Chapter 410: Conflict and Xiao Diao's Rescue
"You ruthless brat! I've waited long enough for you to show up. Come with me back to Yuan Gate to answer for your crimes!"
With imposing, chilling energy filling the air, the six leaders from Yuan Gate, faces dark with rage, appeared high in the sky.
"Answer for what crime? What right do you hypocrites from Yuan Gate have to condemn him? You really think the Dao Sect is some pushover you can just bully?! Try it if you dare!"
At the same time that the six Yuan Gate leaders arrived with murderous intent, a cold laugh rang out from another part of the city. Four figures appeared in the sky, hovering with authority—the four Hall Masters of Dao Sect.
Everyone in the city held their breath, watching this standoff between the two great super-sects unfold.
"Qi Lei, your Dao Sect's nerve knows no bounds to go to such lengths. Are you trying to provoke an all-out war between our sects?" Yuan Gate's leader, Stone Tong, gave Lin Dong a dark glare, then turned to the Dao Sect leaders with a sneer.
"Stone Tong, you old scoundrel, don't act so high and mighty. The Sect Tournament is no child's game; it's a battle to the death. Some casualties are to be expected. Besides, didn't your Yuan Gate's Lin Langtian wipe out the Tianxuan Sect in the Western Xuan Region? Shouldn't they be knocking on your door for payback?" Qi Lei replied coolly.
"You—!" Stone Tong was taken aback, his face twitching with anger as he glared furiously at Lin Langtian.
This was indeed a weak point for Yuan Gate. If they retaliated against Dao Sect, Tianxuan Sect could use the same argument against them. Yet, if they backed off, it would mean the deaths of the Three Little Princes and over four hundred disciples were in vain—a situation that was all Lin Langtian's doing. Out of everything he could have done, Lin Langtian had chosen to wipe out the entire Tianxuan Sect, putting Yuan Gate in a mess of trouble.
"Lin Langtian destroyed the entire Tianxuan Sect?" Just then, Lin Dong, who had just exited the teleportation portal, paused in shock, his gaze fixed on Lin Langtian's distant figure.
He had heard of the Tianxuan Sect, one of the most powerful sects in the Western Xuan Region, its influence even greater than Yuan Gate's. That Lin Langtian had quietly managed such a feat in the Demon Domain was startling.
For some reason, though, Lin Dong sensed that Lin Langtian had done this with full knowledge of his own deadly rivalry with Yuan Cang and his followers. It was almost as if Lin Langtian's actions had been meant to shield him, redirecting Yuan Gate's fury away from him.
Beside Lin Dong stood a young girl, a few years younger than he. Dressed in a dark robe, she was slender and had a striking, beautiful face, with lively, expressive eyes that sparkled with curiosity.
When the girl saw Lin Langtian, her eyes lit up. She began to wave, but Lin Dong quickly held her back.
"Qing Tan, now isn't the time for reunions. We could bring trouble down on Brother Langtian by revealing our connection," Lin Dong said in a low voice.
Though Qing Tan looked a bit puzzled, she nodded in understanding, giving Lin Langtian a little wink instead. Lin Langtian's gaze flickered with surprise as he noticed Qing Tan's transformation from the little girl he once knew.
"Looks like the Hall of Darkness has trained Qing Tan well," Lin Langtian thought with a smile, giving her a discreet wink in return.
Seeing Qing Tan's delighted grin, Lin Dong couldn't help but smile, sensing warmth at Lin Langtian's gesture to deflect Yuan Gate's wrath from him. He nodded to Lin Langtian in gratitude.
Lin Langtian gave a small nod back, a hint of a smile on his face. Indeed, destroying the Tianxuan Sect had been part of his strategy. First, it avenged the fallen Fire Division disciples; second, it served as proof that he'd had no reason to assist Yuan Cang. Finally, it diverted Yuan Gate's anger onto himself. Yuan Gate could hardly punish Lin Dong for his actions without facing backlash from the Tianxuan Sect.
Ying Xiaoxiao, standing nearby, overheard the news of Lin Langtian's destruction of the Tianxuan Sect, her gaze turning to him in open disbelief.
"He… really destroyed the entire Tianxuan Sect?"
She was stunned. The last time they'd met, there hadn't been much of a difference in their power. Yet in less than a year, he had grown into someone with such formidable strength.
"Dust True, there's no point in arguing further. This incident is incredibly serious, and Yuan Gate's Three Leaders are enraged. I don't think you four can settle this alone," said Stone Tong, his voice tight with fury.
At the mention of Yuan Gate's Three Leaders, Dust True's face shifted subtly. Within the Eastern Xuan Region, the names of Yuan Gate's Three Leaders commanded fear and respect across all sects.
"Stone Tong, even if you bring up your Three Leaders, it won't make a difference today. The rules of the Sect Tournament were set by the eight super-sects together. Are you saying that Yuan Gate intends to ignore these rules now? I'd love to see how you'll explain that to the other seven super-sects, and especially to Tianxuan Sect," Qi Lei shot back sternly.
Stone Tong's expression darkened as Qi Lei's words cornered him. Though Yuan Gate was the most powerful sect in the Eastern Xuan Region, even they couldn't openly defy all the other super-sects.
"Hmph, Qi Lei, spare me your empty excuses. My business with Tianxuan Sect doesn't concern you. All you need to do is hand Lin Dong over," Stone Tong sneered, his gaze shifting to Lin Dong. "Our instructions are to take him back to Yuan Gate. Don't worry—we won't harm him. Once we're finished, your Dao Sect can send Ying Xuanzi to collect him."
"If you want to take Lin Dong, then you'll have to get through me," Dust True replied calmly.
"Is that so? So you refuse to cooperate?"
Stone Tong's face darkened. With a wave of his sleeve, his voice filled with killing intent echoed across the sky.
"Attack!"
Boom!
At Stone Tong's command, a torrent of energy exploded from the Yuan Gate leaders. Without hesitation, they surged forward toward the Dao Sect leaders, their intent unmistakable.
"Dao Sect disciples, stand back!"
"Brat, you're ruthless! We've been waiting a long time. Now, return with us to Yuan Gate to face justice!"
With overwhelming force, the six Yuan Gate leaders appeared in the sky, faces dark and seething with anger.
"Justice? What justice is there to answer for? You shameless fools think the Dao Sect is just clay in your hands? Go on, make a move and see what happens!"
Just as the six were about to move, a cold laugh echoed across the city as four figures appeared in the air—the four Hall Masters of the Dao Sect, hovering with an intimidating air.
The crowd held its breath, sensing the tension. It seemed these two super-sects were set to clash.
"Qi Lei, you Dao Sect fools have crossed a line! You're inviting a full-scale war between sects," Stone Tong snarled, glaring at Lin Dong with hatred before turning back to the Dao Sect leaders.
"Stone Tong, don't start twisting the facts. The Sect Tournament isn't a child's game; it's a deadly arena where lives are risked. If some fell, that's only to be expected. And besides, didn't Lin Langtian of Yuan Gate also annihilate the Tianxuan Sect? Shouldn't they be the ones asking you for an explanation?" Qi Lei replied calmly.
Stone Tong's face twisted, his anger flaring as he glared at Lin Langtian. This was indeed a thorn in Yuan Gate's side. If they demanded payback from Dao Sect, then the Tianxuan Sect would have every right to come after Yuan Gate. But if they backed down, the deaths of the Three Little Princes and the four hundred disciples would mean nothing.
"Wait, Lin Langtian really wiped out the Tianxuan Sect?" Lin Dong, who had just exited the portal, looked at the tall figure of Lin Langtian with surprise. He'd heard of the Tianxuan Sect and knew it to be one of the most powerful sects in the Western Xuan Region.
The notion that Lin Langtian had accomplished this without drawing notice was stunning.
For some reason, Lin Dong felt as though Lin Langtian's actions might have been meant to shield him from Yuan Gate's wrath. At Lin Dong's side stood a young girl, a few years younger than him. Dressed in a dark dress, she had striking, beautiful features and sparkling, inquisitive eyes.
When the girl spotted Lin Langtian, her eyes lit up, but before she could wave, Lin Dong held her back.
"Qing Tan, now isn't the time for reunions. Let's not put Brother Langtian in a tough spot," Lin Dong cautioned softly.
Qing Tan, though confused, nodded, her lively eyes still glancing shyly over at Lin Langtian, who smiled in return. Seeing Qing Tan and Lin Langtian's brief interaction, Lin Dong also smiled, feeling grateful for Lin Langtian's protective actions.
Lin Langtian knew what he'd done was dangerous, but his intentions had been clear: avenging the fallen disciples, proving his own innocence regarding Yuan Cang's ambush, and giving Lin Dong a chance to escape. After all, his massacre of the Tianxuan Sect meant Yuan Gate couldn't press Lin Dong too harshly without exposing themselves to similar retaliation.
Seeing Lin Langtian's fearless stance, even Ying Xiaoxiao of Dao Sect's Hall of Shadows couldn't help but be stunned.
"He… he really took down the entire Tianxuan Sect?"
Meanwhile, in the air above, Stone Tong's anger flared again. "Dust True, we've already informed Yuan Gate's Three Leaders, and they are furious. This is far beyond your four to settle alone," he warned.
The mention of the Yuan Gate's Three Leaders brought a subtle shift in Dust True's expression. Within the Eastern Xuan Region, their names alone commanded respect.
"Stone Tong, even if you bring up your Three Leaders, the rules of the Sect Tournament were made by all eight super-sects. Do you mean to defy these rules now?" Qi Lei countered.
Stone Tong's face darkened as Qi Lei cornered him. Though Yuan Gate was the Eastern Xuan Region's most powerful sect, defying the other super-sects openly was not an option.
"Enough games, Qi Lei. This matter doesn't involve the Dao Sect. Just hand over Lin Dong," Stone Tong sneered, his gaze shifting to Lin Dong. "Our leaders have sent us orders. Once they're done, you can have your precious disciple back."
"If you want Lin Dong, you'll have to go through me," Dust True replied.
"So, Dao Sect refuses to cooperate?" Stone Tong snapped, waving his sleeve as his voice reverberated across the sky with clear killing intent.
"Attack!"
Boom!
With Stone Tong's command, the Yuan Gate leaders released a torrent of powerful energy and lunged toward the Dao Sect leaders, initiating a full-scale battle.
"Lin Dong, get your people out of here!" Amidst the explosive battle in the air, Dust True's voice cut through the chaos.
Lin Dong, observing the fierce fight above, nodded resolutely and called to the Dao Sect disciples, "We're leaving!"
"Lin Langtian, stop him!" Stone Tong barked from above, his command echoing through the air.
Lin Langtian's brow furrowed. He saluted respectfully and replied, "Forgive me, Master Uncle. My injuries from the battle with Xuan Tian haven't fully healed. I fear I'm unable to do much."
"Hmph, suit yourself! You'll answer for this when we get back!" Stone Tong growled. It was believable, given the toll of annihilating nearly six hundred disciples.
"Hold it right there, boy! You're coming to Yuan Gate with us!" Just then, a figure shot out from the raging battle zone toward Lin Dong, his enormous hand enveloped in powerful energy, blocking every escape route.
"Haha! Some old man wants a piece of Lin Dong? Not on my watch!"
A booming laugh echoed as two streaks of light shot through the sky like lightning, capturing the attention of the entire city.
"Boom!"
One figure extended his hand, unleashing a blast of dark purple energy that collided with the massive energy hand reaching for Lin Dong, dissolving it instantly.
"Who dares oppose Yuan Gate?!" roared Liu You, his eyes glinting with malice as he glared at the two streaks of light.
The light faded, revealing two figures standing beside Lin Dong.
One was a towering figure, skin as dark as iron and gleaming in the sunlight, exuding a palpable, indomitable strength. Next to him stood a young man in a blue robe, tall and slender.
"Oh, it's Xiao Yan and Xiao Diao," Lin Langtian muttered with a faint smile as he recognized Lin Dong's close friends.
Xiao Diao and Xiao Yan noticed Lin Langtian and exchanged brief nods, keeping their interaction minimal, aware of the current tensions.
"Wait… Qing Tan?" Xiao Diao's gaze landed on a young girl nearby, and he stared in surprise. "How did she get here?"
Xiao Yan, too, was stunned, his eyes on the girl. Qing Tan looked back in confusion, feeling an odd sense of familiarity with the two men.
"Qing Tan, do you remember Xiao Yan?" Lin Dong chuckled, patting Xiao Yan's shoulder.
"Xiao Yan?" Qing Tan blinked, a flicker of recognition in her eyes. Then, her face lit up with delight as she realized who she was looking at.
"No way! Is that really Xiao Yan? What happened to you?!" she exclaimed, rushing over to examine him, curious as her hand patted his iron-hard skin.
Xiao Yan chuckled, a soft expression appearing in his usually fierce eyes.
"Show some respect. From now on, call him Big Brother Lin Yan," Lin Dong teased. Then he pointed to Xiao Diao. "This guy watched over you for years too, though he stayed hidden in me most of the time. He's Lin Diao now."
Qing Tan nodded and leaned in, whispering to Lin Dong, "Lin Diao's really handsome!"
Though she'd whispered, Xiao Diao heard it, and a slight awkward smile flashed across his face.
"Who are you? Lin Dong was ordered to return to Yuan Gate, so I advise you to stay out of this!" Liu You growled.
Xiao Diao merely smirked, flames flickering in his hand as he spoke with icy calm. "My brother doesn't answer to anyone—not even you."
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1