The small celebration continued for some time after Lin Sheng's breakthrough.
Compared to the grand banquets held by major families and sects, this gathering could barely be considered a celebration at all.
Yet strangely—
Lin Sheng preferred it this way.
There were no hidden agendas.
No political schemes.
No attempts to recruit him.
No alliance representatives trying to attach themselves to his future.
Only a few friends sitting together.
Lou Han was currently stuffing food into his mouth as though he hadn't eaten for several months.
One spirit beast drumstick disappeared.
Then another.
Then an entire plate.
The speed was astonishing.
"Slow down."
Zhao Feng stared at him.
"You'll choke to death."
Lou Han immediately gave him a rude gesture before grabbing another piece of spirit beast meat.
Lin Sheng couldn't help laughing.
Lin Xiaolu shook her head helplessly.
As for Lin Shou—
He remained unusually quiet.
Very quiet.
At first glance it appeared strange.
Normally, even if he wasn't particularly talkative, he would still occasionally join the conversation.
Today was different.
His gaze seemed distant.
Thoughtful.
Occasionally a trace of coldness would flash through his eyes.
Lin Sheng understood the reason immediately.
The person who stole Lin Shou's fiancée was currently residing within Cloud Mist Market.
Not only that—
The distance between them was incredibly small.
For years, revenge had been an almost unreachable goal.
Now that goal suddenly stood before him. Naturally, it would affect his mood. No matter how calm a person appeared externally, emotions still existed.
Especially for martial artists.
After another hour of chatting and joking, the gathering gradually dispersed. Everyone had cultivation to focus on.
The Xuan Gang Realm breakthrough of Lin Sheng had become motivation for the entire group.
Sooner or later—
They would catch up.
At least that was what they believed.
As the others departed one by one, Lin Sheng also began walking back toward his immortal abode.
The evening sun illuminated the streets of the Yi Region while streams of cultivators continued moving through the marketplace.
His breakthrough had already become one of the hottest topics within the market. Occasionally he could even hear discussions about it.
Fortunately, nobody recognized him immediately. His low profile over the past few years had not been entirely wasted.
A few minutes later—
Footsteps approached from behind.
Lin Sheng didn't need to look.
The aura was familiar.
"You're following me now?"
Zhao Feng laughed.
"I was heading in the same direction."
Lin Sheng gave him a doubtful look.
They both knew that was nonsense.
Nevertheless, neither pointed it out.
For a while they simply walked side by side.
The atmosphere gradually became somewhat awkward.
Unusually awkward.
Lin Sheng eventually noticed something strange.
Zhao Feng appeared hesitant.
Almost nervous.
This surprised him.
The man usually acted shamelessly regardless of the situation.
Seeing him struggle to speak was almost amusing.
Eventually Zhao Feng cleared his throat.
"So..."
Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"So?"
"That woman."
"What woman?"
"Your sister."
Lin Sheng nearly stumbled.
For a brief moment he wondered whether Zhao Feng had somehow discovered their relationship.
Then he quickly realized that wasn't possible.
Their interaction during the banquet had been nearly flawless.
Nobody should have noticed.
"What about her?" Lin Sheng asked calmly.
Zhao Feng stared at him.
Then stared a little longer.
A strange expression gradually appeared on his face.
Eventually he sighed.
"Forget it."
"Huh?"
"I suddenly don't want to ask."
Lin Sheng felt even more confused.
What exactly had this fool been thinking?
Unfortunately, Zhao Feng had already changed the topic.
"Did you hear about the alliance leaders?"
Lin Sheng shook his head.
"No."
Zhao Feng immediately looked pleased.
Clearly he enjoyed being the bearer of interesting news.
"After Bai Ling succeeded, the other three alliance leaders also attempted breakthroughs."
Lin Sheng's expression became slightly serious.
The Xuan Gang Realm wasn't something to joke about.
A single mistake could determine life or death.
"What happened?"
Zhao Feng clicked his tongue.
"Their luck wasn't good."
"One died."
"One survived but his meridians and acupoints were severely damaged."
"The last one succeeded in preserving his life without any permanent injuries."
Lin Sheng nodded slowly.
That outcome wasn't particularly surprising.
The Life and Death Pass had never been easy.
The only reason his own breakthrough seemed smooth was because he possessed advantages others lacked.
Peak foundations.
Martial Intent.
The Chip.
Old Liang's teachings.
Most martial artists didn't possess even one of those advantages.
Much less all of them.
Zhao Feng suddenly laughed.
"I think it's heaven's punishment."
Lin Sheng glanced toward him.
"For what?"
"Them."
"The alliance leaders."
His tone contained obvious disdain.
"Everyone assumed Bai Ling forced them into a corner."
"But after investigating further, it seems she didn't."
"Their alliance was never a real alliance."
"They were simply using each other."
"The moment Bai Ling broke through, all three immediately panicked."
"They feared being left behind."
"So they rushed into their breakthroughs."
Lin Sheng understood instantly.
Impatience.
One of the deadliest poisons in cultivation.
Especially when a rival suddenly advanced ahead of you.
Many people knew patience was important.
Very few actually practiced it.
After all—
Watching others surpass you wasn't easy.
The two continued walking.
A few moments later, Lin Sheng noticed Zhao Feng becoming hesitant again.
The awkward atmosphere returned.
This time it became even more obvious.
Finally, Lin Sheng sighed.
"What do you actually want?"
Zhao Feng froze.
His face immediately turned slightly red.
An extremely rare sight.
Lin Sheng became even more suspicious.
"You really want something."
"No."
"You do."
"...Maybe."
Lin Sheng almost laughed.
"Just say it."
After several seconds of internal struggle, Zhao Feng finally spoke.
"I need a favor."
"A favor?"
"Yes."
Lin Sheng didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he considered the request.
Throughout the years, Zhao Feng had proven himself repeatedly.
They had fought together during the beast tide.
Shared dangers.
Shared opportunities.
Shared secrets.
Trust wasn't something built overnight.
Eventually, Lin Sheng nodded.
"As long as it's within my capabilities."
"As long as it doesn't violate my principles."
"As long as it doesn't involve suicide."
Zhao Feng immediately brightened.
"It doesn't."
"And you'll be compensated."
Lin Sheng frowned.
"If it's serious enough to require payment, then what exactly is it?"
Zhao Feng suddenly smiled mysteriously.
"I'll tell you later."
"..."
Lin Sheng stared at him.
Zhao Feng looked away.
"..."
Lin Sheng continued staring.
Eventually Zhao Feng coughed.
"After everyone breaks through."
"What?"
"I'll explain after everyone reaches Xuan Gang."
Lin Sheng nearly wanted to hit him.
This idiot had spent half the conversation acting suspicious only to reveal absolutely nothing.
Seeing his expression, Zhao Feng immediately laughed.
"Trust me."
"It's worth it."
Lin Sheng shook his head.
"Now I trust you even less."
Their conversation gradually drifted toward lighter topics afterward.
Before long, the two arrived at a crossroads.
One path led toward Zhao Feng's residence.
The other toward the Jia Region.
"See you tomorrow."
"Try not to get into trouble."
Zhao Feng grinned.
"No promises."
Then he departed.
Watching his friend's figure disappear into the distance, Lin Sheng shook his head helplessly before continuing forward.
His original destination was simple.
Lin Yan's courtyard.
Now that the breakthrough celebrations had ended, he planned to properly apologize for not informing her beforehand.
Unfortunately—
Halfway through his journey, something changed.
A strange sensation appeared.
Very faint.
Almost imperceptible.
Yet Lin Sheng immediately became alert.
Someone was watching him.
His expression remained unchanged.
His pace remained steady.
Internally, however, his mental field expanded outward.
Invisible perception swept through the surrounding area.
Within moments—
He found the source.
Several hundred meters away.
Standing near the shadow of a building.
A figure.
At first glance there appeared to be nothing there.
No aura.
No movement.
No spiritual fluctuations.
Yet under Lin Sheng's perception, the concealment wasn't perfect.
A faint outline became visible.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Female.
Immortal cultivator.
Foundation Establishment Realm.
Possibly higher.
Most importantly—
She was using some type of concealment technique.
The rhythm of her breathing was incredibly slow.
Controlled.
Precise.
Almost turtle-like in nature.
The similarities immediately reminded him of another certain individual.
Though the technique itself seemed completely different.
"Interesting."
Lin Sheng continued walking.
He made no attempt to expose the person.
Nor did he show any signs of having discovered them.
After all—
The figure hadn't attacked.
And in Cloud Mist Market, Foundation Establishment cultivators weren't exactly rare.
The problem arose when he realized something else.
The direction he was currently heading.
Lin Yan's courtyard.
If this person was truly observing him, then visiting his sister now would be foolish.
There was no guarantee the spy wasn't connected to one of his enemies.
Or worse—
One of Lin Yan's enemies.
The safest option was obvious.
Do nothing.
Several moments later, the hidden figure suddenly moved.
Or rather—
Vanished.
Lin Sheng's expression changed slightly.
The figure didn't simply leave.
She melted into the surrounding shadows.
One moment she existed.
The next moment she was gone.
Completely gone.
Even his fifty-two-li mental field couldn't locate her anymore.
A chill ran through his mind.
Such concealment ability was extraordinary.
At the very least—
It wasn't something ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators could achieve.
Without hesitation, Lin Sheng changed direction.
His original route toward the Jia Region disappeared behind him.
Instead, he returned toward his own residence.
Only after entering multiple streets and confirming nobody was following him did he finally relax slightly.
"Interesting."
The situation clearly wasn't simple.
Meanwhile—
Within the Jia Region.
Inside a secluded courtyard provided by Guardian Zhao.
Lin Yan stood beneath a spirit tree while quietly polishing her sword.
The courtyard was silent.
Peaceful.
A gentle breeze drifted through the air.
Then—
The shadows twisted.
Without warning, a figure emerged.
Like water flowing from darkness.
No footsteps.
No aura.
No sound.
A female cultivator appeared and immediately knelt on one knee.
Lin Yan didn't seem surprised.
Clearly, this wasn't their first meeting.
"What did you find?"
The shadowed woman lowered her head respectfully.
"I followed him."
Lin Yan's hand paused briefly.
"And?"
The woman hesitated. Then continued.
"His perception is frightening."
"He discovered traces of my observation."
This time—
Lin Yan genuinely looked surprised.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator noticing a Xuan Gang martial artist was normal.
The opposite?
Far less so.
The shadow cultivator continued.
"Not only that."
"He altered his destination after noticing me."
"He was originally heading toward this courtyard."
A complicated expression appeared in Lin Yan's eyes.
Caution. Judgment. Awareness.
Her younger brother truly had changed.
Far more than she originally realized.
The shadow cultivator remained silent.
Waiting.
Eventually Lin Yan looked at her slightly contemplating look and asked with a deep tone.
"Is there anything else?!!."
Hearing the questioning tone, the shadow cultivator said with a soft tone
"I saw him communicating with the Qian Family's young master."
"Ooh."