'This is definitely a top-tier treasure!'
Lin Xuan's heart trembled. He absolutely could not let anyone else discover this treasure. 'If the Soul Space contained the soul of a powerful expert, wouldn't I be able to learn even more formidable Martial Techniques? My Cultivation speed would far surpass others. Just from one Soul Possession, all of that person's memories merged into my mind.'
Things like insights, Cultivation methods, and even their understanding of a Realm—he remembered it all. Cultivating would now be twice as effective with half the effort!
If his Elemental Power were more abundant, he could have maintained it for much longer. At his current Body Refining Stage, it would be strange if merging with a Spirit Refining Stage soul *didn't* consume an astonishing amount of energy. Correspondingly, his insufficient strength also meant he couldn't unleash the full power of the Martial Technique.
Next, Lin Xuan examined the other souls and found that they were all very ordinary; some were even the souls of common folk. This disappointed him a little. If there were a powerful soul, he could learn even more astounding Martial Techniques.
'Soul Possession lets me absorb memories... I wonder where I can find more souls. A cemetery, perhaps?' Lin Xuan wasn't too disappointed. To have something like this was already a huge opportunity; what more could he ask for?
Without a doubt, this Light Pearl should be called a Soul Pearl. Since it could store souls, he would call it the Soul Pearl.
Just as he was wondering how to find powerful souls, a cold voice came from outside his house. "Lin Xuan, are you there? The Clan Leader summons you to the Inner Hall." The tone was rather detached.
'The Clan Leader is summoning me?' A glint of light flashed in Lin Xuan's eyes.
He didn't need to think hard to guess what was happening. In all these years, Lin Feng had never once summoned him to the Inner Hall. For him to do so today, it had to be because word of yesterday's commotion had spread.
He had always kept a low profile, and everyone else thought he was a cripple with no abilities whatsoever. So when he displayed his strength, it was astonishing. In this world, if you wanted to be noticed, you had to display corresponding strength.
However, Lin Xuan didn't believe that Lin Feng was summoning him because he was impressed by his recent outburst of power.
He walked outside and immediately saw that the visitor was a disciple of the Lin Family. The disciple wore a displeased expression and even looked somewhat disgusted when he saw Lin Xuan emerge. Although Lin Xuan had displayed a relatively high level of strength, a blind man was still a blind man who couldn't learn anything—unless he reached a level that would make them look up to him in awe.
"Let's go." Lin Xuan didn't engage in further conversation. He picked up his wooden stick and tapped it on the ground in front of him, not revealing that his eyes had recovered.
The disciple glanced at him and snorted. "What a dreary place. Walk faster." He turned and walked away, completely unconcerned whether Lin Xuan would bump into a tree or trip.
Lin Xuan followed him out, matching the disciple's pace no matter how fast he walked. The disciple was shocked. He had tried to lose Lin Xuan on several occasions, but Lin Xuan stayed right behind him, making him suspect for a moment that his eyes had recovered. But on second thought, that was impossible; they all knew what was required to heal them.
Soon, they arrived at the Inner Hall. Lin Feng was already waiting in the main hall, sitting to the side and sipping tea. When he saw Lin Xuan approach, his gaze swept up and down, sizing him up as if trying to discern something.
Lin Xuan glanced at him. Lin Feng hadn't changed. As a man of high status, he exuded a faint, oppressive aura that made the atmosphere feel stifling. A Spirit Pill Stage expert's status was astonishing no matter where they went, especially since he was the only one in the entire Lin Family at that stage. The other Elders were only at the Essence Pill Stage.
On this continent, the approximate Tiers were: Body Refining Stage—Spirit Refining Stage—Essence Pill Stage—Spirit Pill Stage—Core Formation Stage!
The disciple who had brought Lin Xuan cupped his hands in a salute to Lin Feng and hastily left. Being under that oppressive aura was not a pleasant experience.
"May I ask why Clan Leader Lin has summoned me?" Lin Xuan asked calmly.
He had no particular feelings for Lin Feng, though he had once considered him a semi-paternal figure. But he could never understand the man's actions. Even if he had gone blind, was it necessary to make Lin Xue cut all ties with him? To even forbid him from living in the main residence any longer?
"Do you hate me?" Lin Feng asked.
Lin Xuan was taken aback. He hadn't expected Lin Feng to be so direct. After a pause, he said calmly, "It's not a matter of hate. It was my own choice." Shielding Lin Xue from the Fierce Nether Snake was his choice, and he had never regretted it, especially after the two words he had received earlier, which made him regret it even less.
Lin Feng suddenly burst into laughter. He stood up, a divine light flashing in his eyes. "A fine 'my own choice'! Logically speaking, you saved my daughter. I should have done everything in my power to heal your eyes, wouldn't you agree?"
This was the first time in a very long while that Lin Feng had spoken to him so frankly about this matter.
Lin Xuan didn't know what he was thinking, but he nodded anyway. "That's right. But I believe Clan Leader Lin must have his unspeakable difficulties."
There is no hate without a reason. When he was a child, Lin Feng had been very good to him. But ever since he went blind, Lin Feng had chosen to cut ties. The change was so sudden that he had never been able to understand it.
"Unspeakable difficulties, unspeakable difficulties..." Lin Feng shook his head and sighed, then looked at Lin Xuan and said, "If I told you that not healing you was for your own protection, would you believe me?"
"Protect me?" Lin Xuan was stunned. He had considered countless possibilities, but he had never expected this one.
"That's right." Lin Feng's voice grew heavy. "Then and now, the Lin Family has always been in a precarious state. The Fang Family and the Huang Family are eyeing us like hungry tigers! By not depleting my Cultivation to heal you, I was not only protecting the Lin Family, but also you!"
He had heard that the Fang Family and Huang Family were eyeing the Lin Family like hungry tigers. Lin Feng was the main pillar of the entire Lin Family. If his Cultivation were to decline, their situation would become very dangerous. Every family needed a powerful expert to hold the fort; otherwise, they would face annihilation. But to say it was to protect *him*... that was a bit hard to believe.
"It's strange, isn't it? That not healing you was meant to protect you. The truth is, even if I didn't expend my Cultivation to heal you, the Lin Family would still be in danger and could collapse at any moment. By not healing you and having you live in a remote place, I was allowing you to distance yourself from the Lin Family's identity. That way, if something were to truly happen to the Lin Family, nothing would happen to you." Lin Feng explained in a level tone.
"Why would you do that?"
A storm of emotions raged within Lin Xuan's heart. If this was really the truth, then from another perspective, everything had been done to protect him!
Lin Feng sighed. "You should already know about your origins—that you're an orphan. The real story is that a friend entrusted you to me. When he brought you here, he was covered in blood. He said one thing and then drew his last breath..."
"Was he my father?" Lin Xuan's voice was hoarse.
Lin Feng shook his head. "No, he was only a guard, not your father." He heaved a deep sigh, as if recalling the past, a faint sadness surfacing in his heart.
Lin Xuan fell silent. After a moment, he asked, "Then what was the last thing he said?"
Lin Feng looked up, his gaze heavy. "Protect the Young Master! Just those words."
His heart, which had yet to calm down, began to race again. A suffocating feeling settled in his chest, and his throat felt dry. If his eyes had been healed and Lin Xue had been allowed to take care of him, he would have been branded as one of the Lin Family. When the Lin Family collapsed, he would surely have become a thorn in their enemies' side.
Forgotten in a corner, not just the Lin Family but even the outside world wouldn't pay any mind to someone like him.
"Protect the Young Master... what does that mean?" Lin Xuan was confused.
Lin Feng stared at him, his gaze burning as if it could see right through Lin Xuan's body. "You are the Young Master. The Young Master of the Lin Family's Main House. And we... we are merely the most remote branch of the Lin Clan!"
Lin Xuan's pupils contracted. He stared blankly and said, "Me, the Young Master of the Lin Family?"