Chapter 2737 Stirring up Undercurrents

So it’s from Third Senior Sister!

Lin Xun quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

“As for the Luo Clan... When the force sent by those old bastards arrived at Dragon Ridge Mountain Range in the Sixth Heaven Domain, the place was already empty,” Dugu Yong handed Lin Xun a jade slip. “This is a message from your senior sister Junhuan.”

Stunned, Lin Xun accepted the slip, and after reading it, his heart relaxed considerably. The jade slip contained only one sentence:

‘The Luo Clan is safe.’

“Feeling better now?” asked Dugu Yong smilingly.

Lin Xun cupped his fist, “Thank you, Senior, for bringing this to my knowledge.”

Dugu Yong said, “Fangchun Mountain and the Origin Sect share a common enemy. Some of us elders would hate to see your mindset get shaken at this important juncture.”

He paused quickly before continuing, “When you decide to break into the next stage, I will stand guard in person. I only wonder, when do you plan to do that?”

Lin Xun replied after some silence, “Tomorrow.”

Dugu Yong looked surprised.

Next to him, Jiang Ye explained with a smile, “Lin Xun just told me he could certify his Immortal dao whenever and wherever he wanted to.”

Dugu Yong took a moment to process the phrase ‘whenever and wherever’ with an unusual light in his eyes. Those four words implied something earth-shattering!

When supreme Emperor Ancestors sought to attain their Immortal dao, it often first required an indistinct opportunity. It could be a sudden flash of insight, a whim born of impulse, or an omen from the unseen: something utterly unpredictable.

The threshold of immortality could remain out of reach for even the most gifted prodigies of a great heritage for millennia unless such a sliver of opportunity came to them.

The reason was that realizing immortality had nothing to do with one's cultivation, aptitude, or diligence. What it demanded was but a fleeting opportunity. Unfortunately, throughout the ages, this single opportunity had stumped countless heaven-defying geniuses!

Take the Nine Great Peaks for example. They had many peerless supreme Emperor Ancestor prodigies, each more perverse than the last, but most of them had stagnated at this stage for hundreds or even thousands of years without touching immortality!

In this context, Lin Xun's declaration that he could do it whenever and wherever he wanted naturally made one’s heart jump in shock.

After calming himself, Dugu Yong asked, “Where do you plan to do it?”

Lin Xun replied without hesitation, “The Ninth Peak.”

This answer startled both Dugu Yong and Jiang Ye, but upon reflection, they quickly understood to some extent.

Currently, the Ninth Peak was in a difficult situation: Disciple Ye Chunjun had been dealt punishment, Peak Master Qin Wuyu was under impeachment spearheaded by Qi Xiaoyun and other influential figures. It could be said that the entire peak was a boat in a storm.

Under such circumstances, Lin Xun choosing to conduct his breakthrough on the Ninth Peak was no different from a declaration of his stance!

“Should we keep Lin Xun’s plan a secret for now?” Jiang Ye turned to Dugu Yong, but the latter looked toward Lin Xun.

“Senior, something so minor needs not be concealed. I want my enemies to witness firsthand how

I

ascend to immortality!” Lin Xun's dark eyes revealed a deep, almost overbearing gaze that was capable of devouring the world.

“As you wish.” Dugu Yong nodded.

By choosing to prove his Immortal dao inside Origin Sect under the eyes of all members, even those old timers who hated Lin Xun's guts wouldn't be unscrupulous enough to obstruct him.

......

Lin Xun’s emergence from Scripture Mountain after seven months was quickly learned by those who had been paying attention to him, stirring countless undercurrents. When word spread that he would attempt to ascend to immortality at the Ninth Peak tomorrow, it reverberated through the sect like thunder and rattled numerous hearts.

“Lin Xun joined the sect barely over a year ago, and he’s already aiming for immortality?” Many Ninth Peak disciples dropped their jaws.

“Looks like his seven months with the Immortal legacy in the Ninth Hall has driven him toward this opportunity...” analyzed someone calmly.

“But...after everything that has happened during these past seven months, isn't he worried about his mental state during the tribulation?”

“Just wait and see. This ascension probably won't go as smoothly as he wishes.”

Similar conversations could be heard everywhere at the three pavilions and nine peaks.

In the Little Pavilion Retreat...

“Youran, go with me to the Ninth Peak tomorrow and see for yourself how that young man will immortalize his dao. I have a premonition that the tribulation awaiting him will be something never before seen,” said Dugu Yong softly.

“Mhm,” Dugu Youran agreed, her eyes as bright as ever and so was her peerless charm. It was just that whenever Lin Xun’s name was mentioned, it would give her an indescribable, complicated feeling.

......

In Origin Clarity Pavilion, Fang Daoping casually proposed, “Elder Xiao, Elder Li, want to accompany me to the Ninth Peak tomorrow?”

Xiao Wenyuan and Li Zhen exchanged a quick glance before readily agreeing. Seeing this, Deputy Pavilion Master Tang Qiu and Elder Donghuang Qing nearby both frowned and turned to leave in unison.

“What kind of scheme are they hatching this time?” Xiao Wenyuan sighed as he watched the two disappear from sight.

“Naturally something to foil Lin Xun's path to immortality,” said Fang Daoping indifferently. “In fact, they've already orchestrated numerous incidents over the past seven months, all with the goal of disturbing his dao heart and thus hindering his future breakthrough.”

Xiao Wenyuan said, “Doesn’t this mean his attempt at immortality tomorrow is going to be perilous?”

“They won't try anything during the breakthrough; they don't have the guts to. Therefore, it will all come down to whether this young man can overcome it himself,” mused Fang Daoping. “The path he walks is unprecedented, it's too unique. The difficulty of his Immortal tribulation will be proportional to his strength as a supreme Emperor Ancestor.”

Xiao Wenyuan was shaken to his core. Everyone knew from Lin Xun's past deeds that he was already virtually unrivaled at the Supreme Emperor Ancestor Stage. In that case, just how terrifying would the tribulation awaiting him be?

Fang Daoping concluded, “Tomorrow will reveal all the answers. Should Lin Xun fail in this attempt, it would also mean the fall of a promising talent that the Master of Fangchun Mountain has awaited for eons.

“Should he succeed, then no one will ever be able to block his path again. And while that may not change anything in the grand scheme of the Origin Sect yet, there will come a time when his enemies get what they deserve!”

......

In Origin Sky Pavilion, Wild Cloud Abode...

“Little Jiu, you'll bring Xuanyue and come with me to the Ninth Peak tomorrow,” said Deputy Pavilion Master Xuan Feiling casually.

Xuan Jiuyin sprang up in excitement, his eyes shining, “You’ve finally found your conscience, great-grandfather?”

This entire time, the youth had been cut off from the outside world and grounded within Wild Cloud Abode, doing nothing but cultivating day in and day out. He had long been bored to death by the monotony, feeling as though he was in prison.

“I want you two to watch how Lin Xun is going to certify immortality,” said Xuan Feiling leisurely.

Certify...immortality?!

Xuan Jiuyin froze, his eyes going wide in disbelief as he nearly couldn't believe his ears.

How long has it been? How the heck is Lin Xun already aiming for immortality?

“Feeling crushed?” Xuan Feiling was pleased with Xuan Jiuyin's reaction. If this could motivate his junior to strive harder, then all the better.

To his shock, Xuan Jiuyin lamented, “I knew long ago that I could never compare to that fellow and that I'd only hurt myself if I did so. Looking back on it now, my decision then was absolutely brilliant...”

Before he could finish, a slap landed on the back of his head. “You slacker!”

Xuan Feiling truly felt like he was beating a dead horse. This kid was just too lazy and irresponsible, it was as if he wasn't from their Xuan Clan!

Xuan Jiuyin chortled mischievously and dashed off. He needed to share the wonderful news with Jintian Xuanyue.

......

In Nan Bohong's cave haven on the Third Peak, high-ranking officials like Origin Sky Deputy Pavilion Masters Fu Wenli and Qi Xiaoyun, Origin Emptiness Deputy Pavilion Master Chi Wen, and Origin Clarity Deputy Pavilion Master Tang Qiu occupied the highest seats.

Sitting below them at two sides were Second Peak Master Yun Tianming, Third Peak Master Nan Bohong, Fourth Peak Master Mu Yunzheng, and several elders from the three pavilions including Dong Huangqing.

The atmosphere was heavy.

“That Fangchun Mountain remnant will attempt to achieve immortality tomorrow. What are your thoughts?” Fu Wenli's voice was low, his face expressionless.

“He must have heard about all those events of the last seven months, yet he still chose to make this breakthrough tomorrow. He probably fears that delaying it will invite unforeseen complications,” analyzed the gaunt Tang Qiu hoarsely.

“What do you think about his state of mind, has it been affected?” asked Fu Wenli.

After a brief silence, Tang Qiu shook his head. “Hard to say.”

“If he is truly unaffected, then why such urgency to break through tomorrow? And why choose the Ninth Peak?” stated Chi Wen calmly. “These choices are proof that he is unsettled by the situations of Qin Wuyu and Ye Chunjun, which is a serious taboo during a dao certification.”

Fu Wenli frowned, “No, that alone is not enough. It offers no guarantee of thwarting his ascension to immortality.”

Qi Xiaoyun suddenly spoke up, “Our people in the Spirit Sect can not be relied on. Those remnants of Fangchun Mountain, like Ruo Su, have firmly established themselves there. Since trying to shake their position is nearly impossible, attempting to undermine Lin Xun's resolve through targeting his Fangchun Mountain fellows is clearly not feasible.

“As for the Luo Clan, the entire clan was relocated during our disciple selection last year without leaving a trace. Finding any of their members in a short timeframe is equally impossible.”

This report cast a shadow of gloom on every face present. They all knew that capturing just anyone of the Luo Clan or Fangchun Mountain would be sufficient leverage against Lin Xun to threaten him away from breaking into the Immortal Stage. Now, however, this option was no longer viable.

Amid the silence, Fu Wenli suddenly asked, “Has the force dispatched to the Ancient Nebula Road not returned yet?”

Everyone squinted and exchanged glances, but none offered an answer. Half a year ago, they had sent experts to the Ancient Nebula Road with the goal to take Lin Xun's family members as hostages, knowing this would certainly deal him a fatal blow.

However, six months had passed without a single echo back. No one knew whether the dispatched force had succeeded.

Fu Wenli sank into a long silence. Finally, he made a decision, “Forget it, we don't have the time to wait for them. It's urgent that we devise a plan on the spot. No matter what, we must not let Lin Xun break through!”