Chapter 121: The Blessed Land of Linglong

"Brother Yang Xiao is indeed sharp. I led you here because I have something to tell you, but I assure you, I harbor no malice." The man in black spoke slowly. His tone was youthful, yet carried a sense of depth and composure.

"You called me 'Brother' just now? Are you also a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect? This is strange. If you have something to say, why choose this place?" Yang Xiao asked, puzzled.

"I am indeed a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, and Brother Yang Xiao has seen me before. Once I remove my veil, you will recognize me." Saying this, the man in black took off his face covering.

"It is you." Upon seeing the man's true face, Yang Xiao recognized him; he had indeed encountered him before.

It turned out that this man in black was one of the guards working for Chen Tong. When Yang Xiao had visited Chen Tong’s estate, he had seen this guard twice. Back then, the man’s cultivation was only at the peak of the Spirit Perception Realm, but now, it had reached the middle stage of the Qi Condensation Realm. Such a discrepancy was truly strange. It seemed the man possessed some kind of treasure or elixir for concealing his cultivation level.

When Yang Xiao had first seen this guard, he had felt something unusual about him. His demeanor was far more composed than the other guards, a quality that had once stirred a sense of intrigue in Yang Xiao. However, that feeling had been fleeting, and he hadn't paid it much mind at the time. Now, it was clear that this impression had been due to the man masking his true strength.

"Brother Yang Xiao actually recognized me. Your memory is quite impressive to remember a small character like me." The man in black said with a smile.

"When I saw you back then, a strange intuition flashed through my mind, which is why I remembered you. Perhaps it was some form of resonance between those of the same cultivation level. Even though you concealed your strength, I sensed something as I passed by you," Yang Xiao replied.

"Perhaps that is so. However, this 'Purple Crystal Veil' treasure I use to hide my cultivation has always been infallible. In the years I have spent in the Heavenly Sword Sect’s marketplace, no one has ever discerned my true level. Brother Yang Xiao’s ability to sense it makes you far more perceptive than the others." As the man spoke, he took a purple gauze veil from his storage bag. It shimmered with flowing fluorescent light—it was indeed a remarkable treasure, especially for its rare ability to conceal one's cultivation.

"We have strayed from the topic. Let's skip the small talk. What is your purpose in leading me here? What is your true identity, and what are you plotting while hiding in the Heavenly Sword Sect's marketplace?" Yang Xiao asked, his expression sharpening.

"I brought you here with no ill intentions, Brother. Please, listen to me. My name is Lin Tian. I originally hail from the Linlang Blessed Land. I came out to join the Heavenly Sword Sect simply to temper myself and improve my mental cultivation," the man in black said.

"Linlang Blessed Land... that name sounds familiar," Yang Xiao mused.

"You must have heard of it, Brother. And you surely know of the person named Linlang, do you not?" Lin Tian asked.

"Linlang? You mean the Golden Core cultivator from ten thousand years ago?" Yang Xiao asked in surprise. He knew of Linlang; he had once researched the history of the Yao Kingdom and learned that ten thousand years ago, the kingdom had produced its only Golden Core cultivator—Linlang.

"You are named Lin Tian. Could it be that you are related to Linlang?" Yang Xiao asked, skeptical.

"Indeed. Linlang was my ancestor. The Linlang Blessed Land where I live is a sanctuary he opened using his immense divine powers," Lin Tian explained.

"I see. What has become of your ancestor? I heard he hasn't been seen in the outside world for thousands of years. Could it be that he is still alive?" Yang Xiao asked.

"No, that is not the case. My ancestor’s fame dates back ten thousand years. No matter how long a Golden Core cultivator’s lifespan may be, it cannot exceed ten thousand years. In fact, he passed away several millennia ago. He attempted to break through to a higher realm, but such a breakthrough is no easy feat. After a thousand years of secluded meditation, he failed and eventually fell," Lin Tian sighed.

"Your ancestor contributed greatly to the Yao Kingdom. It is said that when the kingdom was besieged by several neighboring nations, he single-handedly defeated their experts, keeping the country safe. It is truly a pity to hear of his passing," Yang Xiao said.

"It is true. I revere my ancestor deeply, but unfortunately, he was the only one in our family with such profound cultivation. Since his passing, our family has fallen into complete decline. We have very few powerful experts left—the strongest among us are only at the early stage of the Zhou Tian Realm. We are now comparable to nothing more than an ordinary sect, perhaps even inferior to some larger ones. Because of this, we have remained in the Linlang Blessed Land, unable to face the world in the Yao Kingdom," Lin Tian said.

"I understand. Then, Brother Lin, what is your purpose in seeking me out?" Yang Xiao asked the question that had been weighing on him.

"I want to ask you to help our family overcome a difficult crisis," Lin Tian replied.

"Help your family? That is strange. If you have experts at the Zhou Tian Realm, why would you need a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator like me? I fear my abilities are limited and I would be of little help," Yang Xiao said, puzzled.

"Since I sought you out, Brother Yang Xiao, it is because I believe you can help us. However, before I disclose the nature of our predicament, I must ask for your guarantee," Lin Tian said.

"What guarantee? Speak freely, Brother Lin," Yang Xiao replied.

"Our family does not wish for outsiders to know the truth about my ancestor's passing, so I hope you will not spread this news. Furthermore, regardless of whether you choose to help us or not, I ask that you keep all our family's secrets private. If you can promise these two things, I will tell you why I truly brought you here," Lin Tian said, watching Yang Xiao intently, waiting for his reply.

"These are matters of your family's secrets; I would naturally never speak of them carelessly. As for the news of Senior Linlang, I will certainly not leak a single word. I have enough integrity for that, so please, trust me, Brother Lin Tian," Yang Xiao answered without hesitation.