Chapter 481: Heavenly Eye

Perhaps sensing Lin Xiao’s confusion, Lu Chengfeng spoke, “Brother Lin, are you wondering how I was able to see through your cultivation?”

“Yes. I’d appreciate it if Sect Master Lu could explain,” Lin Xiao nodded.

“I must say, your technique for concealing your aura is extremely advanced. Yesterday, nearly every expert in the southern region was present, yet not a single one could discern your true strength.”

Lu Chengfeng praised, then quickly changed his tone.

“However, I happen to possess a method that allows me to see through all kinds of illusions and hidden auras. The moment you stepped into the ring yesterday, I could tell that you were suppressing your cultivation. Still, I didn’t dare believe it at first, which is why I acted rashly when inviting you today. I hope you won’t take offense.”

“So that’s how it is.”

Lin Xiao felt enlightened, but he was quickly intrigued by the technique Lu Chengfeng mentioned. His own concealment ability came from Thunderbolt Decree, which, although only a fragment, was clearly of an incredibly high level, so high that even now, he had barely scratched its surface.

The Thunderbolt Decree was divided into three major stages: Qi Initiation, Qi Refinement, and Spiritual Ascension. Each major stage contained three layers.

The fragment Lin Xiao possessed recorded only the first stage’s three layers. Even after over ten years of training, he had only reached the second layer of Qi Initiation.

Yet even at just this level, he was already considered a grandmaster of the Flowing Force stage within the martial world.

This alone revealed just how incomprehensibly advanced the Thunderbolt Decree was. It was also Lin Xiao’s greatest secret.

But now it had been seen through by Lu Chengfeng’s technique—this was truly surprising.

“Brother Lin, this technique of mine is called Heavenly Eye,” Lu Chengfeng explained without keeping Lin Xiao waiting.

“Heavenly Eye?”

“Yes. It’s a secret art I stumbled upon when I was younger,” Lu Chengfeng said with a hint of reminiscence and sorrow.

“Unlike you, I was just over thirty at the time, having only just broken into the Dark Force stage. I was traveling the world and made some good friends. Together, we entered a ruin, and I acquired this Heavenly Eye from it. Unfortunately…”

The sorrow in Lu Chengfeng’s eyes deepened. But soon he composed himself and continued.

“A treasure deserves a worthy hero, but this Heavenly Eye has never truly been put to good use in my hands. Earlier, I acted recklessly and disturbed you, so I’d like to gift this technique to you as a token of apology.”

Lu Chengfeng pulled out a small box from his robe. It was something he had prepared in advance.

“This Heavenly Eye is recorded on a fragment. It appears to be part of a greater technique. Unfortunately, only this portion was obtained. What’s strange is that the fragment is impervious to water and fire. I’ve tried everything and couldn’t so much as scratch it. It’s quite mysterious.”

Lu Chengfeng opened the box. Inside was a weathered fragment of parchment. At first glance, it resembled sheepskin, but a closer look revealed it to be made of some unknown material.

“Brother Lin, this is the fragment containing Heavenly Eye. Today, I am giving it to you.”

Lu Chengfeng pushed the box toward Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao’s gaze was entirely fixed on the fragment, filled with surprise and joy. He noticed that the material of this fragment was identical to that of his Thunderbolt Decree fragment.

He reached out and picked it up, gently running his fingers over its surface before opening it to examine it closely. Sure enough, the characters on the fragment were not the modern script used in Xia Country, but rather an archaic small-seal script—the same script used on his Thunderbolt Decree fragment.

“Looks like Brother Lin is quite satisfied with this technique?” Lu Chengfeng observed Lin Xiao’s expression and asked.

“Yes, I am very satisfied.” Lin Xiao suppressed his excitement and asked, “By the way, Sect Master Lu, could you tell me more about the ruin where you found this technique?”

Ever since obtaining the Thunderbolt Decree, Lin Xiao had been obsessed with collecting its complete form. When he was still in the military, executing missions around the world, he would investigate local forces at every stop, searching for clues. Yet no matter how hard he looked, he found nothing.

In the end, he had no choice but to give up. After all, the world was vast—seeking such a small, obscure fragment was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

Yet now, the very thing he had sought so long for had appeared before him without warning.

“Back then, we learned of the ruin by chance. It’s located to the east of the Battle Bear Nation, frozen all year round, desolate for hundreds of miles. The ruin is extremely dangerous. Of the seven of us who entered, three were trapped inside. Later, people from the Battle Bear Nation also discovered the site. In the end, only two of us made it out alive, one of them was me. This Heavenly Eye was the only thing I managed to retrieve. Unfortunately, another fragment was taken by someone from the Battle Bear Nation.”

Lu Chengfeng then gave Lin Xiao a full account of the ruins’ details.

“It’s been over twenty years since then. I’ve never returned, but the memories are still vivid in my mind. Sadly, I no longer have the courage to go back.”

“My condolences, Sect Master Lu,” Lin Xiao said sincerely.

“Don’t laugh at me, Brother Lin,” Lu Chengfeng waved a hand. “I’ve long come to terms with it. I just get a little emotional when I bring it up.”

Lin Xiao didn’t know what else to say, so he simply changed the subject.

“By the way, Sect Master Lu, do you know which force from the Battle Bear Nation obtained the other fragment?”

“It was the Sacred Bear Sect, one of the four major powers in their country. That’s also why I’ve stayed within Xia Country all these years, never seeking revenge or returning. With their strength, if I set foot outside Xia, I’d probably be killed on the spot. I’ve grown old… didn’t realize I was rambling so much,” Lu Chengfeng chuckled, shaking his head.

“Thank you, Sect Master Lu, for telling me about the ruin. This means a great deal to me. I owe you a favor,” Lin Xiao said with heartfelt gratitude.

Indeed, this trip to Blazing Sun Martial Hall had brought far greater rewards than expected, and what Lu Chengfeng revealed was of immense value to him.

“Haha, it’s nothing. After all, we from the Four Poles Sect were the ones who offended you. I’m glad you’re willing to forgive us, Brother Lin.”