Chapter 62: The Cage

It was Xiao Lin who took the initiative to break the silence here. "Brother Han, what kind of tea is this?"

Han Chen understood and said, "This is sword tea, a specialty of our Myriad Swords Sect. If Brother Xiao likes it, I can ask Elder Yuan to gift you a few pounds of it."

"Then many thanks to Senior Yuan and Brother Han," Xiao Lin said.

Yuan Huiyang immediately took over the conversation. "It is just a few pounds of tea leaves, why bother with thanks? However, the sword intent contained in the young friend's teacup..."

"Sword Decree."

Yuan Huiyang gasped slightly. "A personal transmission from a Sword Immortal? It seems I was blind and failed to recognize a true master."

"Since the junior never even made a move, Senior naturally couldn't see the foundation, so how could you be considered blind?"

Yuan Huiyang nodded slightly, his expression turning solemn.

If Xiao Lin's purpose was to intimidate them, he had already achieved it.

Whether it was his identity as Shen Wuya's personally transmitted disciple or his mastery of this sword intent, both left everyone present deeply shocked.

Especially for Yuan Huiyang, the latter was even more striking than the former.

Just how old was Xiao Lin?

Judging by his age, he was clearly only sixteen, without a doubt.

To possess such attainments in the way of the sword at this age, what kind of achievements would he attain given time?

Had he known this earlier, he would have had to be a fool to test whether Xiao Lin was qualified.

If he wasn't qualified, then who was?

Yuan Huiyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he hadn't stepped down to test him personally, and the two juniors, Xiao Lin and Han Chen, knew how to offer a graceful way out; otherwise, it really would have been difficult to step down with dignity just now.

Thinking of this, Yuan Huiyang stood up and took the initiative to help Jian Bugu to his feet, while rebuking him verbally, "We are discussing major matters of the righteous path, how could you be so rude? After we return, you are sentenced to reflect on yourself in the Sword Cave for seven days."

Jian Bugu listened in a daze.

Isn't the Sword Cave a place to comprehend the sword path?

How could this be a punishment? It was clearly a reward...

He suddenly understood something, whispered a soft "Yes," and then walked over to Xiao Lin. Bowing his head, he said, "Brother Xiao Lin, I was impulsive. Your swordsmanship far surpasses mine, and my skills were inferior. Also... thank you for showing mercy."

Though his arm looked as though it were hanging limply at his side, it was actually just exhausted, not crippled.

Xiao Lin gave a faint acknowledgment, considering the apology accepted, though he glanced at Yuan Huiyang.

This old fox...

Jian Bugu walked back to his original seat, and Yuan Huiyang sat down as well.

Now, no one dared to question Xiao Lin's leadership anymore.

Han Chen and the others had already been convinced in the dream realm.

With Jian Bugu's fate as an example before them, the remaining three newcomers felt only relief in their hearts; how could they possibly retain even a fraction of their previous arrogance?

Wei Dao suddenly spoke, "Young friend, this is the earth-attribute spiritual object that the young master found, and she entrusted me to hand it to you."

Xiao Lin was slightly startled, and then he saw Wei Dao pull a disk from his storage ring. The thick earth aura made the air itself seem to grow a fraction heavier.

Xiao Lin was genuinely surprised. Was Wang Xi playing for real?

Just because of his relationship with Tang Xue?

Xiao Lin was silent for a moment, but still reached out and took the object.

He truly needed it.

[Superior Spiritual Object: Mysterious Yellow Thick Earth Disk (Pending Maturation)]
[Effect: Can endure ten thousand jun without damage, withstand nine tribulations without perishing. Can be used to refine weapons and treasures, firm as a monolith, and serves as the core of countless defensive magical artifacts.]
[Available for Recycling: 3,000 Popularity Points]
[Available for Forced Maturation: 60,000 Popularity Points]

Xiao Lin's heart tightened slightly. This was a spiritual object infinitely close to a sacred artifact.

This was no small gesture.

He couldn't help but want to complain inwardly: Why were earth-attribute sacred artifacts so cheap?

It felt like they were always the lowest tier wherever he went, and both Earth Tiger and Vajra seemed destined to purely take beatings...

"Many thanks, Senior, and please thank the Young Master on my behalf once again."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yuan Huiyang and the others all turned to look at Wei Dao.

Wait, the two of you knew each other all along?

Then why didn't you remind us of his identity and innate talent?

Facing these gazes, Wei Dao chuckled lightly.

If he had reminded them, how could they have witnessed such a good show?

Not to mention the Myriad Swords Sect side, even the people from the Five Stars Palace were secretly gritting their teeth.

Senior, you are not being honest!

Glancing at these gazes, Xiao Lin suddenly understood.

As it turned out, Wei Dao was a spectator who loved drama.

He was speechless. If Wei Dao had even dropped a single hint, this face-slapping scene would never have happened at all.

Jian Bugu's strength was too weak, and his status too low, making it so he couldn't even flex his superiority properly. It was utterly frustrating.

But it would come soon enough.

Not to mention the upcoming great battle.

Just after the battle, his cultivation would be crippled, and his strength reset to zero.

By then, beating up a Qi Condensation perfection-stage cultivator would probably give him a very satisfying sense of reality.

It's great to have one's cultivation crippled; it definitely ought to be crippled!

Xiao Lin amused himself inwardly for a moment, then channeled his spiritual energy to envelop the table, saying, "Everyone, please take your seats, lest walls have ears."

How could the others not understand his meaning?

Jian Bugu and the others felt grateful, and one after another, they sat down, listening as Xiao Lin began to outline his plan.

...

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

Myriad Cloud City could be considered a blessed land of geomancy. Because it was not far from the Myriad Swords Sect and the Five Stars Palace, virtually no demonic or evil cultivators dared to run amok here.

Even if other places were chaotic, this city presented an aura of peace and tranquility.

To the vast majority of people in Myriad Cloud City, this was just an ordinary, unremarkable day.

The sky was filled with clouds stretching for ten thousand miles, blocking the sun and providing a pleasant coolness.

It was currently midday, and the hustle and bustle of the morning market had entirely faded, replaced by a somewhat drowsy atmosphere. Many vendors and shops had temporarily closed their shutters to rest for a while.

The sprawling city fell into a brief stillness.

Yet at this moment, a few commotion-filled shouts at the city gates shattered this tranquility.

The clamor grew louder and louder, disturbing many people who were trying to rest. One after another, they got out of bed, poked their heads out, and angrily shouted, "Not letting people rest in the middle of the day, are you trying to get yourselves killed?!"

The people gathered at the city gates seemed to turn a deaf ear, merely reaching out their hands as if touching something.

"What is this?"

They were filled with shock and uncertainty.

Clearly, the space ahead was completely empty, yet whenever they reached out their hands, they touched something, as if an invisible barrier was there.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know. The east gate is blocked, let's go to the west gate..."

"The west gate is blocked too!"

Someone ran over panting to report this situation.

"Then the east gate..."

"Same here, the exact same! We can't get out, we simply can't get out!"

Everyone's expression changed slightly. "What on earth is this ghost thing?"

"It's fine. There's an anomaly here, the immortals will take care of it."

"I'm going to invite the immortals right now!"

Before long, a Qi Condensation cultivator was summoned over. He reached out to touch the invisible barrier and said, "There is indeed an invisible entity here, and for the moment I am powerless against it as well. But rest assured, this thing does not harm people."

"But my goods..."

The cultivator pondered for a moment. "With this anomaly here, within two days, someone within the sect is bound to notice. By then, senior figures will naturally arrive to break this barrier, so please wait patiently for a few days."

"That's all we can do, I suppose."

With a practitioner giving guarantees, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

However, within just a single hour, a sound of shock rang out once again.

"This, this thing is moving!"

The same Qi Condensation cultivator arrived once again, only to see that a large section of a certain pavilion had inexplicably been destroyed.

That person reached out to touch it, and once more encountered the invisible barrier, yet it was now dozens of meters away from its original position at the city gate...

"Step back, all of you."

He unleashed a full-strength attack, yet failed to shake the object in the slightest.

This was not something a mere Qi Condensation cultivator could resolve; even Foundation Establishment cultivators would be completely helpless.

And if they had to wait until the sect noticed the anomaly, probably a dozen hours or more would have already passed.

Where would this invisible entity have drifted to by then?

At this thought, an explosion went off in the cultivator's mind.

In all likelihood, under the shrinking of this invisible barrier, everyone would lose their footing, until finally, crammed together with nowhere left to go, they would be crushed into a mingled mass of bloody pulp...

Everyone in the city would die right here!