Chapter 428 Farewell

The Sect Master turned around, a kind and approving smile resting on his lips. "This is very good. You have not disappointed me, Luo Shan. Congratulations on achieving your breakthrough." He took a slow step toward Lin Lee, his eyes twinkling with interest. "As I had promised, you have earned a significantly higher position within this sect. I intend to name you as the Holy Son. Would you be willing to accept me as your master?"

Lin Lee raised his head, his face showing a thoughtful blend of gratitude and resolve. "I am willing. Thank you, Master, for accepting me as your disciple." He bowed again, his motion perfect and reverent.

He understood exactly what this moment meant. A year ago, the Sect Master had set a specific condition: if he could break through to the Yuan Ying realm within ten years, he would be appointed as the Holy Son. It was a test that should have taken an entire lifetime to complete, yet Lin Lee had managed to succeed in only one year. The Sect Master clearly had not expected such extreme efficiency, but he was a man of his word and would not renege on his promise.

The Sect Master nodded, appearing pleased with this display of loyalty. With a quick flick of his wrist, a token forged from rare, glowing spirit-jade arched through the air and landed in Lin Lee’s hand.

"Go, and prepare for the ceremony," the Sect Master commanded. "Also, consider this your first perk as the new Holy Son... you are fully authorized to visit the treasure vault. Take any treasure you desire; you have earned it."

"Thank you, Master." Lin Lee replied immediately with a happy smile on his face. He turned around and walked out of the main building, looking down at the jade token in his hand. His pupils flickered thoughtfully with an intense light. ’I was planning to move secretly tonight, but I never expected to receive such a perfect opportunity. With this jade, the task will be much easier than I anticipated.’

Lin Lee exited the Main Sect Building, the spirit-jade token weighing significantly in his palm. It was the key to his next major acquisition, a ticket to resources that would accelerate his plans tenfold. He returned to his cave residence, the weight of the sect’s sudden recognition pressing upon him, but his mind was already leagues ahead. He sat cross-legged, waiting for the day’s events to settle.

Slowly, the sun moved toward the horizon. Darkness engulfed the whole region from the other side, and stars began to flicker in the sky, cold and indifferent. Lin Lee stood up, his movements fluid as he walked outside his cave residence. He looked toward the dark expanse above, then turned and glanced in the direction of the treasure pavilion, which was nestled in the secluded corner of the sect.

’If I were born and raised in this realm, it would have been best for me to become the Holy Son and then rule this sect and realm. I could even ascend to the spirit world above later,’ Lin Lee mused internally, his expression remaining impassive. ’But my goal is now different. I cannot choose the golden egg and discard the golden goose. The main world may allow me to travel to thousands of such worlds through these portals, and I will definitely find the Versebender.’

After firming his resolve, he strode forward. His footsteps echoed softly on the stone paths until he reached the treasure pavilion. The building towered ahead, a monolithic structure of ancient construction. Standing before two massive, reinforced stone pillars were three old men, seated cross-legged on a special elevated platform.

Lin Lee slowed his pace, his pupils narrowing as he assessed them. ’Two Peak Yuan Ying, one Mid.’ He identified their cultivation levels with a practiced, solemn gaze.

One of the elders opened his eyes, the movement sudden and sharp. His gaze pinned Lin Lee to where he stood. "Who are you?" the elder demanded, his voice a low vibration that seemed to rattle the very air. "Why are you here?"

Lin Lee walked forward, maintaining the persona of the Holy Son, and saluted. "I have seen the elders." He raised his hand, and the jade token given to him by the Sect Master materialized, hovering in the air between them. "I am here to choose a treasure."

The elder’s eyes fixed on the token, and the other two simultaneously opened their eyes; the pressure of their presence momentarily spiked. They nodded, a silent acknowledgment passing between them. Two of the elders stood and patted the pillars on either side, releasing a torrent of spiritual energy. The stone pillars glowed with a distinct blue and green light, and in the space between them, a curtain of energy materialized, shimmering like liquid starlight.

The middle elder glanced at Lin Lee, his tone cold and official. "Go inside. You have only three incense sticks of time to choose a treasure. You are allowed to choose only one. If you act greedily or delay, you will be punished."

Lin Lee nodded, his expression polite but focused. He walked toward the shimmering entrance between the pillars, while the elder raised his hand, effectively retrieving the token from the air behind him. He stepped through the energy curtain, the pavilion’s interior swallowing him whole.

On the other side, inside the treasure pavilion, Lin Lee raised his head in surprise. The entire interior was vastly different from what he had expected; the space was far larger than the exterior dimensions, a result of a classic spatial folding technique. Shelves and short pillars with glowing displays lined the walls, filled with countless weapons and rare materials. He strolled inside, his eyes cataloging the layout.

’So, there are three sections: weapons, rare materials, and rare herbs.’

His pupils brightened as he glanced at the row of shelves in the herbal section, where rare flora were displayed in crystal jars or encased in special, opaque boxes that even his divine sense struggled to penetrate. A playful, reckless smile appeared on Lin Lee’s face. ’They cannot see everything I do in here... it is likely they only monitor the total energy signature or the number of items upon exit. If I strip the pavilion bare, they will not know it was me until it is already too late.’

He did not have much time. With a decisive wave of his hand, he ignored the restriction of choosing "one treasure." He activated the heavenly bead of life rotating deep in his dantian, beneath his newly formed Yuan Ying. A suction force, invisible and potent, erupted from his palm.

Whoosh!

Shelves vanished. Jars of rare spirit herbs were pulled from their displays, disappearing into the bead’s internal space. He did not stop there. Moving to the rare materials and weapons sections, he swept his hand again. Metal ores, ancient scrolls, and legendary blades were all harvested, leaving the shelves behind them completely bare and clean.

"Very well. The resources here are almost ten times more than the previous Hua Sect." He paused, satisfied. "I cannot verify the quality of the special treasures in this rush, but I will categorize them later."

Just as he turned toward the entrance, a few heavy, reverberating voices shattered the silence.

"Presumptous!"

At the same time, heavy, suffocating auras descended from outside, instantly locking down the entire pavilion. Lin Lee’s pupils shrank. ’So fast? There must be a hidden formation sensing the total energy fluctuation.’

He glanced at the entrance, sensing figures materializing through the energy curtain. Without hesitation, he pulled the Return Crystal from his storage pouch. As the guardians breached the barrier, their murderous intent locking onto him from all directions, Lin Lee’s playful smile deepened.

"Farewell, thank you for the patronage."

Crack!

The return crystal shattered in his grip. The world around him stuttered, freezing for a heartbeat. An invisible, kaleidoscopic light enveloped his body. With a sharp swish, he vanished into the void, leaving behind only the displacement of air.

The pavilion shuddered violently. Walls collapsed, and the section structures buckled under the backlash of the elders’ failed attacks. Amidst the swirling dust, the three guardian elders landed in the center of the room, their expressions twisted in shock. They stared at the empty, desolate shelves.

"Damn bastard!" one of the elders cursed, his voice trembling with fury.

After a while,

Inside the main sect building, the Sect Master stood on the balcony, watching the storm of lightning berserking through the clouds above. The Great Elder, Elder Yao, and Elder Lin stood behind him, along with the three guardian elders who had just arrived with the news of the catastrophe.

The Sect Master turned slowly, his gaze drifting to the Great Elder. "Great Elder, show me the life jade of Luo Shen."

The Great Elder nodded, his hands trembling slightly as he produced the artifact. The Sect Master glanced at the jade, which was now lifeless and fractured down the middle. A thin, chilling smile appeared on his face as he shook his head.

"Well, it looks like he fooled us all."

The hearts of the Great Elder and the others sank. They recognized the smile... the dangerous, cold manifestation of the Sect Master’s suppressed rage. His forehead veins throbbed, a silent warning of the storm to come.

"Go and hide his deeds," the Sect Master commanded, waving his hand with finality. "We cannot do anything else to save our faces... the Red Sky Sect has become a joke today."

The Great Elder and the others bowed, their expressions heavy with failure. They left in silence, the realization burning in their minds: the "Holy Son" had been an outsider, a ghost in their sect, and there would be no catching him. The Sect Master remained on the balcony, staring into the dark, churning sky, while the truth of their loss echoed in the silence of the sect.

... Chapter End ...