Chapter 283: Shi Qingyao!
"So the sect master, being at the pseudo-upper stage of the emperor realm cultivation, clashed with Lin Feng."
Ashen listened attentively, curious to know the outcome.
"Lin Feng was pushed back at first, being forced to run for a while before he took out an array flag. With the help of that array flag, Lin Feng launched a powerful attack that shattered the formation in one blow; however, at the same time, Lin Feng was struck by the attack from the Sect Master, leading to him being heavily injured."
Ashen was surprised by the fact that Lin Feng could break a level-6 defensive formation in a single blow.
Since it was a defensive formation, it was designed for defense, capable of withstanding powerful attacks with little issue; however, Lin Feng was still able to shatter it.
Ashen could feel that Lin Feng's strength was really on another level.
"Then, did he run away?" Ashen asked curiously.
Han Wuji, shaking his head, answered, "No. Even in that injured state, he demanded the Eastern Sovereign Hall to surrender and let him take away his lover—Shi Qingyao!"
"Huh? Why is his lover involved?" Ashen asked, puzzled by her mention.
Till now, there was no mention of Lin Feng's lover, so where did she appear from so suddenly?
Han Wuji respectfully revealed, "Lin Feng attacked the Eastern Sovereign Hall solely because of her."
"Shi Qingyao was born in the Mother Phoenix Empire just like him; however, she was chosen as a disciple by the previous generation sect master of the Eastern Sovereign Hall when he visited the Mother Phoenix Empire because of an alchemy conference."
"He brought her to our empire and taught her as his disciple. She became an elder of the Eastern Sovereign Hall later. For a period of time, she returned to her home, the mother Phoenix Empire."
"According to the rumors, she and Lin Feng met in that period and became lovers."
"She then returned to the Eastern Sovereign Hall when she heard the news of her master passing away. It was then that the current sect master announced her marriage with his son despite her refusal."
"Lin Feng heard of the forced marriage that was happening and instantly came to attack the Eastern Sovereign Hall to save her."
"Oh..." Ashen nodded in realization, understanding everything. "So that's how it was..."
"Yes, your highness." Han Wuji nodded: "Lin Feng thus didn't relent even though he was injured. It is said that he used his array flag to conjure another attack; however, before he could launch the attack, the sect master offered a deal out of fear!"
"Deal?" Ashen asked curiously, interested to know the details.
"I don't know about the specifics of the deal; however, I heard that Lin Feng agreed to it and returned from the Eastern Sovereign Hall to recuperate without taking Shi Qingyao with him."
"Some rogue cultivators said that they saw him on a small and remote island in the Eastern region. Additionally, the Eastern Sovereign Hall postponed the marriage and called the formation Grand Sage of the East at a hefty price to repair the formation broken by Lin Feng."
"Also, no one has seen Lin Feng's face; his appearance was rather peculiar." Han Wuji reported.
"Huh? What do you mean? Hasn't he fought the Eastern Sovereign Hall? They should've seen his face, right?" Ashen asked the obvious.
"No, your highness." Han Wuji shook his head, denying Ashen's speculation. "They couldn't see his face because he was wearing a mask."
"Mask?" Ashen muttered.
"Yes, your highness." Han Wuji revealed. "His face was covered by a mask resembling a crimson demon with horns. Moreover, since his body was covered under dark robes, only that mask was his identifying feature."
"Really?" Ashen rubbed his chin as he asked, "Is there no other feature to identify him through?"
Han Wuji paused to think for a moment before his eyes widened as he remembered: "Yes. There is another thing that was unique to him. He used red-colored lightning to attack. His lightning was incredibly powerful, according to rumors, capable of shattering other elders' attacks in an instant."
"Hmm... a mask and red lightning..." Ashen folded his hands in thought.
Lin Feng is indeed very thorough, isn't he?
Like this, he can just remove his mask and roam in the empire scot-free!
Maybe he even has a treasure or artifact to hide his cultivation.
That would really make it difficult to identify him without his mask.
Like this, he can easily come in and out of the empire.
He can disguise himself as a common traveler to enter the empire and wreak havoc here.
And when the empire tries to go after him, he can simply mix among the ordinary people, making it difficult to find him.
Also, this red lightning sounds terrifying.
Just what kind of strength allows an intermediate stage emperor realm cultivator to hold back multiple emperor realm experts?
Moreover, the Eastern Sovereign Hall is run by the three great clans of the eastern region, making it the most powerful sect in the whole region.
He could go head-to-head against such a power?
He really is a protagonist...
To take him down, you'll need the empire's help.
Only if the empire goes after him can he be taken down!
I should stay away from him for my own sake...
As Ashen thought this, a sudden realization made his eyes widen.
Wait! If that mask hides his identity, it also has a downside too!
It makes it easy to disguise as him!
Anybody can wear a similar mask and commit some crime to frame him.
A smile hung on Ashen's lips as he thought this; however, it also vanished at the next thought that probed a problem.
But what about that red lightning?
Most Lightning Path cultivators have blue lightning.
His red lightning is similar to Uncle Shang Wu's black lightning, extremely powerful and unique only to him.
If I want to use his disguise, I need someone who can use red lightning.
At this moment, he remembered the conversation with his Uncle Shang Wu!
"Uncle, how will I protect myself for a month without you?" Ashen asked, acting innocent and weak in front of Shang Wu.
Since, in Shang Wu's eyes, Ashen was only at the core-formation realm, he was too weak to protect himself for a month from his perspective.
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