Chapter Ninety-Nine: Imperial Star Purple Iron

“Brother Lin, let’s hurry along. Tianwu Gate is just ahead.” Though Le Dong was still vexed that Lin Yanghao had let Zeng Quan escape, he couldn't help it—after all, he didn’t possess the monstrous strength that Lin Yanghao did.

He recalled with a shiver how Lin Yanghao had bested Zeng Quan without even invoking his divine fighting technique. Clearly, the power Lin Yanghao displayed was far from his true limit. Le Dong realized he had underestimated him all along. To defeat Zeng Quan without that secret art, Lin Yanghao must be hiding other secrets. If only he could win Lin Yanghao over to his side, then Zeng Quan and all the others would be nothing but dust beneath his feet. Once they returned to the sect, he could leave the matter to his father’s judgment.

Lin Yanghao shook his head and spoke to Le Dong. “Brother Le, why are Lu Chen and Zeng Quan pursuing you? There will surely be more attempts on your life down the road, and I fear my meager strength may not be enough to protect you.” Though he spoke modestly, Lin Yanghao was, in truth, threatening Le Dong. His meaning was clear: If you don’t tell me, I won’t go with you—I’ll leave you to your fate.

As expected, Le Dong grew anxious. If Lin Yanghao refused to go, his plans would collapse, and even his life would be at risk. Having already survived Lu Chen and Zeng Quan, it was likely others would come for the Star Emperor’s Violet Iron. Alone, he would surely meet a tragic end.

Pressed by Lin Yanghao, Le Dong finally began, “Half a year ago, the cultivation world was abuzz with rumors—a treasure was said to have appeared in a hidden land, and countless cultivators flocked there to seize it. I was among them.”

“So you obtained the treasure?” Lin Yanghao interrupted eagerly.

Lin Yanghao quickly pieced together the story. It must have been that Le Dong chanced upon the treasure, drawing the attention of Lu Chen and Zeng Quan.

“How could I have gotten that treasure? If I had, do you think I’d still be alive standing here?”

“Since you didn’t get the treasure, why did Lu Chen and Zeng Quan ambush you?” Lin Yanghao pondered. Le Dong seemed honest; if he had truly obtained it, the other cultivators wouldn’t have given up so easily, and Le Dong would have been dead long ago.

But if he hadn’t, why pursue him? Surely Lu Chen and Zeng Quan weren’t simply bored.

“It’s like this—though I didn’t get the treasure, I acquired this…” As he spoke, Le Dong produced a piece of black-violet stone.

“What is this?” Lin Yanghao stared at the stone, momentarily speechless.

That broken, black-violet stone had incited so much greed.

“This is called Star Emperor’s Violet Iron. I found it in the Thousand Saints Marsh after enduring countless hardships, only for Lu Chen and Zeng Quan to catch wind of it,” Le Dong explained further.

Thousand Saints Marsh!

How could it be such a coincidence!

Yes, this was exactly the place where the artifact spirit, Ling’er, had spoken of the purple wisteria. Lin Yanghao had searched the southern region to no avail, only to find that the Thousand Saints Marsh was here in the northern region. He needed to visit this marsh as soon as possible. Even if he didn’t care for the treasure, he had to find the purple wisteria for Ling’er’s sake.

Thinking this, Lin Yanghao remembered Ling’er. He wondered anxiously how she fared now, and a wave of melancholy swept over him.

Through Le Dong’s explanation, Lin Yanghao learned that Star Emperor’s Violet Iron was a rare material for crafting artifacts; with a top-tier craftsman, it could even forge a supreme spiritual item. No wonder Lu Chen and Zeng Quan had tried to steal it.

“I see,” Lin Yanghao nodded, understanding. Though precious, he felt no desire to snatch it. Star Emperor’s Violet Iron was of no use to him. Even if he stole it, it would be wasted.

The law of survival in the cultivation world was simple: the strong rule, the weak are fodder, and treasures belong to the worthy. Whoever possessed the greatest strength was master. Though Lin Yanghao once looked down on the practice of killing for treasure, after years in the spirit realm, he knew all too well that without such ruthlessness, he would only face his own destruction.

Suddenly, the Cloud Pendant in Lin Yanghao’s consciousness began to tremble.

The shock startled him, but soon he was overwhelmed with joy.

“Ling’er, Ling’er, is that you? Have you awakened?” Lin Yanghao tried to communicate, excitement flooding his heart.

Two hums answered him. Lin Yanghao was overjoyed—Ling’er was safe! The gloom that had shadowed his heart vanished instantly.

The Cloud Pendant’s reaction grew even more intense.

“Could it be that something Ling’er needs is nearby?” Seeing the pendant so agitated, Lin Yanghao was convinced that something essential to Ling’er was close.

“Brother Lin, what’s the matter? What are you searching for?” Le Dong asked, puzzled. He wondered if Lin Yanghao had gone mad—first he grinned foolishly, now he seemed to be frantically searching for something. Had Zeng Quan struck him senseless?

At that moment, Lin Yanghao’s pupils contracted as he fixed his gaze on the Star Emperor’s Violet Iron in Le Dong’s hand.

Yes! It had to be it!

Ling’er surely needed this Star Emperor’s Violet Iron. Without hesitation, as Le Dong let his guard down, Lin Yanghao snatched the stone from his hand.

For Ling’er’s sake, Lin Yanghao no longer cared about right or wrong.

“What are you doing! Give it back!” Le Dong was stunned, feeling as if his soul had left him. He had nearly died for this Star Emperor’s Violet Iron, lost so many elite disciples, and now Lin Yanghao had taken it—how could he not panic? At that moment, Le Dong was beside himself with fury, almost wishing to devour Lin Yanghao whole.

As soon as the Star Emperor’s Violet Iron was in his grasp, the Cloud Pendant immediately calmed.

“Could the Star Emperor’s Violet Iron help Ling’er recover?” Lin Yanghao wondered.

As he held the stone, a cold aura seeped from it, flowing through his hands and into the Cloud Pendant. In moments, the icy energy was depleted from the Star Emperor’s Violet Iron.

Lin Yanghao realized Ling’er must have absorbed all she needed.

Now, as he looked at the stone in his hand, it felt hollow, as if it had lost its soul.