777: Stealing a puff, expanding again

"That old thing got off easy."

Zhao Yuan pursued for a while, then gave up on hunting down Bai Xiuyuan and turned back to speak to Lin Yang.

Bai Xiuyuan had immediately burned his Dao Power for his life to escape; unless he also burned his Dao Power, it would be impossible to catch up.

However, burning Dao Power might not necessarily be enough to completely kill Bai Xiuyuan, who was focused solely on escaping.

Therefore, Zhao Yuan gave up.

Today's harvest was already large enough, and far exceeded expectations.

The surprise attack was successful, and they even killed Bai Chen, a Yuan He Realm elder of the Bai family.

This was a huge surprise that Zhao Yuan had not thought of before the operation.

He looked at Lin Yang, feeling very shocked in his heart.

His probing gaze swept over Lin Yang several times before he confirmed that Lin Yang was indeed at the Nie Kong Realm, not the Yuan He Realm.

This made Zhao Yuan exclaim in surprise: "Guest Elder Lin's strength is truly inconceivable; it has opened my eyes, I am truly impressed!"

Lin Yang smiled slightly: "Supreme Elder is too kind. It is a pity we couldn't kill Bai Xiuyuan; that old fellow will definitely seek revenge."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuan quickly said: "Guest Elder Lin, just call me Fellow Daoist Zhao; you and I can treat each other as peers."

"As for that old thing Bai Xiuyuan, he will definitely lie low and wait for an opportunity to take revenge. However, there is no need to worry for now. This time, they lost Bai Chen, and we ambushed and killed several other elders, so they won't be able to stay in Xiwu City. His revenge will only be possible in the future."

Lin Yang nodded: "Then I will be presumptuous, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

He did not take Bai Xiuyuan's revenge to heart.

Just as the Zhao family's original plan for this operation was to withdraw from Xiwu City after the mission.

Now that the Bai family had suffered heavy losses, the Bai family naturally became the side that needed to withdraw from Xiwu City.

Even if Bai Xiuyuan really wanted revenge, he wouldn't have a chance in the short term.

Moreover, he was not afraid of revenge from a mid-stage Yuan He Realm cultivator; he had only mentioned it in passing.

"Guest Elder Lin has done my Zhao family a huge favor this time. I will remember this debt. If Guest Elder Lin has any needs, I and the Zhao family will certainly do our utmost to assist," Zhao Yuan said solemnly.

Lin Yang smiled: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, there is no need to be so polite. This can be considered as me repaying the favor I owed Elder Zhao Chen and the others."

Zhao Yuan laughed: "How can this be compared? Without Guest Elder Lin's help today, my Zhao family would have had to retreat from Xiwu City in disgrace!"

As he spoke, he looked around and added: "Guest Elder Lin has worked hard this time. Let's return to the clan first; this is not the place to talk."

"Alright," Lin Yang replied.

The two returned to Xiwu City together.

When they returned to the Zhao family, the elders and some clansmen who had been sent to carry out the surprise attack had already returned.

Only one elder and a few disciples had died.

But compared to the harvest, these sacrifices were nothing.

The Zhao family members were full of joy.

They also became filled with awe toward Lin Yang.

"Guest Elder Lin, you have worked hard tonight. Please take a rest, Guest Elder Lin; I will go handle the aftermath, and later I will host a banquet to thank you."

Zhao Yuan personally escorted Lin Yang to the outside of Yunshui Villa.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, please go ahead and get busy." Lin Yang knew that Zhao Yuan was going to the Bai family to take back the industries that had been snatched away previously.

Zhao Yuan hurried away.

The entire Zhao family was busy.

When they had previously decided to evacuate, they had already made the relevant preparations.

Now that they suddenly didn't need to evacuate, they had to regain control of the industries they had lost.

Naturally, this required a lot of work.

Meanwhile, the news of the Bai family's newly advanced Yuan He Realm cultivator being killed gradually spread in Xiwu City.

The Yuan He Realm was the top existence in Xiwu City, so the death of one was still very attention-grabbing.

However, detailed information did not spread.

The Zhao family naturally would not push Lin Yang into the spotlight.

The Bai family side did not know why they hadn't spoken about it either.

Perhaps it was because they felt it was too embarrassing that their own Yuan He Realm cultivator was killed by a Nie Kong Realm one.

In short, the Bai family did not make a fuss, but instead moved the entire clan out of Xiwu City.

This matter did not cause too much of a stir.

Within Xiwu City, aside from the Five Great Families which had not changed for a long time.

It was not uncommon for other first-rate families or second-rate families to undergo changes.

Once an accident happened to a Yuan He Realm clan elder, it was very normal to be unable to maintain the original family assets.

Even a small, insignificant family, if they were lucky enough to have a Yuan He Realm clan elder appear, could leap to become a well-known existence in the city.

Not many people would pay attention to the rise and fall of these second-rate families.

It was just a topic of conversation.

It would soon be forgotten.

...

Yunshui Villa.

"Brother Lin Yang, we have taken back the treasured lands in the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm. Do you want to go take a look?" Zhao Hu shouted outside the Villa.

Lin Yang walked out: "You've taken them back? How many did you get back?"

Zhao Hu said: "We only took the three pieces that originally belonged to us."

"Oh? And what about the Bai family's three pieces?" Lin Yang asked.

"Let the other families fight over them," Zhao Hu answered truthfully.

"Oh... why didn't you take them all at once?" Lin Yang was a bit curious.

Zhao Hu chuckled: "Supreme Elder said that our Zhao family's foundation is still not strong enough, and this time it was all thanks to you, Brother Lin Yang, that we could take back what was originally ours."

"If we are too greedy, it's easy to be targeted. It's better to give up some and let other families fight over them, so that other families won't become jealous of us and turn their spears toward us."

Lin Yang suddenly realized and couldn't help but say: "Fellow Daoist Zhao is quite clear-headed. Since that's the case, you didn't take much of the Bai family's industries either, right?"

"Right, for the treasured lands, we only took back the three that originally belonged to our Zhao family. For the industries, besides taking back what was originally ours, we only took an extra twenty percent; the rest were left for other families to divide and fight over," Zhao Hu said.

Lin Yang nodded, and he was actually a bit impressed by Zhao Yuan.

Being able to not be greedy or grabby at such a critical moment was actually not easy.

However, he could also understand Zhao Yuan's approach.

In the end, he was not a member of the Zhao family.

Zhao Yuan still lacked the confidence to fight for too much, fearing being targeted by other second-rate families.

But this was also good; at least the Zhao family had returned to its original track.

"Take me to the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm to see," Lin Yang said.

Zhao Hu laughed: "Brother Lin Yang, you were interested in that Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm before, but at that time our treasured lands were gone. Now that we've taken them back, I came to call you immediately."

Afterwards, the two left the city together and went to that Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm.

The entrance to the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm was the same as before, strictly managed.

Zhao Hu showed some proof, and only then was Lin Yang able to enter with him.

"What dense Heaven and Earth power."

After entering the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm, Lin Yang sensed it and immediately noticed the extraordinary nature of this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm.

It was indeed a good place.

"Brother Lin Yang, follow me. Our Grade C treasured lands are near the edge."

Zhao Hu led the way.

The scenery in this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm was also quite beautiful.

Lin Yang soon saw patches of treasured lands, all guarded by people, and all planted with different medicinal herbs.

They looked like they were growing well, and a rich medicinal fragrance permeated the air.

Taking a breath of it gave one a feeling of refreshment.

Obviously, those medicinal herbs were not ordinary goods.

"These are all the Five Great Families' Grade A treasured lands; they are planted with priceless exotic medicines," Zhao Hu said with a bit of envy.

Lin Yang wanted to feel the difference of the Grade A treasured lands, but soon discovered there were invisible restrictions blocking him.

Without a doubt, it was the methods set up by the Five Great Families.

Lin Yang did not force an investigation.

Following Zhao Hu past a few more patches of treasured lands, they arrived at the Grade C treasured land area.

The medicinal herbs here were clearly of a much lower grade at a glance.

"Brother Lin Yang, those three pieces are ours."

Zhao Hu pointed to three of the treasured lands and led Lin Yang closer.

Inside the treasured land, there was already an elder of the Zhao family and a few disciples guarding it.

Seeing Lin Yang approach, they hurriedly stepped forward to pay their respects.

Lin Yang's divine sense probed into the treasured land to check it, but he did not discover anything special.

It looked no different from ordinary land.

"Brother Lin Yang, these treasured lands are very strange. They look no different, but the things grown in them are especially good."

Zhao Hu watched Lin Yang's movements and couldn't help but say.

"It is very strange," Lin Yang nodded.

Zhao Hu added: "Previously, people from the Five Great Families also tried to study these treasured lands, wanting to find the reason and trying to turn more land into treasured lands, but they all failed."

"Quite magical," Lin Yang sighed.

"Some people speculate that this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm might have been opened up by a great power from the ancient era, which is why it is like this, possessing power that we cannot understand today," Zhao Hu continued.

"Ancient era?"

Lin Yang repeated these four words, then suddenly said:

"Brother Zhao Hu, do you know any information about the ancient era?"

He had not paid attention to the history on the Primal Ancient Continent before.

Because he subconsciously thought that there shouldn't have been any gaps here.

But since the Ancient Ruins appeared, he had become suspicious.

Perhaps the Primal Ancient Continent also had historical gaps.

Although this sounded incredible.

After all, there were the most powerful cultivators here; it was unlikely to have historical gaps like the mortal world.

But now Lin Yang did not think so.

Whether it was the Ancient Ruins or the Ancient Ruins, both indicated that the Primal Ancient Continent might indeed have had some kind of historical gap.

Otherwise, Zhao Hu would not have said words like the ancient era.

Zhao Hu was slightly stunned: "Things from the ancient era? That is almost impossible to verify; even rumors are scarce. I know very, very little. I've only heard that perhaps there was a more glorious era of cultivation in the past, and some Ancient Ruins were left over from those eras."

Lin Yang nodded and did not ask any more questions.

Zhao Hu clearly had limited knowledge, and there was no need to make things difficult for him.

"By the way, Brother Lin Yang, do you want to cultivate here? There is also Dao Rhythm flowing in this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm, which is much better than some caves outside. There is an area in the central part of the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm where one can cultivate, and we have one quota," Zhao Hu suddenly said.

"No need, I just came in to take a look," Lin Yang waved his hand.

The reason why this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm was strictly managed was precisely because there was an area inside with extremely dense Dao Rhythm.

The area was also divided into caves of various sizes for the use of various families in Xiwu City.

But each family had a limited quota. Like the Zhao family, a second-rate family, they could only be allocated one quota to cultivate in that area.

Lin Yang's current cultivation did not need to be improved through closed-door cultivation.

He needed an opportunity to break through to the Yuan He Realm.

So there was no need to occupy the Zhao family's only quota.

Zhao Hu did not say anything more upon hearing this.

Lin Yang went to other parts of the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm to take a look.

But most of the other places were guarded by people.

This Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm was very large and resource-rich, but unfortunately, over eighty percent of the resources were occupied by the Five Great Families.

They only left some scraps for second-rate families like the Zhao family to divide.

After visiting, Lin Yang prepared to leave this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm.

However, he suddenly noticed that the "World" was absorbing the power of the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm little by little.

It was absorbing very slowly, as if with a feeling of being a thief with a guilty conscience.

If he hadn't been sharp-witted, he wouldn't have noticed it.

"The 'World' is stealing the power of this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm???" Lin Yang was a bit puzzled.

Rather than absorbing, it was more like stealing.

Because the feeling of theft it gave him was really strong.

Unlike before, when it absorbed certain powers, it absorbed them all at once.

Now it was absorbing bit by bit, which was no different from stealing.

This made Lin Yang interested.

He simply was not in a hurry to leave anymore.

There were actually not many things that could be chosen by the "World".

Since the power of this Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm could be absorbed by the "World", he naturally had to stay and let the "World" absorb it slowly.

"Brother Zhao Hu, how about you still help me apply for that quota?" Lin Yang said with some embarrassment.

If he wanted to stay, he couldn't just hang around doing nothing, which would easily arouse suspicion.

The quota Zhao Hu mentioned earlier could come in handy.

Cultivating in closed-door here could perfectly avoid all eyes.

Zhao Hu was stunned for a moment, as if he didn't expect Lin Yang to change his mind again, but then immediately said: "Okay, Brother Lin Yang, I'll go arrange it right now."

He didn't ask why Lin Yang had suddenly changed his mind.

Soon they arrived at the central area and handled the relevant procedures.

Then Lin Yang obtained the qualification to cultivate here.

The cave allocated to the Zhao family was on the edge of the central area.

Calling it a cave, it was actually a very small room.

Moreover, cultivating here required paying fees regularly.

It was not free.

This left Lin Yang speechless.

One could only say that the Five Great Families and the Xiwu City officials had a way of making money.

He had originally thought that since they had assets in the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm, they could use the cultivation caves here for free; he hadn't expected to have to pay.

Zhao Hu looked at Lin Yang's expression and was quite calm, quietly saying:

"Being able to pay money to get such a good place to cultivate is already very good. Outside, there are countless people who want to pay to come here but have no way."

"..." Lin Yang was a bit speechless.

As the saying goes, if you are unwilling to pay, there are plenty of people willing to!

He didn't say anything more and entered the narrow cave.

Before entering the cave, he wanted to return the yuan sand to Zhao Hu, but Zhao Hu refused to take it, saying he could cultivate here for as long as he wanted, and all costs would be covered by the Zhao family.

Lin Yang did not insist further.

Sitting cross-legged in the cave, Lin Yang did not cultivate, but was constantly paying attention to the situation of the "World".

After entering this cave, the speed at which the "World" absorbed the power of the Grotto-Heaven Secret Realm remained unchanged.

Lin Yang didn't know how long the "World" would absorb, so he could only wait patiently.

A few days later.

Zhao Hu suddenly brought him a piece of news.

The Fierce Ancient Ruins in Baichi City had expanded again, swallowing another city.

(End of chapter)