Chapter 720: Qiankun Gold Token and Ambush
"Qiankun Sect?"
Hearing Song Yanfei's words, Lin Langtian paused, then accepted the golden token from her jade‑white hand, fingers brushing lightly over the two ancient characters for "Qiankun."
A faint pressure pulsed from the carved script, and his brows lifted. For all its simple appearance, this token clearly had no ordinary origin.
"Miss Yanfei, this token is…?" he asked, curiosity in his eyes.
"Since Young Master Lin has only just arrived, you probably aren't familiar with the Qiankun Sect," she replied.
He shook his head. He knew little of the Qiankun Continent, and nothing at all of this sect—but judging from the name alone, it clearly carried weight.
"As the name suggests, any sect that dares take the continent's name must have a formidable background," she said softly. "In fact, the Qiankun Sect once ruled this land. At its peak, not only did it dominate the entire Qiankun Continent, even several neighboring minor continents lay within its reach."
"The hegemon of the Qiankun Continent?" Lin Langtian's brows rose.
To rule an entire continent—even one not famed across the Great Thousand World—was no small feat.
But he had not missed the word "once."
Nor the fact that the continent now swarmed with competing powers. Plainly, the Qiankun Sect no longer stood at its former height.
Song Yanfei saw the flicker in his expression and smiled faintly. "You're right. Its glory lies centuries in the past.
"Three hundred years ago, a civil war broke out within the sect. Since then, the Qiankun Sect has never recovered. It still stands, but only as an ordinary first‑tier power, a shadow of what it was."
"Civil war…" Lin Langtian murmured. "No wonder a hegemon could fall so far. I wonder what forced such a sect to turn on itself…"
She could only shake her head. "After three hundred years, the exact details are blurred. But the forces born from that schism are not so unfamiliar.
"You've already met one of them."
"Oh? You mean…the Earth Desolation Hall?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He had only encountered three major factions here so far—the Earth Desolation Hall, the Heavenly Demon Sect, and the Blood Blade Mystic Gate.
Judging from her tone, the splinter must indeed be the one he had already crossed.
"You're quick, Young Master Lin," she said with a brief smile. "Yes. The current Hall Master of the Earth Desolation Hall, Huang Kurong, was once a disciple of the Qiankun Sect.
"As a youth, his talent was extraordinary. In just a few decades, he rose to high rank and even gathered a faction of his own within the sect.
"His power and influence grew so swiftly that rumors spread—whispering that after he lost out in the struggle for the position of sect master, he set his sights on rebellion instead.
"The Qiankun Sect was at its peak then. His uprising failed. But though the revolt was suppressed, Huang Kurong escaped with his loyalists and founded the Earth Desolation Hall in the central region.
"The sect, however, was grievously wounded. Several attempts to crush the rebels only sapped its strength further. Over time, the Hall flourished, while the Qiankun Sect weakened.
"Unable to suppress the other powers any longer, it ceded its grip on the continent. That's how the Qiankun Continent became the patchwork it is now.
"Today, the Qiankun Sect has retreated to the Northern Region, while the Earth Desolation Hall rises toward hegemony."
She glanced at the token, then back at Lin Langtian. "To be honest, my Song Clan once shone more brightly, too.
"Centuries ago, our ancestor served as a Grand Elder of the Qiankun Sect and rendered great service. In reward, our clan was granted a Qiankun Gold Token.
"With it, the bearer can join the Qiankun Sect directly—no trials required."
"Direct entry?" Lin Langtian blinked, regarding the token anew.
"So that's it… You're worried about Han Lin's revenge, and this is your way of giving me shelter," he said after a moment.
She nodded. "Han Lin comes from the Earth Desolation Hall. Its influence here is immense. Most factions wouldn't dare offend him.
"Only the Qiankun Sect can ignore such pressure. To them, the Hall is nothing but a traitor."
"This token is too valuable. I can't accept it," Lin Langtian said after a brief pause, offering it back.
The Qiankun Sect might be in decline, but it remained a pillar of the continent. To many, joining it would be a dream.
The token was not only precious, but a relic of her clan's ancestors. Even if his heart stirred, he would not snatch another's treasure.
"You misunderstand," Song Yanfei said with a rueful smile. "The token is indeed precious—but it comes with conditions.
"By the sect's own rules, the bearer must have reached the Supreme Realm to use it.
"In the Song Clan, only my grandfather, the patriarch, qualifies. But as clan head, and at his age, he can hardly abandon his post and family to enter the sect.
"And the token is close to expiring. It has only two years of validity left. After that, it will be useless.
"So if you don't use it, it will simply turn to waste."
"I see…" Lin Langtian nodded slowly.
No wonder she was willing to give it up.
"In that case," he said at last, "I'll accept it. Miss Yanfei, rest assured—Lin Langtian will remember the Song Clan's kindness."
He knew that even if it was little more than a chicken rib for her family now, its intrinsic worth remained immense. In other hands, it might fetch a fortune in Sovereign Spiritual Liquid.
He did not take such favors lightly.
Nor did he object to the idea of joining the Qiankun Sect.
Back on the Tianxuan Continent, he had once entered Yuan Gate—even knowing its rot—for the sake of a higher platform. The strength he had found there had paved much of his later path.
This sect might yet serve a similar role.
Song Yanfei's shoulders eased. "Good."
She would need to explain the token's disappearance to the clan—but she trusted her grandfather would understand.
After all, Lin Langtian was, in her eyes, a very promising investment.
…
After parting from her, Lin Langtian did not leave Beiling City at once. Instead, he took a room at an inn.
And rather than shrinking from her warnings about Han Lin, his thoughts turned in another direction.
Fishing.
Not only had Han Lin set his sights on him; Lin Langtian, too, had his eyes on the Five Elements Divine Crystal.
Han Lin was almost certainly watching his every move.
So, he rested.
Tomorrow would be the real show.
The night passed quietly.
The next day, he remained in place until the sun dipped low. At such a time, when day and night traded places, most let their guard down—just a little.
To better sell the illusion, he chose that moment to slip from the inn and merge into the evening crowds, then drifted slowly toward the city gate.
Elsewhere in Beiling City, in a high pavilion, Han Lin's mouth curled into a thin smile.
He rose slowly, eyes glinting toward the direction of the gate.
"Naive," he sneered. "Did you really think you could just slip away?"
A wave of his hand brought the black‑robed elder to his side like a specter.
Another man stood beside him, his aura no weaker than the first.
"Elder Liu. Elder Wang. It's time."
The two elders nodded without expression. Space rippled around them, and the three figures faded from sight.
On the other side of the city, in a quiet courtyard, the Heavenly Demon Fairy paused as she sipped her tea.
Her lips curved. "Looks like a good show is about to start."
She set the cup down and turned. "Come on. Let's go take a peek. Somehow, it doesn't feel like Han Lin will have such an easy time of it."
Her plain‑featured guard stepped into view behind her. A heartbeat later, the two of them vanished as well.
Three parties slipped out of Beiling in silence, leaving not a ripple behind.
The sun hung low, burning the horizon red.
Whoosh.
The stillness of the sky broke with a sharp whistle.
A streak of green light tore across the heavens, flashing toward the distance at astonishing speed.
The figure within it pushed himself to the limit, as though fleeing an unseen pursuer.
He kept that pace for nearly half an hour before finally slowing and dropping onto a mountaintop.
Lin Langtian turned to look back, then smiled.
"Following me like ghosts all afternoon… aren't you tired yet?"
"Hehe. So you did notice," a smooth voice floated back.
Space wavered on a nearby peak.
Three figures stepped out of the distortion.
Han Lin and his two black‑robed elders.
Han Lin's eyes were full of mockery as he studied Lin Langtian, then he glanced around.
"You've picked a fine spot for your grave."
"Oh? How do you know it wasn't picked for you?" Lin Langtian asked mildly, cold light gathering in his black eyes.
"Confident, aren't we?"
Han Lin smiled, lifting a hand toward him. "Hand over the Great Heavenly Demon Spirit Fruit.
"If you're sensible enough to please me now, I might just let you walk away."
"Did you bring the Five Elements Divine Crystal and Eightfold Primordial Art?" Lin Langtian asked instead.
The last trace of a smile drained from Han Lin's face.
"You've just thrown away your only chance," he said flatly.
"Talks too much," Lin Langtian replied.
"Elder Liu. Elder Wang. Do it," Han Lin said, lips warping into something ugly. "No need to hold back."
Both elders stepped forward, drawing their hands from their sleeves.
As they moved, a chill spread from their bodies, and a terrifying storm of spiritual power roared out.
Two Second‑Grade Supremes.
Lin Langtian's brows arched.
So Han Lin had brought more than just the old man from the auction; he'd had another expert in the shadows.
A slow smile tugged at Lin Langtian's mouth.
"Looks like there's one more fool lining up to die."
(END CHAPTER)
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