Chapter 62 Waiting for You at the Ninth Gate

Lin Han had arrived, choosing to appear at Purple Cloud Mountain at this very moment.

Pairs of eyes flickered back and forth between Lin Han and Lin Hao.

It was the first time the two brothers were meeting, yet it had to happen in such a manner.

"Such a formidable aura! He is only fourteen, yet his cultivation has already reached the fifth level of the Hanyuan Realm."

"The premier prodigy of the Nine-Zhang Dragon Gate, shattering the limits of peers in the Great Xia. At fourteen, to be at the fifth level of the Hanyuan Realm, he is the first of his kind."

"I heard he awakened the True Dragon Qi not long ago, harboring the ancient Ancestor Dragon bloodline within him. Some say he is the reincarnation of the Ancestor Dragon. Truly terrifying."

"Indeed. Although Lin Hao possesses the talent of the Ten-Zhang Dragon Gate, some have predicted that Lin Hao leaped across the Dragon Gate earlier while awakening his True Dragon Qi later. If he were to leap across the Dragon Gate in his current state, showcasing his full potential, he might not be inferior to Lin Han at all."

"What a pity. Two peerless prodigies of the Marquis's Mansion, yet they are mortal enemies."

…………

The crowd buzzed with discussions. Lin Hao's reputation was simply too resounding.

This youngest genius, like the most dazzling sun, illuminated the entire Great Xia.

The Heir of the Marquis's Mansion, peerless under heaven.

In the void, Lin Hao and Lin Han locked eyes, their gazes intersecting and sparking faint wisps of fire.

The trajectories of their lives were drastically different, worlds apart in every sense.

One had been surrounded by adulation since birth, blessed with endless resources and transcendent talent; it would have been harder for him to remain ordinary.

The other had been abandoned in a remote city since childhood, and when he finally became known to the world, he carried the stigma of the Marquis's abandoned son.

"Your performance has astonished me."

Lin Han spoke first.

"You will be even more astonished."

Lin Hao's expression was as calm as still water.

"It is a pity that you should not exist in this world."

Lin Han declared, his entire body radiating an aura of noble dignity, every subtle expression on his face manifesting his pride.

"Your veins are unworthy of flowing with the same blood as mine. I was born noble, whereas you..."

A sneer curled the corner of Lin Han's lips. He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone could clearly perceive what he meant.

"Damn it, what is he acting so high and mighty for? Brother Hao is the one with the Ten-Zhang Dragon Gate talent. He hasn't even figured out who is truly noble."

In the distance, Lin Shuang gnashed his teeth in anger.

"Did you appear today simply to flaunt your nobility before me?"

Lin Hao sneered.

"My nobility requires no flaunting. You dared to breach the Nine Trials of the Ling Clan—you possess some backbone after all."

Lin Han said, "I will wait for you at the ninth trial. I do not consider you worthy of being my opponent... of course, provided you can even make it to the ninth trial."

With that, Lin Han turned and walked away.

Lin Zhenbei twisted his sword hilt, withdrawing the grand formation that filled the sky.

Lin Han had stepped through the void to arrive, and now stepped through the void to depart, every step leaving behind a golden lotus, transcending the mundane.

"Let us go."

Ling Xiaotian led the members of the Ling Clan away from Purple Cloud Mountain, heading in the direction of Lingyun Mountain.

The grand spectacle finally concluded, and the tens of thousands of people at Purple Cloud Mountain all breathed sighs of relief.

Looking back, it had been agonizingly tense and thrilling. Fortunately, a full-scale battle had been averted; coming merely to attend the Grand Assembly of a Hundred Sects had almost cost them their lives.

Gaze after gaze fell upon Lin Hao. Everyone knew very well that the grudge between the Marquis's abandoned son and the Ling Clan would not end here—rather, this was merely the beginning.

Today, at the Grand Assembly of a Hundred Sects, Lin Hao had revealed himself to the entire world for the very first time.

Today's battle made his name resound throughout the realm.

His appearance had also blown the horn for the younger generation of prodigies to contend for supremacy.

Two months from now, Great Xia would be shaken once again.

Every single one of the Nine Trials set up by the Ling Clan was a death trap. For Lin Hao to break through them all would likely be harder than ascending to the heavens.

And the appearance of the Marquis's heir had pushed the impending clash two months later to a climax.

Now, everyone hoped that Lin Hao could break through the first eight trials. If he did, the duel between the brothers at the ninth trial would ignite Great Xia, becoming the realm's hottest topic.

One, the inheritor of the Ancestor Dragon bloodline and Great Xia's most dazzling peerless prodigy.

One, the possessor of the Ten-Zhang Dragon Gate talent.

One, the Heir of the Marquis's Mansion.

One, the abandoned son of the Marquis's Mansion.

Such a collision made one's blood boil just to think about it.

Yet, would Lin Hao be able to break through the eight trials and face Lin Han?

People sighed in their hearts; it was simply too difficult.

At the very least, the current Lin Hao could not achieve it. He was only at the seventh level of the Qi Sea Realm—the gap was far too vast.

In two months, even with transcendent talent, how much could he possibly grow?

"Fall back!"

Lin Zhenbei's voice was deep and low. At his command, the assassins of the First-Rate Hall receded like a receding tide. Their movements were ghostly, vanishing the instant they retreated, making onlookers' scalps tingle.

"The First-Rate Hall is terrifying. They come like phantoms and vanish like traces in smoke; they must never be provoked."

Someone remarked, instantly classifying the First-Rate Hall among entities that must never be offended.

The one hundred and eight sects also withdrew one after another. None of them had anticipated that today's Grand Assembly of a Hundred Sects would conclude in such a fashion.

Because of Lin Hao's appearance, the grand assembly had transformed into a private battlefield of life and death, and the prodigies of those top sects had perished on the battle stage.

Great Xia's impending reforms regarding the sects would now be difficult to evaluate.

In other words, this round of reforms had thoroughly collapsed and could no longer proceed.

The genius disciples of those top sects had died in battle, making it virtually impossible to assess their achievements.

However, the Taixuan Sect had truly risen. While other rankings were hard to determine, the Taixuan Sect's position as the undisputed number one was indisputable.

On the battle stage, Yi Fuyao finally let out a breath of relief. Her nerves had been strung taut from the very beginning to the end.

The Pill King walked up to Lin Hao and said, "When you arrive in the Imperial City, we shall exchange pointers on the Dao of Alchemy."

Lin Hao cupped his fists toward the Pill King: "Many thanks to the Pill King for smoothing things over today."

This was Lin Hao's first time meeting the Pill King, and he left a stellar impression, stirring a deep sense of gratitude in Lin Hao's heart.

Regardless of anything else, the Pill King had been the first to step forward and defuse the situation for him.

"You saw it yourself; I don't possess quite that much clout."

The Pill King chuckled.

"If Brother Dan hadn't stepped in to play the peacemaker today, I fear matters wouldn't have been resolved so easily."

Yi Tianya remarked.

"There is no need for empty pleasantries. Lin Hao is, after all, the chief alchemist of my Pill Pavilion."

The Pill King said, "Although today's matter has been resolved, what awaits him is another storm. The Ling Clan will not let this rest. The road to the Imperial City two months from now is the one truly difficult to traverse."

The Pill King patted Lin Hao's shoulder: "I hope you can cleave through the thorns and brambles. We shall meet in the Imperial City."

With those words, the Pill King strode away.

The Ninth Prince, holding a folded fan, also walked over and patted Lin Hao's shoulder: "I hope you can create a miracle."

"Little fellow, grow up quickly. The time left to you is scarce indeed—merely two months."

"The prodigies of the Ling Clan are not to be underestimated. Young man, I wish you luck."

Both the elders of the Jiang Clan and the Xuan Clan spoke up.

From their words, Lin Hao could sense that no one truly favored his chances on the road to the Imperial City two months hence.

Yet in Lin Hao's eyes, there was only unyielding determination, and in his entire being, only an undefeated fighting spirit.

If the road to the Imperial City was perilous, he would carve a path through a sea of blood.

At this moment, he harbored only the coldest murderous intent and fighting resolve.

They bullied him, trampled him, and suppressed him.

Then he would slaughter his way through, using the sword in his hand to strike terror into their hearts.

Not only would he march upon the Imperial City, but one day, he would overturn the Imperial City itself to demand justice for himself and his mother.

The Marquis's words still echoed in Lin Hao's ears, harsh and resounding.

From this moment onward, between him and them, there remained only enmity, only life and death.