Chapter 2366 Lin Xun in Peril

In the alley.

When Shi Yu saw Lin Xun return safely, he let out a long breath of relief, but then froze in astonishment.

It has only been half an hour. How...has Lin Xun returned so soon?

The next moment, Lin Xun flicked his sleeve, and one after another, figures began appearing in the courtyard.

There were teachers and students from Qinglu Academy, Yu Beidou, Chu Feng and other rune masters from the Rune Master Association, as well as Gu Yanping and his son Gu Liang from Golden Jade Hall.

In just a short moment, the quiet courtyard was filled with people.

Shi Yu’s jaw dropped as he stood rooted in place, stunned.

Suddenly, the words Toady and A’lu had said earlier echoed in his mind. “He can now slay Emperors as easily as slaughtering chickens,” and how “he was the first Supreme Emperor to emerge in ten thousand years...”

It seemed they weren’t exaggerating at all

Gu Yanping, his son, and everyone else rescued by Lin Xun were overwhelmed with emotion.

After years of captivity, they had long given up hope, believing that they were doomed to rot away.

Who could have imagined that today Lin Xun would descend like a god from the heavens and rescue them in the blink of an eye?!

Even now, they still felt like they were dreaming.

“Lin Xun, is it really you?” Gu Yanping asked, voice trembling with excitement.

He still remembered the day that he met Lin Xun, a thirteen to fourteen-year-old boy who had just arrived in the Ziyao Empire.

Now, after one hundred years, the kid back then had become a legend!

This time, he even stormed three high clans alone and rescued them from doom!

All eyes turned to Lin Xun.

After not seeing him for many years, Lin Xun had hardly changed. He was still calm, transcendent, elegant and extraordinary. Simply standing there, he was like a pillar holding up the heavens, instilling a deep sense of reassurance.

Lin Xun was deeply moved. Standing before him were many familiar faces such as Gu Yanping, Gu Liang, the teachers from Qinglu Academy, Yu Beidou, Chu Feng...

However, they were all in rags, their hair disheveled, their faces gaunt and weary, their auras weak, and their appearances were filled with suffering.

It was difficult to imagine what kind of torture they had endured over the years.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Xun stepped forward and bowed sincerely. “All that you’ve suffered stems from me and the Lin Clan behind me. You all have endured so much these years, please accept my deepest apologies!”

Everyone fell into stunned silence. A’hu, Toady, and the others were visibly shocked.

This was the first time in all these years that they had seen Lin Xun apologize with such heartfelt guilt.

Gu Yanping and others were also momentarily speechless. Before anyone could respond, Lin Xun raised his head, his expression solemn, “Rest assured. I, Lin Xun, will end this enmity once and for all!”

It fell silent once more. Immediately, tears welled in many eyes and some even wept silently.

For years, they had indeed endured endless torment and suffering, living a life worse than death.

Now that they heard Lin Xun would stand up for them and seek vengeance, how could they not be moved?

Lin Xun’s heart stirred with anguish.

On the same day he entrusted Toady and the others to take good care of his old friends.

Then he left the alley alone and wandered into the bustling streets. Unknowingly, he found himself standing at the ruins of Mind Cleansing Peak.

Where had the Lin Clan gone?

Lin Xun put his hands behind his back, lost in thought.

......

Meanwhile, the entire Forbidden City had erupted into chaos.

Lin Xun’s sudden return had shaken the world. If he had remained silent, things might have remained quiet. However, not only had he come back, he had also utterly destroyed the Chi, Hua, and Qi Clans, three high clans!

His ruthless and domineering means left countless cultivators in awe and terror.

At the same time, many cultivators of the older generations who had lived in the Forbidden City for generations were overjoyed.

In their eyes, the Forbidden City ultimately belonged to the lower world. Unfortunately, over the years, the major factions of the Ancient Wasteland Domain had taken over, seizing countless secret realms and blessed lands for themselves!

The revival of aeth qi concentrations should have been a great opportunity for the lower world to change their destiny, but all these years, outsiders had taken this destiny-changing blessing.

What was most infuriating was that those major factions from Ancient Wasteland Domain were tyrannical and ruthless, forcibly invading and annexing the major forces of the lower world. Those who dared defy them met with annihilation.

Now that Lin Xun had returned, cultivators of the older generations finally see a beacon of hope!

They all couldn’t help but look forward to seeing the Lord of Mind Cleansing Peak, who once suppressed an entire empire alone, turn the tides and reshape the current world ruled by major factions of the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

Soon, someone stood forward and said aloud, “Lin Xun’s actions today may have been too reckless. Behind the Chi, Hua and Qi Clans stood powerful factions from the Ancient Wasteland Domain. It was no doubt satisfying to see him wipe out the three high clans in such a swift and clean manner, but his action will inevitably incite a counterattack from the Ancient Wasteland Domain factions!

“Don’t forget that when those Ancient Wasteland Domain factions entered the Forbidden City years ago, their first target was Lin Xun’s allies. Now that he’s appeared, isn’t he walking straight into their trap?

“Lin Xun, may already be in danger!”

With those words, the mood shifted. The buzzing atmosphere in the Forbidden City changed!

After all, Lin Xun wasn’t facing one enemy, but the combined might of numerous powerful factions from the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

To the cultivators of the lower world, these factions were like sovereigns of heavens—untouchable and revered.

Their presence inspired awe and submission.

Back when they first emerged, there had been resistance.

Saint cultivators and even some forces had tried to oppose them with full force.

Unfortunately, the Ancient Wasteland Domain factions only needed to send a handful of people and those challengers were swiftly annihilated. They even uprooted countless major powers of the lower world, causing the deaths of millions!

Furthermore, this took place after the revival of aeth qi, a time when countless brilliant figures were emerging in the lower world.

Yet the Ancient Wasteland Domain factions continued to dominate with crushing, unstoppable might.

How could the beings in the lower world not be shocked and afraid?

From then on, no one dared to resist. Even a disciple of Ancient Wasteland Domain factions could walk wherever they please, like a sovereign patrolling their land.

It could be said that in the eyes of many, these factions had surpassed the imperial family and the Lin Clan of Mind Cleansing Peak in terms of status.

Over time, many cultivators of the younger generation believed the order of the Ancient Wasteland Domain ruling over the lower world was unshakable!

“Sigh, so even with Peak Master Lin’s return, nothing will change?”

Such sighs rippled through the city.

“Not necessarily. Back then Lin Xun single-handedly destroyed the Zuo and Qin Clans, and wiped out all the monster-beasts horde across the empire. Now that he has returned, he has already annihilated the three high clans—Hua, Chi, and Qi in one sweep. He must have stepped into the Quasi-Emperor Stage!” Someone spoke with certainty.

In today’s world, a quasi-Emperor was akin to a sovereign.

Another voice scoffed, “Quasi-Emperor? Even if he is, he left the lower world years ago and missed the best window of the aeth qi concentration revival. How powerful could he possibly be now?”

Many nodded in agreement.

Not long after Lin Xun left back then, the lower world ushered in the great era of aeth qi concentration revival. Yet he missed that perfect opportunity to progress on the path of the great dao.

Now that he has returned, So what if he was a quasi-Emperor? He still stood alone.

Meanwhile, the Ancient Wasteland Domain factions had countless quasi-Emperors!

“What a pity! If Peak Master Lin remained in the lower world, he would have become a peerless figure of the era. Not only the Quasi-Emperor Stage, but he might even also have stepped into the Emperor Stage...but now...”

Many people sighed, their voices filled with regret.

“It’s rumored that within the Omega Sword Sect, a Grand Elder has broken through to the Emperor Stage while cultivating in a folded secret realm!”

The news hit the Forbidden City like a bolt of lightning. Everyone was stunned, their blood running cold.

The Emperor Stage!

A quasi-Emperor was already an existence too terrifying for ordinary people to even imagine.

However, above the Quasi-Emperor was the Emperor Stage!

“If that’s true, then for Peak Master Lin...this might be the end...”

Countless sighs sounded.

......

Lin Xun’s return also sent shockwaves through the Ancient Wasteland Domain factions.

Violet Abyss Mountain.

Decades ago, a newly risen blessed land in the Forbidden City was seized and occupied by the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan.

Atop the mountain, inside a grand and resplendent hall, dozens of high-ranking members of the clan, each clad in dark robes and bearing scarlet eyes, were drinking and conversing.

Their auras were ferocious, with several already stepped into the Quasi-Emperor Stage. Beautiful maids with graceful figures served them in silence, their expressions full of fear. They were all captured slaves.

One of the high ranking members, ravenous, reached out and seized a maid by the neck. With a savage bite, he tore through her throat and feasted on her flesh. It was a ruthless and cruel sight.

“Demon God Lin? The bastard who slaughtered so many of our clansmen. We have yet to settle that blood feud and now he dares show his face again?” The skinny old man seated at the head of the table spoke.

“Indeed, he wiped out three high clans in the city in a single day. It’s said that his cultivation has soared over the years and he may have reached the Quasi-Emperor Stage.”

“Quasi-Emperor? If so, now is the time to kill him. We’ve waited long enough for this day!”

“That’s right!”

The high ranking figures of the Black Nightmare Sky Dog Clan came to a decision after a brief discussion.

At the same time.

The Omega Sword Sect, Spirit Treasure Holy Land, Mysterious Metropolis Sect, Thousand Beast Spirit Mountain and other major forces of Ancient Wasteland Domain were all discussing Lin Xun’s appearance.

“So...he finally dares to show himself. Let’s see how much the so-called Number One of the Nine Domains has improved!” An elder of Omega Sword Sect spoke indifferently.

“Well, well, Demon God Lin, you actually dared to come back. Do you know you have missed out on fifty years of the most crucial era of aeth qi awakening?”

“Announce to the outside world that my Mysterious Metropolis Sect challenges Lin Xun to a duel. Let the entire Forbidden City bear witness to that little bastard’s death!”

“Spread the word, anyone in the Forbidden City who dares to shelter Lin Xun will be annihilated with their entire clan!”

“Contact other factions and seal the city. He will be trapped like a turtle in a jar. Let us take him down and avenge the blood grudge from back then!”

Commands were issued in different factions of the Ancient Wasteland Domain, setting the already turbulent Forbidden City ablaze with tension.