"If the Elder of my Clear Wind Sword Sect is unharmed, we can let this matter drop," Lin Hui proposed his conditions. "You were the ones who provoked this incident, so deaths were inevitable. Furthermore, Fu'an Town belongs to my Clear Wind Sword Sect. You will pay ten million coins as compensation."

"Agreed." Li Chi nodded readily. After realizing the person opposite him was not from the Golden Goose Gate, he simply wanted to conclude the matter as quickly as possible.

Lin Hui hadn't expected him to agree so fast and paused for a moment.

"Fine. The payment must be delivered within three days. Is that a problem?"

"Agreed." Li Chi nodded again.

The two wasted no more words. After a final, locked gaze of confrontation, Li Chi raised his hand, signaling the surrounding sect members to make way.

Everyone hurriedly cleared a path.

Coincidentally, the path they cleared was the very same blood-soaked trail Lin Hui had carved on his way in.

Lying in disarray across this bloody path were corpses severed in two. At a glance, there were at least over a hundred bodies.

"I have learned much today." Li Chi cupped his hands slightly in salute.

Lin Hui gave a cold snort. His figure vanished, whipping up a gust of wild wind that grabbed the nearby Wang Hongshi and whisked him away from everyone's sight.

In today's battle, he had witnessed the toughness—and the absurdity—of the Circulation Realm. Their nearly infinite Internal Force and higher-quality intensity raised their defense to a rather exaggerated level.

He was much, much stronger than Song Zhanlong.

In comparison, high-tier Called Ones like Wang Yueheng were actually easier to deal with because the Sealing Toxin could take effect directly upon contact. The Internal Force barrier of a Called One was far inferior to that of a Circulation Realm expert and could be easily broken.

The Circulation Realm counters me more than I anticipated. If I had learned the special effect 'Surrounding Wind' of the Wild Wind Sword Technique, I could have won this time. A pity. Lin Hui felt somewhat regretful as he gripped Wang Hongshi with one hand.

This battle had exposed many issues. Next, finding Xue Meng and treating the injured disciples would be the time to check for gaps and fill the omissions.

The perfected sword technique isn't very useful against someone like Li Chi. Even if his movements paused, I couldn't break his Internal Force barrier. Moreover, I suspect his mental resistance is much, much stronger than the average Internal Force Realm expert...

Lin Hui had used the perfected sword technique to draw circles a few times before leaving, but unfortunately, the opponent acted as if he hadn't seen it at all; it was completely useless.

Descending the mountain in one breath, his figure emerged, and he suddenly looked toward the right.

There, a martial artist carrying a strange weapon on his back was turning around and walking into the distance.

Clearly, that was the person who had been watching the battle from the shadows just now.

In fact, if he hadn't sensed that quite a few people were watching in the dark, Lin Hui would have wanted to drag the fight out with Li Chi for a whole day to see who would fail to hold on first.

Unfortunately...

The environment didn't allow it; the conditions didn't allow it.

Carrying the already dizzy Wang Hongshi, he took a step forward and vanished from the spot once again.

Regardless, with so many bystanders, the objective of this trip could be considered achieved.

Next was to find Xue Meng. If Xue Meng was dead, he would come back and kill a few more Internal Force experts of the Flying Stone Sect to avenge him.

If he was fine, then the dust would settle here.

Three days after the battle at the Flying Stone Sect.

The name of the Formless Sword, Temple Master Lin Hui of the Clear Wind Sword Sect, spread far and wide like a kite cut loose in the wind.

With Fu'an Town as the core, it spread rapidly in all directions. Especially those surrounding forces that had been oppressed by the Flying Stone Sect; almost all of them sent envoys to visit the Clear Wind Sword Sect immediately.

However, Lin Hui couldn't be bothered to pay them any attention. He and Li Chi were in a relationship of mutual restraint.

He was worried Li Chi would charge directly into his sect's headquarters. Li Chi was worried he would intercept and kill his sect members outside.

Under mutual apprehension, both sides actually abided by the agreement quite well.

The money and the compensation for healing medicines were quickly delivered to the headquarters.

As for Xue Meng, he didn't wait for Lin Hui to search for him; he returned from the mist zone on his own, covered in injuries.

"What?! You actually went and fought Li Chi?! And you didn't lose?!"

Inside the Clear Wind Sword Sect.

Xue Meng stood up abruptly from his chair, his eyes wide and round, his face full of disbelief.

If it were someone who didn't understand the Circulation Realm, it would be one thing. But he happened to be an Internal Force Realm martial artist who had witnessed what level the Circulation Realm was. That was why he knew how exaggerated and terrifying that power was.

Infinite Internal Force expenditure turned the Circulation Realm from the penny-pinching usage of the Internal Force Realm into an extravagant, spendthrift style.

This extravagance naturally brought about vastly increased power and killing range.

At this moment in the main hall, Xue Meng, covered in bandages, stared dumbfounded at Lin Hui, who was sitting on the grand preceptor chair, looking down and drinking tea.

"Really? You really exchanged blows with Li Chi?" he questioned again.

"It was right inside the Flying Stone Sect. The traces are still there. If you rush over, you can see for yourself," Lin Hui said indifferently.

Putting down the teacup, he looked calmly at Xue Meng.

"I killed quite a few people this time. It should keep the sect quiet for a few years."

"According to the Flying Stone Sect's statistics, you killed a total of one hundred and thirty-five people, including three Internal Force Realm martial artists—no, it should be four." Sitting on the other side, Wang Yueheng was also somewhat speechless.

"Now, the reputation of the Formless Sword of the Clear Wind Sword Sect has spread throughout the surrounding area. You've become famous in a single battle," he lamented. "What are your plans next?"

"Since we have drawn a clear boundary with the Flying Stone Sect, we will operate accordingly. The Clear Wind Sword Sect is still too weak right now. This battle exposed many problems. A lack of experts and insufficient elites are the key issues. I plan to hold an internal grand competition first, select the ten disciples with the most potential, and then concentrate on training them to create elites. We will strive to have them break through to a new Internal Force Realm, avoiding a situation where the sect is supported solely by myself and Elder Xue," Lin Hui replied.

"This is good! I agree!" Xue Meng nodded repeatedly.

"Then, it is to continue cultivation. In the Dao of martial arts, I am far from reaching the limit, so I will continue to practice." Lin Hui planned to honestly refine pills, take medicine, accelerate the evolution of the Blood Seal, and complete the body tempering of the Wild Wind Sword Technique to obtain the special effect, Surrounding Wind.

"Additionally, Brother Wang, I would like to ask: how much do you know about the Tuyue Jade Talisman?"

"The Tuyue Jade Talisman?" Wang Yueheng was stunned, then thought for a moment. "This item is produced by the government and the Rain Palace. It can isolate the mist at night. The specific production method is unknown, but I suggest you do not investigate too deeply. The implications of this item are enormous; it is not something you can touch right now."

"Alright. Then let's focus on holding the grand competition and the celebration first." Lin Hui could see that Wang Yueheng's advice was serious.

Even a high-tier Called One like him said so. As a partner with shared interests, there was no reason for him to deceive Lin Hui on this matter.

"By the way, do you want to make a trip to the Inner City?" Wang Yueheng asked. "At your current level, staying in the Outer City actually doesn't help you much. Only the resources of the Inner City can allow you to increase your Internal Force faster."

"We can talk about that later; no rush for now." Lin Hui knew the other party meant to introduce him to connections.

But he didn't care. After this live combat, he understood even more clearly that strength was the only hard currency.

Having discussed the upcoming arrangements, Lin Hui saw Wang Yueheng off and entered a state of bitter cultivation once again.

Taking medicine, refining pills, practicing the sword, and repeating.

He took almost no rest; even his sleep at night was compressed to the time needed to ensure only his most basic needs.

Following the battle with the Flying Stone Sect, the Clear Wind Sword Sect's reputation expanded rapidly, ushering in a second spring of development.

Within just two months, a large number of students paid to join, and many skilled martial artists flocked to apply. The scale of the Clear Wind Sword Sect swelled rapidly, as if being inflated.

Soon, a 'Technique Creation Celebration' for Temple Master Lin, the Formless Sword, officially kicked off at the Black Dragon Gate branch.

A large number of disciples, surrounding families, and nearby martial halls all sent gifts.

Because of the rumor that Temple Master Lin was fond of women and frequently purchased large amounts of aphrodisiacs, everyone coincidentally sent medicines focused on enhancing energy and yang.

At the same time, the next event following the celebration was the internal grand competition.

Following the Clear Wind Sword Sect's previous rules, the competition successfully selected the top ten disciples, who began to undergo resource-concentrated training.

As the disciples who had been injured and sent to the Inner City for limb reattachment safely returned—the surgeries having been completed very successfully—the dust finally settled.

The Clear Wind Sword Sect had reached a level where it could operate on its own without Lin Hui's constant attention.

Winter left, and spring came.

Mid-April, at the Lin Manor.

Cries of a woman in pain drifted continuously from the inner courtyard.

In the open space of the front courtyard, Lin Shunhe, Yao Shan, the Liu siblings, and Lin Hui were all present.

Everyone was staring in the direction of the inner courtyard, listening to the various instructions of the Inner City physician mixed with the cries.

Second Mother Liu Shenglan was giving birth. After being pregnant for so long, the matter was finally concluding.

Lin Hui stood behind his father, his expression calm.

He didn't have much contact with Liu Shenglan. Ever since she came home to await labor, he had been practicing swordsmanship at the Clear Wind Sword Sect constantly. He rarely went out on ordinary days, only occasionally coming back to see his parents.

Even with the Liu siblings, he had only met them face-to-face a few times and hadn't even spoken much.

His perception of Liu Shenglan and the Liu siblings was one of unfamiliarity; he felt nothing.

Like three strangers—neither close nor distant.

"Ah Hui, don't worry. It will be fine. The physicians from the Inner City are much better than those outside," Lin Shunhe suddenly spoke up. This was the third time he had said something similar.

"I know. You said that before," Lin Hui said calmly.

He glanced at his mother, Yao Shan. Her complexion was fine, showing no abnormality. Instead, she wore a trace of sincere worry. Clearly, she had gotten along well with Liu Shenglan during this period.

It was unknown how much time had passed.

Wah!

Finally, a piercing cry drifted out from the inner courtyard.

"It's done! It's a precious daughter! Congratulations, Master; congratulations, Madam!" The physician's celebratory voice drifted out.

Soon, the group swarmed in, entering the inner room to see the wrinkled infant in the female physician's arms.

"I've thought about the name for a long time. Let's call her Lin Xiaoliu..." Unstoppable joy was on Lin Shunhe's face as he stepped forward to carefully receive the child and approached Liu Shenglan's bedside.

"She will be the future hope of my Lin family!" he said earnestly and sincerely.

A child with the bloodline aptitude of the Liu family absolutely could not fail The Call; this was determined by the Inner City bloodline. Liu Shenglan's bloodline concentration was far from being thin enough to leave the Inner City.

Therefore, Lin Xiaoliu's bloodline was basically confirmed; she would one hundred percent be able to undergo The Call.

In other words, she was born standing at a better starting point than Lin Hui.

Lin Hui stood by the door, quietly watching this scene.

Suddenly, a hand gently held his hand. It was his mother, Yao Shan.

She smiled gently.

"You are also very excellent. Some things are fate; do not force them."

She thought her son was jealous—jealous that his newborn sister could stand at a higher starting point than himself.

Lin Hui smiled and did not defend himself.

In these two months, he had successfully pushed his Internal Force to the Fifth Layer. He was about to reach the perfection of the Sixth Layer.

This terrifying speed perfectly demonstrated the horror of the perfected version of the Clear Wind Sword Technique.

Many people thought his future could only regrettably stop at the Sixth Layer of Internal Force, no matter how strong he was.

But no one understood that after the Sixth Layer of Internal Force, the path he would walk was another road entirely different from this world.

Thinking of this, Lin Hui suddenly felt something and swept his gaze toward the window on the right.

In a corner there, Elder Du could be vaguely seen talking to several strangers draped in black robes.

Dad seems to be hiding some secret... A thought flashed through Lin Hui's mind.

Forget it, let him be. Anyway, no matter what secret it is, as long as nothing bad happens, it's fine.

Lin Hui's heart returned to calmness.

For his father to have mixed his way to this level, he naturally couldn't be just like an ordinary person. Having secrets was normal.

As long as there was no danger, he couldn't be bothered to pay it any mind.

In reality, Lin Hui had always regarded himself as the Lin family's final safety line.

No matter how his father tossed about, if no trouble occurred, fine. But if trouble did occur, and it truly reached a point where there was no other way...

He would step in to be the ultimate safety net.