Martial Sage from the Vajra Skill

Tian Li was a bit gloomy and not one for conversation. However, back then, even when everyone else was fawning over Lu Ren, Gu Fang, and Jiang Ping, he always stuck with Xu Yang and Qiu Wenjie.

Therefore, their relationship could be considered a friendship.

Upon hearing this, Tian Li gave a thumbs-up in amazement. "Brother Xu, you have such sharp eyes! You saw through my Cultivation with just a glance."

Even Lin Cheng didn’t have this kind of ability.

In truth, Xu Yang only gained this ability after Marrow Cleansing, when his five senses had changed dramatically.

Of course, it wasn’t by sight but by sensing. He could basically sense the specific Cultivation of anyone below the Marrow Cleansing realm.

Naturally, it required close proximity, and the other person couldn’t be practicing a Secret Technique like the Breath Concealment Skill. If they were, he wouldn’t be able to sense their specific Cultivation.

There were many other familiar faces in the crowd, but his relationships with them were all quite ordinary. When these people came up to greet him, he only responded politely.

"What’s your Cultivation level?"

Zhang Hong was still at Weiyuan Hall, looking rather excited.

Seeing Xu Yang again, he had already forgotten about how they had drifted apart. It was as if they were back in the days when they first entered Weiyuan Hall, secretly competing with each other.

Xu Yang smiled. "Gang Qi Minor Achievement."

Zhang Hong grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Awesome! I only reached Qi Cultivation Gang half a month ago."

"That’s very good!" Xu Yang said.

This wasn’t just politeness. In fact, Zhang Hong had just been unlucky and lacked a good background; his talent was even better than some of those who had successfully completed Dragon Ascension.

It had been two years for their cohort, and he’d heard that several people still hadn’t even reached Qi Cultivation Gang.

If Zhang Hong had successfully completed Dragon Ascension, he probably would have reached Qi Cultivation Gang long ago.

"What about Zhang Yong and Lu Ren? What are their Cultivation levels now?" Zhang Hong asked again.

"Zhang Yong is also at Gang Qi Minor Achievement, and Lu Ren has reached Gang Qi Great Success."

Zhang Hong forced a smile. "As expected of Dragon Ascension. Your progress is terrifying."

Only he knew how much he had sacrificed over the past two years to improve his Cultivation. He had thought his Cultivation level wouldn’t be much different from Xu Yang’s group, but he never expected the gap to be so wide. No wonder everyone wanted to complete Dragon Ascension.

Xu Yang smiled but didn’t explain. The Purple Sun Sect was good, but only its own people knew of the dangers within.

"Everyone, disperse!" Lin Cheng appeared with his hands behind his back, a smile on his face.

"Yes, Master!" The disciples clasped their hands in a salute.

Stepping into Lin Cheng’s small courtyard again after two years, their reception was completely different. Lin Cheng no longer lectured them while lounging in his large chair; instead, he led the two into the main hall and had his young wife serve them tea and fruit.

Xu Yang didn’t know what Sun Tao’s previous experiences were like, but this was the same treatment he himself used to receive.

The only time he had ever sat in Lin Cheng’s presence was when Lin Cheng had asked him to sit after they reached an agreement for him to look after Lin Wei.

Lin Cheng sat in the seat of honor, his gaze sweeping over his two disciples. "Very good," he said with satisfaction. "You’ve already reached Gang Qi Minor Achievement. I struggled in the Outer Sect for nearly five years before I managed to break through to Gang Qi Minor Achievement."

’Taking nearly five years just to reach Gang Qi Minor Achievement... his talent really is a bit poor. No wonder he struggled in the Purple Sun Sect for ten years only to leave in disgrace.’

’With that kind of talent, he’ll never achieve Marrow Cleansing in his lifetime.’

"Sun Tao, if you work a little harder, you have a chance at Marrow Cleansing in the Inner Sect. Xu Yang, you should be able to achieve Marrow Cleansing within two years."

He was encouraging them as someone who had been through it all, completely unaware that Xu Yang had already achieved Marrow Cleansing.

The two clasped their hands. "We disciples will do our utmost."

Lin Cheng took a sip of tea and asked, "Are you here for a Sect mission?"

He knew the rules of the Purple Sun Sect all too well. They would never let disciples return unless it was for something important.

Sun Tao nodded. "The Sect received news that disciples from the Demon Sect might cause trouble at this year’s Martial Arts Examination. We were sent back to ensure the examination proceeds without a hitch."

Hearing the words "Demon Sect," Lin Cheng’s expression changed instantly. "So that’s why the City Guard Army has been so tense lately. It’s because of the Demon Sect. You two be careful. Once you’re outside the Sect’s gates, people from the Demon Sect could come after you at any time."

The two of them nodded in agreement.

The master and his two disciples exchanged a few more pleasantries before Lin Cheng suddenly asked, "Xiaowei hasn’t written to me in a long time. Did something happen to her?"

His daughter hadn’t written to him in almost a year, which had already made him suspicious. On top of that, Sun Tao’s smile had been unnatural ever since they met, so he already had a guess in his heart.

Xu Yang fell silent.

Sun Tao’s face filled with sorrow. He gritted his teeth, nodded, and said, "I failed to take care of Junior Sister. Master, my condolences."

Although he had been mentally prepared, hearing those words still made his vision go dark. The Gang Qi raging out of control in his hand shattered the teacup he was holding.

A year ago, he was still fantasizing about the scene of his daughter marrying Xiao Chen. He never imagined that she was already gone.

The atmosphere was extremely oppressive. Xu Yang and Sun Tao were both rough-around-the-edges men and didn’t know how to comfort Lin Cheng.

After a moment of silence, Lin Cheng spoke, his voice hoarse. "It’s not your fault. The Purple Sun Sect is a place where one is more likely to die than live. It’s my fault for not persuading her to stay."

He had struggled in the Purple Sun Sect for ten years; he knew its cruelty better than Xu Yang and Sun Tao.

Of the people in his cohort, only a handful survived.

"When did it happen?" Lin Cheng asked again.

Sun Tao said, "Almost a year ago. I never dared to tell you, Master."

Lin Cheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "How did it happen?"

This time, Sun Tao didn’t speak, instead looking at Xu Yang. The two of them had forgotten to discuss whether or not to tell Lin Cheng the truth beforehand.

Xu Yang said, "Let’s tell him the truth."

He looked at Lin Cheng and said, "She didn’t follow your instructions and wouldn’t listen to my or Senior Brother Sun Tao’s advice."

If Lin Wei had just listened, even once, this wouldn’t have happened.

"She grew up by my side. I was worried she would act willfully if she left me, which is why I asked you to look after her. I never thought she would still..."

"Master, I can tell you the truth, but please promise me you won’t do anything impulsive," Sun Tao said.

"Are you saying you know who the enemy is?"

Lin Cheng’s grief-stricken face instantly turned murderous. Sun Tao’s words meant he knew who had murdered his daughter. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

He had assumed his daughter had been ambushed and killed by bandits while away, a senseless death. He never imagined they actually knew the killer.

Sun Tao nodded. "Not only do we know, but that person also wanted to kill us to silence us. Especially Junior Brother Xu. He was targeted by that person several times. If it weren’t for good luck, he might have been killed too."

When Lin Cheng heard that both of them had almost been killed as well, his gaze softened slightly. He had originally held some blame for Xu Yang, but that feeling was now gone.

’It must be an expert they couldn’t possibly fight. Otherwise, two masters at Gang Qi Minor Achievement wouldn’t have described it as dangerous.’

"Why didn’t you go to your Uncle Xiao Hua? If something happened to Xiaowei, he would have definitely helped."

Sun Tao was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "It was he and his son who killed Junior Sister Lin Wei."

BOOM!

Those words exploded like a clap of thunder in Lin Cheng’s mind, shaking his Heart Spirit and causing his Gang Qi to spiral out of control.

CRACK!

The rampaging Gang Qi burst forth, instantly shattering the chair he was sitting on, followed by the table beside him.

"Master!" Sun Tao shouted.

This was the very reason he had been reluctant to speak. Lin Cheng considered Xiao Hua a good friend; he would never be able to accept that Lin Wei had died at the hands of Xiao Hua and his son.

When Lin Wei and Xiao Chen were getting together, he could tell from Lin Cheng’s letters that he was very pleased with the match. With an outcome like this, how could he bring himself to tell Lin Cheng that Xiao Hua and his son were the ones who killed Lin Wei?

"Master, what’s wrong?"

The young wife heard the commotion and came running. She was shocked to see the floor littered with furniture fragments and thought Lin Cheng had gotten into a fight with Xu Yang and Sun Tao.

"Get out!"

Lin Cheng roared, his expression twisted and pulsing with killing intent.

’Xiao Hua! It was Xiao Hua who killed my daughter... which means I killed my own daughter.’

’If I hadn’t asked Xiao Hua to help look after her, how could my daughter have met with such a disaster?’

"Bastard! Scum..."

He lost control of his emotions, cursing Xiao Hua’s name and venting the grief and resentment in his heart.

No wonder Sun Tao had told him not to be impulsive. Xiao Hua had achieved Marrow Cleansing long ago. Even if he hadn’t progressed in all these years, he was still no match for him.

Seeking revenge would be suicide.

After venting for a while, Lin Cheng got his emotions under control. In a low voice, he said, "What exactly happened? Tell me everything in detail. Weren’t Xiaowei and Xiao Chen getting along? Why would he kill her?"

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe their words; he just needed to understand why something like this could have happened.