Xu Linyin glanced back at Lin Xiao Tian, her expression complex.
But then, as if remembering something, she quickly offered Lin Xiao Tian a slight smile.
"Yes! Exactly, Miss, you must take him before the master. Only then will we have a chance to avenge Madam's death!" the short man echoed, also smiling at Lin Xiao Tian.
Lin Xiao Tian looked at their smiles, feeling utterly bewildered.
After only a short while navigating the forest, Lin Xiao Tian spotted a small cave.
Upon closer inspection, he realized the cave contained a teleportation array.
Since teleportation arrays are shielded from heavenly scrutiny, Lin Xiao Tian hadn't sensed it before.
Xu Linyin dripped blood onto the array, and the next moment, the array emitted a green glow.
Lin Xiao Tian, having studied the Five Elements and Qi Men, recognized this as a bloodline-linked teleportation array. Only those with an acknowledged bloodline, and who were living heirs of that bloodline, could activate it.
This explained why those people had so desperately protected Xu Linyin earlier. If Xu Linyin couldn't reach the array alive, with their combined strength, they would never have been able to leave the forest.
Xu Linyin gestured for Lin Xiao Tian to enter, and without hesitation, he stepped onto the array.
The next moment, light swirled.
When the light faded, Lin Xiao Tian found himself in a grand hall.
The hall was equipped with a powerful suppression array that sealed away all magical energy, even for a Nascent Soul stage cultivator like Lin Xiao Tian.
With such a safeguard, even if the demonic beasts from the forest had been teleported along with them, there would be no need to worry about any major disturbances.
Moreover, there were numerous guards stationed above the hall. They were not bound by the array and were equipped with magical artifacts.
Xu Linyin bowed to the area above the hall. "Xu Linyin of the Xu family. This hunt took three days."
A masked man from above the hall replied.
"Mm! Ninety spirit stones in total."
"Linyin will pay shortly!" Xu Linyin bowed again.
The masked man waved his hand, and the next moment, the restrictions on them completely vanished.
Xu Linyin led the group away, with Lin Xiao Tian following.
Due to the masked man's magical artifact, Lin Xiao Tian couldn't ascertain his true strength.
However, anyone capable of guarding such a formidable array would undoubtedly be powerful, possessing at least the strength to contend with the array itself. Lin Xiao Tian estimated he was at least in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, or perhaps higher, as he himself could have contended with the array if he had used his full power.
Lin Xiao Tian merely glanced at the masked man peripherally before turning to leave.
Unbeknownst to him, at that very moment, the masked man was also observing Lin Xiao Tian.
"This Xu Linyin, who were the members of the team that entered the forest before?" the masked man murmured.
A subordinate immediately handed him a roster, which the masked man scanned.
"The strongest was only at the ninth layer of Qi Condensation?" the masked man mused. "But that person just now was in the Foundation Establishment stage!"
"Perhaps they met by chance in the forest."
The masked man shook his head.
"The Star Sea Forest is vast. Could they have met so coincidentally? The depth of teleportation for Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation cultivators is completely different. For thousands of years, no one has encountered another within the forest, not even cultivators of the same level have met each other."
"It is indeed a bit strange. Shall I investigate?"
"No need. I will report this matter." The masked man pondered.
Meanwhile, led by Xu Linyin, Lin Xiao Tian had already left the hall.
After exiting, Lin Xiao Tian realized he had just left a small city.
Furthermore, this city was built specifically to guard these teleportation arrays, and it contained numerous palaces, each with its own guards.
Lin Xiao Tian estimated there were about a hundred palaces, meaning there were at least a hundred powerhouses like the masked man in that city.
Was this the Central Realm?
In his own world, it was difficult to find even a single Qi Condensation cultivator, yet here, Nascent Soul cultivators were commonplace.
No wonder a prodigy like Shen Nong could emerge from here.
Lin Xiao Tian sensed the surroundings again and discovered that the spiritual energy in this world was exceptionally abundant.
If he were to cultivate here, with Lin Xiao Tian's Shen Nong cultivation technique, he should be able to break through to the Soul Transformation stage before his Nascent Soul lifespan ended.
With the aid of some elixirs and spiritual herbs, it would surely be twice the result with half the effort!
Having nowhere else to go, Lin Xiao Tian could only follow Xu Linyin.
Along the way, Xu Linyin was exceptionally protective of Lin Xiao Tian. Despite Lin Xiao Tian being the strongest among them, they consistently kept him in the center of their formation.
One might have thought they were transporting some precious treasure.
After passing through several more teleportation arrays, Lin Xiao Tian finally arrived at Xu Linyin's family estate.
The subsequent teleportation arrays did not have powerful cultivators guarding them; the strongest was only at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.
It seemed that the previous grand hall was special, thus requiring dedicated guards.
Upon arriving at the Xu family's estate, Lin Xiao Tian could only follow Xu Linyin due to the language barrier.
As soon as Xu Linyin entered the estate, she hurried inside, asking Lin Xiao Tian to wait outside.
While waiting, Lin Xiao Tian began to observe the Xu family.
The Xu family occupied a vast area, equivalent to half of Jiang City, yet there was no aura of ultimate power within the family. The strongest cultivator was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
However, this cultivator's aura was unstable, indicating they were likely in slumber.
Similarly, there were seven or eight other Foundation Establishment cultivators who were also in slumber.
Two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were currently in seclusion, showing subtle signs of breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.
Aside from them, there was one publicly visible early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, who was currently speaking with Xu Linyin.
Their conversation seemed quite intense. Lin Xiao Tian observed Xu Linyin becoming agitated, while the early-stage Foundation Establishment elder's expression gradually turned solemn as Xu Linyin spoke.
Shortly after, Xu Linyin was arranged to wait outside, while the early-stage Foundation Establishment elder went to the cave dwellings of the two peak early-stage Foundation Establishment elders who were in seclusion.
"Seclusion is not easily broken. What kind of major event could this be?"
Lin Xiao Tian was puzzled.
Recalling the encounters in the forest, could the deceased individual have been of unusual status?
Otherwise, why would they disturb those in seclusion?
He didn't know what was said, but eventually, the two elders in seclusion emerged.
The two must have been in seclusion for a considerable time, and abandoning it now was equivalent to all their previous efforts being in vain.
He wondered what they were thinking.
Following this, three Foundation Establishment elders approached Lin Xiao Tian.
One of them scanned Lin Xiao Tian from head to toe and then uttered a sentence in perfect Cantonese:
"Handsome boy, which gang are you from?"