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Chapter 405: A Single Sword
🕑 Added 2024-10-27 16:30:18 +0000 UTCUpon hearing the villagers mention her, Fang Tuantuan proudly lifted her head:
"Meow~"
Seeing how sincere and simple these villagers were, Lin Xiao felt warmth in his heart. He nodded and smiled at them:
"Since all of you are so determined to rebuild your homes with your own hands, I certainly won’t stand in your way. However, seeing that we share a connection, allow me to lend a little help!"
With that, Lin Xiao swiftly took to the air.
Under the astonished gazes of the young villagers below, he focused his energy, drawing his peachwood sword and, with a single swing, sent a sword strike towards the patch of land the lead villager had pointed out earlier.
Ever since Lin Xiao mastered the technique of converting spiritual power into vital energy, he had felt a significant increase in his strength, even though he hadn’t yet advanced to the next realm.
This strike was much more effortless than when he had previously struggled to carve out Yao Guang Floating Island. Now, with just two strikes, he could likely split a mountain!
Let alone this patch of barren land, filled with hard clay and scattered stones.
As the sword strike landed, a ripple of energy swept across the ground, and the dirt, rocks, and vegetation were all instantly pulverized into dust by the sword's wave of energy.
Lin Xiao then waved his hand, casting a dust removal spell.
Before the dust had time to rise into the air, it was immediately dispelled, leaving a perfectly leveled piece of land in its wake.
The young men of Huyang Village were left dumbfounded, their mouths agape.
Though they had heard stories from traveling performers about immortals who could move mountains and fill seas, they had never seen such feats with their own eyes. While the stories were fascinating, they had always seemed like distant myths.
But seeing it firsthand was something entirely different.
It was an image that would remain seared in their minds for the rest of their lives—a moment of pure awe and wonder.
This was the power of an immortal...
At that moment, Lin Xiao, still hovering in the air, suddenly turned his gaze toward the distance.
He sensed a group of cultivators approaching, some at the Golden Core stage, others at the Foundation Establishment stage.
However, they were still far away and hadn’t yet noticed him.
Lin Xiao surmised that this might be a reconnaissance team sent by the Alliance Army.
After all, what other cultivators would come all the way to this remote, impoverished village?
Realizing that if he stayed, he would have to exchange pleasantries with them and possibly explain everything, Lin Xiao landed and said to the young men:
"The land is ready. The rest is up to you. Soon, other immortals will arrive to investigate and continue your treatment. Just cooperate with them, and we will be on our way. Take care."
With that, he called out to Fang Tuantuan:
"Tuantuan, let's go."
Fang Tuantuan quickly scampered over to Lin Xiao’s side, leaping onto his shoulder and settling in, ready to depart. She didn’t forget to give a parting "meow" to the young men, as a final greeting.
The young men, seeing that Lin Xiao and Fang Tuantuan were about to leave, didn’t try to stop them. They knew that an immortal had his own reasons for what he did, and they had already received more than enough help.
"Safe travels, Immortal!"
"Immortal, take care!"
"Immortal, we will always remember you!"
"... Until we meet again, everyone."
With the villagers' voices bidding them farewell, Lin Xiao and Fang Tuantuan soared into the sky, leaving Huyang Village behind.
Now that the Jishi aura had been sealed, the villagers' illnesses should no longer be a problem for the Alliance Army’s cultivators to handle.
Though the National Master had not yet been captured, the situation in Huyang Village had been temporarily resolved. Since there was no longer much for Lin Xiao to do in the Huanyou Kingdom, he decided to return to his sect with Fang Tuantuan.
The journey back was long, and it took some time before Lin Xiao and Fang Tuantuan finally arrived in Xiushui Village.
As they landed, Fang Tuantuan suddenly sprang from Lin Xiao’s shoulder and dashed off in the direction of the private school.
It was early morning, and classes were just beginning at the private school.
Watching Fang Tuantuan’s figure disappear into the distance, Lin Xiao chuckled and made his way toward the Finance Hall.
He was looking for Qin Jianghe.
Based on Qin Jianghe’s usual routine, he would spend the early mornings handling some business before heading to the cultivation room.
To Lin Xiao's surprise, Mo Yuanjiao and Liu Yunan were also there.
"Huh, why aren’t you two off cultivating?"
"Brother Xiao!"
"Sect Master!"
"Brother Xiao, you’re back!"
Qin Jianghe, who had been talking with the others, immediately stood up to greet Lin Xiao as soon as he saw him.
"We just received some news from Yuanjiao earlier, and we were discussing it," Liu Yunan explained.
Mo Yuanjiao nodded enthusiastically and added:
"We received word from the capital that the royal ancestor plans to enter seclusion to break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage!"
Mo wasn’t excited out of concern for the royal family, but rather because, as a cultivator himself, hearing about someone advancing their cultivation stirred a certain excitement within him.
Although he was related to Li Zhouxuan, he was several generations removed from the royal ancestor, Li Zhanying, whom he had never even met. There was no familial bond between them, so his excitement stemmed purely from his own cultivation ambitions.
For this reason, he referred to Li Zhouxuan as "cousin" but called Li Zhanying "royal ancestor."
Hearing this, Lin Xiao raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"It’s likely because the situation with the Huanyou Kingdom has settled. Given the royal ancestor’s age, it’s about time for him to make a breakthrough."
During his stay in Xiushui Village, Li Zhanying had gained some insights into his cultivation, feeling a stronger sense of confidence about advancing to the mid-Nascent Soul stage.
However, because of the turbulence caused by the Shangyang Sect incident, Li Zhanying had felt uneasy about entering seclusion, worried that the royal family would be left vulnerable in his absence.
Then the events with the Huanyou Kingdom unfolded.
With the military campaign underway, Li Zhanying couldn’t afford to seclude himself, so he had delayed his breakthrough until now.
Now that the royal family had solidified its relationship with the Lingxian Sect and established a stable exchange of cultivation resources, the situation in Pusi Kingdom had stabilized. The Alliance Army had also achieved several victories, allowing Li Zhanying to finally feel at ease enough to begin preparations for his seclusion.
Furthermore, with the resource exchange with Lingxian Sect in place, the royal family was no longer as stretched thin as before. Li Zhanying could afford to undertake his breakthrough without being overly cautious about resources.
Though it was still far from an abundance, only someone like Li Zhanying, who had spent centuries cultivating under harsh conditions, could fully understand the bitter struggle of managing such limited resources.
After a brief conversation, Lin Xiao instructed Qin Jianghe to prepare some gifts to send to Li Zhanying as a gesture of goodwill.
Now that the sect and the royal family were working closely together, such courtesies were necessary.
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