The Prodigies War

In the end, Zhao Tailai handed a storage bag and a book to Lin Xun.

The storage bag contained over a thousand types of rune materials that were required to craft the Nine Dragons Cauldron, of which over one hundred were considered precious treasure-level rune materials.

The book contained the design and instructions for crafting the Nine Dragons Cauldron. It was yellow and old with rusty spots and smudges, and it had seen better days.

According to Zhao Tailai, the founding emperor had once owned a Nine Dragons Cauldron. Unfortunately, it was destroyed in a battle.

Since then, the imperial family had hoped to own another. Unfortunately, the crafting of the cauldron required many difficult conditions, and no one had been able to make one to this day.

Lin Xun skimmed through the book and was immediately captivated by the wonderful designs and ideas inside.

After a long moment, he finally returned to reality and exhaled a long breath. “The design of the cauldron is one of the most marvelous I have seen. It is simply a work of art. I’m so glad to have had a look at it. It has enlightened me!”

He suddenly glanced at Zhao Tailai and Zhao Jingxuan. “Aren’t you two worried that I will leak the design to the world?”

Zhao Tailai smiled contemptuously as though saying, Kid, you are so ignorant.

Even Zhao Jingxuan couldn’t help but smile and explain, “The design will be nothing but a stack of paper in other people’s hands. Firstly, only rune founders would have the ability to craft the cauldron, and secondly, the rune materials required to make the cauldron are incredibly rare. Even the imperial family only barely managed to acquire all the required rune materials over many years.”

Lin Xun’s face lit up with understanding, and he sighed inwardly. That’s right, the Nine Dragons Cauldron is an unparalleled rune armament. The majority of people in the world wouldn’t have the power to even gather the rare rune materials it needed!

Based on that, even if the design was lost, it wouldn’t be much of a problem..

Lin Xun returned to studying the design of the rune armament. It was only after a long moment that he nodded and said, “I am very interested in crafting the cauldron, but it will likely take some time.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can wait for however long it takes.” Zhao Jingxuan’s eyes were alight with delight.

“Fine, but it would be best if you can finish it within three months. Soon, my nephew will leave the empire and return to the Ancient Wasteland Domain,” Zhao Tailai said ruminatively.

“It shouldn’t be a problem.” Lin Xun agreed after a thought.

“Fellow cultivator Lin Xun, sorry to trouble you.” Zhao Jingxuan gave him a cupped fist salute.

“Just call me Lin Xun.” Lin Xun smiled brightly. Zhao Jingxuan left a very good impression on him. Although she was a woman, she wasn’t inferior to any man in the world in terms of generosity, dedication, and vision for the future.

Zhao Jingxuan nodded, her clear and bright eyes staring at Lin Xun. Then, she suddenly chuckled out loud, revealing her pearl-white teeth. “Although I know you’ve already seen through my disguise, you should still call me Zhao Xuan.”

She was bright, pure and graceful even though she was disguised as a man. When she smiled, she exuded a unique, unpretentious but captivating beauty.

“Okay.” Lin Xun also smiled.

Zhao Tailai couldn’t stand watching this anymore. He coughed out loud and said angrily, “Okay, it’s decided, we will leave now.” He found Lin Xun’s smile extremely perverted, he felt like the youth was deliberately trying to get close to Zhao Jingxuan. The young rune founder’s perverted face made him want to beat him up.

He pulled Zhao Jingxuan by the sleeve and hurriedly left without turning around.

“Lin Xun, then I’ll be waiting for good news from you.” Zhao Jingxuan waved.

Lin Xun nodded with a smile and watched them leave. Then, he murmured, “The princess is so beautiful...”

Immediately, he shook his head. Zhao Jingxuan had such a transcendental identity. She was like the moon in the sky. Her father was the emperor, and her mother was the empress. Even her sect was an ancient, mystical place in the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

If he dared to have any thoughts about the princess, the entire imperial family would hunt him down.

……

From that day on, Lin Xun always had Xia Zhi by his side just like their days in Feiyun Village. He felt an indescribable peacefulness, and his mind was at ease.

He soon retreated to the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower. But unlike the last time, Xia Zhi was with him.

The heated discussions and storms on the outside seemed to have subsided as they could no longer affect Lin Xun’s state of mind.

Days flew by.

He maintained a very calm and peaceful state as he crafted the Nine Dragons Cauldron, working at a relaxed pace. When he was wrapped up in his work, he would forget to eat and sleep, but in his free time, he would chat with Xia Zhi. He lived a very fulfilling and peaceful life.

On the other hand, besides eating, Xia Zhi only slept. When it was quiet, she wouldn’t say a word and was particularly well-behaved.

Although her previous cultivation base had been severed, Lin Xun could still sense that her power was climbing steadily every moment!

It was too astonishing.

It had been only three years since the two of them had been separated, yet she had already reached the Cyclic Derivation Stage. It was very bizarre.

According to the old man from the Dark Night Sacred Hall, the first obliteration of the Nine Cycles of Obliteration would transform her previous cultivation base, skills and knowledge into hidden power and allow her to undergo a transformation.

Imaginably, under those circumstances, Xia Zhi’s cultivation was different from ordinary people's.

Lin Xun couldn’t help but sigh. Everyone called him a monster, but compared to Zhao Jingxuan or Xia Zhi, he had nothing to be proud of.

Fortunately, Lin Xun had a firm heart compared to ordinary people, and he knew that he wouldn’t be inferior to anyone if he continued to train.

Who would be the first to attain the great Dao?

Wait and see!

It was still too early to say!

As time passed, the heated discussions about Lin Xun gradually subsided and calmness was restored to the world. That was nature.

Everyone in the world recognized Lin Xun’s strength and reputation. In the coming years, Lin Xun would be as splendid as the shooting stars and shine like the blazing sun.

The outside world was constantly changing, and there was never a lack of sensational incidents. A person couldn’t possibly dominate the stage forever.

Recently, a storm of discussions about the Ancient Wasteland Domain erupted in the Forbidden City and swept the capital.

“Have you heard that twenty disciples from Qinglu Academy, including Gu Yunting, have been sent to train in the Ancient Wasteland Domain?!”

“Not only them, but some geniuses of the younger generation from the seven high clans and other monstrous sects have also left the empire.”

“Why is that?”

“I heard that it is because of the weakening of the Great Dao in our empire. This situation will only worsen in the future and will seriously impact everyone’s cultivation path!”

“I’ve also heard that it will be difficult for Heaven Ascension cultivators to break through to the Cyclic Derivation Stage if they don’t move. That has nothing to do with talent and foundation, but because of the impact of the damaged Great Dao.”

“Is the world going to change?”

“Don’t talk nonsense, that’s just rumors. No one knows if it’s true or false. But if a cultivator could train in the Ancient Wasteland Domain, it is a rare blessing. I heard that it is a vast and incomparable pure land of cultivation with countless immortal traces!”

There were similar discussions all over the Forbidden City, and no one knew whether the rumors were true.

But there was no smoke without fire. Everyone in the Forbidden City had known that the Xie Family’s Little Sword Lord Xie Yutang, the Song Family’s eldest son Song Yunji, Qinglu Academy’s Gu Yunting, Stone Cauldron Alms’ eldest young master Shi Xuan and other geniuses of the younger generation have left the empire to train in the Ancient Wasteland Domain.

It made many people wonder if the rumors were true!

The rumors caused a state of disturbance in the empire. In the end, the imperial family had to come forward to suppress the turmoil.

However, that didn’t stop the discussions from happening in secret, and perhaps when the time came, they would completely break out.

Naturally, Lin Xun was unaware of any of this. He had been on the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower all along and seemed to be isolated from the world. But his life wasn’t the slightest bit boring.

He somewhat enjoyed a carefree and peaceful life. He only needed to concentrate on his work and training.

Two months later.

A dragon-like roar from the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower shook the area and alarmed many people.

However, it quickly subsided and didn't draw too much attention.

On the ninth floor of the Refinement Tower were nine azure dragon images holding their heads high and shuttling back and forth, unleashing deafening roars that rippled the air. In the center of the nine dragons stood a grand-looking cauldron with three legs and two handles. Its surface was flickering with mysterious flowing rune patterns.

In the end, the nine dragon images faded into the cauldron, and the spectacular vision disappeared.

Upon a closer look, the cauldron seemed capable of swallowing the universe in one mouthful. Its two handles seemed to contain the yin and yang, and its three legs looked like they could create all things on earth. It watched over the universe and supported the sky and earth with its mighty power.

Success!

Lin Xun looked fascinated. That’s the Nine Dragons Cauldron, the legendary rune armament of the founding emperor of the empire. It exudes such tremendous and majestic power.

“Lin Xun, this cauldron contains the energy of the imperial way. It will display incredible power if controlled with the qi of the emperor.”

Xia Zhi was also alerted. She couldn’t help but stare at the Nine Dragons Cauldron. “But, it’s not suitable for you. You better not think about using it, otherwise, it will hinder your path.”

Her remark took Lin Xun aback. This little girl knows so much.

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