71: The Seven Sages Became Famous

Lin Dao returned to the Lin Clan without fanfare.

He simply summoned Acting Clan Head Lin Xuan to inquire about the recent state of the clan.

After learning that everything was well and that the Seven Saint Sons' reputation outside was growing, he nodded slightly.

He then entered the Ancestral Hall's Quiet Room again.

While consolidating his cultivation at the third level of the Samsara Realm.

He also continued to deduce and perfect the Lin Clan's Legacy Cultivation Technique.

At the same time, he split off a wisp of Divine Thought to monitor the movements of the Seven Saint Sons from afar.

Just as Acting Clan Head Lin Xuan had said, the name of the Seven Saints of the Lin Clan was now thunderous among the younger generation of the Nine Provinces.

They trained in dangerous locations, achieving glorious battle records, which naturally attracted countless attention.

Among this attention, there was no shortage of admiration and attempts at forming connections.

But it was also inevitable that there would be some jealousy and intentions of suppression.

Especially the successors of some established Heaven-Grade Families or Hidden Daoist Orthodoxies, who held themselves in high regard.

They could not tolerate the sudden rise and overwhelming momentum of the Lin Clan Saints.

In the Central Province, at the “Dao Discussion Ancient City,” where Prodigies gathered.

This place was a famous venue in the Central Province for the younger generation to communicate, spar, and even settle grudges.

Recently, the area around the “Dao Seeking Platform” in the center of the Ancient City was packed with people, and the atmosphere was extremely lively.

Everyone's gaze was focused on the two figures on the platform.

One side was Lin Hao, one of the Seven Saints of the Lin Clan.

He wore a green robe, wielded a sword, and his aura was restrained.

However, the sharp Sword Intent between his brows, tempered by the Sword Immortal's Tomb, made people dare not look directly at him.

He had just defeated a Sword Dao Genius from the established Heaven-Grade Family, the “Xuanyuan Family.”

The opponent also possessed Heavenly Soul Realm cultivation.

Yet, he failed to last ten moves against Lin Hao.

Below the stage, the expressions of several Elders from the Xuanyuan Family who had accompanied the youth were rather grim.

The defeated youth was full of unwillingness.

He gritted his teeth and said, “Lin Hao! Don't get arrogant! The true direct descendant of my Xuanyuan Family is on the way, and they will definitely let you see what Ancient Sword Dao is!”

Lin Hao sheathed his sword, his expression calm: “I await them at any time.”

Just then, a slightly effeminate voice rang out: “Haha, the Lin Clan Saint is indeed worthy of his reputation. However, the Sword Dao is not the only path. I wonder if Brother Lin Hao dares to spar with me in the Art of Divine Soul?”

The crowd parted.

A young man wearing an Eight Trigrams Daoist Robe and holding a Jade Ruyi Sceptre slowly walked onto the stage.

His face was handsome, but his eyes carried a hint of maliciousness.

The Soul Power fluctuations around him were obscure yet powerful.

“It's the successor of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, Yu Jizi!” someone exclaimed.

“The Heavenly Secret Pavilion is proficient in deduction and Divine Soul attacks, making them unpredictable and strange. It is said that this Yu Jizi once severely injured an older Heavenly Soul Realm expert using a Secret Divine Soul Spell!”

“He must have targeted Lin Hao because he's a Sword Cultivator, whose Divine Soul might be relatively weak, hoping to take advantage?”

Lin Hao looked at Yu Jizi, his eyes still calm: “Please.”

Yu Jizi curved the corner of his mouth.

He gently waved the Jade Ruyi Sceptre in his hand.

In an instant, light and shadow shifted on the Dao Seeking Platform.

Countless illusory runes appeared out of thin air.

They intertwined to form a massive Divine Soul Maze, enveloping Lin Hao!

At the same time, invisible Divine Soul Spikes, like poisonous bees, silently stabbed towards Lin Hao's Sea of Consciousness from all directions!

This was the Heavenly Secret Pavilion's secret Soul Array—the “Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Heart Array”!

Once trapped, those with slightly weaker Divine Souls would instantly lose themselves and suffer damage to their Dao Foundation!

The crowd below held their breath and focused their attention.

They all felt nervous for Lin Hao.

Sword Cultivators have unparalleled offense, but the Divine Soul is indeed a common weakness.

However, Lin Hao, who was at the center of the Soul Array, merely closed his eyes slightly.

In his Sea of Consciousness, the Sword Soul, which had been tempered by the Sword Immortal's Will and was pure and tenacious, suddenly lit up!

A supreme Sword Intent that could break through illusions and guard the original heart burst forth!

“Break.”

Lin Hao softly uttered a single word.

Buzz!

The Divine Soul Maze enveloping him was instantly shattered, as if split open by an invisible sharp blade!

The attacking Divine Soul Spikes shattered and dissipated, as if hitting a copper wall and iron barrier!

“Pfft!” Yu Jizi looked pale, as if struck heavily.

Cracks appeared on the Jade Ruyi Sceptre in his hand.

He looked at Lin Hao in disbelief, “Your Sword Soul... how can it be so solid?!”

Lin Hao opened his eyes, his gaze like a sword: “Your Soul Technique is overly flashy and lacks Foundation.”

He didn't even draw his sword; he broke the opponent's proud Soul Array relying only on his Sword Intent.

Yu Jizi's face alternated between green and white.

Finally, amidst the uproar and whispers of the crowd, he retreated from the stage in disgrace.

After this battle, Lin Hao's reputation grew even stronger.

The evaluation that his “Sword Soul is solid, fearing no Soul Techniques” spread quickly.

Southern Border, outside the “Hundred Poisons Marsh” where miasma permeated the air.

Ye Chen had just finished fighting a “Poison Marsh Crocodile Dragon” that had Cultivated for a thousand years.

He was currently digging out the Monster Core of the Crocodile Dragon, which contained massive Qi and blood.

He casually wiped the mud and beast blood from his face.

“Tsk tsk, the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body is indeed a treasure trove. This Qi and blood, this strength—if refined into a Blood Pill, it would surely be a great tonic!” A sinister voice came from the side.

Three Cultivators walked out, dressed strangely and covered in jars containing various Poisonous Insects.

Their eyes stared greedily at Ye Chen.

Especially the still-pulsing Monster Core in his hand.

The leader's aura had clearly reached the fifth level of the Heavenly Soul Realm.

The other two were also at the third level of the Heavenly Soul Realm.

They came from the “Five Poisons Sect,” a Sect in the Southern Border famous for Poison Refining and Beast Control.

They acted ruthlessly and recklessly.

“What? Want to steal it?” Ye Chen grinned, showing his white teeth.

But his eyes instantly became dangerous.

Like a fierce beast fixing its gaze on prey.

“Kid, be sensible. Hand over the Monster Core and everything valuable on you, and let us take three bowls of your Sacred Blood, and we can spare your life!” the leading Cultivator of the Five Poisons Sect sneered.

With a wave of his hand, countless colorful, foul-smelling Poisonous Mists spread out.

At the same time, the ground squirmed, and dozens of ferocious Poisonous Insects drilled out, surrounding Ye Chen.

“Take my blood?” Ye Chen's smile grew wider.

But it carried a chilling intent that made hearts tremble.

“I'm just afraid your teeth aren't hard enough!”

He completely ignored the Poisonous Mist and Poisonous Insects.

He took a single step, and the ground violently shook!

He shot towards the leading Cultivator like a cannonball.

He threw a simple, direct punch!

“Seeking death! Five Poisons Palm!” the Cultivator roared.

His palm turned pitch black, striking Ye Chen's fist with a potent poison that could corrode everything.

Bang!

Fist and palm met!

The anticipated scene of Ye Chen collapsing from poison did not occur.

Instead, the Cultivator from the Five Poisons Sect let out a shrill scream.

His entire arm, starting from the palm, shattered bone by bone.

The potent poison, enough to kill a Heavenly Soul Realm expert, seemed to meet its nemesis upon contact with Ye Chen's fist.

It was directly evaporated and purified by the Supreme Yang and Supreme Rigid Qi and blood of the Sacred Body!

“How is this possible?! My Five Poisons...” He didn't finish his sentence.

Ye Chen's other fist had already landed on his chest.

Boom!

This fifth-level Heavenly Soul Realm Cultivator's chest instantly caved in.

He flew backward like a broken sack.

He landed after breaking seven or eight ancient trees, completely devoid of life force!

The other two Five Poisons Sect Disciples were scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

They turned and tried to flee.

“You come when you want, and leave when you want?” Ye Chen snorted coldly.

His speed was as fast as a phantom.

He threw two punches.

Bang! Bang!

Two muffled sounds.

The two third-level Heavenly Soul Realm Disciples also followed suit.

Ye Chen didn't even look at the corpses on the ground.

He clapped his hands and muttered, “They really can't take a hit.”

He put away the Monster Core.

And continued swaggering toward the depths of the marsh.

Leaving behind a mess and the terrified gazes of those secretly watching the battle.

News of the Lin Clan Saint Ye Chen—his fierce combat power, invincible Physical Body, and ruthless methods—spread thereafter.

Similar events were also playing out in other locations.

Lin Yun encountered provocation from Disciples of the “Star Constellation Sea” near the Heavenly Mechanism Ancient City.

The opponents attempted to suppress him using Star Spells.

But he countered them with a purer Star Pupil Technique, forcing them to flee in disgrace.

Phoenix Spirit was targeted by several Evil Cultivators coveting her Phoenix True Fire on the outskirts of the Southern Bright Separating Fire Abyss.

As a result, she activated the Southern Bright Departure Fire, burning them to ashes.

Lin Feng was traveling downstream of the Myriad Dao Mountain when someone who boasted profound Dao Arts wanted to discuss the Dao with him.

As a result, the person was stunned by the Myriad Dao Phenomenon triggered by his Innate Dao Body, and their Dao Heart nearly collapsed.

When the siblings Yang Yan and Moon Radiance were gathering resources on the outskirts of the Yin-Yang Realm, they were besieged by a group of Loose Cultivators skilled in Combined Attack Techniques.

The siblings combined their Taiyin and Taiyang Divine Power, transforming it into a Chaos Domain.

They directly refined that group of Loose Cultivators along with their Magical Artifacts, shocking everyone nearby.

The Seven Saint Sons used real combat, time after time, to prove that their strength was not undeserved fame.

They also fiercely struck back at the forces attempting to suppress them.

Their reputation was earned through fighting!

However, in Lin Dao's view, these challenges and frictions were merely tempering for the younger generation.

What he truly cared about were the gazes hidden in the deeper reaches.

Some truly ancient and powerful forces had already begun to view the Lin Clan, especially these Seven Saint Sons, as potential threats or opponents requiring serious attention.

There were even reports that the successors of certain Saint-level Forces had finished their Secluded Cultivation and were preparing to enter the world.

And one of their targets seemed to be the “Seven Saints of the Lin Clan,” who were currently riding a massive wave of popularity.