Chapter 482: A Reminder

“No matter what, I still have to thank you, Sect Master Lu.” Lin Xiao shook his head.

Compared to the help Lu Chengfeng had just given him, the earlier conflict with Blazing Sun was merely a minor matter. Lin Xiao was very clear about the difference in weight between the two.

“How about this, Brother Lin? If you don’t mind, I have a presumptuous request.”

Lu Chengfeng looked at Lin Xiao’s expression and couldn’t help but admire him inwardly. It seemed he had indeed not misjudged this young man.

When the conflict with Blazing Sun Martial Hall had erupted, Lu Chengfeng had already begun investigating Lin Xiao. Upon seeing how Lin Xiao had repeatedly helped Chen’s Martial Hall, he knew Lin Xiao was someone who valued loyalty and righteousness. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have given away the Heaven’s Eye technique—at most, he would have offered an apology and some other gift.

It had to be known that the Heaven’s Eye was a profound technique he had acquired through immense difficulty. It was not something to be gifted lightly.

“Sect Master Lu, please speak.”

Lu Chengfeng leaned slightly forward, battle intent rising within him. Two flames lit up in his eyes, full of anticipation as he looked at Lin Xiao.

“In this lifetime, I likely won’t be able to break through to the Flowing Force stage. So I’d like to take advantage of this opportunity to experience firsthand the power of a Flowing Force Grandmaster. Would that be possible?”

“Oh, so it’s that.” Lin Xiao’s eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily. “Exchanging martial skills between friends, why not? I’ve been wanting to witness Sect Master Lu’s techniques myself.”

To witness and absorb the techniques of all schools, and unify all methods into one—that was the martial path Lin Xiao pursued.

Lu Chengfeng’s request hit right at the center of his interest. Not to mention, Lu Chengfeng had just helped him; there was no reason not to agree.

An invisible yet massive surge of intent erupted from both Lin Xiao and Lu Chengfeng’s bodies.

Their eyes met in midair, and both saw the blazing will to fight reflected in each other’s gaze.

Lu Chengfeng slowly rose to his feet, solemnly saying, “Please.”

“Offense coming.”

With a heavy stomp of his left foot, Lin Xiao shattered the floor. Spiderweb-like cracks spread outward, and a deep footprint formed at the center.

Borrowing the force of the stomp, Lin Xiao shot forward like lightning. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Lu Chengfeng, his iron-like fist crashing down.

What followed was a barrage of explosive combat sounds from within the hall, causing An Chaoyang and the others waiting outside to break out in cold sweat. But due to Lu Chengfeng’s orders—and Lin Xiao’s terrifying strength—they didn’t dare to enter.

Roughly half an hour later, the fierce commotion gradually subsided, finally allowing everyone to breathe a sigh of relief.

“So this is the might of a Flowing Force Grandmaster. Indeed, beneath Flowing Force, all are ants.” Lu Chengfeng’s face was a little pale.

“Sect Master Lu is too humble. If I weren’t Flowing Force, I’m afraid I’d already have been defeated by you.”

“No need to comfort me, Brother Lin. I know my own limits. If you hadn’t held back just now, I wouldn’t have lasted ten moves.”

Hearing that, Lin Xiao had nothing more to say—because it was true.

The difference between Flowing Force and Dark Force was simply too vast. Even though Lu Chengfeng was considered the strongest in the South besides the top five peak experts, he still posed little challenge to Lin Xiao.

“Haha! Thanks to Brother Lin today, I’ve truly witnessed the power of a Grandmaster.”

Lu Chengfeng, however, showed no sign of discouragement from being overpowered. On the contrary, he laughed heartily in excitement.

The two of them continued discussing martial arts for a while longer before Lin Xiao prepared to take his leave.

“Then, Sect Master Lu, until we meet again.”

“Until we meet again. If you ever visit Dongzhou again, you’re always welcome at Four Poles Sect.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely come if I have the chance.” Lin Xiao nodded, then turned to leave.

“Wait, Brother Lin.” Just then, Lu Chengfeng suddenly called out.

“Yes? Is there something else, Sect Master Lu?”

Lu Chengfeng hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. “Be careful of Tian Junliang. Though he’s fooled everyone else, he hasn’t fooled me. His cultivation, like yours, is Flowing Force.”

“Tian Junliang… Flowing Force?”

Lin Xiao fell silent. He had previously suspected Tian Junliang’s true strength, but it was only speculation. Now, with Lu Chengfeng’s confirmation, he was certain.

“Thank you, Sect Master Lu.”

“It’s nothing. But Brother Lin, do be careful. Don’t be deceived by how arrogant Chunyu Yan acts; compared to the scheming old fox Tian Junliang, he’s nothing.”

Lin Xiao nodded thoughtfully, then left Blazing Sun Martial Hall.

After Lin Xiao’s departure, An Chaoyang, who had been waiting outside, finally entered the reception hall. When he saw the crisscrossing cracks on the floor and shattered stone tiles, his eyes narrowed, and he quickened his pace.

“How is it, Senior Brother?” Upon entering and seeing Lu Chengfeng sitting in a chair, he hurried over anxiously.

“Don’t worry, I’m fine. But from now on, you’d better keep your son and those in your school in check. If they provoke another expert again, it won’t just be Blazing Sun at risk, even the Four Poles Sect might be dragged down with them.” Lu Chengfeng’s tone grew harsher.

A thousand-mile levee can collapse from an anthill. If disciples act recklessly under the banner of their sect, even the strongest forces can fall one day.

The Four Poles Sect might be one of the Seven Great Powers in the South, but in the grand scheme of the Xia Country, it was merely a speck in the ocean. They were lucky this time to encounter Lin Xiao. If it had been a temperamental Flowing Force Grandmaster, the Four Poles Sect might’ve already been reduced to ruins.

If An Chaoyang hadn’t been his junior brother, Lu Chengfeng would’ve already given him a severe scolding.

“Yes, Senior Brother. I understand. It won’t happen again. I’ve already put Chen’er under house arrest. He won’t be released until he breaks through to mid-stage Dark Force. As for the others in the school, I’ll make sure they’re thoroughly disciplined,” An Chaoyang quickly promised.

“I hope so.”

Seeing that Lu Chengfeng didn’t pursue it further, An Chaoyang let out a sigh of relief.

After a moment’s hesitation, he asked, “Senior Brother… that young man, Lin Xiao… is he truly a Flowing Force Grandmaster?”

“Mhm. That’s right.”

Lu Chengfeng didn’t hide the truth from his junior. He was also worried An Chaoyang might still bear resentment toward Lin Xiao, so he confirmed it directly.

“This… this is… insane…”

Hearing the confirmation, An Chaoyang’s eyes were filled with disbelief. He wasn’t to blame—it truly was too shocking.

Across the several southern provinces, among hundreds of millions of people, there wasn’t a single Flowing Force Grandmaster known on the surface. Of course, he was unaware of Tian Junliang’s breakthrough.

Even if you included Tian Junliang, that made only one. With a few more hidden away in seclusion, there might still only be a handful in the entire South.

And look at the ages—how old was Tian Junliang, and how old was Lin Xiao?

There was more than a thirty-year difference between them.

If Lin Xiao could be called a rising star, with boundless future potential and hope to one day step into the realm of Dark Force—the so-called land-immortal—then Tian Junliang could only be considered a setting sun, unlikely to ever go beyond Flowing Force.

Still, even without comparison to Lin Xiao, simply breaking through to Flowing Force was enough to be considered a dragon among men.

“This matter must not be leaked.”

“Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I know where the line is,” An Chaoyang nodded, forcibly suppressing the shock and relief in his heart.

He wasn’t stupid. Since Lin Xiao had hidden his true strength, he clearly didn’t want it to be widely known. Now that the grudges between them were settled, there was no way he was going to provoke such a monster again.

“Have someone clean up the hall entrance. I’m heading back.”

“Yes, Senior Brother.”