Chapter 5: The Talk of the Town

Lin Hao!

The moment he heard the name spoken by that disciple, Zhou Yichen was instantly startled. He hurriedly turned to look behind him.

And then he saw, among the crowd of outer sect disciples surging toward the mountain gate, a figure that stood out conspicuously. At that moment, this person was walking leisurely in his direction, exuding an air of carefree confidence.

"Damn, how is he here? Didn't I destroy his Qi Sea?" Zhou Yichen's face immediately contorted with terror.

To have one's Qi Sea destroyed was no trivial matter. Even the most exceptional cultivators, after suffering such an injury, would usually be bedridden for half a year. Yet here was this fellow, apparently unharmed, as if...

Zhou Yichen dared not think further. Instinctively, he took a step back. And just then, Lin Hao seemed to notice him, and strode directly over.

"Well, Young Master Zhou, so you're here?" With a trump card already in hand, Lin Hao's demeanor was utterly relaxed.

"You... how are you here?" Zhou Yichen, though also a master of the tenth level of Qi Refining, could not help but falter seeing Lin Hao appear before him unscathed.

"Why am I here?" Lin Hao tilted his head slightly. "Obviously, I'm here to participate in the inner sect selection!"

At that moment, the passing cultivators seemed to notice the commotion and cast their gazes over. A few began to whisper, "Wow, isn't that Lin Hao and Zhou Yichen? I heard they're both favorites for this year's selection. How come they're already confronting each other outside?"

"You don't know? I heard Zhou Yichen, worried he couldn't beat Lin Hao, has been scheming behind the scenes. They must be settling scores!"

"Really? Zhou Yichen's father is an elder steward, while Lin Hao is just an outer sect disciple. Does he really dare go against him?"

…

These murmurs naturally reached their ears. Zhou Yichen's face turned pale and then flushed, while Lin Hao remained entirely unconcerned. After glancing at Zhou Yichen a few times, he asked, "By the way, Young Master Zhou, the item you took from me—haven't used it yet, have you?"

As he spoke, Lin Hao sized Zhou Yichen up again and remarked in a peculiar tone, "From the look of you, it seems you haven't made any progress at all!"

"What did you say!" Zhou Yichen exploded with rage, but after stepping forward, he seemed to recall something and quickly stopped.

Lin Hao couldn't help but smile faintly. He knew this fellow was worried about those two he met before—the so-called Heavenly Gate envoys, his nominal future wife and father-in-law.

So after a brief silence, he lifted his head and declared loudly, "Since you haven't used it, keep it safe, because in the next couple of days, I'll be taking it back!"

The surrounding cultivators erupted in astonishment. From Lin Hao's tone, it was clear he held no regard for Zhou Yichen's status. Considering the person backing Zhou Yichen, everyone's expression grew solemn.

---

"This guy... could he have some powerful backing himself? Maybe even stronger than Elder Zhou?"

"No way. If that were true, why is he still just an outer sect disciple?"

These cultivators had no idea Lin Hao had already met with Liu Xuanxian of the Heavenly Gate, nor that Liu Xuanxian had verbally promised his daughter to him. So after hearing his words, their initial surprise quickly turned into deep sympathy.

"Is he mad? Relying on a bit of ability, he dares offend an elder's son?" A younger cultivator, more straightforward, couldn't help but speak out.

The others nodded, "Exactly. That's an elder. Even if Lin Hao enters the inner sect, the elder could crush him like an ant..."

These discussions seemed to embolden Zhou Yichen, whose face immediately contorted with a vicious sneer as he stared down Lin Hao. "Heh, want your Profound Origin Pill back? Do you really think you'll live long enough?"

His words were full of threat, and the faces of nearby cultivators changed. However, before anyone could respond, they witnessed something even more astonishing—

Lin Hao, hearing Zhou Yichen's words, not only didn't flinch but stepped forward, looking down at him and declared, "Of course. And I'll tell you now: what I'm taking back from you isn't just the Profound Origin Pill!"

With that, Lin Hao ignored the bewildered expressions around him and turned toward the mountain gate. The inner sect disciple who had wanted to greet him hesitated, then shook his head and sighed, "A talented youth, but his temperament is lacking; he won't achieve great things..."

…

When Lin Hao arrived at the plaza where the selection was being held, lively debate was underway.

"Hey, who do you think will be first in this year's inner sect selection?"

"Isn't it obvious? Senior Brother Yun, of course! I heard he reached the Foundation Establishment stage months ago. Surely he's the undisputed leader of the outer sect!"

"I'm not so sure. Look at Li Qingzhi. I heard Elder Wang of the inner sect has already taken him as a disciple. Though he's not officially admitted yet, with Elder Wang's treasures and pills, getting into the top five will be easy."

"That kid's talent is average, but he has the whole Li clan backing him. Comparing people really is infuriating..."

As they spoke, more and more people gathered at the plaza. At that moment, some noticed Lin Hao and, while introducing him to their companions, waved in greeting.

"Senior Brother Lin, you're here! Looks like you're determined to win this year's inner sect selection!"

Due to his amiable nature, Lin Hao was rather popular among the outer sect disciples. It was rumored that some newly admitted girls even hoped to attach themselves to him for a safe foothold in the Clearwind Sect.

"Mm."

Judging by their demeanor, they clearly knew nothing of what happened at the mountain's base. So Lin Hao simply nodded and moved deeper into the crowd.

---

Though he no longer feared Zhou Yichen's retaliation, Lin Hao did not intend to drag these ordinary disciples into his affairs if he could avoid it.

Moreover, there were more pressing matters at hand!

Sensing a familiar gaze from afar, Lin Hao frowned slightly. After walking a few steps, he lifted his head and looked toward the platform at the front of the plaza.

He had noticed that, in addition to the usual inner sect stewards present for the selection, there were now two familiar figures—Liu Xiaoxi and Liu Xuanxian, who had appeared in his room three days prior.

"Those two... it seems they truly intend to use this opportunity to test my strength," Lin Hao murmured to himself as he glanced at the other competitors.

He had already made up his mind: since he planned to use this chance to gain Liu Xiaoxi's help, he must make a stunning impression at the inner sect selection. From the start, claiming first place was not just an empty aspiration.

Every competitor present—including those mentioned by the other cultivators—were his targets!

As Lin Hao pondered, a commotion erupted in the crowd. A young woman, dressed in a red gold-embroidered robe, her skin smooth as jade, and wearing a jade-colored veil, walked slowly from behind the platform.

"Chen Jingrong! Chen Jingrong is here!" Several older cultivators cried out upon seeing her.

Hearing their exclamations, Lin Hao frowned. He had spent years in the Clearwind Sect and had long heard of this woman's reputation.

She was said to be a cultivation prodigy, a rarity in the sect's century-long history. By sixteen, she had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, and reportedly she was now in seclusion, preparing to break through to the Golden Core stage.

Why, then, would such a person suddenly leave seclusion to participate in this inner sect selection?

Lin Hao was aware that some inner sect disciples served as stewards during the selection, but it was hard to associate someone of Chen Jingrong's caliber with such a task.

Yet as Lin Hao wondered, he failed to notice that Chen Jingrong was also observing him. Her gaze carried a faint hint of something unusual.

At that moment, an inner sect steward glanced at the time, then looked respectfully at Chen Jingrong and asked, "Senior Sister Chen, it's about time. Shall we begin the selection?"

The steward, though appearing fifty or sixty years old, addressed Chen Jingrong with deference as "Senior Sister," making her status within the inner sect abundantly clear.