Chapter 12: Only by Abandoning Futile Curiosity Can One Achieve Longevity

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In response to Xiao Rang’s question, Lin Heng replied, “I’m ready.”

There was, in truth, little for him to prepare. He had long since learned all the requisite ceremonial procedures; tomorrow, he need only follow them.

“Then get some rest early.”

Xiao Rang nodded and prepared to leave.

Lin Heng paid it no mind and immediately began washing up, intending to go to sleep.

At that moment, however, a commotion arose outside.

Lin Heng turned his gaze toward the window. Following the direction of the disturbance, he saw flames blazing from a distant pavilion. The entire building had caught fire.

“That’s the Pill Chamber. Has someone stolen something?” Lin Heng asked curiously.

“Mm. It’s a Grandmaster-level expert. The disciples on patrol won’t be able to subdue him anytime soon. He’s probably trying to lure the tiger away from the mountain, while another group takes the opportunity to strike at you, Heng’er.”

Xiao Rang glanced toward the Pill Chamber and spoke in an utterly calm tone. He showed no intention of going over to intervene.

On ordinary days, several thousand experts guarded Cloud Sword Palace. Tomorrow was Lin Heng’s initiation ceremony, and many experts who had been away had already returned, making the sect’s defensive strength even greater.

Yet, by the same token, the invitation of so many guests to attend the ceremony had given certain ill-intentioned people an opportunity to infiltrate the sect.

The senior elders of Cloud Sword Palace regarded Lin Heng as the hope of its future. The hostile forces that bore grudges against the palace, as well as its various rivals, naturally could not bear to see it prosper. Under such circumstances, seeking an opportunity to assassinate Lin Heng was only to be expected.

As it happened, this was an especially suitable opportunity.

Since Lin Heng remained within the sect and never ventured outside, this might well be the only chance they would have to assassinate him in the many years to come.

“Then I’ll wash up myself tonight. It would be troublesome if, in the darkness, the maid were replaced by someone in disguise and nobody noticed.”

Lin Heng nodded and could not be bothered to concern himself with the commotion outside.

He fetched hot water and washed up by himself, then went straight to sleep, displaying not the slightest curiosity.

With his current cultivation at the third level of the Innate Realm, Lin Heng could already be considered fairly formidable throughout the martial world. He would have been capable of ruling a county and establishing a respectable force of his own.

But in the contests between martial holy lands, such strength was utterly insignificant. Only after reaching the Grandmaster Realm would he possess a modest degree of self-preservation, while only a Great Grandmaster could truly influence the course of events.

Thus, Lin Heng felt no curiosity about the disturbance outside. Only by casting aside unnecessary curiosity could one live a long life.

To live until the end of his natural lifespan—that was the goal Lin Heng had set for this simulated life.

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“My disciple, sleep without worry. Leave the affairs outside to your master.”

Xiao Rang spoke calmly.

That night, Lin Heng sealed his hearing, ignoring the clamor beyond his room, and slept soundly.

The following day, Lin Heng rose and once again washed and dressed himself, declining the assistance of the maids.

While having breakfast with Xiao Rang, Lin Heng asked curiously, “Master, was the person from last night captured?”

Xiao Rang nodded.

“He was. The one who caused trouble in the Pill Chamber belonged to the Pavilion of Parting Hatred—a Grandmaster-level expert exceptionally skilled in lightness kung fu.”

“My guess last night was correct. That man was merely a diversion. A Great Grandmaster from the Pavilion of Parting Hatred replaced a disciple who had graduated from the sect and infiltrated the palace. He disguised himself as a maid and lay in ambush near Cloud Sword Palace, preparing to assassinate you.”

“Unfortunately for them, their plan was exposed. Last night, that Great Grandmaster from the Pavilion of Parting Hatred was severely wounded by your two martial uncles. He had others assisting him, however, and ultimately managed to escape. The other man, who served as the bait, was killed on the spot.”

The area surrounding Cloud Sword Palace was guarded with extraordinary strength. Not only were there numerous experts, but the disciples of the palace had also formed powerful arrays. Even a Great Grandmaster would not dare to force his way in recklessly; the slightest misstep could leave him trapped within the formations until his internal power was exhausted and he died.

The only option was to infiltrate by indirect means and launch a surprise attack.

Unfortunately, this unexpected scheme had been thwarted by the caution exercised by Lin Heng and his master.

“The Pavilion of Parting Hatred? That isn’t surprising. They’re probably the ones who want me dead most of all,” Lin Heng remarked.

Although the fact that he had nearly died after being poisoned with the Pavilion of Parting Hatred’s Tiger-Wolf Elixir had not been deliberately publicized, it was not difficult to investigate the origins of a genius disciple like Lin Heng.

After all, Cloud Sword Palace was hardly lacking in spies and informants from other forces, just as it had planted its own agents within other sects.

Once the Pavilion of Parting Hatred learned that Lin Heng—a seven-year-old Innate expert—had such a connection with them, they knew that once he matured, they would surely be the first force he targeted.

Upon realizing this, the Pavilion of Parting Hatred had immediately developed murderous intent. This heretical powerhouse, second only to Cloud Sword Palace in strength, was highly decisive in its actions.

Unfortunately, it had ultimately failed.

“Disciple, aren’t you angry?”

Xiao Rang looked at his unusually composed young disciple and asked with some curiosity.

Lin Heng had nearly been tortured to death by the Pavilion of Parting Hatred only a few years earlier, and now they had attempted to assassinate him as well. Xiao Rang himself would have been furious.

Yet Lin Heng remained perfectly calm.

“Of course I’m angry. But I can’t defeat the Pavilion of Parting Hatred right now, so there’s no point in being angry.”

“Master, don’t worry. Within twenty years, once I have mastered my divine techniques, I will certainly leave the mountain and sweep away these heretical fiends, restoring a bright and peaceful order to the world.”

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Lin Heng swallowed the food in his mouth before speaking with solemn sincerity.

Blind rage born of helplessness could accomplish nothing; it could not alter reality. Only strength determined one’s right to speak. Once he attained the Celestial Human Realm, he would go out and slaughter them all, leaving not even a trace of their bloodlines behind.

“Good. As expected of my disciple—you have ambition.”

Xiao Rang smiled.

“Once this initiation ceremony is over, I will teach you Cloud Sword Palace’s supreme sect-defending sword technique.”

Five months earlier, Lin Heng had cultivated his inner energy to the realm of ceaseless vitality and formally become an Innate expert. In truth, he had already qualified to practice Cloud Sword Palace’s supreme sword technique.

At the time, however, Lin Heng had been occupied with increasing his cultivation. Xiao Rang had also hoped that he would astonish everyone at the initiation ceremony and did not want him distracted, so he had temporarily postponed teaching him the sword technique.

Now that his disciple had found his fighting spirit, it was the perfect time to teach him the technique and allow him to nurture his sword intent.

When this divine sword finally left its sheath, it would surely astonish the world.

Although Xiao Rang was already one hundred and three years old, twenty years was still a period he could afford to wait.

After that, master and disciple said no more.

They finished their meal in silence, then sat in meditation to refine their energy and complete their morning lesson.

Afterward, with the assistance of maids who had been thoroughly searched and confirmed to be safe, Lin Heng changed into a stately and splendid ceremonial robe before proceeding toward the main hall of Cloud Sword Palace.

By then, the palace’s numerous senior elders, its mid-ranking stewards, envoys from the five affiliated empires, and disciples from the other two martial holy lands had all arrived to witness the ceremony.

Under the gaze of everyone present, Lin Heng entered the hall.

He wore the pure-white robes of a young sect master, embroidered with golden cloud patterns. His face was as flawless as carved jade, his beauty peerless, as though an immortal banished from the heavens had descended into the mortal world. With his back straight and his expression tranquil, he advanced at an unhurried, measured pace.

“It’s true—a seven-year-old Innate expert!”

“With such a cultivation talent, there has never been another before him, nor will there be another after!”

“We must find a way to approach him in advance and establish a good relationship!”

Everyone in the hall was visibly shaken. Secret transmissions passed back and forth as they whispered among themselves.

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