C36 The Former Heavenly Girl of the Lin Family

Although Jiang Yuanhong had not achieved a breakthrough to the third grade, the substantial gains he had made left him thoroughly content.

In Giant Stone City, reaching the second grade in any discipline, be it Talisman, Alchemy, or Forging Artifact, meant wielding significant influence.

Previously, as a Grade Two Talisman Master, Jiang Yuanhong commanded such respect that no one in the city would dare provoke him.

The third grade, however, was a level unattained by anyone in Giant Stone City, as achieving it represented a transformative leap.

In any field, including the Cultivation Way, stepping into the third grade allowed one to found their own school, commanding respect even beyond the city's borders. Hence, the third grade was also known as Grandmaster.

Jiang Yuanhong, while not yet a Grandmaster, exuded an aura so close to one that it led Qin Yuxuan to her mistaken impression.

"Is he really on the verge of a breakthrough?" Qin Yuxuan wondered in disbelief.

Her thoughts inadvertently drifted to Xiao Yu. Jiang Yuanhong had often secluded himself for cultivation, with little to show for it. Yet, this time, after conversing with Xiao Yu, he seemed to have made remarkable progress. Could Xiao Yu be the catalyst?

As Qin Yuxuan pondered, Jiang Yuanhong's next statement left her agape.

"Go, prepare some generous gifts. I shall personally visit the Lin Family to pay my respects to Young Brother Xiao!"

Qin Yuxuan questioned her own ears. What was Jiang Yuanhong's status? In Giant Stone City, he was the one others sought out, not the other way around. It was customary for him to summon others, not to visit them.

Yet now, he was planning to take the initiative to visit Xiao Yu, and with substantial gifts in tow?

Qin Yuxuan looked as if she had seen a ghost. What was Xiao Yu's true identity, and what sort of charm did he possess to warrant such treatment from Jiang Yuanhong?

...

Lin Family.

As the members of the Wang Family approached, Xiao Yu's expression remained calm, yet an icy indifference shone through. He was ready to unleash the Dragon Drawing Heavenly Talisman at a moment's notice. Should these individuals dare to attack, they would face only one fate: death.

On the verge of having his legs broken, Xiao Yu was met with the cold stares of everyone present, both from the Lin Family and the Wang Family. Not a single voice rose in protest.

"Patriarch, please show mercy!" came an urgent cry as a figure hurried into the hall.

Lin Yurou was still catching her breath from her rush to arrive. Afflicted by the Six Soul Lock Heart Incantation, her body was frailer than that of an average person, and her hasty journey left her complexion pale.

"Mother!" Xiao Yu's face showed a flicker of concern.

He had been ready to fight his way out of the Lin Family's clutches, but Lin Yurou's arrival made him pause, wary of the consequences.

With so many onlookers, any action could lead to someone using the confusion to threaten Lin Yurou, leaving him powerless.

"Today's events have been caused by Xiao Yu alone; they have nothing to do with you. Stand down!" Lin Wentian said, his brow furrowed and his tone brimming with impatience.

"Clan Master, I have never asked anything of you since my birth into the Lin Family. Today, I implore you to spare Yuer just this once. Whatever his transgressions, I am prepared to atone for them in his stead," Lin Yurou stated as she stepped forward, her voice soft yet resolute.

Her simple plea visibly complicated Lin Wentian's expression, rendering him silent for a lengthy moment.

After what seemed an eternity, he finally spoke, "I would have never imagined that you, once so proud and peerless, never bowing to anyone, would one day lower yourself to plead."

"Miss Lin, it's been some time since we last met. Your elegance remains unchanged," Wang Yue remarked, his tone detached as he ceased urging the Wang Family's servants to act, instead fixing Lin Yurou with a cold gaze.

"Greetings, Head of the Wang Family," Lin Yurou responded evenly, as though offering the most basic of salutations.

Did Lin Yurou and Wang Yue know each other? What was happening? Xiao Yu, observing from the sidelines, was brimming with confusion.

Judging by the demeanor of Lin Wentian and Wang Yue, Lin Yurou seemed far from the ordinary figure she appeared to be now.

Xiao Yu wasn't the only one perplexed; the younger members of the Lin Family were equally baffled.

"Many years ago, the Lin Family's Heavenly Girl possessed a cultivation level that was nothing short of astounding. At just sixteen, she had already reached the Qi-transforming Stage and was merely a step away from the Hidden Void Stage. Such prowess was unparalleled in Giant Stone City; she could outmatch even the reclusive elders of the major families."

"Regrettably, your exceptional talent also fostered your arrogance, leading you to dismiss Giant Stone City as a mere speck of dust, incapable of furthering your journey. Hence, you decisively left, forsaking the Lin Family."

"Yet, who could have predicted that the former Heavenly Girl of the Lin Family would one day return, bringing along a young child? Although you came back, your once formidable cultivation had vanished, and the son you returned with was unable to even gather the Spirit River, essentially a cripple."

"What I never anticipated was that it would be your son who reduced Feier to his current state!"

Wang Yue spoke with a calm and detached tone. As contemporaries, how could he not recognize this once-striking woman?

However, he too had not foreseen that their reunion would be under such circumstances.

Thanks to Wang Yue's revelations, the Lin Family's youth now understood the magnitude of Lin Yurou's past strength.

To be a mere step away from the Hidden Void Stage at sixteen was an incredible feat. In present-day Giant Stone City, individuals capable of breaking through to the Qi-transforming Stage were exceedingly rare, let alone reaching the Hidden Void Stage. Even the seasoned hermits of the major families might not have achieved such a level.

Take Lin Xuehan, for instance, now seventeen and a year older than Lin Yurou was back then. Still, she remains at the Spirit Origin Stage. Despite this, her prowess has earned her the title of the foremost among her peers in Giant Stone City, and she is revered as the Lin Family's Heavenly Girl.

However, upon comparison, the current Heavenly Girl of the Lin Family paled in comparison to Lin Yurou!

"The former Heavenly Girl of the Lin Family?" Lin Xuehan was just now learning of these matters, her gaze on Lin Yurou mixed with complexity.

She had always believed her own talent to be unrivaled among her peers, yet she never imagined that Lin Yurou, who appeared so fragile, had once been ten times stronger than her!

Adding to the irony was the fact that her present talent and status were entirely due to the generosity of Lin Yurou's son, Xiao Yu, which filled her with an inexplicable discomfort.

"Alas," Lin Wentian sighed softly, choosing to remain silent.

Indeed, Lin Yurou's talent had been boundless, far outshining Lin Xuehan's.

The Lin Family had once believed that Lin Yurou's talent would bolster their strength and even allow them to eclipse the three major families.

But as Wang Yue had pointed out, Lin Yurou's talent also gave her exceedingly high standards, leading her to believe that staying in Giant Stone City would stifle her growth.

Therefore, at sixteen, Lin Yurou defied her family's wishes and decisively left Giant Stone City, her destination unknown to all within its walls.

Years later, she returned with Xiao Yu to the Lin Family, but her cultivation had vanished, rendering her a mere mortal.

The Lin Family resented Lin Yurou for her perceived heartlessness; despite her prodigious talent, she did not contribute to the family's rise but instead abandoned them. Moreover, upon her return, Lin Yurou was devoid of her former power, and her son was regarded as nothing more than a burden.

For these reasons, the Lin Family harbored deep dissatisfaction with Lin Yurou, deeming her actions as the height of selfishness.

Had she not been so determined to leave, the Lin Family might have already surpassed the three great families and emerged as the new dominant force in the city.