In the end, Lin Xun could not help but ask, “Big Sister Wansu, do you know how Mind Cleansing Peak’s Lin Clan has fared for the past half year?”

He had a sinking feeling.

Several months ago, false rumors of his death had spread in the Forbidden City. Under these circumstances, the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan would undoubtedly be the most affected.

After all, Lin Xun was the backbone of the current Mind Cleansing Peak. If he was dead, would Spirit Vulture, Xiaoke, Third Old Zhu, and the others continue to serve at Mind Cleansing Peak?

Likewise, how would the Northlight Lin Clan react after hearing the news?

This was only Mind Cleansing Peak’s internal affairs. There were also the West Creek, Cloud Weight, and Flying Peak branch clans, the Zuo Clan, Qi Clan, and other high clans. How could they possibly sit still if he was dead?

“This…” Mu Wansu's expression changed slightly, unable to continue.

"Feel free to speak. I already have a rough guess." The sinking feeling in Lin Xun's heart deepened.

His black eyes were like an abyss that was oozing almost solid killing intent.

The Scarlet Eagle King trembled as it grew increasingly fearful and respectful of Lin Xun.

As a pinnacle existence among the monster-beast cultivators, the Scarlet Eagle King could naturally sense Lin Xun’s terrifying killing intent. It was killing intent that could only be cultivated by being engulfed in blood and killing for a long time!

It could not imagine how a teenage human youngster could so closely resemble a killing god that had walked out from a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

“Don’t worry. Although the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan is in a shaky position, they will be able to endure for the time being.”

Mu Wansu took a deep breath and continued, “What’s more, aren’t you back now? You’ll definitely be able to help overcome this crisis.”

Lin Xun shook his head. "Big Sister Wansu, you do not need to console me."

“This…”

Mu Wansu hesitated. In the end, she sighed and told him the truth, “While you were still in the Forbidden City, the East Creek, Cloud Weight, Flying Peak branch clans, the Zuo Clan, Qin Clan, Chi Clan, and other high clans would naturally not dare to act recklessly.”

“However, the problem is that you’ve disappeared for an entire half year. In addition, news of your death spread in the Forbidden City several months ago. That’s why…”

The meaning was already clear without finishing.

Although half a year might seem short, to the various powerful factions in the Forbidden City, Lin Xun’s disappearance would undoubtedly draw much attention.

The reason was simple. In the Forbidden City, Lin Xun was a famous young rune founder, the master of the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan, and the most outstanding heaven pride among the younger generation.

Such a dazzling and monstrous heaven pride had suddenly vanished for half a year. Moreover, news that he died in Spirit Burial Sea had rampantly spread in the capital.

These circumstances would draw various reactions from many parties. Some would be skeptical while his enemies would be tempted to take advantage of this opportunity.

This was the human heart!

A cold smile rose from the corners of Lin Xun’s lips as his black eyes grew increasingly deep.

He knew that as long as he was around, no one would dare to touch the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan. Even the high clans did not dare to carelessly burn bridges with a young rune founder who could craft rune armaments!

Furthermore, the imperial family would not permit such a thing because the mysterious bigwig in the imperial family had long promised to silently support Lin Xun from the background.

Due to this, the West Creek, Cloud Weight, and Flying Peak branch clans had no choice but to lay low and not cause any trouble.

However, Lin Xun’s death would change everything. As the saying went, the tea would cool when people left, and human emotion could be hot one second and cold the next.

Why did the old monsters in the high clans seldom leave?

Firstly, for closed cultivation, but more importantly, these old monsters were strong deterrents that would intimidate the other factions. They were akin to a strong stabilizing rock for these factions.

As the saying went, a clan cannot be without a leader while a country cannot go without a king.

Mu Wansu wanted to go into detail, but Lin Xun already understood that the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan was in a precarious situation.

“I guess it’s about time to eliminate all the original hidden threats to the Lin Clan…”

Expressionless, Lin Xun stood on the deck with his clothes fluttering around him. Neither sadness nor happiness could be seen in black eyes.

On the side, Mu Wansu suddenly found it difficult to breathe as if an invisible force was squeezing her chest.

It made her heart tremble, realizing that the youngster who had disappeared from the Forbidden City half a year ago had finally been angered.

An unpredictable storm was soon going to engulf the Forbidden City!

……

Half a day later, in front of the Forbidden City’s north entrance.

A ship descended from the sky. Dressed in moon-white clothes, Lin Xun looked up at the old majestic city entrance he had not seen for half a year and could not help but take a deep breath.

He was back after half a year!

Lin Xun withdrew his gaze and walked into the Forbidden City with his hands behind his back. The Scarlet Eagle King was perched on his shoulder, looking around with its clear and sharp eyes.

One of the guard commanders stationed at the entrance randomly glanced at Lin Xun’s back while relaxing, only to immediately stiffen.

“Eh, that youngster looks very familiar…wait a minute, isn’t he Lin Xun who was rumored to have died in Spirit Burial Sea several months prior?”

The guard commander suddenly stood up in alarm and shock.

Half a year ago, the master of Mind Cleansing Peak, who was also a young rune founder, had created several legendary miracles that shook the Forbidden City, causing his name to spread to the ends of the empire. How could the guard commander be unable to recognize this young heaven pride?

“He…he…he’s still alive!?”

The guard commander was dumbstruck and looked as if he had seen a ghost.

The nearby guards were stunned. Who had alarmed their commander so much that he would fall into such a state?

“Lin Xun! It must be him! I personally talked to him back when he brought a bunch of people who looked like villagers to the Forbidden City. It’s definitely him!”

The guard commander mumbled to himself as huge waves rose in his heart. As one of the more informed locals, he knew the various events that had transpired over the past half a year.

Several months ago, news of Lin Xun’s death had spread like wildfire in the Forbidden City, causing quite a stir. Back then, the guard commander had even sighed in regret.

In the beginning, many people refused to believe it, but as time passed, more and more rumors spread while Lin Xun was still nowhere to be found. It was then that many people realized that something was wrong.

At this juncture, nearly no one believed that Lin Xun would survive and return!

Lin Xun was dead!

As a result, the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan began to face difficulty. The originally up-and-coming faction encountered unprecedented setbacks and rapidly lost all of its previous momentum.

Ever since Lin Xun had become the master of Mind Cleansing Peak, the fallen Lin Clan had once again entered the Forbidden City’s eyes. Moreover, its steady rise drew a lot of attention.

All of this was because of Lin Xun. He was the master of Mind Cleansing Peak and a legendary young rune founder. He was well-known in the city, and everyone believed that as long as he was around, the Lin Clan would regain its former glory and possibly return to the ranks of the high clans.

However, the news of Lin Xun’s death changed everything.

Firstly, the West Creek, Cloud Weight, and Flying Peak branch clans began to clamor about wanting to enter Mind Cleansing Peak and take over the Lin Clan.

They were supported by the Zuo Clan and Qin Clan, making them fearless and arrogant.

Several factions that used to have good relations with Mind Cleansing Peak chose to watch as bystanders and cut off their previous ties.

There was also no lack of people who were ready to kick them while they were down. These people believed the Lin Clan direct line was destined to go extinct, which would change Mind Cleansing Peak’s situation.

The guard commander had witnessed all of these events over the past half a year and could only lament Mind Cleansing Peak’s predicament.

The Lin Clan had offended numerous factions amidst their rise which included high clans like the Hua Clan, the Song Clan, the Chi Clan, the Qin Clan, and the Zuo Clan.

There was also one of the three great rune clans, the Chu Clan, and even the imperial family had been offended by Lin Xun more than once.

Without Lin Xun, the Mind Cleansing Peak Lin Clan would immediately be targeted by many powerful factions and be bullied into a miserable situation.

The guard commander never imagined that after half a year, the supposedly dead Lin Xun would return!

The guard commander muttered, “Great turmoil is going to befall the Forbidden City!”

Meanwhile, Lin Xun arrived in front of Mind Cleansing Peak. He noiselessly opened the array and began walking up the peak.

Along the way, he heard the sound of quarreling from the discussion hall which caused his eyes to narrow.

……

“How long has it been already? Lin Zhong, are you still going to do nothing and watch the Lin Clan fall? Lin Xun has long been proven dead. Since that’s the case, we need to choose a successor to become the new master Mind Cleansing Peak!”

“That’s right, do you know why our North Light Lin Clan members do not dare to go out these days? It’s because Lin Xun offended too many factions! We’re like rats that everyone wants to chase away. Our lives are miserable.”

“We have no leader, are plagued by internal troubles, and are facing external pressure. Our North Light Lin Clan should never have joined Mind Cleansing Peak. When Lin Xun died, he caused all of us to suffer as well. We’re constantly facing hostility and being bullied by others. What place will we have in the Forbidden City in the future?”

“Lin Zhong, as a senior member of the Lin Clan who wields the almighty Shattered Tragedy Spear, as long as you give the green light, my North Light Lin Clan might be able to turn things around if we take control of Mind Cleansing Peak. Otherwise, we might lose Mind Cleansing Peak!”

In the discussion hall, the North Light Lin Clan higher-ups were angrily cursing and threatening Lin Zhong.

The North Light Lin Clan Head, Lin Huaiyuan, was also amongst them, but he remained expressionless and only showed an ambiguous attitude.

“Everyone, before Miss Xia Zhi went into closed cultivation, she said that the Young Master is still alive. Why are you people so adamant about pressuring me on this issue?”

Lin Zhong wore a stormy expression as he said with restrained anger, “What’s more, hasn’t everything the Young Master did over the past few years all been for our Lin Clan? Can you guys touch your heart and ask who hasn’t benefited from Mind Cleansing Peak while the Young Master was around? The Young Master has only been missing for a while, so aren’t you guys too impatient in trying to seize power?”