The Prodigies War

“It’s a plot orchestrated by the Zuo and Qin clans!” Lin Xuefeng was so furious upon hearing the word ‘treason’ that he trembled and his eyes went wide. “They are trying to eradicate our clan and take Mind Cleansing Peak for themselves!”

Then, he told Lin Xun everything in detail.

Ten years ago, the changes in heaven and earth had completely erupted, causing the situation of the Ziyao Empire to change as well.

Since then, the emperor and empress had never shown their faces again, leaving it to Third Prince Zhao Jingwen to oversee the empire. The third prince had then taken complete control and handled the government.

Immediately thereafter had been the outbreak of demonic beasts in the empire. They had invaded cities and spared no evil deeds like burning, killing, and pillaging, thus becoming a major internal problem.

Later, the Brute Warrior tribes had taken the opportunity to mobilize armies and besiege the major borderlands, becoming a huge external threat.

From then on, the empire had been in turmoil and very unstable.

That had been when Zuo and Qin clans had received orders to assemble all the forces in the Forbidden City to suppress the monster plague and fight back the Brute Warriors.

As a medium clan in the Forbidden City, the Lin Clan of Mind Cleansing Peak was also on the list.

Naturally, no one had had any objections about serving the empire.

However, under the control of the Zuo and Qin clans, almost all of the Lin clansmen were sent to the most tragic and dangerous areas.

In just a few years, the Lin Clan had suffered a big loss of half of its power!

Hearing this, Lin Xun’s eyes flashed coldly.

They had been using the power in their hands to consume the Lin Clan’s strength under the guise of serving the empire and killing the enemy. If this was really a conspiracy, then their intentions were too sinister!

“However, that’s not enough to bring down our clan,” Lin Xuefeng continued. “These years of killing have cost us many brave souls, but there are also many who have risen through battles and grown powerful through the bloodshed.

“And with Master Spirit Vulture watching over us, the core strength of our clan has not suffered from attrition.

“But recently, when Scarlet Eagle King went to the battlefield to kill a demonic beast, he was framed to be a traitor to the empire by an old King monster of the Zuo Clan. They then started hunting him down. Even to this day, we still don’t know if he’s alive or dead!”

Speaking of this, a touch of rage surfaced between Lin Xuefeng’s brows. “Scarlet Eagle King has been a loyal friend of our clan and helped us kill countless demonic beasts. How could he possibly betray us?!”

Lin Xun still remembered that year during his return from the Spirit Burial Sea, Scarlet Eagle King had appeared on his path and provoked him, only to be subdued.

It was also then that he had given Scarlet Eagle King the role of Mind Cleansing Peak’s guardian, and the latter had been serving the Lin Clan ever since.

Before Lin Xun had departed for the Ancient Wasteland Domain, Scarlet Eagle King had even made an oath that he would never regret serving Lin Xun as his master, and that he would spend his entire life being Lin Xun’s follower to realize his dao.

How could such a loyal monster-beast cultivator become a traitor?

“The Zuo Clan then used this incident to put our clan under suspicion of treason, and now they and the Qin Clan are doing their utmost to elaborate on it and brand the crime of treason on us, so as to destroy our clan!” Lin Xuefeng gritted teeth with seething hatred, and his eyes were bloodshot.

“I see…” Lin Xun’s expression remained calm, but his eyes grew colder and colder.

First, they aimed to deplete the Lin Clan’s strength and vitality under the guise of serving the empire.

Then, they used Scarlet Eagle King to spin the crime of treason on the Lin Clan. Such tactics were not only malicious, but also extremely shameless.

Why did the Zuo and Qin clans dare to do such a thing?

The reason was simple. It was because they thought that it was impossible for Lin Xun to return to the lower world!

Moreover, the absence of Blood Kill King Zhao Tailai and the refusal of the Third Prince Zhao Jingwen to provide protection to the Lin Clan had allowed them to be so brazen!

Thinking of this, a chill ran down Lin Xun’s spine.

It was indeed not easy to return from the Ancient Wasteland Domain this time around, as the void tunnels to the lower world had all collapsed due to the coming of the great age.

If he hadn’t sought help from the Cloud Weaver Clan, then he probably wouldn’t have been able to return at all.

He could only imagine the calamity that would befall the Lin Clan would that have been the case!

“I was planning to head to the palace just now to seek an audience with Third Prince Zhao Jingwen, hoping to get intervention from the royal power and clear our clan of the treason crime. However, now that you’ve returned, Clan Leader, we will follow your lead,” said Lin Xuefeng.

“Seek an audience with the third prince? No need,” Lin Xun firmly dismissed the idea.

He had just heard from the street discussions that Zhao Jingwen was friendly with the Zuo and Qin clans, so how could he possibly stand up for the Lin Clan?

This was not a big deal. However, Lin Xuefeng had just said that Zhao Tailai had specifically instructed the Lin Clan to find Zhao Jingwen for help should they encounter any difficulties. And what was the result? Help had been repeatedly denied!

Lin Xun had to wonder if Zhao Jingwen was also secretly playing a part in fueling this conspiracy against the Lin Clan.

“Apart from the Zuo and Qin clans, are there any other forces involved?” asked Lin Xun expressionlessly, not letting any emotions show.

Lin Xuefeng shook his head. “That’s still unclear, but what’s certain is that even if the other major powers aren’t involved, they’re only waiting to laugh at our downfall.”

“Mhm.” Lin Xun then asked, “What is the current situation of our clan? Are there any signs of unrest within?”

Lin Xuefeng hurriedly clarified, “Nothing at all. With Master Spirit Vulture and Uncle Zhong at the helm, our clan has long since clung together and is determined to live and die by Mind Cleansing Peak.”

Lin Xun inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. “Very good.”

He had been worried that in the face of such a menacing situation, there would be unrest within the Lin Clan and the clansmen would become disorganized to the point that there would be another rebellion like back then.

After a moment of silence, Lin Xun’s eyes flashed with a cold gleam of determination. “Time to settle this grudge.”

His voice was calm, but an invisible killing intent permeated the air, causing Lin Xuefeng to hold his breath and his mind to nearly collapse.

He was horrified. After over a decade, just how powerful had his clan leader become?

“How about accompanying me for a walk and admiring the night view of the Forbidden City?” said Lin Xun out of the blue.

“Of course.” Lin Xuefeng nodded despite finding this request very strange.

The two then unboarded the carriage and started walking the lively streets.

Lin Xun’s expression was unperturbed. His hands were on his back. His eyes were like two deep abysses as he gazed into the distance.

Nighttime.

The seventy-two aristocrat peaks were like a dream city in the sky, surrounded by colorful clouds and light rains.

Living on those peaks were the most powerful forces of the Forbidden City, consisting of the seven high clans and a series of medium clans.

When Lin Xun had just arrived in the Forbidden City for the first time, the Lin Clan had already long been in decline and facing internal and external problems, with only Lin Zhong left on the huge Mind Cleansing Peak.

In the later years, Lin Xun had forcefully risen through ordeals and predicaments and unified the Lin Clan. His deeds had shocked the Forbidden City, forcing the seven high clans to accept reality and retreat. From then on, they had no longer dared to mess with the Lin Clan.

Only now did Lin Xun realize that one who was once an enemy, would forever be an enemy!

They might be scared and forced to lay low, but they would never hesitate to take a bite out of you at the slightest mishap!

Just like now, once the Zuo and Qin clans deemed that Lin Xun could never return from the Ancient Wasteland Domain, they immediately had the guts to deal with the Lin Clan.

This realization strengthened Lin Xun's resolve to settle this grudge once and for all!

Back then, the only reason why he hadn’t exterminated the enemies was because his strength had been insufficient to flatten those high and mighty clans.

But that was no longer the case!

“Xuefeng, let’s return to Mind Cleansing Peak.” Lin Xun stopped the walk as he had seen enough of the Forbidden City’s night.

When Lin Xun and Lin Xuefeng were getting on the treasure carriage, an old man on the street happened to notice Lin Xun at a glance. His expression instantly changed and his gaze froze.

After a long daze, the old man muttered, “It must be him, it must be Lin Xun! The leader of Mind Cleansing Peak, whose brilliance filled the capital back then, has returned?!”

Watching the carriage disappear into the busy night streets, the old man felt a storm crashing in his heart.

He was a rune master of the Rune Master Association named He Yanqiu. He had seen Lin Xun several times in the past, and was naturally familiar with his appearance.

This was why he was so startled to see Lin Xun here.

Everyone in the Forbidden City knew that the Lin Clan had started to face difficulties only after it was determined that Lin Xun would no longer be able to return from the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

Back then, the Lin Clan had risen in a single leap from a declining state and had oppressed the seven high clans into having no choice but to endure, offending many people in the process!

Had Lin Xun still been around, the Lin Clan naturally would have no worries, but once he had been confirmed to be gone forever, the situation had changed completely.

First, the Zuo and Qin clans had joined forces to suppress and weaken the Lin Clan.

Then when it was learned that the Lin Clan wasn’t favored by Third Prince Zhao Jingwen who was now in sole control of the empire, several friendly forces had also chosen to draw a line with them!

After this series of events, it was clear to everyone in the Forbidden City that the Lin Clan had lost their status. They were isolated and about to fall apart.

At that time, He Yanqiu had sighed at how the monkeys all left after the trees’ fall and how quickly things could change. He felt sorry for the Lin Clan.

There had even been news that the Lin Clan had been labeled with the crime of ‘treason.’ Once this crime was charged, the entire clan, men and women, young and old, would be involved and might even face eradication!

This matter had made a lot of noise in the Forbidden City and was the current focus of attention.

But to He Yanqiu’s shock, the master of Mind Cleansing Peak who everyone deemed unable to return ever again, had returned!

“After tonight, this Forbidden City is going to turn upside down…”

He Yanqiu gazed at the sky as a strong premonition arose in his heart.

Meanwhile, Lin Xun and Lin Xuefeng had arrived at the entrance of Mind Cleansing Peak.