Chapter 157: The Devil's Love-Forgetting Art!
"I refuse to accept this... I refuse!"
Lin Canglang struggled on the ground, howling in despair. Amidst his struggles, he finally saw the figure in black clearly.
Enveloped in a voluminous black robe, with a ghastly mask covering its head, the figure was terrifying to behold.
Only its eyes were visible, ones that were hard to describe.
In his eyes were strange runes, as if he were not a being of this world.
The figure in black stared at Lin Canglang, its eyes devoid of any emotion yet radiating a profound wisdom that seemed to encompass the mysteries of the universe.
Finally, the figure in black robe spoke slowly, "You... are not dead yet."
Its voice was remarkably calm, as serene as a tranquil lake, devoid of any ripples, and even capable of soothing souls and calming hearts.
Initially filled with fear and unease, Lin Canglang immediately regained his composure. Even the overwhelming sense of terror vanished in an instant.
Lin Canglang experienced a sudden sense of ease, and remarkably, even his wounds appeared to have fully healed.
Rising slowly, he regarded the enigmatic figure in black before him with disbelief, then timidly inquired, "Might I ask, Senior, who you are and why you intervened to save me?"
"Those are not questions you should be posing," replied the figure, standing with hands clasped behind its back and speaking in the same composed tone as before. "You are spared death not because it's undeserved, but because I don't require your demise. When the time comes for your death, whether you flee to the ends of the earth or the heavens above, you will not escape."
"Indeed, indeed!" Lin Canglang's teeth chattered nervously. "Your mastery defies comprehension, and I have only encountered tales of such power. Could it be that you are a god... a divine being from the nine realms above?"
"Divine being? What an insignificant designation. The heavens hold no sway over the destiny of mankind," retorted the figure in black robe, the runes in its eyes flickering momentarily. Suddenly, the world around them collapsed entirely, and in the next instant, Lin Canglang found himself amidst a vast expanse of ice and snow.
In a fleeting moment, the icy chill subsided, revealing a landscape now transformed into a hellish inferno!
Soon after, thunderous roars echoed, Lin Canglang finding himself ensnared in rolling thunderstorms!
In several short instances, the fabric of reality shifted, defying the laws of nature! Such power seemed nothing short of miraculous!
Cursing the divine and cursing fate itself!
Who exactly was this person, daring to commit such a flagrant act of defiance towards the heavens?
Lin Canglang's inner being, even his soul, trembled with fear. Why had he encountered such a figure?
Was sparing his life an indication of an intention to take him as a disciple?
With that, the figure in the black and the hunched old man immediately vanished into the void.
In that fleeting moment of disappearance, the hunched old man gazed into the distance, his vacant eyes shimmering with a hint of tears.
...
Three days later.
With the assistance of Elder Yao and several other senior members, the Wenxian Sect's affairs gradually returned to order.
In reality, with the nine peaks of the Wenxian Sect governing independently, the position of sect leader didn't entail much administrative work.
As Ling Feng became more familiar with his role, he realized that being a sect leader was essentially just being a figurehead for the sect, and most of the time, one could focus on their own cultivation.
However, merely being the face of a sect was not a simple matter.
Liuxian Peak, in the Discussion Hall.
The peak leader of each peak had already been re-elected and was now meeting the newly appointed sect leader in the main hall.
In a mere three days, word of Ling Feng's assumption of the sect leader's position within the Wenxian Sect had circulated among the neighboring sects of the Xianzong Mountain.
However, given that the Wenxian Sect was ultimately considered a third-rate sect, the appointment of a new sect leader was deemed inconsequential by the broader sect community, and hardly caused a stir.
"Sect Leader." A messenger disciple bowed. "The teams sent out to search for Lin Canglang have found no trace of him."
"It's been three days already. Continuing the search won't yield any results." Ling Feng calmly waved his hand. "Instruct the disciples to return. There's no need to search any further."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
Seated nearby, Duanmu Qingshan heard the news, sighed, and clenched his fist. A glint of determination flashed in his eyes, as if he had made a decision.
Shortly after, with all matters concluded, the peak masters departed, leaving only Ling Feng, Duanmu Qingshan, and Elder Yao in the main hall.
Standing up tall, Duanmu Qingshan spoke, "Little Feng, you've done remarkably well in these three days. It's time for me to leave."
"Master, why are you leaving in such a hurry?"
"Indeed, Junior Brother, perhaps it's better to wait until the sect stabilizes before leaving," Elder Yao quickly advised.
"Whether I leave early or late makes no difference. With you in command, Little Feng, I feel it's more than enough for the sect’s survival." Duanmu Qingshan sighed lightly. "This time, I'm leaving to search for my unfortunate daughter's whereabouts. Secondly, I also need to eliminate that scoundrel Lin Canglang. As long as he lives, my resentment remains unquenched!"