Chapter 51: Do You Know Who I Am?

“Pfft!” The Patriarch of the Lin family spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering as his face turned as pale as paper, his breath withering to the extreme. The head of the Lin family was taken aback, hastily supporting the old patriarch, his expression full of concern.

“Patriarch, are you alright?” The head of the Lin family asked in a trembling voice, his heart filled with anxiety as he gazed upon the old patriarch’s ghastly countenance. The Lin family held its current status in Tianfeng City solely because of the patriarch’s existence. If anything were to happen to him, the future of the Lin family would be bleak.

Originally, Lin Tian had the hope of surpassing the old patriarch’s accomplishments, but now Lin Tian was dead, his body lost in the terrifying storm, not even a corpse left behind.

“Lin Xiao, you have now reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. One more step, and you will form your Core. After today, put away thoughts of revenge. Return to the Lin family and enter seclusion to cultivate, striving to break through as soon as possible. Otherwise, our Lin family is doomed. I am already spent; my lamp’s oil has run dry—cough, cough.” The old patriarch coughed violently, his complexion resembling golden paper.

“There must be a Core Formation cultivator overseeing the Lin family. I am a dying man. Before I depart, let me lend you my strength!” The old patriarch shouted, his face suddenly flushed. He slapped Lin Xiao’s shoulder, urging him to sit cross-legged, and placed his palm atop Lin Xiao’s head. Boundless spiritual energy surged into Lin Xiao’s body.

The spiritual power within a Core Formation cultivator is immense, and even when depleted, it is far beyond what a Foundation Establishment cultivator can withstand, even one at the peak.

Yet the old patriarch would never harm Lin Xiao. The vast spiritual energy poured into Lin Xiao, circulating through his limbs and bones, causing impurities to be expelled from his body.

Upon reaching Foundation Establishment, the body becomes pure and unblemished—relatively speaking. By ordinary means, no further impurities can be expelled. The more immaculate a cultivator’s body, the greater their future achievements. The Qi Condensation stage is a process of gathering spiritual energy and expelling bodily impurities; Foundation Establishment is the forging of one’s fundamental path.

Lin Xiao had already reached the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment, but now he received an unimaginable opportunity: a Core Formation cultivator cleansing and tempering his body. Such fortune is rare beyond measure. After all, no Core Formation cultivator would willingly expend their cultivation for another, risking a drop in realm or even death, their path extinguished.

“Patriarch, please stop! There must still be hope for you, you can recover!” The greatest fortune lay before him, yet Lin Xiao wept bitterly. His heart ached; an elder sending off the young, and now the old patriarch was about to fall. In a single day, so many calamities befell the Lin family. Though he had weathered many storms, tears streamed down his face.

The old patriarch paid no heed, pouring all his boundless spiritual energy into Lin Xiao, helping him purify and temper his body, elevating his aptitude.

“Pfft!” At last, the old patriarch could endure no more. Blood sprayed forth as he collapsed, stiff and lifeless.

“Patriarch!” Lin Xiao scrambled up, cradling the old patriarch’s corpse, crying out in anguish.

“Ah! Xuandao Sect, my Lin family will never coexist with you!” Lin Xiao’s face twisted, his eyes bloodshot, his grief-stricken roar echoing throughout Evil Dragon Ridge.

Above, dark clouds churned. A massive vortex formed within the clouds, and amidst the haze, a colossal figure moved within the layers. Suddenly, a black ray shot from the clouds, streaking straight toward Lin Xiao.

Elder Xuan Yin returned to the Xuandao Sect with Yin Tianfang and Nuolan. After entrusting Nuolan to Qingluo’s care, he brought Yin Tianfang back to North Shore Peak.

Though Nuolan’s injuries were severe, they were not fatal. Under Elder Xuan Yin’s treatment, she was out of danger. But Yin Tianfang’s condition was far more dire.

Gazing at the bedridden Yin Tianfang, Elder Xuan Yin frowned deeply. The black longsword was still clutched in Yin Tianfang’s hand, as if fused to his arm, black mist seeping from his body.

Others could not discern the nature of this mist, but Elder Xuan Yin knew well—it was demonic energy, pure and unadulterated.

Elder Xuan Yin stared at the black sword, his expression grave. From its depths, he sensed a profound and sinister aura. Confronted with the sword, he was at a loss. Just then, a radiant white light surged from Yin Tianfang’s body.

The white light coalesced, manifesting as a figure in the room. Upon seeing this figure, Elder Xuan Yin became visibly excited, immediately kneeling and respectfully greeting, “Xuan Yin pays respects to the old master.”

“Rise.” The figure was none other than Daochenzi, dwelling within Yin Tianfang. Elder Xuan Yin addressed Daochenzi as the old master—Daochenzi was Yin Tianfang’s father.

Daochenzi looked at the unconscious Yin Tianfang, gave a slight shake of his head, and sighed softly.

“Old master, the young master—” Elder Xuan Yin began.

“Rest assured, he’ll be fine,” Daochenzi replied. “Yet Tianfang’s future will be fraught with hardship; who can say what lies ahead?”

“With the old master here, the young master will come to no harm,” Elder Xuan Yin said. He was well aware of Daochenzi’s strength—few in this world could injure him.

Daochenzi shook his head. “My true self no longer dwells in this realm. This remnant of my soul remains only to suppress the thing within Tianfang. I can do little for him.”

“Let us resolve the matter at hand first.” Daochenzi’s gaze fell on the black sword in Yin Tianfang’s hand, his eyes sharp as blades, exuding a formidable aura. His gentle face was instantly suffused with overwhelming pressure.

Daochenzi strode toward Yin Tianfang. The black sword sensed danger, dark mist swirling from its blade and condensing into a fierce visage, which silently howled at Daochenzi.

Daochenzi’s expression remained indifferent. He stood before the bed, calmly observing the black countenance. Between his brows, a golden mark lent him an air of majesty.

“Do you know who I am?” His words, calm yet irresistible, resounded through the room. The black mist on the sword paused, then slowly dissipated. The black bracer on Yin Tianfang’s arm gradually faded away.

Daochenzi reached out, taking the black sword in hand, and turned to Elder Xuan Yin. “Do not tell him you met me.”

With that, Daochenzi, carrying the black sword, transformed into a stream of light and entered Yin Tianfang’s body.