Free Web NovelChapter 430: Chapter 426: Blocking Lin Hao’s Path
At the gates of the Imperial City, the Tortoise tore past in a gale.
Upon reaching the outskirts of the Saint Institute, which was fortified by the domain power of Martial Artists, the Tortoise leaped directly into the sky above the institute, entering as if the place were completely unguarded.
Now that the Tortoise had grasped some of the mysteries of Array Pattern Skill, it was brazen beyond belief.
This was also Lin Hao’s first time entering the Saint Institute this way. High in the sky, he immediately sensed several presences probing him.
Lin Hao frowned, ignoring them, and looked down instead.
He saw many of the Saint Institute’s battle arenas floating in the air, each one occupied by dueling disciples.
Lin Hao wasn’t the least bit surprised by this sight. But suddenly, he heard a familiar name.
Following the sound, Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed. He leaped off the Tortoise’s back.
Somewhere in the Saint Institute, Yang Peng was covered in blood, watching helplessly as the True Essence Greatsword conjured by Meishi came for his legs, unable to dodge.
Just as he despaired, a cold snort echoed from above. The next moment, a figure appeared before him, his back to Yang Peng.
The newcomer made no visible move, yet the True Essence Greatsword disintegrated.
"Lin... Lin Hao!" Then, Yang Peng heard Meishi’s shocked cry.
"How are you... Impossible! This is impossible!" Lin Hao hadn’t spoken, but Meishi sensed a tyrannical aura emanating from him.
This formless power was so suffocating he could barely breathe. He had never felt such pressure, not even from Mei Shengjie.
Although Meishi was only at the Ninth Layer of Elemental Realm, he was not inexperienced. The imposing aura Lin Hao was exuding was definitely not that of someone at the Soul Gathering Realm First Layer!
This terrified Meishi beyond comprehension.
Lin Hao had only been gone for a little over ten days before reappearing.
To break through again in such a short time was a feat no one in the entire Saint Institute had ever achieved.
"Tell me, what are the consequences for offending you?" Lin Hao finally spoke, his tone remarkably calm.
But from that utterly calm tone, Meishi sensed a murderous intent.
At that moment, his aura was completely locked down by Lin Hao’s, leaving him unable to muster any resistance. Meishi had a feeling that if Lin Hao wanted to kill him, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
Thinking of Lin Hao’s fearsome reputation, Meishi grew afraid.
"A misunderstanding. This is all a misunderstanding."
Lin Hao suddenly smiled. The next moment, Meishi’s bloodcurdling scream rang out.
"Is this also what you call a misunderstanding?" Only a few seconds had passed before Lin Hao’s voice sounded again.
And now, Meishi, standing opposite him, was also covered in blood, looking exactly like Yang Peng had.
Meishi grit his teeth in pain, but he still forced a smile and answered, "Yes."
"How boring." Lin Hao shook his head, turned to help Yang Peng up, and left without another word.
’A person like that isn’t worth my effort. Besides, Yang Peng needs to get his own revenge.’
Behind them, Meishi’s eyes were bloodshot and filled with killing intent.
Lin Hao’s indifferent gaze as he left had deeply wounded his pride.
It was a look of indifference, of contempt—as if looking at an ant.
"Lin Hao! Yang Peng! You’re finished! You’re both finished!" Meishi’s face twisted as he roared madly in his heart.
When Lin Hao helped Yang Peng back to their residence, he saw Ling Xiao also lying in bed, clearly suffering from serious internal injuries.
Ling Xiao was very surprised to see Lin Hao return with Yang Peng, because Lin Hao had come back so quickly.
Lin Hao said nothing, simply taking out two small porcelain vials and giving one to Ling Xiao and one to Yang Peng.
"There’s half a vial of Divine Spring in here. Take a small sip now. I’ll stand guard for you."
Neither of them had the slightest doubt in Lin Hao. Upon hearing the words "Divine Spring," Ling Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he eagerly began to drink it.
Yang Peng followed suit, also taking a drink.
Then, they both put away the vials and began to circulate their energy.
Lin Hao stood to the side, guarding them.
Just over half an hour later, Lin Hao’s eyes suddenly focused, and the next moment, he had vanished from the room.
"My god, you scared me to death! Brother Lin, you didn’t even make a sound." Wenren Feiming had just pushed open the wooden gate to the courtyard and was about to rush inside when he suddenly found someone standing in front of him.
"Oh, it’s you. I didn’t expect your sources to be so good that you already know I’m back." Lin Hao showed a slight smile.
"What do you mean, ’my sources are good’? It’s because you were being too high-profile! Do you have any idea? In the last several hundred years, not a single disciple has dared to enter the Saint Institute the way you did."
Lin Hao just laughed it off without offering an explanation. "You look like you’re in a hurry. Is something important going on?"
"Oh, right! I almost forgot the important thing. Brother Lin, this is bad! The families of the two Holy Stele masters ranked just above you have both run into trouble, and they just left the Saint Institute. On top of that, a huge group of Martial Artists is about to come challenge you!" Wenren Feiming said, his expression grim.
He had just told Yang Peng about the Saint Institute’s unwritten rules not long ago. He never thought they would be used against Lin Hao so soon.
It was obvious that someone didn’t want Lin Hao to become an official upper-house disciple.
According to the agreement, Lin Hao still needed to defeat two more Holy Stele masters to become an upper-house disciple. Now that the two disciples ranked ahead of him had simultaneously left due to family emergencies, if Lin Hao wanted to become an upper-house disciple, he would have to defeat the seventh and sixth-ranked masters in succession.
The seventh-ranked master on the Holy Stele was Mei Shengjie, who had broken through to the Fifth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm a few days ago. And the sixth-ranked master, Lin Feichen, had reached the Fifth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm a long time ago.
Lin Hao originally stood no chance against them. Now he had to face them back-to-back in a gauntlet. This was a ploy to completely crush his hopes and sever his path to the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion!
"What are the cultivation levels of the sixth and seventh on the Holy Stele?" Wenren Feiming couldn’t detect any change in Lin Hao’s expression as he heard the question.
Wenren Feiming was amazed by Lin Hao’s composure. To be so calm after hearing such news was worthy of admiration.
He quickly replied, "The guy ranked seventh is named Mei Shengjie, Fifth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm. The one who was just giving Yang Peng trouble, Meishi, is his subordinate. He’s a young master of the Mei family, and his older sister, Mei Yuhe, is the current imperial consort."
Hearing Wenren Feiming’s words, a strange smile appeared on Lin Hao’s face. He murmured, "What a coincidence."
"Brother Lin, what did you say?" Wenren Feiming hadn’t heard him clearly and couldn’t help but ask.
"Nothing. Continue."
"Okay, the one ranked sixth is a disciple from the Lin family named Lin Feichen. He went out to gain experience about three months ago, and he was already at the Fifth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm back then. With the Six Institutes Martial Competition coming up, I’m sure he’ll be back soon."
"Mm, thanks." After listening, Lin Hao’s expression remained unchanged.
Wenren Feiming stared blankly at Lin Hao, at a complete loss for words.
To face two masters at the Fifth Layer of Soul Gathering Realm and remain so nonchalant... Lin Hao was probably the only one. This wasn’t just about whether he could become an upper-house disciple; it was about whether he could enter the Heaven-Breaking Pavilion.
It would be one thing if he had plenty of time, but with only about three days left, Lin Hao was still acting so unconcerned. Wenren Feiming just couldn’t understand it.
Before he could think any further, someone else burst into the courtyard.
