Chapter 98: Birth of a Divine Weapon: The God-Slaying Bow

Before the Grand Tournament of the Spirit Realm even began, Duan Wuya witnessed a private meeting between the elders of the Flowing Cloud Sect, the Constant Sun Sect, the Marvelous Sound Sect, and the Xuan Kun Palace. He was no fool; he understood immediately what was happening. The four powers were joining forces. This was a plot to completely annihilate their Beast Taming Sect.

After returning to their encampment, Duan Wuya found Xu Miaoyun resting with her eyes closed in her tent.

"I truly don't understand what you and the Sect Master are thinking," he said, his voice laced with frustration. "Do you really think Lin Yun can come back alive? That's the Ancient Forbidden Land we're talking about, and besides, the boy had already stepped outside the Meta-Realm. You know that a mere Origin Sea cultivator cannot possibly survive in a place like that."

Xu Miaoyun nodded, her gaze fixed on the distance. "Perhaps."

"The Grand Tournament is not important to me," she said calmly. "I came here only to fulfill a promise."

Duan Wuya sighed. She was completely impervious to persuasion.

"The various powers are all stirring, poised for action. They want to unite against us. You must know how dangerous this is for the Beast Taming Sect."

This time, he thought, they were truly doomed to be finished in the Grand Tournament.

Just then, a letter was delivered. The messenger was a disciple from the Flowing Cloud Sect. Dressed in white robes, he strode in, his posture arrogant and swaggering.

"Elder Duan!" The disciple smiled, but there was no courtesy in his tone.

Duan Wuya's eyes narrowed. To think the Sect Master had once wanted to cooperate with the Flowing Cloud Sect. Wasn't that just like asking a tiger for its skin? It was clear they had never intended to treat the Beast Taming Sect as equals.

"What is it?" Duan Wuya asked in a low voice, suppressing his anger.

"Sect Master Gu instructed me to deliver this to you. In this year's tournament, the Beast Taming Sect's defeat is certain. If Elder Duan is willing to lead your disciples and surrender without a fight, we can spare your lives. Of course, you can also choose not to participate at all."

A direct threat.

Even Xu Miaoyun hadn't expected the Flowing Cloud Sect to be so blunt. That Gu Xiande was known for his hypocrisy, always putting on a false show of benevolence. But this time, he wasn't even bothering to hide his savage ambitions.

Duan Wuya stared at the letter being held out to him, his hands trembling with rage. "What a fine Flowing Cloud Sect! What a fine Gu Xiande! Do you truly believe our Beast Taming Sect has no one left?"

The disciple let out a contemptuous laugh. "I'm afraid that's a matter only you can decide, Elder Duan. Will you surrender and protect your disciples, or will you…"

Duan Wuya was about to erupt in fury when a familiar voice sounded from outside the tent.

"Has that old thief Gu stopped even pretending now?"

The white-robed disciple bellowed, "Who is that? Who dares to speak of my Sect Master with such disrespect?"

He was about to continue his tirade, but at that moment, the speaker walked into the tent. The disciple's angry expression froze on his face. "You… you're not dead?"

The newcomer was none other than the subject of all their discussions: Lin Yun.

The exit from the Chaos Forbidden Land was not in the Beast Taming Sect's territory but was, as it happened, much closer to the tournament grounds. The Chongqing Bird had brought him here directly. Though they had been delayed slightly along the way, they had made it in time.

"It seems this little affair was another one of the old thief's schemes," Lin Yun said, his eyes fixed on the disciple with a chilling grin. "Don't you worry. It'll take more than that to kill me. Go tell that old bastard Gu Xiande that this debt between us… we will settle it one day."

The disciple sneered. "Lin Yun, who do you think you are? You want to settle a score with our Sect Master? You're not even…"

His words caught in his throat. He suddenly found it difficult to breathe. He didn't know when, but Lin Yun was now standing directly in front of him, one hand wrapped around his throat, the grip tightening with each passing second.

"Were you about to say," Lin Yun whispered, "that I'm not worthy?"

"Perhaps. But crushing a little bug like you is not difficult for me at all. What do you think? Do I dare to kill you?"

Duan Wuya had initially wanted to intervene—killing the disciple would have serious repercussions for their sect—but when he looked at Lin Yun, he realized the boy's entire aura was different. A billowing killing intent, so thick it felt tangible, filled the tent, plunging it into a bone-chilling cold. What terrifying killing intent, Duan Wuya thought. To have forged such an aura in the Ancient Forbidden Land… he could only imagine what Lin Yun must have gone through.

The white-robed disciple, who had been so defiant a moment ago, was utterly terrified when he met Lin Yun's gaze. Those cold eyes, devoid of any emotion, made him feel as if his name had just been called by the god of death.

With his last ounce of strength, he managed to gasp, "Help… me!"

Just as the disciple was about to pass out, Lin Yun tossed him aside like a dead dog.

"The score between me and the Flowing Cloud Sect won't be settled so easily," he declared. "And since the other sects, knowing the truth of the matter, still wish to bury their heads in the sand like ostriches… then I'll just have to forcibly wake them up!"

An expression of deep disappointment crossed Lin Yun's face. He truly couldn't believe that the entire Daye cultivation world, knowing full well what a hypocrite Gu Xiande was, would still choose to cooperate with him.

Good thing I made it in time. Otherwise, who knows what would have happened.

"Crawl back from where you came," he said, his voice laced with ice, "and tell the people of the Flowing Cloud Sect that they had better not come looking for trouble with me. Otherwise, don't blame me for striking a killing blow without any regard for our past fellowship."

Under Lin Yun's cold gaze, the disciple didn't dare to linger for another second. He turned and fled for his life. This was a ghost of a place; he didn't want to stay here and die.

Duan Wuya rose and came to stand before Lin Yun, his face a mask of disbelief. "You… you made it out of the Ancient Forbidden Land?"

Lin Yun nodded. "Someone set a trap for me. It seems to be related to the Flowing Cloud Sect, but unfortunately for them, it wasn't enough to kill me. In fact, thanks to their 'help,' my misfortune turned into a blessing. I've become stronger." He said it with a faint smile.

Duan Wuya looked at him and nodded, his face filled with relief and admiration. "It seems the Sect Master was not mistaken about you. To be able to turn such a desperate situation around… Perhaps the Chongqing Bird and the Sect Master were right all along."

He was truly convinced now. A mere Origin Sea cultivator had actually made it out of the Ancient Forbidden Land alive. That was a place where even Spirit Cauldron Realm masters could meet their end.

Xu Miaoyun walked up to Lin Yun and patted his shoulder. "Well done. You did not disappoint my expectations. Now, it is time for this to be in your hands."

As she spoke, she placed a storage ring in his hand.

Lin Yun glanced inside and froze.

A bow.

He hadn't even taken it out, but a single look was enough to feel its terrifying power.

"This item," Xu Miaoyun said, her voice filled with pride, "is named… the God-Slaying Bow!"