Chapter 60

The sky above Mount Hengyue was shrouded in dark clouds, and a pitch-black mountain abruptly appeared in mid-air, growing larger in the wind, instantly transforming into a colossal peak.

Following Piao Beizi's magical incantations, the massive mountain immediately crashed down. A light barrier appeared above Mount Hengyue, like an inverted bowl, protecting the Hengyue Sect and withstanding the impact of the giant peak.

However, as Piao Beizi continued to apply more force, the protective array of the Hengyue Sect, lacking a cultivator of the same level to anchor it, became increasingly fragile, swaying precariously, and was on the verge of being breached.

Lin Feng had already descended the mountain and was watching this astonishing scene from a distance, his face pale. "Cultivators of the Nascent Soul stage are truly formidable. The gap in cultivation is too great; no amount of scheming can make up for it."

He gazed at the protective array of the Hengyue Sect and felt a sense of relief. "This array is truly remarkable, withstanding the assault of a Nascent Soul cultivator for so long. If I were to come and snatch someone, I definitely couldn't force my way in. It would be more appropriate to say 'steal' rather than 'snatch.'"

Lin Feng also thought to himself that once he established his own sect, his primary task would be to set up a protective array to guard the mountain gate, as this would be the foundation of the foundation.

Although the Hengyue Sect's protective array was resilient, without a Nascent Soul cultivator to anchor it, it ultimately could not withstand Piao Beizi's methods. With each impact, the light barrier developed a web of cracks, rapidly spreading in all directions.

"Break!" Piao Beizi roared, and the giant peak pressed down, descending three inches. Mount Hengyue shook, rocks rolled down the mountain, and dust flew. The massive peak was actually pressed down by several dozen meters.

At this moment, the Hengyue Sect's protective array finally could not hold, and with a sound like a mirror shattering, the entire light barrier instantly fragmented and dissipated.

Lin Feng sighed inwardly, knowing that the Hengyue Sect was completely without hope.

A domineering voice came from the sky, belonging to Piao Beizi. "The two Nascent Soul elders of your Hengyue Sect have already perished in the Void Battlefield. You cannot protect this Mount Hengyue. Instead of letting others take it, give it to the Xuan Dao Sect."

"Except for people, nothing else can be taken away. If you continue to argue, this old man will not hesitate to exterminate your entire Hengyue Sect!"

"Furthermore, the Xuan Dao Sect is recruiting disciples here. If any of you wish to join, you may stay here."

Lin Feng shook his head in secret, thinking that Piao Beizi was truly ruthless, aiming to uproot the foundation of the Hengyue Sect.

Sure enough, the Hengyue Sect disciples became restless, and even more than half of the dozen or so Foundation Establishment elders had second thoughts, with the majority remaining on the spot.

The two Golden Core elders of the Hengyue Sect had ashen faces but could only swallow their anger and lead the few disciples who were willing to follow their sect away from Mount Hengyue.

Lin Feng was not concerned about the others; his attention was entirely on Wang Lin. From a distance, he saw that Wang Lin had not stayed but had left with the Hengyue Sect.

Lin Feng decisively followed, and the two Golden Core cultivators unfolded their escape techniques, transforming into long rainbows and leading the group of disciples who were willing to follow them, flying through the air for a long time before landing on a desolate mountain.

The once-mighty Hengyue Sect now had only a few dozen disciples willing to follow their sect, a mere handful, looking incredibly desolate.

The two Golden Core cultivators exchanged glances, their mouths full of bitterness, but they still had to muster their spirits to encourage everyone, not wanting the last bit of morale to be lost.

Lin Feng quietly sneaked up the desolate mountain and saw the two Golden Core cultivators meditating, clearly replenishing the magical power they had consumed while maintaining the array. Three Foundation Establishment cultivators were guarding them.

The group of Qi Condensation disciples were scattered in small groups on the mountain, some diligently practicing, while others were cursing and blaming fate.

Wang Lin was assigned to fetch water for everyone and walked alone toward a distant stream.

Lin Feng smiled slyly and was about to follow, but his steps paused.

Because he noticed that someone else was also quietly following Wang Lin, being careful not to make any noise, for fear of alerting others.

This person was the suspected master of Wang Lin, a middle-aged cultivator at the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation, whose gaze on Wang Lin had a faint cold light.

Lin Feng's brows furrowed slightly, realizing that he was not the only one interested in Wang Lin.

"Let me just finish you off, and it will conveniently sever your master-disciple relationship." Lin Feng followed with a cold smile.

Wang Lin arrived at the stream, looked back for a moment, and saw no one.

He did not know that the middle-aged cultivator was not far behind him, and Lin Feng was right behind the middle-aged cultivator.

Both trackers were careful to conceal their presence, and Wang Lin, who was not even at the First Level of Qi Condensation, naturally could not detect them.

Wang Lin, not noticing anyone behind him, squatted by the stream, staring at the flowing water, lost in thought.

The sudden change had caught him off guard. Essentially, he was still a simple youth, and today was the first time he had experienced the survival of the fittest in the world of cultivation.

This feeling made him feel oppressed, and he yearned for great power even more, so that he could do something, rather than be a weed that others paid no attention to and he himself was powerless to change.

Wang Lin took out a gray stone bead the size of a baby's fist from his chest and thought, "This thing might be the key to changing my fate."

On the day he was rejected by the Hengyue Sect, in a fit of emotion, he had jumped off a cliff to commit suicide but had accidentally obtained the stone bead.

The stone bead transmitted a faint flow of spiritual energy into Wang Lin's body, healing the severe injuries he had sustained from falling off the cliff. Wang Lin immediately realized that this stone bead was not an ordinary object.

That was why, when Lin Feng came to his door, Wang Lin had been suspicious, thinking that Lin Feng had discovered the secret of the stone bead and had come for it.

After joining the Hengyue Sect, Wang Lin was taught some basic Daoist techniques but could not grasp them. It was the stone bead that transmitted spiritual energy into his body, allowing him to successfully draw qi into his body. This further solidified Wang Lin's belief.

This stone bead must be a treasure.

The Xuan Dao Sect had many people and a complex situation, so Wang Lin chose to stay with the Hengyue Sect to protect the secret of the stone bead.

Seeing the stone bead, Lin Feng's eyes turned cold, and he gritted his teeth. "It's you, you scoundrel..."

On the other side, the middle-aged cultivator's eyes gleamed with excitement and joy. "I knew you, little brat, must have a secret. Ha ha, the heavens have blessed me, Sun Xiaozhu, with such a treasure."

Sun Xiaozhu revealed himself, and Wang Lin was startled. Seeing Sun Xiaozhu, his face turned grim.

"Good disciple, let me see that stone bead," Sun Xiaozhu said with a smile, approaching Wang Lin. Wang Lin's fist, holding the stone bead, gradually tightened, and he said in a low voice, "Master, it's just an ordinary marble, something I play with."

Sun Xiaozhu laughed strangely and suddenly slapped Wang Lin, knocking him to the ground. "You dare to lie to me? With your poor aptitude, you could draw qi into your body after just a few days of joining the sect. There must be a special reason. Do you think I would take you as a disciple if it weren't to uncover your secret?"

Wang Lin lay on the ground, curled up, and tightly hid the stone bead in his chest.

He pursed his lips and said nothing, his face full of stubbornness.

Sun Xiaozhu sneered. "You obtained a rare treasure but didn't think of offering it to your master, and you even dared to keep it hidden? Hand it over obediently, or you'll suffer!"

"Great job!" Lin Feng rubbed his hands together, quickly tidied his clothes, and was about to step forward. "Your actions perfectly set the stage for my heroic appearance. Thank you, brother!"

Just as Lin Feng was about to step out, Wang Lin on the ground suddenly let out a low cry. Then, a black smoke emerged from the stone bead in his chest, coalescing into a human figure in mid-air, cackling.

Lin Feng almost tripped over his own feet and quickly stopped, gritting his teeth and staring at the figure in mid-air. "I bought a watch last year, and you really have a grandpa?"