Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 658 - 653: Stability - Part One

Chapter 658: Chapter 653: Stability - Part One

As soon as Lin Yaoyang said this, both of them were taken aback.

They didn’t seem to understand where the other’s strong confidence came from. Slightly puzzled, they didn’t speak for a moment.

"Don’t let someone use you as a tool without knowing anything," Lin Yaoyang said indifferently. "Okay, you may leave now."

"Both of you, please," a nearby guard stepped forward and gestured with his hand.

The two really were somewhat reluctant. They stood there, staring at Lin Yaoyang for a while, before turning and leaving under the guard’s impediment.

When they reached the door, the man, Lin Ya, suddenly turned around and shouted sternly.

"Lin Yaoyang, are you really sure..."

"If you’re going to leave, just leave. What’s with all the nonsense!"

Lin Xin narrowed his eyes and interrupted him directly, he had respected his foolish sister all along, and therefore hadn’t cut in, but now that his foolish sister had finished talking and this guy was still mumbling on, he wasn’t going to be blamed for a direct jab.

"What do you think you..." Lin Ya was furious, locking his gaze on him. But before he could finish speaking, he caught sight of a small, distinctive mark on Lin Xin’s body and his expression changed instantly.

"Brother Ya?" The woman tugged lightly at his sleeve. "This kid..."

"Let’s go!"

Lin Ya’s complexion turned pale. He cut her off, grabbed her, and they both took off running.

"Hey! Brother Ya, what are you doing?"

The two of them quickly left through the main gate and soon vanished from sight, outside the courtyard.

Lin Xin was slightly surprised.

"It seems they recognized the sect’s insignia on me."

"I told you not to interfere!"

Lin Yaoyang came over and complained softly, pouting her lips.

"I was looking forward to having some fun."

"So when you told me not to get involved, this was the idea you had in mind?"

Lin Xin couldn’t help but laugh and cry.

Inside the small hall, several guards and maids looked at each other, seemingly guessing something but not quite understanding, showing even more respect towards Lin Xin.

Only Lin Yaoyang and Lin Xin knew the truth in their hearts.

Green Lake Mountain was a massive entity ruling over the Myriad Realms, where even a small robe emblem was enough to send the so-called Lin Family of Yueyang fleeing without another word.

Perhaps it was for this reason that the bloodline struggle that was supposed to happen simply dissolved into nothingness, as we’ve just seen.

After all, not every issue in this world escalates towards a worse state.

Since the other party was sensible, Lin Xin had no desire to pursue the matter further, especially since they were all his foolish sister’s family. How to handle it was up to her.

"This is so boring," Lin Yaoyang sighed as she took off her liquor gourd and took a big swig.

"Drink less," Lin Xin said as he snatched away the gourd.

"A little drink won’t kill me!" Lin Yaoyang tried to get it back but was easily held back by her brother’s one hand, and no matter how much she struggled, it was no use, which made her even more annoyed.

"It’s too late once you drink yourself to death," Lin Xin said, unmoved.

After that incident, the Lin Family of Yueyang visited again and they were heard asking around some guards and subordinates for information. Unable to truly confirm Lin Xin’s status as a disciple of Green Lake Mountain, they reluctantly stayed in the vicinity.

Lin Xin and Lin Yaoyang ignored them and took care of Yuan Wanqing.

Yuan Wanqing’s condition was worsening by the day, and her physical health deteriorated.

Yet she didn’t suffer, showing only a faint reluctance to part.

Days passed...

Finally, on the third month after Lin Xin’s return, Yuan Wanqing stopped breathing one night.

By the time Lin Xin and Lin Yaoyang arrived, they found only a corpse.

Just like Yuan Wanqing’s unremarkable life, her departure was also without drama, without the slightest ripple.

She was such an ordinary person. Perhaps her biggest accomplishment in life was giving birth to Lin Xin and raising Lin Yaoyang.

But her true lifelong affection was still with the departed Lin Hao.

When Lin Hao died, her heart had long since followed him.

For Yuan Wanqing’s funeral, Lin Xin did not invite any friends, and Lin Yaoyang didn’t hold a grand ceremony.

The two of them simply followed Yuan Wanqing’s last wish: As a person of plain life, she should depart from this world quietly.

After the cremation, Yuan Wanqing’s ashes were placed in the Lin Family’s ancestral shrine to be honored with incense offerings every year. They knew it didn’t really matter, but it was a way to console the living.

The funeral was exceedingly simple and lasted three days.

After keeping vigil, Lin Xin had a detailed conversation with Lin Yaoyang, wanting to take her with him to the Dragon Serpent Realm, but she declined. Lin Yaoyang did not want to become a burden that held her brother back.

Lin Xin was somewhat worried about Qing Shan Realm and six Divine Kings coming to Qiushi Region to cause trouble. But as long as he was still of value to Xia, his foolish sister should be safe in Qiushi Region.

Once the vigil was over, he made another visit to Xia, but regrettably, the room that didn’t exist seemed to have disappeared suddenly.

He could not get in no matter what.

However, it was Feng Huai, who had hurried over after hearing the news, who brought the latest situation from the Qing Shan Realm.

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

"That old codger Qing Shan chose Shen Tang as the prospective successor. Behind Shen Tang is the power of the Shen Family, who have long harbored covetous intentions. It’s just that, unlike other powers, they have no direct conflicts of interest with the Qing Shan Realm. They are simply deluding themselves."

Sitting in the pavilion, Feng Huai blandly relayed the recent developments to Lin Xin as they ate and drank from small dishes of food and cups of wine, casually chatting.

"Lin, you really weren’t being considerate, not even notifying your elder brother about something as significant as the old lady’s passing. If I hadn’t learned of this news beforehand from another channel by chance, I might still be in the dark," Feng Huai said, somewhat displeased.

"I also didn’t want to make a big fuss about it, as my mother wished to depart quietly. Many relatives from the family faction weren’t even informed. Why would you get angry, Brother Feng?" Lin Xin said with a bitter smile, shaking his head.

"No next time." Feng Huai pointed at Lin Xin. "Do you hear me clearly?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Lin Xin, shaking his head, raised his cup to Feng Huai.

The two clinked glasses lightly and then set them down again.

"There’s also another piece of news that you might not want to hear," Feng Huai began again.

"What news? Just speak directly, Brother Feng," Lin Xin said indifferently, picking up a slice of meat with his chopsticks.

"Qiao Yu has been resurrected."

Lin Xin’s chopstick-held slice of meat hung in mid-air for a moment. He frowned slightly and looked at Feng Huai.

"Qiao Yu has been resurrected? Are you certain?" Lin Xin repeated Feng Huai’s words before slowly placing the slice of meat back on the plate.

"Certain."

Feng Huai nodded earnestly.

"The Qing Shan Realm Master extracted her celestial soul, using it as fuel to forcefully reassemble her spirit and revive her in the living world. Such a defiance of nature’s law has cost the old man Qing Shan no small part of his cultivation," he said with a hint of mockery shaking his head.

"In fact, the resurrection was somewhat facilitated by Qiao Yu’s lack of personal cultivation.

Her cultivation was entirely derived from her father’s celestial soul power, and she had little of her own, only slightly stronger than ordinary humans. As such, the cost of reviving her was minimal. Additionally, using her celestial soul as the price along with the foundation of the Realm Master’s Earth Immortal cultivation enabled the success of the resurrection.

However, from now on, this Qiao Yu will merely be an ordinary low-rank cultivator."

"Should I be pleased or disappointed?" Lin Xin posed the question.

"That depends on your perspective. You have slain Qiao Yu once, so if you count grudges, you could consider it settled. If you still desire revenge, it would still be justifiable since the previous karma runs deep.

If you wish to completely put an end to this matter, that is also up to you," Feng Huai said casually. "But what I’m worried about is, even if you’re willing to settle, the Qing Shan Realm Master might not let you off so easily."

"Why is that?"

Lin Xin frowned.

"The Dragon Serpent Realm Master personally visited the Qing Shan Realm, and it’s rumored that he met with the Qing Shan Realm Master. The Dragon Serpent Realm Master was already more powerful by a notch or two, and now with the Qing Shan Realm Master having expended so much cultivation to resurrect his disciple, he is even less of a match.

What exactly the two agreed upon, I’m not sure, but it definitely benefits you. The Dragon Serpent Realm Master has indeed cleared quite a few tails for you in private."

Feng Huai elucidated.

"Many thanks to my Honored Master for his profound favor; I have no way to repay it." Lin Xin bowed solemnly in the direction of the Dragon Serpent Realm, only then understanding why Qing Shan had not troubled him for so long; it seemed his master had been warding off the issues in secret.

"Besides your personal affairs, the main reason I came was to inform you of another matter."

Feng Huai waved his hand, casting a light red, veil-like barrier that enveloped their surroundings.

"What matter requires such caution?"

"Song Danhao and his group have arrived in the Buddha Realm. They have broken through the puzzling traps laid by a World-Honored Buddha millennia ago in thirteen places, obtaining a vast collection of various precious scriptures, treasures, relics, and so on.

The entire Buddha Realm is agitated, with various pursuits underway, and amidst it all, there are shadows of powerful players vying for advantage. Song Danhao and his group have a good relationship with your sister; it’s best if you watch out for them coming to her."

"Song Danhao? Is he powerful enough to cause such chaos?" Lin Xin asked, furrowing his brows.

"The reincarnation of a Demon God King, mere trash before breaking the seal, becomes a peerless Demon God King afterward. Who would dare to underestimate him?" Feng Huai scoffed coldly. "The weak Song Danhao is merely one of the Demon God King’s pawns. When he chooses to break his seal, that’s entirely up to him.

Currently, the ones mainly pursuing them are from the Buddha Realm, the Eight-Treasure Arhat of the brilliant glazed Buddha faction. All others fall a step or two short of his strength.

The Arhat Realm signifies a formidable fighter among the Earth Immortals of the medium tier. The chaos is only growing more extensive."

"What exactly is the Buddha Realm?" Lin Xin asked, having only vaguely heard of it before and never delving into the details.

"The Buddha Realm is also known as the Buddha Domain and refers to a large conglomeration of small worlds. It is divided into the Assembly of Myriad Buddhas. The Assembly is centered around the Tathagata Buddha, the Ancestor of All Buddhas.

Legend speaks of the Trikaya—the past, present, and future Buddhas—representing the origin of all time, space, and entities. Situated far beyond our reach, it’s baffling how Song Danhao and his group managed to make their way there," Feng Huai said, puzzled. "At present, there’s a crowd accompanying that group. With so many players involved, the situation is in disarray, and it’s hard to attribute the plays to anyone specific."

"I’d rather not bother with these affairs as long as they don’t affect me or those around me," Lin Xin remarked casually.

"You have a good mentality,"

Feng Huai laughed.

"Alright, let’s get back to drinking!"

As they spoke, they resumed drinking their cups in rounds.

After the vigil ended, Lin Xin placed the Stone Wheel Bead given by Feng Huai alongside his mother Yuan Wanqing’s ashes. This treasured bead was said to secure a better reincarnation for the departed, but its true efficacy had never been verified.