Chapter 48 Presenting Another Grand Gift to the Ling Clan

He moved.

He was already standing at the edge of the formation.

Clad in fluttering purple robes, his loose black hair streamed back in the wind.

His eyes were like golden lanterns, flashing with a dazzling brilliance.

The corners of his lips curved upward in a smile of utter disdain for the world.

He stepped forward one pace after another, and the grand formation of the Supreme Profound Sect automatically expanded, paving a path for him that extended all the way to the central combat stage.

At this moment, the entire Purple Cloud Mountain fell into a dead silence.

Everyone was petrified, unable to process what was happening for a moment.

The people from the Ling Clan stood frozen in place. Ling Wu and Ling Zhen had their mouths slightly agape, the smiles on their faces not yet having time to fade.

Suddenly, both of their hearts skipped a beat as an indescribable, sharp pain coursed through their entire bodies.

"Impossible."

Finally, Ling Wu let out a startled cry, sounding as if someone had seized him by the throat, his face turning crimson.

"He... he is that abandoned son of the Marquis's estate?"

"Isn't he Master Tianbao? That world-renowned supreme alchemy prodigy, the Chief Elder of the Pill Pavilion."

"I understand now. Master Tianbao is that abandoned son of the Marquis's estate, the creator of the Ten-Foot Dragon Gate, and also a supreme alchemy prodigy. Oh my god, this is... simply too defying of the heavens."

"Hahaha, the Ling Clan has played a huge gamble. Just thinking about it makes me laugh."

...

Lin Hao's true identity was finally revealed. The world-renowned abandoned son of the Marquis's estate had stepped into the light before the entire world for the very first time.

Yet, who could have ever connected him to Master Tianbao?

"His name is Tianbao, and he comes from Tianbao City. Haha, it all makes sense now."

Someone finally snapped out of their shock and laughed even more heartily.

The gazes of the Jiang Clan and the Xuan Clan began to shift toward the Ling Clan, carrying meaningful, mocking smiles.

At this moment, the Ling Clan's side was wrapped in a profound silence. Boundless fury hovered in the sky above them, scattering even the purple clouds overhead.

They had been played.

Fooled to an extent that defied belief.

Lin Hao merely stood there without uttering a single word, yet he was rubbing the Ling Clan's dignity fiercely into the dirt.

They had once arrogantly declared that they would never allow the abandoned son of the Marquis's estate to step foot into the Imperial Capital alive, even by half a step.

And the result?

Not only had he gone there, but the Ling Clan had treated him like an honored guest, pampered him like a supreme treasure, and served him like a lord.

This was... an absolute, unimaginable humiliation!

"Impossible, this is utterly impossible."

Ling Zhen lost control of his emotions, stamping his feet where he stood.

He simply could not accept this reality.

He felt as though the heavens had played a colossal joke on him, and a cruel one at that.

Ling Wu, standing beside him, was in no better state.

Their dreams had been shattered, pulverized into dust.

Their futures were utterly ruined, and now, they had become the greatest sinners of the Ling Clan.

Thinking of all the treasures and resources they had bestowed upon Lin Hao over these past few days, a creeping numbness spread across their scalps.

It was over. Completely over.

Their minds were pushed to the brink of a complete breakdown.

Just then, Lin Hao opened his mouth to speak.

"Manager Ling Wu, Elder Ling Zhen, thank you both so much. Whatever I, Lin Hao, have achieved today is entirely thanks to the Ling Clan's cultivation."

Lin Hao cupped his fists toward the two of them, expressing his heartfelt gratitude right in front of the entire world.

Puff!

Ling Zhen仰天 sprayed a mouthful of old blood into the sky, stumbling backward, almost collapsing onto his backside.

Ling Wu did not vomit blood, but his complexion turned ashen to the extreme. His entire body trembled; even with his profound cultivation in the Heavenly Origin Realm, he simply could not withstand such a devastating blow.

The eyes of the entire world fell upon the Ling Clan, eagerly watching their humiliation.

"Haha, fascinating, simply fascinating."

An elder of the Jiang Clan laughed heartily. "That abandoned son of the Marquis's estate is truly extraordinary."

"He walked right into the tiger's den, using the enemy's own resources to strengthen himself. With both courage and strategy, he has won this game against the Ling Clan by a landslide."

"The Ling Clan lifted a rock only to drop it on their own feet, losing every shred of face."

At this moment, a trace of genuine admiration for Lin Hao arose in everyone's heart.

Putting everything else aside, just this level of daring and魄力 (audacity and resolve) was something few youths could ever hope to match.

What made it even more unbelievable was that the supreme prodigy of the Dragon Gate was also a genius alchemist.

It was no wonder the Ling Clan was deceived; placed in their shoes, who could have ever guessed the truth?

Right now, Lin Hao was thanking two highly respected elders of the Ling Clan in full view of the entire world.

Such an action was akin to tearing the skin right off the Ling Clan's face and trampling on it, leaving no shred of dignity whatsoever for Ling Wu and Ling Zhen.

"Damn it! A few days ago, he swaggered right into the Ling Clan and even participated in our secret realm trial."

"That bastard, he's driving me insane! I even gave him a gift!"

Within the Ling Clan's camp, those disciples gritted their teeth, filled with righteous indignation.

"Kill him! Tear him into ten thousand pieces!"

Someone roared, their blazing anger intermingled with murderous intent.

At this moment, the Ling Clan wished nothing more than to instantly hack Lin Hao to pieces.

As the premier martial arts clan of the Great Xia, they had been toyed with like mere monkeys by a mere youth. What kind of monstrous humiliation was this? A disgrace worthy of being recorded in the annals of the Ling Clan forever.

"You beast, pay with your life!"

Ling Zhen suffered a complete mental breakdown. After vomiting several mouthfuls of blood, he shot into the air like a madman, charging straight toward Lin Hao with intent to kill.

"Impudent!"

Yi Fuyao gave a soft, cold reprimand. Her delicate palms danced through the air, sending countless runes flashing. With a single slap, she batted Ling Zhen flying, and her graceful figure descended, landing right beside Lin Hao.

"This is the Grand Assembly of the Hundred Sects. Has the Ling Clan forgotten all the rules?"

Yi Fuyao's voice was as cold as frost. "Or perhaps... throughout the entire Great Xia, your Ling Clan makes all the rules?"

"This brat and our Ling Clan are irreconcilable enemies. He must die today!"

Ling Wu roared.

"What? Is the Ling Clan attempting to disrupt the Grand Assembly of the Hundred Sects?"

Master Ximen stepped forward as well. "This is the Grand Assembly of the Great Xia's Hundred Sects, not your Ling Clan's personal arena."

"Enough!"

Ling Que finally spoke.

His expression was gloomy, his eyes sharp as blades.

As a member of the Ling Clan himself, upon learning Lin Hao's true identity, he had been consumed by equal fury.

However, he was currently the host of the Grand Assembly of the Hundred Sects, with the entire world watching. He had to prioritize the Grand Assembly above all else.

"This person must die! He has perused all the peerless alchemy formulas in the Lingyun Pavilion and even entered the inner clan's Scripture Depository," Ling Wu said with a trembling voice.

Hearing this, Ling Que frowned deeply and shot Ling Wu a fierce glare. "Why was the Scripture Depository opened to him in the first place?"

"This is no time to discuss that! We must kill him!"

Ling Wu was on the verge of a complete collapse; he had no way of knowing exactly what Lin Hao had read inside the Scripture Depository. If those secrets leaked out, he would become the eternal sinner of the Ling Clan.

"Alright. This is the Grand Assembly of the Hundred Sects, stop making a spectacle of yourselves. I have already made arrangements; he will not leave here alive today," Ling Que declared.

Only then did Ling Wu let out a sigh of relief. As long as Lin Hao died today, everything could still be salvaged.

Otherwise, if those alchemy formulas or the Ling Clan's secret arts were leaked to the outside world, not even the gods could save him.

"Now, I hereby announce the official commencement of the Grand Assembly of the Hundred Sects!"

Ling Que's voice boomed like a bronze bell, echoing across the entire Purple Cloud Mountain.

"Before the Grand Assembly officially begins, I would like to offer the Ling Clan a grand gift to liven up the occasion," Lin Hao suddenly spoke up, no longer suppressing the upward curve of his lips.

"Grandpa Jiu!"

Lin Hao shouted loudly.

"Hiss... Awoo..."

In the distance, atop the peak of a distant mountain, a snow-white mule let out a long, defiant cry toward the sky.

"Detonate!"

Grandpa Jiu laughed heartily. The moment his voice fell—

Boom...

An earth-shattering explosion erupted from the direction of the Imperial Capital.

The sound was deafening, akin to thunder rolling across the highest heavens.

The terrifying shockwave of the explosion traveled for countless miles. Since the Purple Cloud Mountain region was already close to the Imperial Capital, the impact was felt with absolute clarity.

"What on earth just blew up?"

"Such a terrifying energy shockwave! It feels like the entire earth is shaking."

"Look at the direction... it's Lingyun Mountain!"