Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 477 - 471: Dark Sun Six

Chapter 477: Chapter 471: Dark Sun Six

"Fellow Daoist Uncles, Daoist Brothers, long time no injuries," a calm voice, like a gentle breeze brushing past, slowly drifted from outside the Cave Mansion.

The members of the Pine Patterned Sword Sect all changed their expressions.

The Six Hall Masters were on high alert as if facing a great enemy.

Taikun Daoist Master also had a slight change in expression, his gaze intently fixed on the entrance.

In such a moment, the other ordinary elite Stewards, though all at the Foundation Establishment Cultivation, could only remain as bystanders. Each of them tightly gripped the Spirit Talismans in their hands and formed small formations, barely trying to feel somewhat secure.

The moment the voice fell, a slender young man suddenly walked into the entrance of the Cave Mansion, his features quickly recognized by some Stewards.

"Villa Master Lingxin?!"

Some who often dealt with the Suppressors stationed in external affairs recognized him instantly—it was Lingxin, none other than Lin Xin who had just returned from the Central Prefecture.

Just earlier, he was surrounded by the Yuan Jing of the Central Prefecture at the birthday feast, trying to seize some Secret Treasure, yet now he astonishingly appeared here.

"Lin Xin, nephew, what brings you here now?"

In the end, Taikun Daoist Master had to speak up himself. Since the other party had escaped unharmed, it meant he possessed Yuan Jing Level Cultivation; no one else was fitting or qualified to speak. Among those present, only he was qualified to talk on equal terms with him.

Lin Xin looked around, only spotting one familiar face.

Zhong Xuan, Daoist Uncle Zhong, who had once saved him during a mission outside.

"So Daoist Uncle Zhong Xuan is here too, my apologies for not noticing," he said with a soft smile.

Zhong Xuan also remembered the past incident and managed a faint smile in response.

"Alright, Taikun grandmaster, let’s speak the truth, where is Daoist Master Mingxin now?"

Lin Xin held no fondness for the upper echelons of Pine Patterned Sword Sect, except for True Monarch Mingxin. This time, having sustained severe injuries in the suppression of the Bug Mother, True Monarch Mingxin had a plan; Lin Xin, although having his own plans, wasn’t without the intention to help him clear out the Sword Sect and unify the internal forces.

Daoist Master Taikun, surnamed Kun, was also an old ancestor from the Kun lineage within the Pine Patterned Sword Sect, with the perverse Kun Si Lang being his disciple.

Taikun’s gaze hardened slightly.

"What do you seek Daoist Brother Mingxin for? Can the old man know the reason?"

Lin Xin’s expression turned sorrowful.

"At this critical moment, when our Pine Patterned Sword Sect is in peril, does the grandmaster still doubt my heartfelt devotion to protect the Sect? It genuinely saddens me..."

"Pretentious righteousness! If you still regard the grandmaster as your senior, why then do you barge into our Sect’s sacred grounds so aggressively?"

Hall Master Kong Xie of the Sword Hall scoffed coldly.

"This Villa Master has traveled thousands of miles back to the Sect, solely to help navigate the Sect through this calamity," Lin Xin stated, glancing at Kong Xie. A subtle roll of Evil Qi in his gaze caused Kong Xie to momentarily pause, his complexion paling, and his entire body seemed pressured, stumbling back two steps and had to be supported by someone else.

"But! There are treacherous villains within the Sect who have twisted my goodwill and perverted the truth, causing the Sect to decline and everyone to mourn."

"After much reflection, I have decisively decided to correct the chaos, eliminate the treasonous and evil, and defend the rightful name of our Pine Patterned Sword Sect."

"Men! Seize Kong Xie!"

Lin Xin suddenly hardened his expression.

He waved his right hand, and a burst of black fog suddenly shot out, instantly enveloping the struggling Kong Xie in a Soul Domain.

As the black fog dissipated, robed figures immediately pressed forward and subdued him, preventing any struggle.

Suppressed by the Yuan Jing Soul Domain and bearing injuries, Kong Xie hadn’t expected Lin Xin to strike so suddenly. His eyes widened as he could not breathe, and a spurt of fresh blood sprayed out.

"As the Hall Master of the Sword Hall and one of the Six Peaks, how dare you collude with outside enemies to harm your own Villa Master! You deserve death for your crimes, and your actions must be destroyed! I grant you a death as a warning to others!"

Lin Xin’s words flowed rapidly, his right hand suddenly flared out, and the entire cave seemed to collapse in an instant, space distorted, and the light dimmed.

Taikun Daoist Master hadn’t even had time to react when he saw Kong Xie’s head suddenly burst open with a pop.

Boom.

Kong Xie’s headless body fell to the ground.

Everyone inside the Cave Mansion was stunned.

Nobody had expected Lin Xin to act so quickly and so ruthlessly.

Kong Xie, one of the Six Hall Masters and a Golden Core pinnacle expert, seemed no more substantial than an infant in his hands.

"Now, may we talk, grandmaster Taikun?" Lin Xin looked at Taikun Daoist Master with a smile.

Taikun’s complexion turned pale, and he seemed to age significantly all at once.

He knew well the true intent Lin Xin had in seeking True Monarch Mingxin; it was none other than for the Sky-Piercing Pine Patterned Sword he possessed.

Such a Sixth Grade Divine Weapon, infinitely powerful, had served as the Pine Patterned Sword Sect’s treasure for millennia. While suppressing the entire Sect, it had continuously drawn nourishment from the Sect members.

Its power had long surpassed the ordinary scope of Sixth Grade levels.

Having previously repelled the Vermilion Bird Divine Seal, it was likely in a weakened state now. Lin Xin’s actions were aimed at exploiting this vulnerability to seize control of the Divine Weapon!

He silently watched Lin Xin; he had known some of the insider details as the host of the birthday feast when Lin Xin was surrounded. However, he hadn’t expected these old Yuan Jing rivals to be so ambitious as to attempt to swallow up both Lin Xin and the Sect’s Sky-Piercing Pine Patterned Sword at the same time.

Later, he could have used the Divine Weapon-driven Sword Array to help Lin Xin repel the attackers, but he still didn’t.

It was his intention to let both sides suffer and reap the benefits as the fisherman.

But he had not anticipated...

"What now? The ancestor still refuses to speak?"

Lin Xin smiled, reached out his hand, and suddenly a woman beside Daoist Master Taikun flew out, hovering in mid-air.

Daoist Master Taikun was also the mastermind behind the creation of the Face Fruit Incident, appearing kind on the surface but actually hypocritical. Thus, when he made his move, he did not show any mercy.

The woman covered her throat, her body flickering with spiritual light, and multiple spirit talismans flew out, trying to break free, but it was in vain. Her throat was being increasingly constricted.

"Stop!"

Now, Taikun’s expression changed, and he reached out his hand towards the woman as well.

A similar Yuan Jing Soul Domain opened up between the two, and they collided with a thud, producing a muffled, void-shaking impact.

Daoist Master Taikun coughed up blood, and Lin Xin sneered, squeezing his hand.

"Stop it! Junior Brother!"

The second command to stop echoed from outside the cave mansion.

A group of people swiftly entered through the gates and, to everyone’s surprise, it was Dugu Lin and her group.

She fixed her piercing gaze on Lin Xin, standing next to Ji Lu, You Xuan, and other members, with several people yet to fully enter before being blocked by robed figures.

"Sister Dugu Lin, why have you come?" Lin Xin signaled to the robed figures to let them through, allowing them to approach.

As soon as Dugu Lin entered, she saw the stand-off, the atmosphere heavy. She quickly received an explanation through a voice transmission and immediately understood the full story.

"Lin Xin, if you want to meet my master, you can come with me!"

She stared intently at Lin Xin.

"Additionally, the Sky-Piercing Pine Patterned Sword is there as well."

Releasing the woman, Lin Xin looked towards Taikun with a mocking smile.

The latter closed his eyes, concealing the deep pain and resentment within.

"Let’s go."

Lin Xin turned and strode away, followed by a group of robed figures.

Outside the cave, several formidable cultivators clad in blood-red robes awaited.

Stepping out of the cave mansion, Lin Xin, with Dugu Lin and the others, soared into the sky, heading towards another location on Taikun Mountain.

Inside the cave mansion, after a moment of silence, someone finally bowed to Taikun and decided to go out to investigate the situation.

But as soon as they reached the door, they were stopped.

It turned out there were robed figures standing guard outside. After some negotiation, they were informed that they were not allowed to leave, and must remain inside the cave.

"This... this is house arrest! This is too much!"

The Hall Master of the Formation Hall was also infuriated, his white beard trembling violently.

"The master has ordered that he will return soon to handle your arrangements," a robed figure said in a shrill voice. "Although we indeed cannot stop you from leaving, in the entire pine forest, no one can stop our lord from acting against others."

"So, please stay calm."

The followers of Taikun lineage, along with the six Hall Masters, fell silent upon hearing this.

Indeed, as he said, the current Lin Xin was not only the talk of the entire pine forest, but throughout the entire Southern Prefecture, his power unfathomable.

******************

At the foot of Taikun Mountain, in front of a foggy cliff.

Lin Xin and a bald elder with a long beard sat opposite each other, surrounded by robed figures and Dugu Lin, Fairy Yuzhu, and others who stood at a distance, waiting for the outcome.

The atmosphere here was noticeably better than inside the cave mansion.

Betwen them on a round table made of white jade stone, an ancient-looking green longsword was embedded, slightly tilted, currently emitting a faint aura full of vitality.

"It seems the ancestor is in good condition, not as bad as I anticipated," Lin Xin said calmly and gently.

The bald elder was clad in a long gray hemp robe, and his sleeves covered his hands. A goat beard reached his chest. Not a trace of a cultivator’s aura was felt from him.

This man was the strongest member of the Pine Patterned Sword Sect, the first in combat power, Mingxin True Monarch Yu Kai.

He was also the teacher of elite talents such as Dugu Lin and Fairy Yuzhu, and was also the one wielding the suppressing level Sky-Piercing Pine Patterned Sword of the sect.

"My young friend, your constitution has reached an unprecedented level, which has certainly misled Daoist Taikun and others," Mingxin True Monarch, grievously injured, still maintained an indiscernible vital aura, showing no signs of his wounds.

"In front of Elder Mingxin, I dare not act presumptuously. I must thank the elder for his protection over the years," Lin Xin said with great respect, slightly bowing his head in greeting.

"It’s not about me. Lin’er and you have a close relationship, and each has their own connections," Yu Kai shook his head and smiled, "Honestly, your visit this time must be for our Pine Forest’s Sky-Piercing Pine Patterned Sword, right?"

Lin Xin nodded.

"Elder sees clearly,"

he said composedly,

"Solidification, Integration, True Monarch, I’ve only just entered the Yuan Jing Level. Originally, I’m not qualified to wield a divine weapon. But,"

he paused.

"The situation in Central Prefecture is becoming increasingly volatile. If our Pine Forest does not advance, the situation will be dire, especially after the heavy losses in the recent battle against the worm mother. The other three Sects are watching us closely."

"I understand," Yu Kai nodded, seemingly unsurprised by Lin Xin’s choice. "However, I don’t see any ambition in your eyes. So, what is it that you truly want?"

"Ambition?" Lin Xin chuckled.