At this moment, Lin Chen’s divine sense withdrew from the Primordial Myriad Transformation Cauldron. Estimating the time, Lin Chen guessed that it should be quiet outside the forest as well.
He left the cave and, indeed, there was no sound of fighting in the forest. So, Lin Chen silently flew out of the forest and returned to the place where they had excavated the cave wall outside the forest.
However, when Lin Chen emerged from the forest and approached the cave, Zhao Yijing, Xu Lianyu, and the others had just come out, fully armed, as if they were about to go somewhere.
"Junior Brother, you are finally back. We were all very worried about you, you didn’t leave a message, and we were just about to go look for you," Xu Lianyu said hurriedly, excited to see Lin Chen return. Yet, after she finished speaking, she seemed to remember something and her lips pursed slightly, revealing an unhappy expression.
It turned out that they were afraid something had happened to Lin Chen and were planning to search for him in the forest. This had delighted Xu Lianyu, who had been staying in that cave for over half a month and felt almost moldy all over, more uncomfortable than when she had been confined at Jade Bird Peak.
Therefore, upon hearing they were going to search for Lin Chen, Xu Lianyu was not only genuinely concerned about Lin Chen himself but was also glad to leave the cave.
However, now that Lin Chen had returned, would they have to continue staying in this cave, waiting quietly for news?
"Junior Brother, are you injured?"
Zhao Yijing noticed the wound on Lin Chen’s palm and immediately stepped forward to take his hand and examine it.
The wound was already healing; it was caused by a flame. Lin Chen’s fellow senior sisters immediately grew worried and started asking what happened.
"I encountered people from the Black Cloud Sect, led by someone named Ma Yuan."
Lin Chen informed Zhao Yijing, Xu Lianyu, and the others of the situation, which immediately caused their expressions to change dramatically.
"You encountered Ma Yuan? And you fought with him? That guy is no pushover. You’re lucky to have escaped with your life. Next time you see that person, you better run for your life," Xu Lianyu exclaimed. Zhao Yijing and the others also sweat for Lin Chen.
In their minds, Ma Yuan was the strongest among the younger generation of the Black Cloud Sect, and even Zhao Yijing did not dare say she could match him. That Lin Chen could escape unscathed after such an encounter was remarkable.
Moreover, from what Lin Chen indicated, he had even spoiled Ma Yuan’s plans, earning the latter’s enmity.
That was not a good thing. If Ma Yuan and his people were to target Lin Chen with the full force of the Black Cloud Sect, Zhao Yijing and the others wouldn’t be able to protect him.
Zhao Yijing and the others discussed and decided to give up continuing the journey to Qilin Mountain, to abandon the search for opportunities and competing for the inheritance.
"Who are we exaggerating? If I, Lin Chen, am afraid of even a small figure like Ma Yuan, then I might as well call it the end of my path in cultivation," said Lin Chen as he heard the concern of his senior sisters and shook his head with a smile.
Lin Chen was, of course, aware of Ma Yuan’s strength, but he was not afraid.
Lin Chen still had many cards up his sleeve. If Ma Yuan really decided to eradicate him at all costs, Lin Chen would not make it easy for his adversary.
The group returned to the cave inside the wall and discussed their long-term plans while Lin Chen went out again to gather information.
He was also eager to find out what Ma Yuan would do after having the Blue Lotus Divine Flame taken from him by Lin Chen.
Inside the Mysterious Forest.
At that moment, Ma Yuan opened his eyes from his meditative state, as his injuries had finally fully recovered.
As he opened his eyes, a cold smile appeared on his lips, and his eyes were filled with endless murderous intent. Read full story at novelFɪre.net
"The one who snatched away my Blue Lotus Divine Flame, even if I have to dig three feet into the ground, I, Ma Yuan, will find you. Even grinding your bones to dust won’t quell the hatred in my heart," Ma Yuan said coldly. Then he led his junior brothers deeper into the Mysterious Forest.
Shortly after, in the forest, Ma Yuan encountered several disciples of the Black Cloud Sect looking extremely wretched; they were the ones he had sent to pursue and kill Lin Chen.
However, the more than ten men who went after Lin Chen were now reduced to just four, each heavily injured and looking quite pitiful.
"What happened? Why are you in such a state?"
"Senior Brother Ma, we followed that man into the forest and were too careless, getting attacked by magical beasts. The others all died at the hands of the beasts, and only a few of us managed to escape," the disciple of the Black Cloud Sect reported with his head bowed.
Indeed, they had been negligent, forgetting that the forest was the territory of magical beasts.
"Hmph, a bunch of useless trash," Ma Yuan said dismissively.
"Well, since the kid is a disciple of the major sects and I remember his appearance, let him live a little longer. We’ll head to Qilin Mountain first. That guy will sooner or later turn up there, and then we can take our time with him," Ma Yuan decided.
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded, finding Ma Yuan’s words reasonable. However, a few Black Cloud Sect disciples had grim looks on their faces.
"Senior Brother Ma, those shape-shifting great demons are still blocking the way on Mt. Taiyin Path. We simply can’t get through," one disciple said.
"The other sects’ disciples have been constantly entangled with the magical beasts, but these old cunning creatures are very sly. No one wants to use their full strength, wanting instead to conserve energy for the struggle on Qilin Mountain. Therefore, the battles with the magical beasts are never fought in earnest," another disciple of the Black Cloud Sect explained.
"Hmph, shape-shifting demon beasts? Those who block my path shall die!"
"If these guys are unwilling to put in the effort, then let me carve out a bloody path," Ma Yuan declared with a cold shout, his body bursting with overwhelming power.
Congratulations to Senior Brother Ma for advancing further in your cultivation!" the Black Cloud Sect disciples said, laughing as they noticed Ma Yuan’s cultivation had broken through to the Second Layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm.
Ma Yuan waved them off and immediately took out his silver spear, advancing toward the Mt. Taiyin Path. Along the way, he killed any magical beast that dared to block him with an invincible force, quickly carving out a path.
The disciples of the other sects changed expressions upon seeing this, some with excitement, others with concern.
Those excited were finally seeing someone genuinely fighting their way through, while those worried understood that this powerful person from the Black Cloud Sect, a demon cultivator, would be a formidable opponent on Qilin Mountain, making it difficult for them to compete for the inheritance.