching from the foot of the mountain. There are eight of them. I hid for over ten days and saw a dominating light flying out of the Hidden Sword Sect. Guessing they had departed, I ventured up the mountain," the young disciple elaborated.

Lin Fei understood. The disciple had waited patiently for the right moment, only climbing up after True Person Youming had left.

"Where is the True Person Youming now?" Lin Fei inquired further.

"They returned to the Hidden Sword Sect," the young disciple informed.

"Why didn't you leave?"

"I won't leave. I am an orphan, and since childhood, the Hidden Sword Sect has been my home," the young man's voice choked with emotion. "Now, with my master, elders, and sect leader dead, I stay here. Once those villains leave, I plan to climb back up, hoping to retrieve and properly bury the swords or bodies of more elders."

Lin Fei fell silent. The young disciple from the Hidden Sword Sect had evidently moved beyond the concerns of life and death. Perhaps his only resolve was to keep watch over these graves, ensuring that more members of the Hidden Sword Sect would be laid to rest.

However, as Lin Fei gazed at Liu Yibai's grave, he suddenly reached out and slapped it. The grave crumbled.

"What are you doing?" The young man's eyes went red with rage, and he drew his sword swiftly and aimed it at Lin Fei. But just as he was about to strike, he felt his body go rigid, unable to move.

Staring at the two broken swords inside the grave, Lin Fei was all too familiar with them. With a simple gesture, the swords flew into his hands. "Indeed, it's Brother Liu's sword. Shouldn't the swords of the Hidden Sword Sect be buried in the Sword Tomb? Only there, I believe, would Brother Liu rest in peace."

"Sword Tomb? Since you know about it, you must truly be a friend of the master," the disciple remarked. "But the Hidden Sword Sect is occupied by those villains. Taking the sword to the Sword Tomb is difficult."

The young man now realized that Lin Fei wasn't an enemy. Lin Fei released him, looking towards the entrance of the Hidden Sword Sect. "The first time I came to Hidden Sword Sect, I visited the Sword Tomb. I never imagined that upon my return, everything would be so changed. Come, I'll take you to the Sword Tomb. Once we've dealt with these Golden Core cultivators, you can remain here and rebuild the Hidden Sword Sect. I believe Brother Liu would be proud to know of a disciple like you."

With that, Lin Fei reached out and pulled the disciple into the void. In the next moment, with a single step, they soared into the sky, heading towards the Hidden Sword Sect's entrance.

Watching Lin Fei fly effortlessly, the young disciple was overwhelmed. "Who are you, senior? Only a Martial Saint can tread the sky like this. In the entirety of Great Chang, there were only three Martial Saints: my master, and Saber Saint Lin from Nine Profound Sect. Maybe there's also a mysterious Shen-named Martial Saint, but they've never been seen... Could you be..."

Lin Fei nodded calmly, "It seems there are still those in Great Chang who remember me."

The realization hit the young disciple hard, and his eyes widened in astonishment. The legend, Saber Saint Lin Fei, had returned!

346. Avenge

"You're Saber Saint Lin Fei!" The Hidden Sword Sect disciple was overcome with emotion. To him, Lin Fei was not just a name. It was a symbol. A symbol of miracles. Even he had to admit that among the three martial saints of Great Chang, Lin Fei stood supreme. Even his master, Sword Saint Liu Yibai, paled in comparison to Lin Fei.

Lin Fei had destroyed sects like the Sky Reaching Sect, something that even the ancestors of Great Chang couldn't accomplish. After his rise, Lin Fei was undefeated in battle, becoming the Saber Saint and standing atop the entirety of Great Chang.

As outsiders like Martial Sovereigns and Golden Core True Persons began to wreak havoc in Great Chang, many yearned for the return of Saber Saint Lin Fei to restore order. And now, he was back.

Lin Fei casually placed the Hidden Sword Sect disciple at the Sword Tomb. Standing in the void, he felt the presence of eight auras locking onto him - eight Golden Core True Persons. Leading them was True Person Youming, who immediately recognized that Lin Fei was a Martial Sovereign.

In Great Chang, far from the Ancient Continent, every Martial Sovereign and Golden Core True Person needed to be extra cautious, cause unsure of the abilities of others.

"Eight Golden Core cultivators, all here," Lin Fei remarked calmly, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. The next moment, a massive Life Wheel appeared behind him, its oppressive aura instantly descending upon the area.

True Person Youming's heart tightened at the sight. Six layers of radiance, indicating six Divine Abilities, meant Lin Fei was in the middle phase of Martial Sovereign. They were just ordinary Golden Core True Persons. Facing a middle-phase Martial Sovereign would be a challenge. Moreover, Lin Fei's Life Wheel's aura seemed even stronger than other top-tier Martial Sovereigns they had encountered.

As the Life Wheel's pressure bore down, the Golden Core True Persons felt their entire bodies shaking, sensing extreme danger.

Panicking, True Person Youming quickly pleaded, "Stop! Whatever you want, we'll give! Do you want the Hidden Sword Sect? Take it! We came for treasures, but now we don't even have clues. There's no need for conflict. Let's not make a mockery of ourselves."

True Person Youming was prepared to concede the Hidden Sword Sect at once. The sect was originally theirs to control, but the terrifying power emanating from Lin Fei, the Martial Sovereign before them, made them reconsider. To risk everything over a mere sect, especially when facing such a formidable foe, would be foolish. True Person Youming thought that giving up the sect would ensure their safety. After all, while Lin Fei was indeed powerful, Youming had the backup of eight Golden Core True Persons.

If Lin Fei was indeed from the Ancient Continent, then Youming's actions would have been perfectly appropriate. The two sides would likely avoid a conflict. However, Lin Fei showed no intention of stopping. He was filled with anger and a desire for revenge. The destruction of the Hidden Sword Sect and the death of Liu Yibai were crimes that he could not overlook.

Launching Liu Yibai's broken sword toward the Sword Tomb, Lin Fei unleashed the second layer of his Life Wheel.

"Divine Ability, Gravity Domain!"

With that, an immense gravitational force enveloped Youming and the other Golden Core True Persons. No matter the protective spells or magic treasures they summoned, they couldn't withstand the pressure exerted by Lin Fei's perfected Gravity Domain. Several Golden Core True Persons, who lacked powerful protective magic treasures, were crushed to death instantly by the gravitational force.

Within moments, half of the eight Golden Core True Persons were dead. Only four continued to struggle against the overwhelming force.

"Top-tier Great Divine Ability!" Youming's face twisted in horror. Just one of Lin Fei's abilities had overpowered eight of them, causing the deaths of four. This wasn't an ordinary Divine Ability or even a Great Divine Ability. It had to be a top-tier Great Divine Ability.

"Who are you?" True Person Youming asked in disbelief. Anyone possessing and daring to use such a powerful Divine Ability couldn't be just anyone. They had to be someone of immense stature and power in the martial world.

"Divine Ability, Dual-World Saber!"

As Lin Fei's voice echoed into the silence, the void suddenly birthed a saber. It was a blade forged by the innumerable powers of the Life Wheel, spanning just a few dozen meters. At first glance, it might seem modest, yet a mere look at it sent shivers down one's spine.

With a near-silent swish, Lin Fei unleashed a strike. Silently, yet decisively, the saber cleaved through the midst of the four esteemed Golden Core True Persons. Instantly, the two on the left quivered, their bodies disintegrating as if eroded by the wind. They crumbled to dust before one's very eyes, leaving not a trace behind.

On the right stood two other Golden Core figures, one of whom was True Person Youming. They conjured their most formidable protective magical treasures but to no avail. As Lin Fei's Dual-World Saber descended, their expressions froze. Soon after, they were plunged into darkness, the very essence of life fleeing from them.

With a muted thud, the bodies of the two Golden Core True Persons were crushed by the overwhelming force of the Gravity Domain, transforming into a mist of blood. Such was the power of the Dual-World Saber: one strike severed the body, another obliterated the soul.

At that moment, all eight Golden Core True Persons lay dead. The disciple of the Hidden Sword Sect, currently within the Sword Tomb, stared into the void in disbelief, as if he couldn't trust his own eyes. With a heavy thud, he fell to his knees, tears of reverence flowing down.

"Venerable seniors of the Hidden Sword Sect," he cried, "Do you see this? The eight Golden Core adversaries have met their end at the hands of the Saber Saint Lin. Our sect's deep-seated vengeance has been avenged!"

"Since you are a disciple of the Hidden Sword Sect, then live on and rebuild your glorious sect. If you face challenges, present this token to the Nine Profound Sect for aid."

Lin Fei handed over a token to the disciple. Without further ado, he transformed into a streak of light and departed from the Hidden Sword Sect. In this world, no sect is everlasting. Whether the Hidden Sword Sect would rise from its calamity was a matter of fate.

...

On the thirteenth of April, in the second year of Changping, Lin Fei, the esteemed elder of the Nine Profound Sect, and the National Guardian Martial Saint, returned. In a quest to avenge his dear friend, Sword Saint Liu Yibai, Lin Fei confronted eight Golden Core True Persons at the Hidden Sword Sect. Single-handedly, with his saber, he vanquished all of them.

As word spread, the Golden Core True Persons trembled, the Martial Sovereigns were shaken, and the world was in awe.