Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Returning to Jiang City

Zhou Luo "woke up" lying on a soft bed.

He was now aboard the Lin Family’s giant flying boat.

This combat-oriented giant flying boat was not only equipped with defensive and attacking formations but also incorporated functions like living quarters.

After all, it was designed for long-distance campaigns, so comprehensive facilities were naturally essential.

When he opened his eyes, sitting before him was a middle-aged man with slightly greying hair.

It was the Eighth Elder, Lin Guang Ming, the same man who had been attacked alongside Lin Zhi Shou back then.

Because Lin Zhi Shou had absorbed the brunt of the assault, although he was only at the eighth level of Qi Refinement and suffered severe injuries, his foundations remained intact.

Therefore, he had recovered after a period of recuperation.

Seeing Zhou Luo awaken, Lin Guang Ming displayed delighted surprise, a stone in his heart was finally put away.

"You’re finally awake," he said.

Zhou Luo had seen the man before and naturally recognized him. He tried to rise and pay his respects.

Lin Guang Ming hurriedly stopped him. "Your injuries aren’t healed yet, don’t move around."

"Zhou Luo greets the Eighth Elder," Zhou Luo said weakly.

"No formalities are necessary. It is truly excellent that you are alive," Lin Guang Ming said, a smile on his face.

Given Zhou Luo’s current talent, becoming a second level Pill Master in the future was a certainty.

Therefore, when they had learned he might be dead, the entire Lin Family was thrown into uproar.

Especially among the Lin Family’s upper echelons; there was inevitable deep sorrow and regret.

Losing talent like him was a huge blow to the Lin Family.

Now, unexpectedly, on their journey to reinforce Jiang City, they had discovered him grievously wounded.

Though he was critically injured, fortunately, the flying boat carried a Pill Master. After taking a potion, his condition had begun to improve.

With some more time to rest, it was possible he could make a full recovery.

For the Lin Family, this was exceptionally good news.

This was especially true since the Lin Family had recently produced a formation array genius as well.

With this trend, it seemed likely that within a hundred years, the entire Lin Family would surpass the other four long-life families.

"Eighth Elder, why are you all here?" Zhou Luo asked.

Hearing this, a flicker of anger crossed Lin Guang Ming’s face. "The treacherous Lu Family saw that our Lin Family was attacked by evil cultivators from the Hehuan Sect and suffered losses," he said in a heavy tone. "They actually sought advantage from our misfortune. They joined forces with cultivators from the Longfeng Mountain range and launched a sneak attack on Jiang City."

The sneak attack on Jiang City was something the Lin Family had anticipated.

In fact, after they received Lin San’s letter, Lin Xuanfeng had acted with utmost decisiveness, requesting the family dispatch reinforcements immediately.

The distance between the two cities was truly vast, however. Even traveling by giant flying boat had taken nearly ten days.

Right now, the situation in Jiang City was still unknown.

It was also unknown whether Lin San and the others were safe or not.

After hearing Lin Guang Ming’s words, Zhou Luo finally learned what had happened in Jiang City.

However, this had nothing to do with him.

The reinforcements from the Lin Family this time were clearly numerous, having dispatched essentially all their core strength. As long as the Lu Family hadn’t gained control of the central hub of the defensive grand formation, everything should be fine.

"Rest well, and don’t overthink things."

With Jiang City nearing, Lin Guang Ming had other matters to attend to. After a few brief instructions, he departed.

Lying on the bed, Zhou Luo chose not to take the antidote. Since he was already on the flying boat, his safety was likely assured, and he intended to seize this opportunity to rest properly.

He hadn’t slept soundly once since leaving Jiang City.

Especially in chaotic places like the Longfeng Mountain range, truly resting had been practically impossible.

Outside Jiang City, the arrival of the Lin Family reinforcements generated an immense commotion.

The Lu Family disciples inside the city couldn’t help shaking their heads in dismay.

The Lu Family elder leading them looked utterly unwilling, yet he could only withdraw with the family disciples.

There was simply no help for it. The Lin Family’s formation was far too difficult to breach.

Moreover, lacking a formation master themselves, they had to rely on brute force to break it.

The consequence of this approach was that they gave the defenders enough time to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

Despite everything, numerous industries in Jiang City suffered significant damage.

Although the Lin Family estate itself escaped destruction, many business shops were looted by Lu Family members and other cultivators, incurring heavy losses.

Regardless, the crisis in Jiang City dissolved the moment the Lin Family reinforcements arrived.

As the giant flying boat landed.

Lin San and Lin Dong, their spirits lifted, led the family disciples out to greet them.

Having chosen to re-engage in battle to stall the attackers’ assault on the formation, these two Qi Refinement seventh level cultivators were still nursing their wounds.

"Well done," stated Fifth Elder Lin Yan gravelily.

Though known for his fiery temper, he clearly distinguished right from wrong in such matters.

Had it not been for the staunch defense mounted by these family disciples, Jiang City would have fallen long ago.

His gratitude was deeply sincere.

"It was all for the Family," Lin San replied, shaking his head slightly.

Lin Yan then shifted his gaze towards Lin Xin, looking somewhat haggard in the crowd. "Third Young Lady, are you unharmed?"

Lin Xin shook her head. "Thank you for your concern, Great-Uncle Yan."

With reinforcements established, the clean-up operations proceeded straightforwardly.

It was at this time that Lin San and others learned Zhou Luo was still alive, a revelation that astonished them.

None had expected him to truly escape the clutches of that half-step Foundation Establishment evil cultivator.

Especially Lin Xin.

Her beautiful eyes widened as if struck by a physical blow, utterly unable to believe it.

Only a few days after her return to Jiang City, she had received a letter from Wang Yu Wei.

In it, Wang Yu Wei recounted how Zhou Luo saved her, then chose to confront the pursuing evil cultivators alone to draw them away, ensuring her survival.

Lin Xin had been certain he had perished.

To discover that, though severely injured, he still lived…

It seemed utterly incredible.

Zhou Luo, however, had long prepared his story.

According to his account, he had indeed intended to lure away the evil cultivators when, luckily, a Foundation Establishment strong person from an Immortal Sect intervened.

Seeing them as disciples of the Hehuan Sect, the strong person had slain them all without hesitation.

This enabled Zhou Luo to narrowly escape death.

The severe injuries he sustained came from encountering bandits along his journey back to Jiang City.

It was only through immense hardship and struggle that he managed to flee close to Jiang City.

Where he was found by the Lin Family reinforcements.

He had meticulously crafted this account, confident it contained no flaws.

Earlier, during his time in the market quarter, he had overheard cultivators discussing his battle with Liu Fu Chen.

General consensus then attributed it to the intervention of a Qinyuan Sect Foundation Establishment strong person.

Therefore, even if the Lin Family harbored later suspicions and investigated, they were unlikely to uncover anything amiss.

Within a spacious, bright room in the Lin Family estate in Jiang City.

Zhou Luo lay on the bed, recuperating.

The poison in his system had largely dissipated; he estimated needing only two or three more days for a full recovery.

Suddenly, the door opened, and Lin Xin, dressed in simple, elegant attire, stepped inside.

This was her first private meeting with him.

Thus, upon seeing him, her first words were:

“It’s so good you’re alive.”