"Achoo!"
Lin Che sneezed and continued circulating his energy.
Lin Tianran frowned as he looked at him.
"The sect competition is in ten days. You need to put yourself in the best condition during these next few days."
"Don't worry, Teacher. I'm already in peak condition," Lin Che replied. Ever since officially entering the first level of the Crimson Moon Divine Descent Technique, he had clearly felt that he had become a completely different person.
"It was probably some lovestruck girl muttering my name," Lin Che chuckled.
Lin Tianran could not help but laugh.
"Your skin is even thicker than mine."
He looked affectionately at Lin Che, who continued cultivating. Although he had endured countless grievances and criticisms over the past ten years, Lin Che had always remained unyielding and had never complained or given up.
As a powerful cultivator who had devoted most of his life to cultivation, Lin Tianran understood that temperament often became a greater bottleneck than talent itself.
Naturally, he was very satisfied with Lin Che's temperament. Closing his eyes, he continued giving instructions.
"Actually, your fist techniques, palm techniques, and sword techniques have improved considerably over the past ten years. It's just that you previously lacked a suitable cultivation technique. Now that you have mastered the first level of the Crimson Moon Divine Descent Technique, you only need to adapt to the enhancements it provides and combine them with your martial arts skills," Lin Tianran said calmly.
Lin Che nodded. He was currently adapting to the improvements brought by the cultivation technique and familiarizing himself with how to use this powerful force.
"Although the sect competition gathers many talented disciples, they are not yet true disciples, and none of them have surpassed the peak of the Tendon Transformation Realm. You must obtain first place in this competition."
"First place?" Lin Che murmured.
In the past, he would never have dared to dream of participating in the sect competition. He never imagined that after the ten-year period had ended, his teacher would not only allow him to participate but would also expect him to win first place.
"That's right. If you cannot obtain first place, then all the cultivation techniques you have practiced will have been wasted. More importantly, Mu Xue's suffering all these years would have been in vain," Lin Tianran said helplessly.
He knew that dedicating all his resources and energy to Lin Che was unfair to Mu Xue, but he had no choice.
The secret he was guarding forced him to make Lin Che grow stronger as quickly as possible.
Although Lin Tianran's true cultivation had long surpassed the limits of the small Yulin City, compared to his real enemies, he was merely a drop in the ocean.
Although he had always tried to suppress Lin Muxue's rapid growth, her Holy Spirit Physique would eventually be exposed.
Once that day came, he would have to face that enormous organization alone and would have no time to protect her.
Even though he was a renowned spirit array master throughout the continent, and even though his true cultivation level was the dream pursued by countless martial artists—
The Emperor Realm.
"Teacher, I want to know if there are martial realms above the Emperor Realm."
Just as Lin Tianran was immersed in thoughts about the future, Lin Che suddenly asked.
On the Nine Heavens Continent, countless sects stood side by side, and innumerable powerful experts strove tirelessly toward the peak of martial arts.
The cultivation realms known throughout the world were summarized in a famous saying:
"Three years to refine Qi, five years to transform the tendons, seven years to forge the bones. Once the spiritual veins are opened, one can stand against ten thousand foes. Once the Divine Sea emerges, one may steal the secrets of heaven. Those below the Emperor are all ants."
Thus, the martial realms of the Nine Heavens Continent, from lowest to highest, were:
Qi Refining Realm
Tendon Transformation Realm
Bone Forging Realm
Spiritual Vein Realm
Divine Sea Realm
Emperor Sealing Realm
In the eyes of the world, reaching the Emperor Sealing Realm represented the peak of martial arts.
For once one became an Emperor, one became a supreme hegemon capable of dominating the world.
However, Lin Che had never heard of any realm beyond the Emperor Realm.
Lin Tianran gave him a profound look and spoke quietly.
"To become an Emperor is to become the Emperor of Heaven and Earth, to transcend the mortal world and ascend to immortality."
"Above the Emperor Realm lie the Feather Transformation Realm and the Ascension Realm. As for the realms beyond the Ascension Realm, there is no need for you to know about them yet."
Lin Tianran spoke indifferently, as though these realms were insignificant in his eyes.
"To become an Emperor, to become the Emperor of Heaven and Earth, to transcend the world and ascend..." Lin Che murmured, his eyes filled with yearning for greater strength.
Lin Tianran had once told him that once he reached the Emperor Realm, he would be able to search for his biological father.
Seven days passed in the blink of an eye as Lin Che cultivated tirelessly. During these seven days, he finally adapted to the various enhancements brought to his body by the Crimson Moon Divine Technique.
However, Lin Muxue had not returned home even once during those seven days.
Although she would occasionally stay away from home after arguing with Lin Tianran, this was the first time she had been absent for seven entire days.
It seemed she was truly disappointed in this family.
Looking at Lin Muxue's empty room, concern flashed across Lin Che's eyes.
He still remembered that when he first entered the Xiaohanshan Sect, nobody knew he was Lin Tianran's disciple. Because of his weak cultivation, he was constantly bullied by his fellow disciples.
At that time, Lin Muxue had always stood up for him and protected him.
As they gradually grew older, Lin Tianran's favoritism became increasingly obvious. There had even been times when he withheld medicinal pills awarded to Lin Muxue by the sect and gave them to Lin Che instead.
No one understood why the usually fair elder treated his own granddaughter so coldly while giving everything to a so-called "good-for-nothing."
Even Lin Che himself could not understand why his teacher seemed unwilling to let Lin Muxue grow too quickly.
Lin Tianran had never given him a direct answer, only mysteriously telling him that he would understand one day.
Lin Che shook his head.
He did not care about being some so-called "Chosen One."
In his heart, Lin Tianran and Lin Muxue were his family.
She had been gone for seven days, and Lin Che was genuinely worried about her safety.
Although the possibility of danger was low considering her cultivation level, he still decided to search for her.
He searched throughout the back mountain but found no trace of her.
He even searched the bamboo forest where she often went whenever she was angry, but she was nowhere to be found.
Helpless, Lin Che could only ask some disciples within the sect whether anyone had seen Lin Muxue.
Perhaps because the annual sect competition was approaching, disciples throughout the Xiaohanshan Sect were discussing the grand event.
Which disciple possessed the greatest talent, whose martial arts were the strongest, and who had the greatest chance of becoming a true disciple were all common topics among them.
As Lin Che walked along the main road within the sect, an unfriendly figure approached him.
It was an old acquaintance.
Or rather, an old enemy.
"Well, if it isn't Young Master Lin, the good-for-nothing. I heard Elder Lin gave you Lin Muxue's place in the sect competition."
Xu Long shouted loudly the moment he saw Lin Che.
The surrounding disciples immediately became interested.
Lin Che was infamous throughout the sect for being useless, while Lin Muxue was equally famous for her talent and strength.
"Lin Che is participating in the sect competition? Elder Lin's actions are truly strange," one disciple muttered.
"I heard that Lin Muxue wasn't favored within the Lin family, but I never expected that such an important opportunity would be handed over to this useless Lin Che. With his Qi Refining cultivation, what difference could he possibly make?"
"Alas, my goddess Muxue. Her beauty, figure, talent, and strength are all exceptional. It's just unfortunate that she was born into the wrong family," another disciple sighed.
Ignoring everyone's comments, Lin Che frowned as he looked at Xu Long.
"Have you seen Mu Xue these past few days? Where did she go?"
Xu Long sneered.
"Heh. You and Elder Lin joined forces to bully Mu Xue, and now that she's disappeared, you're asking me?"
Lin Che sighed helplessly. It was obvious he would get no useful information from Xu Long.
Just as he was about to leave—
"Wait."
Xu Long suddenly stretched out his hand to block his path.
A playful smile appeared on his lips.
With a flick of his wrist, he released a burst of spiritual pressure directly in front of Lin Che.