Chapter 370: The Demon Seal
Deep within Yuan Sect, Lin Langtian descended onto a secluded mountainside. There were no grand halls here, only a modest chamber that exuded a mysterious energy, filling the air with a faint tension.
"Come in," called a calm voice from within as Lin Langtian approached the chamber. The voice was familiar—it belonged to Ren Yuanzi.
With a mixture of anticipation and caution, Lin Langtian stepped forward and opened the door. Inside, the light was dim, casting shadows around the elegant jade table before him. Seated at it was Ren Yuanzi, dressed in robes of deep purple and gold. His silver hair gleamed, and his alabaster skin seemed ageless, with a deep, unfathomable aura about him.
"Disciple Lin Langtian greets the Headmaster," Lin Langtian said respectfully, halting a few paces from the table with a bow. Though normally unshakable, even Lin Langtian felt a hint of reverence for the powerful headmaster.
Ren Yuanzi looked up, his eyes calm yet filled with something unfathomable. Gesturing to the cushion opposite, he said with a faint smile, "Sit."
Lin Langtian held himself steady, stepping forward and taking a seat with his back straight. Despite his recent high-profile actions, he was confident that he hadn't crossed any lines that would harm the sect, so he believed Ren Yuanzi would not harm him.
"You performed impressively in the recent competition, even defeating Yuan Cang," Ren Yuanzi said, his gaze steady on Lin Langtian. "This news will surely ripple beyond our Yuan Sect to the other major sects in the Eastern Profound Domain."
"Thank you, Headmaster. I owe it to the sect's training," Lin Langtian replied modestly, careful not to be misled by the Headmaster's seemingly gracious demeanor.
Ren Yuanzi smiled faintly. "Victory is victory, and defeat is defeat. Although Yuan Cang is valued by your elder Master Tian Yuan, in Yuan Sect, power and skill always speak loudest. You needn't worry about stirring any trouble for defeating him—Elder Tian Yuan will not hold it against you."
Lin Langtian feigned relief, offering a slight smile. "Thank you, Headmaster."
"You've proven your strength. For life-or-death battles, you're a fitting choice," Ren Yuanzi continued. "But in the upcoming Sect Tournament, it's essential to unite the Eight Divisions. Yuan Cang, with his established rapport and experience, is better suited for that. So, after consulting with the other headmasters, we've decided to transfer the command authority for the Sect Tournament to Yuan Cang. What are your thoughts?"
Ren Yuanzi's tone was calm, his expression composed, yet the words held no hint of negotiation—they were merely informing Lin Langtian of a decision already made.
Upon hearing this, Lin Langtian's heart sank. Just a moment ago, Ren Yuanzi had emphasized that Yuan Sect was a place where power ruled above all else. Yet now, with a few words, he had neatly handed over the command to his own favored disciple. Lin Langtian seethed internally. So, he thought bitterly, there's favoritism after all.
But he knew better than to speak his mind. For now, he needed to bide his time. Confronting a powerful Reincarnation Realm master was a death wish.
Once he regained his composure, Lin Langtian nodded. "Brother Yuan Cang is a respected, capable leader, and transferring the command to him for the Sect Tournament is understandable. I fully support this. However…"
Lin Langtian paused, and seeing that Ren Yuanzi's expression hadn't changed, continued, "I would like the Fire Division to have some autonomy during the tournament. After my battle with Brother Yuan Cang, there may be lingering friction, and I believe—"
He let the rest of the sentence trail off, trusting that Ren Yuanzi understood his implication. The tension between him and Yuan Cang was obvious, especially after such a hard-fought battle. It was clear to everyone, including Ren Yuanzi, that if Yuan Cang were in command, Lin Langtian's situation could quickly turn sour. Autonomy for Fire Division seemed necessary.
Ren Yuanzi shook his head. "You and Yuan Cang are both promising disciples of Yuan Sect. Small grievances shouldn't come between you two. You should learn to work together and set aside personal conflicts."
"Of course," Lin Langtian said with a calm tone, though inwardly cursing. Work together? Yuan Cang's hostility wasn't going anywhere, and it seemed his superiors weren't interested in protecting him from it.
Ren Yuanzi appeared to sense this as well. He knew Yuan Cang's proud and vengeful nature well. After a brief pause, Ren Yuanzi inclined his head. "You are right. We owe you for the command change. Fire Division will retain independent action during the tournament and will not be under Yuan Cang's control."
"Thank you, Headmaster!" Lin Langtian replied with a bow.
With this autonomy secured, he no longer had to worry about Yuan Cang's orders. Truthfully, Lin Langtian hadn't been keen on leading the Sect Tournament's disciples. The tension between Yuan Sect and Dao Sect was common knowledge—there was a history of fierce enmity between them. He knew that if he were to lead the disciples, he would likely end up in direct conflict with Dao Sect, potentially facing Lin Dong.
In this timeline, Lin Dong was still with Dao Sect and had even mastered the Great Desolate Scripture. Facing Lin Dong's forces was a situation Lin Langtian preferred to avoid. Now that he was free from command duty, with Fire Division's autonomy secured, he could avoid a head-on clash with Dao Sect.
In the depths of Yuan Gate, Lin Langtian landed quietly on a secluded mountain peak. There were no grand halls here, just a single chamber radiating a mysterious aura that seemed to tense the atmosphere.
"Come in," a calm voice called from within as he arrived. The voice was familiar—it was Ren Yuanzi, the sect master himself.
Lin Langtian, with a mixture of caution and readiness, stepped forward and opened the door. Inside, the light was dim, casting shadows across a jade table where Ren Yuanzi sat serenely. Dressed in a deep purple and gold robe, his silver hair gleamed under the light, and his ageless, infant-like skin revealed the aura of a profound master.
"Disciple Lin Langtian greets the Headmaster," he said respectfully, halting a few paces from the table and giving a formal bow. Even for Lin Langtian, known for his fearless ambition, there was an unavoidable reverence for such a powerful figure.
"Have a seat," Ren Yuanzi replied, gesturing to a cushion opposite him. His gaze was calm but held something inscrutable. Lin Langtian maintained his composure, walking forward and sitting with his back straight, feeling confident that the past weeks of his high-profile achievements in the sect had not breached any rules or regulations.
"You performed well in the competition, even defeating Yuan Cang," Ren Yuanzi commented, his gaze steady. "This will surely cause quite a stir, not only within Yuan Gate but among the major sects across the Eastern Profound Region."
"Thank you, Headmaster. I owe my success to the sect's training," Lin Langtian replied modestly, careful not to be misled by the sect leader's seemingly gracious demeanor.
Ren Yuanzi gave a slight smile. "Victory is victory, and defeat is defeat. While Yuan Cang is a favorite of Master Tian Yuan, power and skill are paramount here in Yuan Gate. You needn't worry that your success over him will bring trouble. Elder Tian Yuan will not hold it against you."
Lin Langtian pretended to relax and offered a slight smile. "Thank you, Headmaster."
"You have proven your strength," Ren Yuanzi continued, "but in the Sect Tournament, we need the eight divisions unified under one command, and Yuan Cang's rapport with the divisions makes him better suited to lead them. After consulting with the other masters, we've decided to transfer command for the Sect Tournament to Yuan Cang. What do you think?"
The Headmaster's voice remained even, his expression composed, yet his words were clear—this was not a suggestion but a decision.
Lin Langtian's mind tensed. So much for impartiality! His command was to be handed over, and his internal resentment deepened. He had a keen sense for such things, and he knew well enough when to avoid clashing with such powerful figures, especially when the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor.
Keeping his expression smooth, he responded, "Brother Yuan Cang is well-respected in the sect, and having him command the disciples for the tournament is indeed fitting. However…"
Lin Langtian paused, noting that Ren Yuanzi's expression hadn't changed, then continued, "I would like the Fire Division to have some autonomy in the tournament. After the intense battle with Brother Yuan Cang, there may be lingering friction. For the sake of the team…"
He left the sentence hanging, trusting that the Headmaster understood. The animosity between him and Yuan Cang was no secret, especially after their recent clash. And with Yuan Cang now in command, Lin Langtian knew he would be at a disadvantage. Some autonomy for the Fire Division seemed necessary.
Ren Yuanzi shook his head. "You are both esteemed disciples. Small grievances shouldn't divide you, and you should work together harmoniously."
"Understood," Lin Langtian replied with a neutral expression, though his mind was once again cursing the favoritism. He knew it was easier said than done to ignore Yuan Cang's notorious pettiness.
Ren Yuanzi seemed to catch his meaning. Yuan Cang's vindictive nature was known, and with a faint nod, he added, "Given the circumstances, I'll grant the Fire Division independent action in the Sect Tournament."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Lin Langtian replied, bowing his head slightly. With that autonomy secured, he could avoid Yuan Cang's potential pitfalls in the tournament, as well as sidestep a confrontation with Lin Dong and Dao Sect. Relieved, he was ready to leave when Ren Yuanzi waved a sleeve and conjured three items floating in the air.
"Now, for your reward." He gestured to the three shimmering objects. "These are not ordinary items, and you may select one."
Lin Langtian glanced up at the three hovering lights. The first held a red spear adorned with flame-like patterns and emanating a fierce heat—its power was greater than any weapon he currently owned. The second contained a silver armor pulsing with lightning bolts—an exceptional defensive item.
Despite the treasures' obvious value, Lin Langtian was cautious. He suspected Ren Yuanzi had tampered with these gifts and turned his attention to the third item. Within the final light was a small, black rune. The symbol glowed with an eerie, malevolent energy.
"Have you decided?" Ren Yuanzi asked, watching him.
Lin Langtian weighed his options, recognizing that he had little choice but to accept one of the items, even if it was tainted. After a moment of contemplation, he pointed to the black rune. "I'll take that one."
A brief, almost imperceptible glimmer passed through Ren Yuanzi's eyes as he asked, "Are you certain?"
"Yes," Lin Langtian replied confidently, hoping that even if the rune was compromised, he could figure out any hidden effects with Aunt Ling's help.
Ren Yuanzi nodded, letting the other two items vanish as he placed the black rune in Lin Langtian's hand. "This is a spirit seal. It's ownerless, so a simple blood bond will allow you to claim it," he explained.
Lin Langtian held the black rune, feeling its cold surface as energy seemed to pulse faintly from it. There was a strange familiarity to this power, though he couldn't place why.
With a polite farewell, Lin Langtian made his way back to his quarters. Once inside, he took out the rune, raising his consciousness to Aunt Ling. "Aunt Ling, could you check this seal and see if Ren Yuanzi tampered with it?"
Aunt Ling materialized, her gaze focused intently on the rune. After a thorough examination, she shook her head. "He hasn't tampered with it."
"Really?" Lin Langtian's surprise was evident. It seemed uncharacteristic for Ren Yuanzi to give a reward without hidden traps.
Aunt Ling continued, "No tampering, but this isn't a spirit seal as you'd expect. It's not something left by a human cultivator. This was forged from the essence of a fallen demon warrior, making it a… demon seal."
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