The Prodigies War
chapter-1375

Many things could change in a period of more than ten years.

When Lin Xun had left, he had only been at the Heaven Ascension Stage. Thus, Zuo Wenkun found it hard to believe that he’d be able to become that much more powerful after a period of slightly more than ten years.

Furthermore, what did it matter if he was strong? After all, Lin Xun was only one person!

In the past, he was under the protection of Blood Kill King Zhao Tailai and had the support of the principal of Qinglu Academy. Because of that, neither the Qin nor Zuo clans dared to be too unscrupulous towards him and had to endure.

But now, everything had changed. Even if Lin Xun had come back, there was no way he could stop the annihilation of the Lin Clan!

Once those thoughts crossed his mind, Zuo Wenkun felt his heart relax and even started to gaze at Lin Xun with a hint of pity in his eyes.

By coming back now, Lin Xun was truly walking straight into a trap! Too stupid!

“Young Master, this…”

Lin Zhong suddenly calmed down and was about to explain the situation. Before he could, he was interrupted by Lin Xun, “Uncle Zhong, I already have an idea of what’s going on. Just let me handle it from now on.”

The previously ecstatic, emotional, and shocked members of the Lin Clan also calmed down at this moment. Following that, a thread of worry surfaced within them.

The fact that Lin Xun had come back was truly a joyous occasion for them. However, the Lin Clan’s current situation was truly full of dangers as they were on the edge of complete destruction. Under these circumstances, what could Lin Xun possibly do?

“Heh heh, you’re planning on resolving this all by yourself?”

Zuo Wenkun’s expression became even more filled with pity. He was certain that this youth had no idea just how bad the current Lin Clan’s situation was.

Lin Xun looked over and briefly glanced at Zuo Wenkun. This was also the first time he had even looked at Zuo Wenkun since entering the great hall.

Following that, Zuo Wenkun suddenly knelt down and hit his head on the ground with a loud bang!

Everyone was startled. No one had sensed a thing, but Zuo Wenkun had instantly knelt down in a shocking manner.

Of note, this guy was the envoy from the Zuo Clan and was a great cultivator at the Cyclic Derivation Stage. Earlier in the hall, he had acted high and lofty, ordering people around in an arrogant manner. He had totally regarded everyone else as completely beneath him.

Despite all that, Lin Xun had merely glanced at him, and he immediately kneeled down!

Following that, Zuo Wenkun trembled as he struggled to howl loudly but was unable to make a peep despite all his efforts. He wanted to raise his head and get up, yet he didn’t even have the strength to struggle.

His mind and spirit had been completely overtaken and were now blank. He was no longer able to decide his own life and death at this point!

When everyone saw this, they were shocked beyond measure. Even the way they looked at Lin Xun had changed. After a period of more than a decade, just how powerful did their clan head become?

After a bit of hesitation, Lin Huaiyuan reminded Lin Xun, “Clan Leader, this man is the Zuo Clan’s envoy, how can we…”

Everyone else silently agreed with this. By acting this way, they were afraid that they were truly burning their bridges with the Zuo and Qin Clans, leaving no room to repair them.

Lin Xun asked, “Does the Zuo Clan have any Saints?”

Everyone shook their heads. Saints? Those were legendary figures. Let alone the Zuo Clan, a single Saint could not be found in any of the seven high clans in the empire!

Eh, something is off. Why is the clan leader asking about Saints?

Suddenly, everyone felt their heart tremble as they had realized something. Surprised expressions surfaced on their faces.

But before a single question could pass their lips, Lin Xun, along with Spirit Vulture and Lin Zhong, had already gone to the second level and disappeared.

A significant amount of time passed before Lin Huaiyuan finally swallowed down the saliva pooling in his mouth and weakly said, “Does the clan leader mean to imply that…anyone below a Saint is of no threat to him?”

That one question made the entire hall turn silent. No one could help from going into a flight of fancy.

Lin Xun hadn’t asked about the number of King-level experts nor did he inquire about the powers of the Zuo and Qin Clans. Instead, all he had asked was whether there were any Saints present.

If word of this came out, it would shock everyone who heard of it!

Lin Beiguang sighed, “I’m sure that the clan leader has encountered many fortuitous opportunities in all of these years and has transformed into someone completely new…”

Everyone else also sighed emotionally. Lin Xun was still Lin Xun, but the aura he gave off was entirely different from before. Although he had been extremely calm earlier, he resembled someone who was idly overlooking things from way high above, as if he was untouchable by the mundane world.

This wasn’t an in-your-face feeling, but instead only something that could be sensed after carefully experiencing it.

“Regardless of what happens, our clan head has returned. Even if the Lin Clan faces unspeakable horrors and storms tomorrow, we at least have our support now. There is no need to be fearful!” announced Lin Xuefeng decisively.

Everyone agreed with this. With Lin Xun back, the Lin Clan now had their strong backer!

On the ground, Zuo Wenkun continued to kneel with a dazed look in his eyes.

……

On the second level of the great hall.

“It must have been hard on you both, Uncle Zhong and Mister Spirit Vulture.”

Lin Xun inhaled deeply and sincerely bowed towards them.

Tears blurred Lin Zhong’s eyes as he quickly helped Lin Xun up as he said, “Young Master, as long as you’re alive, the Lin Clan has hope!”

Spirit Vulture was also feeling quite emotional at this time. He could still remember the first time he met Lin Xun all those years ago. At that time, Lin Xun had been a weak and fragile thin youth, with an air of immaturity.

But now, he had completely transformed himself. He now felt like a sturdy mountain with a calm and unruffled exterior. Spirit Vulture was convinced of his prowess now.

“Uncle Zhong, I’m pretty sure I have a good idea of what has happened all these years. However, I’m a bit puzzled about one thing. Just what sort of role has Third Prince Zhao Jingwen played in all of this?” asked Lin Xun after the three of them sat down.

“Without the third prince’s approval, the Zuo and Qin Clans would not have dared to be so obvious and blatant. Only the third prince, who holds all of the power in the current Ziyao Empire, could possibly accuse the Lin Clan of betraying the empire.”

Lin Zhong fell silent for a moment and frowned. “Furthermore, it’s because the other families and powers have realized that the third prince looks upon us disfavorably that they have all distanced themselves from us. This holds true even for the ones that used to have close relationships with us.”

Spirit Vulture added, “Even if the third prince isn’t the primary instigator, he’s still definitely played a big role in all of this.”

Lin Xun nodded with a neutral expression. “I understand.”

As he spoke, he turned to look at Spirit Vulture. “Mister Spirit Vulture, I’m going to need a list of names. Other than the Zuo and Qin Clans, I have no intentions of letting off anyone who were fair weather friends with our Lin Clan throughout all these years.”

Lin Zhong felt a shock to his heart. Was the Young Master intent on collecting receipts in one fell swoop now?

Spirit Vulture smiled slightly and took out a jade talisman. He handed it over to Lin Xun as he said, “I’ve already prepared it for you.”

Lin Xun swept his consciousness through it and quickly memorized its contents.

“Young Master, you’ve just gotten back today, so you don’t know all of the details of the situation…” Lin Zhong was afraid that the anger had gone to Lin Xun’s head and that he was going to act recklessly before he could understand the full picture.

However, before he could try to persuade him otherwise, Lin Xun gently said, “Uncle Zhong, in the past, the high and mighty clans might have made me cower before. But now, they are nothing more than a bunch of insects to me.”

Although Lin Xun’s voice was calm, both Lin Zhong and Spirit Vulture could sense a bit of disdain from him.

In his eyes, Lin Xun viewed the seven high clans of the Ziyao Empire as no different from a bunch of insects. This truly made their hearts tremble.

However, anyone who knew of the experiences that Lin Xun had gone through in the Ancient Wasteland Domain would not find this surprising at all, nor would they claim that Lin Xun was speaking too highly of himself.

He had even slaughtered Saints. As for those overlords in the longevity king stages, who knew how many Lin Xun had killed with his own two hands? No matter how strong these powers were in the lower land, could they possibly be stronger than the ancient orthodoxies in the Ancient Wasteland Domain?

Could they exceed a Saint?

Lin Zhong was unable to calm himself down, so he couldn't help but ask, “Young Master, just what have you experienced in all of those years in the Ancient Wasteland Domain?”

Spirit Vulture also pricked his ears up. He had discovered that he was unable to see through this youth today. In fact, while he was sitting with him, he felt a sense of dread and terror in his bones.

This wasn’t because his mind was being rattled. Instead, this was something that came from being suppressed by someone at a higher cultivation level!

Lin Xun casually summarized the big events that occurred without going into great detail.

Even after hearing that, Lin Zhong and Spirit Vulture were stupefied and had their worldviews shaken.

“The number one person in the Supreme Realm, the number one on the Genius Gold Rankings…even slaughtering nine saints outside of Snow Mulberry City…”

All of these events felt like stories straight out of legends to Lin Zhong and Spirit Vulture. They felt unimaginable and surreal!

What made the two of them most shocked was that there were some parts that they couldn’t even understand!

This was because the things that Lin Xun had experienced and the enemies he had slaughtered were too powerful and intimidating. They had never even encountered anything close to that, so how could they truly understand them?

But there was one thing they were both certain of. Lin Xun had killed Saints before!

Lin Zhong felt his heart beating quickly as he sighed emotionally, “It’s only been sixteen years yet our Young Master has already shaken the Ancient Wasteland Domain. He has slaughtered his way to fame. Compared to those ancient orthodoxies in the Ancient Wasteland Domain, the Zuo and Qin Clans really are nothing more than tiny ants.”

“On your own, you slaughtered your way to fame and were so fierce that even those ancient orthodoxies had to cower in front of you… Ah, I really have no understanding of the world anymore…”

After calming himself a bit, Spirit Vulture smiled bitterly and shook his head.

“Oh right, do either of you know where the emperor, empress, and Blood Kill King have gone all of these years?” asked Lin Xun.

Lin Zhong shook his head, “We’re not sure. Rumor has it that after the world underwent a ginormous change, a few old freaks of the empire have all left to go somewhere. As for where, no one is certain.”

Lin Xun made a noise in assent as a cold look appeared in his eyes. “It’s even better that they’re not here. Once I start killing, that means no one can stop me.”

Spirit Vulture narrowed his eyes. “Just how do you plan on dealing with the Zuo and Qin Clans?”

“Don’t they want to seize Mind Cleansing Peak and banish all of the members to the border battlefields? I’ll give them a taste of their own medicine.” Lin Xun chuckled coldly.

Although Lin Xun didn’t know all of the details of the grievances that the Lin Clan had suffered until now, he clearly could tell that they had had it rough over the past decade! In fact, it wasn’t easy for them to endure until now.

Spirit Vulture continued to ask, “Then the third prince…”

“No matter who it is, as long as they’ve done something wrong, they will need to pay the price!” declared Lin Xun.

“I’ll leave the Lin Clan under your watch, Uncle Zhong and Mister Spirit Vulture. I’m going to have a taste of the might of the Zuo Clan.” After he finished, he got up and left.

On the first floor of Mind Cleansing Hall.

Lin Xun lifted Zuo Wenkun, who had still been kneeling on the floor, like a helpless chick and said, “Didn’t you want to see how I would handle this situation? I’ll let you personally be a witness.”

With a whoosh, Lin Xun flashed and turned into a divine rainbow that rushed out of the hall, flying high up in the air above the Forbidden City’s night sky.

The rest of the clan looked at each other with dismay as thoughts tumbled restlessly in their heads.