Chapter 2481 Wanted by the Luo Clan

Lin Xun had no idea what was happening outside the city gate. Even if he did, he would probably just feel secretly relieved and grateful that he had left in time. Otherwise... He didn’t even want to imagine it!

“Green Sparrow, tell me what’s the fastest way to leave the Third Immortal Pass? Money is not a problem.” Lin Xun asked urgently.

Ever since the green sparrow had obtained a batch of treasures imbued with immortal matters, its attitude toward Lin Xun had clearly changed. It had become much more attentive and didn’t hesitate to offer guidance this time.

As a result, Lin Xun paid a staggering twenty million first-grade cosmic origin crystals that day, instantly qualified to pass the trial, and left on the same day! Indeed, money made the world go round. The ancients were not wrong.

It was the same even in the Great Thousand Domain Battlefield. As long as one could afford the price, one beyond the means of ordinary Emperors, doors would open. When Dugu Youran heard the news, she couldn’t help but feel both angry and amused.

“That guy...does he really think I’m some sort of disaster spirit?”

She ground her teeth in frustration. Back in the Eternal True Realm, she couldn’t stand the endless matchmaking arranged by her clan elders. Seeking escape, she used ‘travel’ as an excuse to run off to the Great Thousand Battle Domain to clear her mind.

However, she never thought that even after arriving at the Great Thousand Battle Domain, admirers would still flock to her. Like Peng Tianxiang, Zhu Lin, Rong Xiangli, and all those other dazzling figures now pursuing her. It was exhausting.

Hence, she never imagined that Ling Xuanzi would treat her as some sort of living disaster, fleeing at the first opportunity as though she would devour him alive. This was the first time that Dugu Youran, who had always been doted on and treated like a precious jewel by her clan elders, experienced anything like this.

She was very sharp and naturally understood all the usual tricks: playing hard to get or laying bait to reel in a big catch. In the past, many had pursued her this way, but she had always scoffed at such tactics.

Only Lin Xun had ever truly, and without the slightest pretense, treated her like a nuisance. It left her both exasperated and amused. How could someone like that even exist in this world? Did he not realize that with just a few words from her, she could help him reach the Eternal True Realm directly without him having to face a single danger?

“He actually spent twenty million first-grade cosmic origin crystals just to avoid me at the first chance he got. That guy...is just...absolutely outrageous!” Dugu Youran muttered.

“Miss Youran, since your savior has left, there’s no need to overthink it. He must have had urgent matters to attend to,” said the man who had arrived earlier in the purple chariot, smiling politely.

Clad in golden armor and radiating heroic bearing, he was an eighth realm Emperor with an extraordinary background. With his identity and status, even the city lord had to treat him with respect.

However, Dugu Youran replied irritably, “And how would you know if he had urgent business? My affairs...just stay out of it!”

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, unable to understand why Dugu Youran was suddenly so short-tempered.

“Peng Tianxiang, come with me to catch up to that guy. He saved my life, how could I owe him a favor? I want to see just where he thinks he can hide!” Dugu Youran suddenly made up her mind.

Peng Tianxiang quickly nodded, heart racing with excitement. Though Dugu Youran’s attitude toward him wasn’t exactly warm, it was still better than how she treated the others! Otherwise, why would she choose only him?

Watching Dugu Youran and Peng Tianxiang depart, the rest of the powerful figures, all from prestigious lineages, couldn’t help but frown in dissatisfaction.

“Jin Duyi? Who is he, and why does Youran care so much?” someone asked, clearly baffled.

“It’s bad. Could it be that she's taken a liking to him?” another muttered darkly.

“Hmph, how could someone from the Great Thousand Worlds be worthy of Youran’s attention? In my opinion, Youran just doesn’t want to owe anyone a debt,” someone said disdainfully.

“Jin Duyi...no matter the reason, if Youran is this concerned about him, he must be eliminated!” another said, eyes flashing with murderous intent.

This was the power of Dugu Youran. How could ordinary people endure the pressure that came from being the target of jealousy among her many powerful admirers? Fortunately, Lin Xun had left early. Otherwise, he would have found himself in another storm.

......

Time passed quickly. Lin Xun traveled alone, crossing perilous battlefields and drifting through the eerie, desolate expanse of the starry sky.

Battle after battle.

Bloodshed at every turn.

Without the clingy and troublesome Dugu Youran, without the endless stream of troubles, Lin Xun found himself enjoying the solitude of his journey. The road to becoming an Emperor was a struggle for supremacy, and the path to the dao was one walked alone.

The path of cultivation was a journey of self-transformation, which was destined to be riddled with trials and never smooth or easy. Only by braving perils, surviving the edge of life and death, and tempering oneself through bloodshed could one achieve breakthrough after breakthrough.

Indeed, along the way, Lin Xun encountered countless deadly trials, many of which nearly claimed his life. However, each time he turned peril into fortune, tempering and solidifying his foundation, which was a rare form of cultivation. Only those who had faced death and braved true perils were worthy of speaking of the great dao!

Half a year had passed since Lin Xun left Fengji City, which marked one year and three months since he entered the Great Thousand Battle Domain. Weathered by countless trials, he finally arrived at the fourth Immortal Heavenly Pass.

He spent a day selling off the treasures he had accumulated along the way, all items he had no use for. Then, he bought five Yellow Spring Beads. Wasting no time, after completing the trial at the City Lord’s Residence, he set off again.

By the time a year and seven months had passed since he first entered the Great Thousand Battle Domain, he reached the fifth Immortal Heavenly Pass. It was during this arrival here that he heard a startling piece of news: his identity had been exposed!

Even the wanted notices posted on the city walls now bore the name ‘Lin Xun’! This deeply shocked Lin Xun. After a careful investigation, he traced the source of the news to experts from the Luo Clan of the other side of the cosmos.

“The Luo Clan...” Lin Xun frowned deeply.

This sudden turn of events caught him off guard, but after some thought, he realized how the Luo Clan pieced it together. In the Eternal True Realm, no one understood the Ancient Nebula Road better than the Luo Clan.

Furthermore, Lin Xun was the only cultivator in the past hundred thousand years to become a supreme Emperor. He was also someone the Luo Clan viewed as a thorn in their side. Given that ‘Ling Xuanzi’ also hailed from the Ancient Nebula Road, it wouldn’t have been hard for them to piece it all together!

Despite that, how did they uncover the truth so quickly? It was likely closely connected to the wanted notices posted throughout the cities of the forty-nine Immortal Heavenly Passes.

After all, ‘Ling Xuanzi’ was ranked ninth and hailed from the Ancient Nebula Road. How could it not draw suspicion from the Luo Clan?

It seems the Luo Clan already know that I’m crossing the Great Thousand Battle Domain and making my way toward the Eternal True Realm... No, they might have already started to make their move...

Lin Xun thought, his gaze deep and unreadable.

He knew more danger lay ahead, but he wasn’t afraid. With his current cultivation and trump cards, he had no reason to fear confronting the Luo Clan in the Great Thousand Battle Domain.

In fact, after thinking it over, he saw it as an opportunity. At least, it would give him the chance to test the foundation and true strength of the Luo Clan.

“I’m curious, when will you show yourselves?”

Lin Xun noticed that his position on the wanted list had risen and he now ranked third. This was largely due to the Luo Clan’s interference. They had issued a bounty of twenty million first-class cosmic origin crystals.

Combined with the earlier bounties from the Wen and Heng Clans, the total now reached twenty-six million first-class cosmic origin crystals.

It was just one million less than the bounty for the second-ranked Blade Bearer, and only four million less than the bounty for the top-ranked Cang Fusheng. Moreover, the Luo Clan had specially marked that anyone who could capture Lin Xun alive and deliver him to them would see the bounty increased tenfold!

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes when he read this. Unsurprisingly, the wanted notice caused a commotion throughout the Great Thousand Battle Domain. Countless experts speculated on what Lin Xun, who was once known as Ling Xuanzi, had done to provoke so many forces and angered the Luo Clan to go to such lengths.

This commotion caused a stir and had a remarkable impact, attracting the attention of even peerless figures of extraordinary origin.

After all, since ancient times, riches had moved the hearts of people. Even an Ancestor of a Path might be unable to resist if the reward was tempting enough.

It was clear that after this incident, once Lin Xun’s identity was exposed, he would be hunted like ‘prey’ by countless powerful cultivators!

Unfortunately for them, Lin Xun was no longer the same as before. With his current cultivation, he could veil his identity so perfectly that even Ancestors of a Path would be deceived.

However, he realized that the wanted notice didn’t just name him. It also listed all his known characteristics and even vividly depicted the Limitless Abyss Sword Cauldron! In other words, the moment he summoned his weapon, his identity would be exposed.

“You’ve certainly gone to great lengths to deal with me...”

In an inn, Lin Xun sat alone, quietly drinking with a calm, unfazed expression. He did not care about any of this. Ultimately, the current him was different from before.

At his current level, the only beings he might truly fear were immortals who had transcended the Ancestor Realm.

A few days later, he left the fifth Immortal Heavenly Pass and resumed his journey. Even if his identity had been exposed, it would have no immediate impact on him, at least for now.

Not long after Lin Xun left, outside the fifth Immortal Heavenly Pass, two figures, a man and a woman, appeared out of thin air. It was Dugu Youran and Peng Tianxiang.

Upon seeing the wanted notice hanging from the city gate, Dugu Youran froze in astonishment. Then, a strange gleam flickered in her clear eyes and the corners of her lips curled upwards.

What a big liar!