The Weight of Legacy and a Voice from the Past

The deathly silence blanketing the plaza shattered instantly. Hundreds of eyes locked onto Lin Mo simultaneously, as if he were the sole beacon in the encroaching gloom. Each gaze burned with fervent anticipation and suppressed fury.

They understood precisely what ‘Bright Jade Profound Yin’ signified.

It was a symbol of legend, the pinnacle of glory, and power incarnate.

The brilliance forged by the Xuan Nv Sect’s former sect leader had long since become a household legend across the land. She slew demons, ventured into foreign realms, and decimated demonic forces to the brink of extinction!

Her demise, however, added a poignant touch of tragic desolation to this heroic epic. She had protected all beings under heaven, yet failed to preserve her own life.

Perfect endings often fade like wisps of smoke, but only regret leaves an indelible mark.

Even after a millennium, the name “Xuanji Zhenren” remained an unyielding brand, deeply etched into every heart.

Her sole legacy was the ‘Bright Jade Profound Yin,’ a cultivation manual she had personally created.

For a thousand years, even as the Xuan Nv Sect gradually declined, the continuous influx of disciples served as testament to their yearning for Xuanji Zhenren.

Those capable of studying ‘Bright Jade Profound Yin’ were no mere ordinary disciples; they were the inheritors of Xuanji Zhenren’s legacy.

Lin Mo understood that, in their eyes, he was likely not just a mere personal disciple, but the very continuation of a hero’s legacy.

He was expected to embody Xuanji Zhenren’s compassion and mercy, qualities that bound her heart to all under heaven.

‘It’s strange, isn’t it?’

‘Yet, this must be what they call cognitive inertia.’

‘The adage “a tiger father begets no dog son” isn’t always just a compliment; sometimes, it’s a habitual way of thinking.’

‘Such a formidable father must surely have an equally impressive son!’

‘As Xuanji Zhenren’s inheritor, he must undoubtedly be exceptional!’

‘If he didn’t step up now, his image in everyone’s minds would undoubtedly plummet to rock bottom.’

Lin Mo sought disdain, having crafted a persona designed to make people look down on him and lower their guard.

However, if this evolved into disgust or even outright hatred, the situation would drastically change, turning him into a pariah.

At that point, isolation and collective bullying might even ensue.

If his master hadn’t been sidelined, perhaps it would only be isolation.

But currently, his master was powerless, and the Grand Elder, wielding true authority, was eyeing him like a predator.

An endless stream of bullying, harassment, and interference would prove fatal for Lin Mo, who desperately needed time for secret cultivation.

Once those from the Qing You faction seized this opportunity, they would become utterly unrestrained.

No one would pity a despicable person.

‘Emotional manipulation, public opinion control.’

Lin Mo dared not imagine how utterly ruined his reputation and popularity would become.

‘Forget the opposing side; I can think of several malicious methods myself.’

The period before the martial arts practice battles commenced was the most invaluable.

During this time, without compulsory combat, he could peacefully avoid conflict.

Yet now, Lu Ping’an’s actions—no, rather, the Qing You faction’s disciples were clearly cunning, directly resorting to moral coercion.

If he were to tarnish Xuanji Zhenren’s reputation today, his future days in the Hall of Clarity would be far from easy.

‘Must I really step forward…?’

‘Go up, stall for a bit, make it seem like an even match, and then lose after giving my all?’

‘No…’

Lin Mo quickly dismissed the idea.

He was unaware of his opponent’s strength, and any attempt could easily backfire.

Moreover, what all the Yi-grade disciples eagerly anticipated was nothing less than the “hero’s inheritor” achieving victory or turning the tide.

‘If I lose at this moment, I’ll be close to complete ruin.’

This Lu Ping’an was very likely a member of the Qing You faction, and perhaps even the disciple she was currently fighting was part of their scheme.

The two were putting on a show, precisely to corner him into this moral dilemma.

Lin Mo made his decision.

‘I’ll face the challenge.’

While hiding his abilities might be easier, the current circumstances no longer permitted it.

The enemy’s strength was unknown, and revealing his trump cards too early was unwise.

However, conversely, as long as he didn’t incur public wrath or ruin his general standing, the Qing You faction wouldn’t dare openly interfere or obstruct him.

If he could draw enough attention, wouldn’t the surrounding crowd become a formidable shield?

As for becoming Ji Xue’s subordinate, he could seize that opportunity to craft a new persona for himself.

With excuses like a broken home, a sick mother, or a younger sister needing schooling, he would no longer be seen as greedy, unscrupulous, or devoid of dignity, but rather as a true disciple with strong moral principles!

‘Of course, all of the above might just be my baseless conjectures; perhaps it’s merely a coincidence?’

‘Wasn’t Lu Ping’an, standing before him, one of those who had sought trouble that day?’

‘It could be the Qing You faction, or perhaps she simply couldn’t tolerate his actions tarnishing Xuanji Zhenren’s legacy.’

‘Regardless, it no longer mattered.’

‘He needed to guard against them all and make them lose face.’

‘They don’t want me to keep a low profile?’

‘Then I’ll advance with great fanfare!’

‘He might be timid, but when the moment called for him to rise, he would absolutely not falter!’

“We beg Personal Disciple Lin… to seek justice for us Yi-grade disciples!”

The fervent plea burst forth from between blood-stained teeth, each word trembling, as faint threads of blood continuously seeped from her lips with every breath.

Lu Ping’an bowed her head, her slightly trembling voice imbued with stubborn resolve.

Had it not been for this Qing You affair, Lin Mo would have dismissed this girl as a — ‘b*tch.’

‘After all, acting for personal gain is merely a matter of self-interest, a common human trait.’

‘But to do something without any benefit, purely for the sake of it, is simply malicious, finding discomfort only when not sickening others.’

‘No… it’s hard to say, what if she really is a malicious person?’

‘Enough with the chatter.’

‘Let’s go!’

“Hmph!”

A cold snort abruptly cut through the air!

Before Lin Mo could even speak, a mocking voice echoed from within the crowd, “What right does she have to seek justice for you all? Based on being the last to ascend the steps?! Are you begging a lapdog?”

The crowd gradually parted, revealing a familiar face walking out from among them: Wei Qing.

“Wei Qing!” Lu Ping’an’s expression instantly hardened.

“How dare you utter such insolent words!”

These words ignited a flurry of discussion among everyone present, as if they had suddenly awakened them.

‘That’s right!’

‘The last to ascend the steps!’

‘With such a record, how could they possibly expect him to secure any justice for them?’

“This person is nothing but a thief!” Wei Qing exclaimed, pointing directly at Lin Mo’s nose and vehemently cursing him.

Lu Ping’an’s face instantly drained of color in shock!

Lin Mo, however, was utterly bewildered.

He couldn’t comprehend why this woman was targeting him so relentlessly.

Had the Qing You faction finally made their move?

‘Shouldn’t they be fanning the flames, urging him to step forward right now?’

‘And what did she mean by “thief”?’

“Not only has she defiled the Xuan Nv Sect, but she has also sullied Xuanji Zhenren!”

With that, Wei Qing retrieved a Spirit Recording Stone from her storage ring and held it high in the air.

“I, Wei Qing, will absolutely not permit such a scoundrel to continue slandering Xuanji Zhenren’s good name!”

At once, the Spirit Recording Stone projected an image.

However, the perspective was peculiar, seemingly from beneath a table, with the image only showing pairs of elegant legs.

Yet, the crucial element was not the visual, but the audio.

The voice declared: “That Lin Wan’er is nothing more than a slanderer and a cheat—”

As the voice continued, cold sweat instantly beaded on Lin Mo’s face.

‘That voice… he… he would never forget it.’

‘That familiar tone, that cadence…’

A chill pierced his spine, and Lin Mo’s breath hitched in an instant.

The voice gnawed at Lin Mo’s eardrums like a venomous serpent.

How could he not remember this voice, which he had heard for ten years, a voice that had plunged him into a decade of hell?

‘Qiu Yue… she’s caught up…’