Chapter Thirteen: The Portrait Scroll

  "Auntie, don't worry. Lin Xi won't cause you trouble like before from now on."

  Lin Xi Cheng said sincerely.

  "Xī ér, it seems you've really grown up."

  Lin Ruyun revealed a hint of a relieved smile.

  In the great hall, after a moment of silence, Lin Xi finally said:

  "Auntie, is there anything else you want to say to me?"

  He had long noticed that Lin Ruyun came out of the main hall with a worried and preoccupied look. Logically, since Lin Xi won against Meng Jun, Lin Ruyun should be happy and joyful.

  But in fact, Lin Ruyun's eyes still held a deep-seated worry that hadn't decreased much.

  Lin Xi didn't know where she was hiding her worries.

  Lin Xi had just finished speaking when he saw Lin Ruyun's body tremble, her face full of surprise, obviously having been struck by Lin Xi's words.

  "Xī ér......, you may have won this time against Meng Jun, but don't be too proud of yourself."

  Lin Ruyun hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to speak out:

  "In five more months, you'll be eighteen years old. By then, I'm afraid Meng Jun and the others will take advantage of this opportunity to target you again!"

  Lin Gao Yun's eyebrows were difficult to conceal her sorrowful expression.

  "Huh?"

  Lin Xi furrowed his brow and said in surprise, "What's so special about being eighteen? Are you saying I'm still afraid of them when they come?"

  Lin Ruyun shook her head:

  "No. Xi'er, you may not know yet. Our Wu Lei Sect has a rule for the young master who inherits the sect's great power. That is, if the young master of the sect has not broken through to the sixth layer of Shen Xing Realm at the age of 18, it will be considered that he does not have the qualifications and talent to inherit the position of the master, and his identity as the young master will be directly stripped."

  "This rule was set by your grandfather. It's to pick out the genius from among the descendants, so that the position of the head of the family doesn't fall into the hands of a mediocre person. You've wasted six years on your martial arts, and those six years are equivalent to being completely wasted. Although you defeated Wang Yuehe of the fifth level at the Council of Elders, your cultivation is still only at the third level of Tempering Body. There's a huge gap of three major levels between you and the sixth level of Divine Movement. And our sect's rule is that it only recognizes cultivation level, not strength!"

  Lin Yugyun could no longer conceal the deep worries in her heart.

  "What? There's such a rule!"

  Lin Xi was shocked in her heart, as if struck by lightning, staring blankly.

  It was also his first time hearing this rule.

  "Alas, this is also why I've been worried. You're still only at the third stage of the Tempering Body period, and you need to cross three more stages to reach the sixth stage of the Divine Movement period. To achieve this, even the core disciples of our Five Thunder Sect need at least five years; I took four years; your father took three years; and even the great elder of the Dragon Power period spent two and a half years back then!"

  Lin Ruyun let out a sigh:

  "If time were enough, with your talent, Auntie would have no worries, but now, you only have five months left!!"

  Lin Xi's heart sank to the bottom of the water after hearing these words.

  Known as the number one master of the Five Thunder Sect, a powerful elder who can fight against a giant dragon, needs two and a half years. But Lin Xi only needed five months!

  In five months, even the most talented disciples of many sects would be lucky to reach the fourth level of Iron Bone Realm. Let alone the sixth level of Divine Movement Realm!

  Reaching the sixth stage of Divine Movement before the age of eighteen, although difficult, is not impossible. However, Lin Xi's six years of wasted time became his fatal blow!

  Even the most arrogant and domineering martial arts genius wouldn't dare say such arrogant words, to be able to advance from the third stage of Body Tempering to the sixth stage of Divine Movement in just five short months!

  Lin Xi felt a heavy weight.

  A huge chasm lay before him.

  This news is too unexpected!

  However, although the gap is huge, Lin Xi has never had any intention of retreating.

  "Aunt, don't worry. This goal may be an impossible task for others, but not necessarily for me. - Aunt, you forgot. Although I only have the cultivation of the Tempering Body stage, I still defeated Wang Yuehe of the fifth layer back then. At that time, who didn't think I was going to lose? If I can do what others can't, I will definitely be able to complete this!"

  Lin Xi burst out laughing, his long eyebrows relaxed, and although the challenge was huge, it also successfully stirred up his fighting spirit.

  "This... is also true. At that time, even if it were the Great Elder, it would not have been possible to do so. — Perhaps, Xi'er, you might really be able to do it."

  Lin Yugyun was also infected by Lin Xi's strong confidence. Thinking of the challenge that took place in the main hall, he suddenly felt that this matter might not be impossible if placed on Lin Xi:

  "You little scamp, tell your aunt, how did you manage to do it?"

  Lin Xi used a single internal family fist, piercing through Wang Yuehe's tough skin and injuring his internal organs. This scene left an extremely deep impression on the minds of all the Five Thunder Sect elders, almost overturning their understanding of martial arts.

  Lin Ruyun is no exception.

  "This is a secret. Guess it, Auntie?"

  Lin Xi would never reveal the secrets of Neijiaquan. This was his greatest secret, one that didn't belong to this world. To a certain extent, it was Lin Xi's absolute secret that he couldn't tell anyone.

  "You little scamp..."

  Lin Ruyun laughed and scolded. Being hit by Lin Xi like this, her heart also felt much lighter.

  "By the way, there's something else too, it's time for me to hand it over to you."

  Lin Ruyun suddenly stood up and took out something from a secret place in the great hall, under Lin Xi's astonished gaze.

  "This thing originally belonged to your mother. Later, it was kept by your father as a treasured possession. After that, when your father encountered trouble, it passed into my hands. Now, you've grown up and it's time for me to return it to you."

  Lin Ruyun said, handing over the thing in her hand, feeling relieved.

  "Scroll painting?"

  Lin Xi was startled and raised his head, then slowly opened it under Lin Guyun's nod.

  This is a portrait of a woman. The woman in the painting wears a red imperial court lady's dress, elegant and refined, looking like an immortal. Her mouth corners are smiling, not seductive, but with a kind of unusual tenderness, making people who see her feel a warm and intimate atmosphere from the bottom of their hearts.

  When Lin Xi saw the woman for the first time, a strange sense of familiarity arose in his heart, as if he had seen someone very close and important to him.

  In the depths of his mind, there was a strange and mysterious bond that connected him to the woman in the painting. Yet, Lin Xi was also extremely certain that he had never seen this woman before.

  "This is..."

  Lin Xi seemed to be thinking of something, vaguely thought of something, but didn't dare to confirm.

  "This is your mother."

  Lin Ruyu's words revealed the identity of the woman in the painting.

  "What?! My mother..."

  Lin Xi's heart skipped a beat. He had originally only opened the painting halfway, but upon hearing these words, he immediately unfolded the entire canvas.

  In anyone's heart, mother is sacred. Lin Xi is no exception.

  "Not long after you were born, your mother left the Thunderbolt Sect. She was originally a princess of the imperial family, a golden branch and jade leaf. Having been outside for a long time, it's natural to think of home. However, on her way back to visit her relatives, the Great Liang Dynasty was destroyed by someone. Your mother also disappeared without a trace on her way back to Mount Thunderbolt, taken away by someone. When your father received this news, he was greatly shocked and almost went mad! From then on, he no longer cared about the affairs of the sect, his whole person lost his soul, and he became like a madman, searching everywhere for news of your mother's whereabouts. The reason why he died in the Beast Mountain Range is also related to this matter."

  Lin Ruyun's eyes revealed deep sorrow and desolation:

  "This scroll painting is the only thing your mother left behind. Your father hung it on the wall every day, facing her, missing your mother. Now that your father has passed away and you've grown up, it's time to return your mother's portrait to you."

  "Auntie's meaning is, Mother didn't die?!"

  Lin Xi's heart was turbulent and unpredictable.

  This news was a complete bombshell for him, completely overturning his understanding of his mother.

  In Lin Xi's memory, he only knew that his mother was a royal princess, and nothing else. Lin Xi's father, Lin Xiong, also kept it confidential and never mentioned anything about his mother.

  Lin Xi originally thought his mother had long been dead, but Lin Ruyun is now telling him that his mother, Yang Princess, might not have died after all!

  "Yes, your father always believed that she was still alive. Xi'er, promise your aunt that no matter what happens, you must not do anything impulsive. Your current strength is too weak, and leaving the Five Thunder Mountains, you don't even have the ability to protect yourself. If something unexpected happens to you again, how can your aunt go on?"

  Lin Ruyun's face was tense. She grasped Lin Xi's hand and begged bitterly.

  She had already regretted saying those words. If Lin Xi didn't care about anything and went to find his mother, then she would really be unable to escape blame! Even if she died, she wouldn't have the face to see her brother underground.

  Lin Xi's heart was filled with emotion, and in this world, without a doubt, the best person for him was his aunt standing before him!

  "Aunt, don't worry. I won't be impulsive. Before defeating Meng Jun and taking over as the leader, I won't go anywhere! Now that I'm seventeen, I can distinguish between what's important and what's not, and I know what to do and what not to do."

  Lin Xi smiled and said.

  He rolled up his mother's portrait again and put it in his bosom. For Lin Xi, this was the only thing he had that was related to his mother.

  "Xī ér, you've really grown up."

  Lin Ru felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

  Lin Xi smiled slightly, his surface calm, but in his heart he was turbulent.

  At the age of eighteen, he was challenged. Although he spoke lightly in the temple, half of those words were used to comfort his aunt Lin Ruyun. Deep down, Lin Xi didn't have a firm grasp either.

  However, on this road of sectarian power struggle, Lin Xi had no choice. Even if not for himself, Lin Xi must consider his aunt.

  Once Meng Jun and others grasp the power of the sect, what awaits Aunt Lin Ruyun is absolutely not a good outcome!

  She is her own sole relative in this world. Lin Xi absolutely will not permit anyone to harm her!

  "Mother must be rescued. But Auntie can't be disappointed either. Only by grasping the present, is it possible to grasp the future..."

  Lin Xi's eyes flashed, and he immediately suppressed all the distracting thoughts in his mind.

  What you grasp in your hand is what truly matters.

  Soon, the maid brought up the dishes, which were very sumptuous. Lin Xi hadn't had dinner with his aunt for a long time, and this meal was enjoyed by both uncle and niece.