On the way back to the Broken Sword Sect's secret hideout, the members were collectively petrified. Their minds replayed the scene: the mid-Refinement Void elder lying crippled in a pit like a dead dog, his cultivation shattered, limbs broken. And then they looked at Old Ma, picking his nose, his tattered, greasy Daoist robe stained with who-knew-what.
What just happened?
This old man, who looked like a strong breeze could knock him over, had just… instantly obliterated an inner elder of the Profound Sword Sect?
Mao Shiba swallowed hard, his worldview shattered. He had thought this old coot was a charlatan, a fraud. Now he realized he had been blind, mistaking a true deity for a common toad!
"E-elder Ma…" Mao Shiba's voice trembled uncontrollably. With a thud, he knelt. "This junior was blind! I failed to recognize your greatness and was disrespectful earlier! I beg for your forgiveness!"
His kneeling triggered a chain reaction. The several dozen Broken Sword Sect brothers behind him dropped to their knees in a wave, their eyes filled with fanatical reverence. What kind of power was this? A mid-Refinement Void expert! He didn't last a single move! With this supreme being on our side, destroying the Profound Sword Sect is no longer a dream!
Old Ma was momentarily taken aback by the scene, but then his wizened face broke into a brilliant smile, his vanity immensely satisfied. Putting on airs, he stroked his non-existent long beard, trying to project the image of an aloof master (though his appearance remained utterly disastrous). He cleared his throat. "Ahem… Well, rise, all of you. To not know is no crime. We cultivators should take slaying evil and upholding justice as our duty. Mere fame and reputation are not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning at all!"
Everyone rose shakily to their feet, backs straight, looking at Old Ma with more respect than they'd afford their own fathers.
Lin Che watched from the side, the corner of his mouth twitching. This old fool is really getting into character.He coughed dryly twice, interrupting the slightly over-the-top "deification ceremony."
Back at the secret hideout, the group's excitement hadn't subsided. Mao Shiba rubbed his hands together, his face flushed. "Pavilion Master Lin! Elder Ma! With a supreme expert like yourself supporting us, shouldn't we carefully discuss how to raze the Profound Sword Sect's stronghold? For instance, gathering intelligence, coordinating from within, dividing and conquering…"
"Discuss my ass!" Old Ma cut him off impatiently, spittle flying. "What's there to discuss with you few kittens? The Profound Sword Sect's top fighters have been nearly wiped out by the kid! It's an empty shell now! Gather intelligence? Divide and conquer? By the time you finish your discussions, they'll have called in reinforcements from elsewhere! Listen to me! Tomorrow morning, pack up, head straight to the teleportation array, and go to Profound Heaven City! Catch them with their pants down!"
This brutally simple "strategy" struck the group like lightning, shattering their inherent timidity and caution. He's right! We have an expert who can one-shot a mid-Refinement Void cultivator! Why bother with schemes? Just plow through them!
"Elder Ma is right! Let's fuck them up!"
"Straight to Profound Heaven City! Tear down their mountain gate!"
Morale instantly skyrocketed, years of pent-up bloodlust and hatred ignited.
Lin Che looked at the battle-hungry crowd and nodded. Old Ma's words were crude but held truth. Now was indeed the best time to strike at the heart of the enemy. "Good! We'll follow Elder Ma's advice. Tomorrow at dawn, assemble at the teleportation array! We march on Profound Heaven City!"
That night, Lin Che and Old Ma returned to the Heavenly Suite of the Guest's Peace Inn.
The continuous travel and the earlier "warm-up exercise" had left Lin Che somewhat weary. Pushing the door open, he saw Luo Jiayin leaning gracefully by the window, moonlight bathing her figure like a silver veil, breathtakingly beautiful.
Hearing the noise, she turned, a clever, smiling light in her eyes. "Back already, you scoundrel? Judging by your look, were you out performing more 'heroic deeds for the people' tonight?"
Lin Che walked to her side, naturally slipping an arm around her slender waist. He rested his chin on her fragrant hair, took a deep breath, his voice carrying a lazy note and… a barely perceptible heat. "The major deed is done. However… your husband now feels a certain 'minor matter' is more pressing."
Luo Jiayin, ever perceptive, immediately caught his meaning. A faint blush colored her fair cheeks as she shot him a coquettish glare. "Lecher! You never have a serious thought! Just finished with proper business and already thinking about… this?"
"To eat and desire are human nature, part of the heavenly Dao and human relations. How is that not proper business?" Lin Che chuckled lowly, his arm tightening slightly as he swept her soft, warm form into his arms and carried her towards the brocade-covered bed. "Jiayin, I've been busy with mundane affairs these past days and neglected you. Tonight, your husband will properly 'compensate' you…"
The red candle flickered, the silken bed curtains drifted close, and the room filled with the vibrancy of spring. Much later, after the clouds had dispersed and the rain had ceased, Luo Jiayin lay softly against Lin Che's chest, her fingers tracing circles on his firm pectorals, her breath still uneven.
It was in this moment of profound silence and warmth that Lin Che's expression changed drastically!
He sat bolt upright in bed, his face instantly grave!
"Not good!"
"What is it?" Luo Jiayin was startled by his sudden movement.
"I can't hold it back! The spiritual energy in my dantian is churning, the barriers are collapsing! I'm breaking through!" Lin Che spoke rapidly, not bothering to explain further, nor even pausing to get dressed. Bare-chested, he lunged for the window, shoved it open, and prepared to leap out!
"Wait for me! I'll return after stabilizing my realm!" was all he had time to shout before his figure turned into a stream of light, shooting towards the remote mountains outside the city—he had even forgotten his pants!
Luo Jiayin sat up, clutching the brocade quilt, revealing large areas of pale skin. She stared dumbfounded at the wide-open window and the lonely night sky beyond. She remained utterly bewildered for a good while before mutting to herself, "This… this breakthrough… its timing is just too perfect?!" And in such a… nearly naked manner?
Two hours later, the sound of something cutting through the air came from outside the window.
A figure quietly slipped back through the window. It was Lin Che. He was filled with spiritual energy, his aura condensed and internalized, his presence many times more powerful than before. He had successfully advanced to the early Refinement Void stage!
But he was still… disheveled. His remaining clothes were somewhat tattered from the energetic turmoil of his breakthrough.
Just as Luo Jiayin was about to ask if the breakthrough had gone smoothly, she saw a blazing light in Lin Che's eyes. His gaze… didn't seem steady like after a normal breakthrough. Instead, it held a near-savage excitement and… aggression?
"Jiayin!" Lin Che growled, pouncing on the just-seated Luo Jiayin like a starving tiger, pressing her back into the soft quilts.
"Ah! You… you just broke through… don't… don't you need to stabilize your realm?" Luo Jiayin was both embarrassed and flustered, her hands pushing against his scorching chest.
"Stabilize my realm?" Lin Che's lips curled into a wicked smile, his breath hot. "Dual cultivation is the best way to stabilize it!"
Without waiting for her rebuttal, a new, even more intense and exhilarating round of "spiritual energy exchange" began. Luo Jiayin, overwhelmed by the unusually vigorous "energy" of the man on top of her, felt dizzy and disoriented. Amidst her bewilderment and rising passion, a huge question mark flashed in her mind:
Could it be… that breaking through to the Refinement Void stage… has the side effect of… stimulating certain… special needs???
Early the next morning, the Broken Sword Sect members gathered by the teleportation array. Seeing Lin Che and Old Ma approaching side-by-side, they immediately sensed the profoundly different, deep and powerful aura emanating from Lin Che. They were shocked, delighted, and their confidence soared!
"Let's move out!"
After paying an exorbitant amount of spirit stones, the massive teleportation array erupted with a pillar of light, swallowing the figures within. After roughly an hour of dizzying spatial travel, their feet finally found solid ground again.
The light faded. When the group saw the sight before them, they collectively gasped, deeply awestruck!
Profound Heaven City!
This was the core of the Profound Heaven Realm, the behemoth dominating the upper realm—Profound Heaven City!
As far as the eye could see, there was no end to the city walls! The entire city seemed forged from divine gold and immortal jade, a mountain range stretching to the horizon! Countless magnificent structures pierced the clouds, palaces rose in continuous ranges, emitting countless rays of spiritual light and auspicious vapors. In the sky, enormous spirit ships and lofted vessels sailed slowly along designated routes, while countless sword lights and flight trails streaked past like meteors. Powerful auras were everywhere. The heaven and earth spiritual energy here was so concentrated it had turned into a faint, misty aura; just one breath made one feel their cultivation improve slightly!
"My heavens… This is just… too… BIG!" Lin Ying's small mouth formed a perfect 'O', uttering a heartfelt exclamation.
Even the well-traveled Old Ma shed his usual sleazy expression. His murky old eyes widened, and he smacked his lips, mumbling, "Good heavens… this Profound Heaven City… damn, it's just immeasurably vast!"
Lin Che took a deep breath of the scorching, overwhelmingly powerful spiritual energy, his chest swelling with heroic spirit. His sharp gaze swept over this majestic city destined to be swept by towering waves, a cold, sharp arc curling at the corner of his lips.
Profound Sword Sect, we have arrived. Your doom is here.