226: Run away?

“Disciple, if you continue to stay in the Lin family, you won't be able to defeat the Heavensea Sect's Young Sect Master three years from now.”

The ethereal old man said, watching the woman practice.

The woman was naturally Lin Zhao, and upon hearing this, Lin Zhao stopped cultivating and fell silent.

How could she not understand what her Master said?

While the environment in the Lin family was comfortable, with servants attending to her every need.

Beyond that, it could hardly offer her any additional help.

Staying in the Lin family, with her aptitude and cultivation methods, it would be easy for her to break through to the Yuandan Realm in this lifetime.

Even higher realms would be effortless.

But to break through to the Yuandan Realm within three years, that would be difficult!

Or rather, it would be almost impossible.

For Lin Zhao, merely breaking through to the Yuandan Realm wasn't enough to be secure.

If she wanted to avoid becoming a joke three years from now, she couldn't continue living so comfortably.

Actually, she could have left long ago.

It was just that she was a bit reluctant.

This was the place where she had lived for sixteen years.

From childhood, she had lived here, never leaving this city.

Now, suddenly having to leave, the emotional struggle made her hesitant to take the first step.

The ethereal old man naturally saw this, but he didn't try to persuade her.

The path of a strong person is destined to be solitary.

On this path, no one will always accompany one's footsteps.

If Lin Zhao wanted to truly become strong, these were all things she had to, she *must* endure.

She needed to learn to accept and bear this kind of pain.

Lin Zhao was silent for a long time, then took a deep breath, revealing a relieved smile.

“I understand, Master. Counting the time, we should have left long ago.

You didn't even remind me sooner, really!”

Saying that, she stood up, rubbing her shoulders and legs, “But before we go, I'll say goodbye to my father first.

Let's go, Master!”

The ethereal old man nodded, transforming into a wisp of faint light and returning to the ring on Lin Zhao's hand.

Afterward, Lin Zhao arrived at the room of her father, the Lin family's Patriarch, Lin Dou.

She raised her hand several times but didn't knock on the door, then chuckled self-deprecatingly, “In the end, I'm still reluctant!”

Then, just as she was about to pull out a pre-prepared letter from her bosom to slide under the door.

A stern voice came from inside the room.

“Come in. Standing outside for so long, it's clear you have something to tell me.”

Hearing this voice, Lin Zhao no longer hesitated and pushed the door open.

As soon as the door opened, she saw a dignified-looking middle-aged man.

She walked in, looking at her father, stammering and not knowing how to begin.

Seeing Lin Zhao's appearance, Lin Dou walked forward, patted Lin Zhao's head, and said gently, “You're going out, aren't you? To gain experience alone outside.”

Lin Zhao looked up at her father; she hadn't expected him to guess her thoughts.

Seeing his daughter's incredulous look, Lin Dou smiled, “I guessed it from how distracted you've been these past few days.

Go.

I know you want to win three years from now.

Your father is useless and can't provide you with much help.

Although I very much want to keep you here, I also know that if you stay in the Lin family, you won't be able to win three years from now, no matter what.

You are a stubborn girl; you've been like this since you were little.

Even when your cultivation was completely lost and ineffective, you still insisted on cultivating until late at night every day, without stopping for six years.

So I know I can't stop you from going, and you will definitely leave.

Go. If you get tired, come back.

Don't forget, there's still a father at home to shield you from the wind and rain.”

As his words fell, Lin Zhao was in tears, unable to help but cry out, “Father!”

…

Lin Zhao stood on a high point outside the city, looking down at Ling Xu City, and said softly, “This is my first time seeing Ling Xu City from such a distance.

And it's also my first time seeing the full panorama of Ling Xu City.”

Although she had already prepared herself mentally and said her goodbyes one by one.

Still, a sense of sadness couldn't be stopped in her heart.

Her first time leaving home, and she would be going so far, for so long.

An aged voice came, “Leaving one's hometown, one's heart is always heavy.

I was once like this too; I deeply understand this feeling.

Don't worry, three years will pass in the blink of an eye, and these three years will be incredibly fulfilling for you.

I guarantee you'll forget all your pain.

When the three years are up, you can step onto Heavensea Sect, defeat Oriental Qi, wipe away your past humiliation, and return happily.”

Lin Zhao nodded, her eyes full of determination, “Master, where are we going?”

“Haha, we're going to…”

Before leaving, Lin Zhao took one last look at the full panorama of Ling Xu City, then turned around, no longer lingering.

She ran off in a certain direction…

…

One day later.

A Black-Robed Figure appeared above Ling Xu City.

The Black-Robed Figure looked at the City Lord below, extended a hand, and power gathered in his palm.

At the same time, he was also vigilant of his surroundings.

A few days ago, when he first came here, he had fought someone.

In the end, they found neither could overcome the other, so they both retreated.

However, that fellow from the Lin family below was of great significance to him, a mortal enemy.

No matter what, he absolutely couldn't let him go.

So, he turned back to take another look, to see if he could find an opportunity to eliminate them.

Now that so much time had passed and the other party hadn't appeared, it seemed like a good opportunity.

Perhaps the other party had already left.

Thus, the Black-Robed Figure probed the city and found that the person was indeed gone.

However, even though the person was gone, it didn't mean he couldn't let go of the city below.

Better to kill the wrong than let the right one go!

The Black-Robed Figure stood above the city and waved his hand.

Everything in the city below seemed to freeze.

The next moment, a gust of wind blew, and the entire city dissipated with the wind.

The Black-Robed Figure clenched his hand again, and in the place where the city had vanished, grass, bushes, and forests grew…

Towering trees shot up, growing rapidly.

In an instant, they blended in with the surrounding environment's trees.

He then drove some demonic beasts into it, completely burying any trace of its existence.

Now, looking from below, Ling Xu City seemed as if it had never existed.

After looking around, the Black-Robed Figure continued to act, even changing a portion of the surrounding terrain.

The villages that were originally around the city also all disappeared.

After completing all of this, the Black-Robed Figure vanished from the spot.

…

Half an hour later, Chen De appeared above the former Ling Xu City.

Chen De had originally intended to come back to find an opportunity to eliminate the Lin family's Eldest Daughter.

But looking at the scene below, he was somewhat puzzled.

Had he come to the wrong place?

Impossible, he had just been here a few days ago; how could he remember incorrectly?

However, Chen De still confirmed through subtle clues that this was indeed Ling Xu City.

Then, Chen De understood.

This was the person Chen De had fought last time; upon realizing he had been discovered.

To ensure his plan wouldn't fail or be disrupted.

He decided to move the people below to another location.

Chen De knew very well that with the other party's strength, it was entirely possible to do so.

But there were no regrets; with the other party's strength, they would eventually meet.

At the same time, this also meant that the other party had already gone far away.

At least, it was impossible for them to remain in the Qian Guang Empire.

As for the so-called three-year agreement, for a strong person of the Black-Robed Figure's level.

Such a children's agreement was utterly ridiculous.

Naturally, it was far less important than the other party's opportunity.

In fact, if the other party wished, it wasn't impossible to mimic a Qian Guang Empire or a Heavensea Sect.

Then, in the Qian Guang Empire, Chen De could act boldly without any reservations.

…