Chapter 760 - 59: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
Chapter 760: Chapter 59: The Mastermind Behind the Scenes
Five days later.
"Junior Brother Lin, we’ve arrived at the sect. I’ll head to the Task Hall to submit the mission first."
"Thank you for escorting me, Senior Brother Wen."
After bidding farewell to Wen Yunting, Lin Chen did not return to his courtyard but went straight to his master’s residence.
"You’re here."
Du Xiaofeng looked at Lin Chen and carefully scrutinized him for a while: "Tell me about your gains at the Ten Thousand Flames Sect that enabled you to defeat the assassins from Yama Hall."
Yama Hall, if they make a move, it’s guaranteed to be fatal.
Hardly anyone targeted by Yama Hall’s assassinations survives.
This is because, before an assassination, Yama Hall conducts a detailed evaluation of the target’s strength, and they dispatch two assassins—one who actively accepts the mission, and another personally appointed by Yama Hall, both assassins often being the peak of the target’s realm.
Since my disciple defeated Sima Kong at Martial Arts Mountain, the second assassin from Yama Hall must be at the peak of the Innate First Realm.
When Lin Chen left the Canglan Sect, he was still some distance from the peak of the Innate First Realm, but based on the information from Wen Yunting, Lin Chen defeated two assassins from Yama Hall and was unharmed himself.
From this news, it’s clear that my disciple gained significantly at the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
"Disciple met Elder Zhuang at the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, and he helped me refine the third Innate Fire, the Illusory Sea Heart Flame..."
In Lin Chen’s narration, he did not mention that Elder Zhuang required him to refine the third Innate Fire as a condition to observe the cultivation techniques of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
However, Du Xiaofeng, being who he is, could infer the underlying details from Lin Chen’s words.
"Don’t take such risks in the future. As a Celestial Pride disciple of the Canglan Sect, the sect will provide you with sufficient cultivation resources. Sometimes, staying alive is more important than a breakthrough in realm."
Du Xiaofeng patted Lin Chen on the shoulder. He knew about Lin Chen’s martial path on the island. Gao Zeming had brought Lin Chen back and thoroughly investigated his situation, reporting it to the sect leader long ago.
On the island, Lin Chen came from a poor background and had to take risks to obtain cultivation resources. His significant advancement in cultivation often came from desperate efforts.
This habit is not a good thing.
"The Flame Dynasty has many geniuses. Those like you, who can reach the top of Martial Arts Mountain, almost all have the potential to reach the Myriad Phenomena Realm. Yet, on average, only one genius each year comes down from the top of Martial Arts Mountain. Even among the top, there are differences in strength. But among so many geniuses, very few actually step into the Myriad Phenomena Realm."
Du Xiaofeng looked at Lin Chen: "Do you know why this is?"
"Disciple does not know."
"It’s because more than half of these geniuses fall before reaching the Innate Sixth Realm. To continuously maintain rapid advancements in martial strength, these geniuses often attempt dangerous breakthroughs, just like you. The smooth breakthroughs in their martial path in the past gave them confidence, making them believe it would be the same after entering the Innate Realm, but in the end, they lost their lives because of it."
"When you reach the Innate Fifth Realm, you’ll understand that sometimes timing doesn’t matter at all. Even if you reach the Innate Realm at twenty and the Innate Fourth Realm at thirty, so what? This path of aggressive and risky breakthroughs can cost you your life with a single misstep."
Listening to his master’s earnest advice, Lin Chen paid close attention. He knew his master was looking out for him, hoping he wouldn’t be so aggressive on his future path of cultivation.
However, his master didn’t know that he now had the help of [Racing Against Time], enabling him to foresee the chances of success in advance, which meant he wasn’t entirely taking risks.
"Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I will remember it."
Du Xiaofeng nodded and then smiled, "You are curious why Zhuang Lie wants you to return to the Ten Thousand Flames Sect in two years. It’s because, in two years, the Holy Fire Realm of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect will open. The Holy Fire Realm of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect is as famous in the Flame Dynasty as our Canglan Secret Realm, but the difference is that our Canglan Secret Realm exchanges slots with other sects, while the Holy Fire Realm is accessible only to the disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect. It seems Zhuang Lie has arranged a slot for you, which is indeed an exception."
"I see. Master, what is in this Holy Fire Realm?"
"It contains the martial inheritance left by the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect. Many cultivation techniques of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect have been discovered by disciples over generations in the Holy Fire Realm. Entering the Holy Fire Realm indeed opens up all the cultivation techniques of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect to you. With sufficient fortune, you might even encounter techniques not yet discovered by the Ten Thousand Flames Sect."
Hearing this, Lin Chen felt even more grateful to Elder Zhuang. The Holy Fire Realm, for the disciples of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect, is like a sacred pilgrimage site. Yet, as an outsider, to have a slot, Elder Zhuang must have spent considerable effort persuading the higher-ups of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
Du Xiaofeng saw the expression on his disciple’s face and knew that his disciple was indeed full of gratitude towards Zhuang Lie.
Some things, he chose not to say aloud.
Zhuang Lie could not have secured a Holy Fire Realm slot for an outsider; this matter must have been agreed upon by the sect leader of the Ten Thousand Flames Sect.
There might be hidden motives inside.
But anyway, this is a good thing for Lin Chen, and since Lin Chen practices the Inextinguishable Divine Face Technique—a technique on which he couldn’t provide much guidance—letting Lin Chen be grateful to Zhuang Lie wouldn’t hurt, and he might get some more benefits from that old fellow.
"Let’s put aside the Ten Thousand Flames Sect matters. Did you consider who might be behind the assassination attempt by Yama Hall?"
Du Xiaofeng’s expression turned serious. Lin Chen shook his head and said, "Master, during my time in the Flame Dynasty, I haven’t made any enemies. If there is any enmity, it would be from challenging disciples from various sects at Martial Arts Mountain."
Who arranged for Yama Hall to assassinate me? Lin Chen had pondered this during his return journey.
In the Nine Kingdoms, he could say there were some enemies, such as the remnants from Nansha Three Islands or the martial artists from the Han Kingdom...
But neither the remnants of the Nansha Three Islands nor the Royal Family of the Han Kingdom could offer the stakes to have Yama Hall assassinate a Celestial Pride disciple of a super sect.
"The battle on the Martial Arts Mountain is a fair fight. If, after being defeated, one were to hire assassins from Yama Hall for revenge, the Martial Arts Mountain would have been in chaos long ago. This is something that all sects do not allow."
Du Xiaofeng shook his head. Even if those geniuses who were defeated by their own disciples harbored resentment, they would not dare to hire Yama Hall assassins for revenge. Once the news got out, they would face the wrath of all the super sects.
After all, every sect has disciples on Martial Arts Mountain, and no sect dares to break this bottom line.
"Aside from this, I can’t think of anything else," said the disciple.
Du Xiaofeng’s old eyes slightly narrowed, and he said, "In the few days since your return, the Sect Leader has already arranged for three elders to lead three hundred stewards of our Canglan Sect to start searching for Yama Hall’s whereabouts. So far, they have destroyed nine contact points of Yama Hall and killed sixty Yama Hall assassins, including ten at the Innate Fourth Realm."
"But this is far from over. Unless Yama Hall gives us an explanation, our Canglan Sect will not let this go."
Lin Chen didn’t expect the sect’s actions to be so swift, retaliating against Yama Hall so quickly.
"Master, Yama Hall is an assassination organization. Can the sect find their whereabouts?"
"In this world, there’s no absolutely secret force. As an assassin organization, Yama Hall needs contact points for employers to reach them. These contact points are hidden to most forces, but they are not secret to our Canglan Sect."
"After eliminating these overt contact points of Yama Hall, finding them again will depend on bounties. In short, Yama Hall is in trouble now. Many martial artists, lured by our Canglan Sect’s bounty, will pretend to need assassins to engage with Yama Hall and then report their contact information to us."
"Is that even possible?"
Lin Chen was quite surprised. After pondering for a while, he said, "Wouldn’t Yama Hall stop accepting assassination missions for the time being?"
"If Yama Hall stops accepting assassination missions, then they are not far from disbanding."
Du Xiaofeng sneered, seeing the confusion on Lin Chen’s face, and explained, "Yama Hall hasn’t cultivated many assassins themselves. Most of their assassins joined midway, and these assassins joined to make money from assassination missions and earn the rewards from employers."
"These assassins, who joined midway, usually don’t belong to super sects but come from second or third-tier sects with limited cultivation resources. For them, accepting assassination missions is a quick way to earn resources."
Hearing his master’s explanation, Lin Chen understood.
"The Canglan Secret Realm is about to open. Stay in the sect and cultivate diligently in the coming days, waiting for the secret realm to open. There’s no need to worry about the Yama Hall matters."
"Yes."
Lin Chen agreed and stayed in his master’s courtyard for a half a two-hour period, inquiring about the Canglan Finger and Canglan’s Eyes, and then left.
...
...
In a certain dark hall of the Flame Dynasty.
"Old Third, look at what you’ve done. Why did you not discuss the assassination of Lin Chen from Canglan Sect with us? Do you realize how much loss this has brought us? Over a hundred hall members were killed by Canglan Sect, and dozens of contact points were eradicated."
In the grand hall, several figures in black robes were engaged in a fierce verbal confrontation.
"Those useless ones who died were not reared by our Yama Hall, so it doesn’t matter. But now our business has been affected. No one below dares to meet with employers, fearing that they might be sold out to the Canglan Sect."
Faced with the questioning from the two black-robed figures, the man on the right merely smirked.
"Have you said enough?"
"Old Third, what do you mean? Do you really think you can do whatever you want just because the Hall Master is in seclusion? If you don’t give us a reasonable explanation for this matter, we will report it to the Hall Master."
"Don’t blame us for sparing no feelings if it comes to that."
Hearing this, the black-robed man chuckled again and, after a while, said, "I’ve already reported this matter to the Hall Master, and he has agreed."
"The Hall Master agreed?"
The two black-robed individuals exchanged glances, seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.
How could the Hall Master agree?
"What I can tell you is that Canglan Sect won’t be arrogant for long."
Two foolish fellows, if he hadn’t gotten the Hall Master’s approval, how would he have ordered the assassination of Lin Chen?
Zhou Cang cursed silently. When their side approached him, he immediately reported it to the Sect Leader, who agreed to cooperate with them, so he arranged for the assassins.
He just didn’t expect that Lin Chen would turn out to be so lucky, escaping the calamity.
Having entered the Innate for less than half a year, yet surviving among the peak of Innate First Realm assassins, no wonder the other side is this restless.
Though Canglan Sect claimed that Lin Chen single-handedly killed two of their Yama Hall assassins, he saw this as Canglan Sect’s way of enhancing their own reputation. It is most likely that a strong figure from Canglan Sect arrived in time and saved Lin Chen.
Given Lin Chen’s talent, it’s normal for Canglan Sect to leave him with a life-saving card.