Chapter 11: You Still Have Me
"Actually, your father still has a sliver of hope, though it's very slim." Unable to bear seeing Tang Ya so heartbroken, Lin Qinghan decided to tell a well-meaning lie.
Little did he know, all his expressions were full of flaws in Tang Ya's eyes. Brain death—under the medical conditions of the Douluo Continent, which are basically medieval except for soul masters—was almost incurable, unless gods intervened.
"I understand. Would you stay with me and keep vigil?" Seeing Lin Qinghan trying so hard to comfort her, Tang Ya forced herself to put on a brave front.
"Alright."
Lin Qinghan and Tang Ya quietly kept vigil at the window of the Tang Sect's sect master. That vigil lasted more than twenty days.
As time passed, no miracle happened. The Tang Sect Master's breathing and heartbeat grew weaker until they finally stopped today.
With no one else around, the funeral was very simple.
Tang Ya and Lin Qinghan buried the sect master in a hidden grave in the Tang Sect's backyard. Looking at her father's gravestone, Tang Ya's expression was blank. She silently caressed the tombstone, lost in thought.
"Do you want revenge?" After the funeral, Lin Qinghan suddenly grabbed Tang Ya's hand and said coldly.
"You staying with me all this time, I'm already grateful. You don't need to take risks with me," Tang Ya shook her head.
"You may have lost your father, but you still have me. So—"
"Let's take revenge!" Lin Qinghan's tone had turned from question to declaration.
Before Tang Ya could respond, Lin Qinghan activated his spiritual domain, enveloping them both, then soared into the sky, heading directly toward the Ironblood Sect.
Over the past few days, Lin Qinghan had not just been keeping vigil with Tang Ya—he had also found the location of the Ironblood Sect.
Watching Tang Ya fall into despair day after day was unbearable for him, and that was with him by her side. He thought of how, in the original story, her father had died tragically, and the Ironblood Sect later came to seize her family's assets. At that time, she was all alone—how desperate must she have felt?
So Lin Qinghan decided: today, there would be a massacre.
While his thoughts raced, his speed did not falter. Soon, they arrived at the outskirts of Tian Dou City, near the Ironblood Sect.
The sect was in a remote wilderness. Lin Qinghan had worked hard to locate it.
"Tang Ya, just watch."
Holding Tang Ya, Lin Qinghan flew above the sect. Sensing the strongest person below was only a Soul Emperor, he revealed himself.
"Who are you, and why have you intruded on Ironblood Sect territory?"
Once Lin Qinghan and Tang Ya dropped their concealment, the Soul Emperor below immediately noticed them.
Lin Qinghan ignored him. He released both his Bioelectric and Brainwave martial souls, and his spiritual domain enveloped the entire sect.
All the members of the Ironblood Sect instantly felt like an invisible hand was gripping their throats. They couldn't speak or move. Though silent, the terror in the air spread rapidly.
Once he confirmed everyone was restrained, Lin Qinghan activated his third soul ring—a ten-thousand-year soul ring.
Seeing this, the sect master—the only Soul Emperor—realized the situation was dire. But under the spiritual suppression, even moving was a struggle.
"Third Soul Skill: Bioelectric Drain."
Just as the sect master barely managed to turn his head, Lin Qinghan's third skill activated.
A strange wave of energy spread outward as he released the spiritual domain's hold.
The sect members regained control and tried to flee. But even the fastest couldn't outrun that strange wave. One by one, they collapsed—hearts stopped, breath ceased.
In just one minute, not a single soul remained alive in the Ironblood Sect.
Lin Qinghan, breathing heavily, nearly fell from the sky. This soul skill—granted by the ten-thousand-year soul ring he obtained—was powerful but costly. It simply drained all bioelectric energy from its targets. Since all living beings have electricity in their bodies, the result was instant death.
It was a one-hit kill skill, but the energy cost was huge. Lin Qinghan had never used it before. The Ironblood Sect was its first victims.
"They're all dead. Let's go," Lin Qinghan said after recovering slightly.
Tang Ya stood frozen, staring blankly at Lin Qinghan. She had no idea how many times her worldview had been shattered today. First, he could fly—and with her no less. Then she saw his soul rings, and now this: a single skill that annihilated everyone.
Her mind was blank with shock.
Only after hearing his voice again did she slowly come back to her senses.
"Thank you."
Tang Ya didn't ask why someone younger than her had such terrifying power. She simply hugged him.
Seeing her silent like that, Lin Qinghan activated a spiritual projection to hide them and flew back to the Tang Sect.
Once home, he immediately sat down to meditate and recover soul power. He had almost drained himself. Tang Ya also quietly practiced Xuantian Skill beside him.
The next morning—
"Want to come back with me?" Lin Qinghan asked.
"No, Shrek Academy will be recruiting soon. The Tang Sect has one exemption quota each year. I plan to go."
"This is for you—the Xuantian Treasure Record, a copy. It's the most precious thing in the Tang Sect. I no longer wish to revive the sect, so think of it as a small token of thanks."
Tang Ya struggled with her answer but ultimately refused his offer and handed over a book tube adorned with fine iron.
Seeing her resolve, Lin Qinghan accepted it.
"Alright. But since we have time, stay and explore Tian Dou City with me a few more days."
Over the next five days, the two wandered all over the city.
Finally, with Shrek Academy's new term about to begin, they parted ways.
Divine Realm – Sea God Hall
Tang San sat restlessly. Although he had lost connection to the Douluo Continent's fate lines recently, he could still feel the Tang Sect's fate line fading rapidly.
"Did I miscalculate? No… impossible."
He doubted his plan for a moment but quickly dismissed the thought. With his unparalleled intellect, how could he make a mistake?
He had "startling wisdom," after all.
"It must be the fate lines going chaotic earlier that threw me off. Once things stabilize, it'll be fine."
The clouds beside the Sea God Hall churned for a moment… but soon returned to calm.
(End of Chapter)
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