C23 One Flower Five Petals!

Chapter Twenty-Three: One Flower, Five Petals

"Stick man, appear!"

Lin Xi devoured a large chunk of green lizard meat and witnessed an explosion of purple light on the flying eaves to the right of his mind's eye. It was immeasurably more majestic than the stick man's first appearance during the day.

Despite the immense energy of the green lizard meat, it failed to cause a single drop of green dew to fall. Lin Xi realized that as his power continued to grow, so would the difficulty of advancing. The energy capable of shattering his current level might not indefinitely condense into flawless green dew.

Meanwhile, the stick man Wu Yan materialized from the thick purple light, roughly the same size as before, but with facial features on its head that seemed to be coming into clearer focus.

At this moment, Lin Xi couldn't afford to ponder over this; his mind was on high alert. He lifted his foot, assuming the initial stance of the Fallen Leaves Flying Flower Steps.

Boom!

In an instant, Wu Yan split into nine petals, vanishing with the wind. It was as if nine shadows dashed off in the same direction, their movements enigmatic, their paths mysterious, and their speed astonishing. Lin Xi watched, his head spinning from the spectacle.

It appeared that the stick man, formed from even more powerful energy, executed the first layer of the Fallen Leaves Flying Flower Steps with a depth and simplicity surpassing previous attempts.

At that moment, the footsteps behind Lin Xi followed at a pace that suggested no immediate intent to kill.

With a cold laugh, Lin Xi initiated his move, transforming into a flying flower. He twirled into the air amidst the damp, dim midnight, drifting effortlessly over the rooftop of a small courtyard.

"If you don't want to cause a stir here, let's head somewhere quiet and secluded!" Lin Xi thought to himself, a sneer in his heart. He kept an eye on the stick man's movements while delving into the intricacies of each subtle motion.

He intentionally slowed the pace of his four-petal flight, not wanting to outpace his pursuers too quickly.

Thinking you can outsmart me, Xi, and still live to tell the tale?

At this point, Lin Xi was indeed capable of performing the Five Petals of the Flying Flower, even the Six Petals.

However, the deeper mysteries of the Five Petals eluded him, and as for the Six Petals, both his understanding and skill were far from sufficient. For now, he didn't even want to consider it.

In Rosehaven, if one could master the Five Petals technique of the Flying Flower Steps flawlessly, even at its most basic level, only Lin Taishang of the Lin family could possibly match them throughout the entire town.

But would Lin Taishang personally come after him to kill him? Xi, no longer the failure of yesterday, didn't even need protection. But if Lin Taishang were to pursue him with lethal intent, it would not be a sign of foolishness but of utter madness.

At this moment, Lin Xi focused his attention on the stick man, urging him to practice the first layer of the Nine Petals over and over. Particularly when practicing the Five Petals, he slowed his movements to the utmost limit to facilitate imitation and understanding.

Even as he maintained his speed at Four Petals, the footsteps trailing him grew increasingly distant. Lin Xi was aware, though, that they hadn't lost track of him.

Despite Rosehaven's vastness, Lin Xi's relentless execution of the Fallen Leaves Flying Flower Steps had him leaping over rooftops in swathes. In mere moments, he found himself in the countryside beyond the town's borders.

Out here, the air was not as damp and oppressive as within the town, with the occasional breeze bringing a refreshing moisture. Feeling exhilarated, Lin Xi's body instinctively followed the stick man Wu Yan's movements, executing a perfect Five Petals stance.

This flawless Five Petals drifted with the wind, seemingly without direction, yet radiating an enigmatic essence. In that instant, a tide of realization swept over him, plunging him into an irresistible state of emotion and artistic conception.

Almost without thinking, Lin Xi continued to perform the Five Petals, his form floating effortlessly. In the profound darkness, he had long since shaken off his pursuers, leaving them without a trace to follow.

After several iterations of the first layer of the Fallen Leaves Flying Flower Steps, Lin Xi felt as though he had become one with the pre-rain wind. The beauty and mystique of his movements were such that he himself was unaware of how naturally he had elevated his understanding of the technique to a new realm.

He even began to question whether this so-called yellow level movement technique, derived from a yellow level cultivation method, was truly just that—merely yellow level.

Finally, a bolt of lightning cleaved through the dense clouds, unleashing a torrential downpour driven by an ever-colder wind.

The rain fell in sheets, lightning streaked across the sky, and the sea breeze whipped up a frenzy.

Amidst this tempest, Lin Xi unleashed the fury he had bottled up for over a decade.

"Yiya!"

His cry, as fierce as a splitting mountain, pierced through the storm, echoing across the vast darkness and the endless earth.

The Weeping Mountains, illuminated by lightning, resembled a colossal primordial beast. Lin Xi's howl resonated with boundless passion.

I am no longer worthless!

I will defy fate!

To all who are after me, if you dare, come forth!

Lin Xi continued to stuff green lizard meat into his mouth, the massive influx of energy rising within him, eagerly absorbed by the stick man.

At this moment, Lin Xi abandoned the Fallen Leaves and Flying Flowers Steps, standing resolute in the tempest, bracing for the inevitable pursuit.

Tonight, amidst the storm, he intended to carry out his first kill.

To take a life!

To slay a man!

As he consumed more green lizard meat, the stick man's movements etched themselves into Lin Xi's memory, ready for replay.

By now, he had fully grasped the essence of the Six Petals Flower technique.

He was convinced that with continued practice, he would soon master the Six Petals Flower, perhaps even in the next moment.

No one in the history of Rosehaven, nor in the annals of the Lin family, had ever achieved this level of mastery.

Confronted by unknown assailants, Lin Xi's confidence soared.

Even if he couldn't defeat them, he could certainly escape!

...

In a copse of trees, a tall shadow lurked behind the trunk, seemingly waiting for something.

Despite the darkness, he was cautious not to reveal his identity, his face shrouded by a black cloth.

But the fierce wind and sporadic lightning bursts threatened his anonymity.

The wind lifted the cloth from his face, and flashes of lightning revealed his visage.

This man was none other than Lin Batian's uncle and Lin Fan's father, Lin Yutian.

Lin Yutian, an eighth-level late-stage Realm of Might Warrior, possessed profound skill in the Fallen Leaves Flying Flower Steps, capable of executing four petals. Within the Lin family, he ranked just below Lin Taishang and Lin Batian himself.

He had caught up with Lin Xi, but was astounded by Lin Xi's speed, which seemed beyond belief. He hadn't seen Lin Xi perfectly execute the technique of five petals.

That was because he lacked Lin Xi's night vision.

Lin Yutian could understand that Lin Xi, being able to perform the four-petal variation of the Light-body Technique during the day, was slightly faster than himself.

Yet, he struggled to come to terms with this reality.

A nobody who was considered worthless just the day before had not only cleared his meridians in a single moment, striking back powerfully and injuring his son Lin Fan, but also caused an unprecedented stir in Rosehaven.

The Light-body Technique with four petals was one thing, but the Flying Flower Blade with four petals... How had he mastered it?

Moreover, he was immune to poison, and his rate of progression was alarmingly rapid.

If it wasn't for some miraculous encounter, then divine intervention must have played a part.

It would have been tolerable if there were no bad blood between Lin Fan and Lin Xi. He wouldn't jeopardize the Lin family's stronghold or its future over Lin Xi's emergence.

But he was well aware of the deep-seated animosity Lin Xi held for his son.

From a young age, Lin Fan, under Lin Huan's wing, would engage in fights every few days, if not daily.

And Lin Yutian had never intervened to stop Lin Fan's actions.

In his view, a cripple born with twisted and blocked meridians was nothing but a drain on the Lin family's resources. Moreover, he was the offspring of his cousin's drunken indiscretion with a lowly maidservant.

This was a stain on the Lin family's honor and a corruption of their bloodline.

Yet, this cursed weakling had survived a lightning strike and had turned the tables.

If Lin Xi were allowed to continue growing, Lin Yutian wouldn't be a match for him in a year, or even in a matter of months, perhaps not even after waking up the next day.

And once Lin Xi had grown, would he spare Lin Fan and his family?

Lin Xi had to be eliminated!

Before his death, it would be best to uncover his secrets and the nature of his fortunate encounter.

Even if that proved impossible, Lin Xi must be slain.

Lin Yutian was confident that, although Lin Xi might be slightly faster, in terms of realm and strength, particularly in combat skills, fighting techniques, and experience, he was still a novice.

Furthermore, the intelligence he had gathered suggested that Lin Xi possessed the strength of only four pythons.

With such strength, Lin Yutian could dispatch him as easily as one would a chicken.

Lin Xi stood defiantly in the midst of the storm, his face momentarily illuminated by a lightning strike, the scorn unmistakable upon his features.

Lin Yutian was aware that he had been spotted by Lin Xi.

But that was of no consequence.

If he could eliminate Lin Xi without any witnesses, everything would be perfectly satisfying.

Emerging from the small grove, Lin Yutian moved with the powerful gait of a dragon and the fierce determination of a tiger, his aura bristling with murderous intent.

Lin Yutian had no desire to reveal his identity at this juncture, yet he yearned to seize Lin Xi's serendipitous fortune before dealing the fatal blow.

With a purposefully raspy voice, he demanded in a low and angry growl, "If you value your life, hand over your fortuitous encounter. A bastard like you doesn't deserve the favor of the heavens!"

Soaked to the bone, Lin Xi shook out his long hair with a forceful flick, sending droplets scattering, his demeanor dripping with contempt.

"You're after my fortuitous encounter? Somehow, I get the feeling you're more interested in slaughtering me, aren't you?"

The barely restrained rage and intent to kill emanating from Lin Yutian made it clear to Lin Xi that this was not just any adversary; this was someone with a deep-seated vendetta against him.

In Rosehaven Town, aside from the Lin family, who else could harbor such extreme animosity towards Lin Xi?

The other three major families or any other powers might pursue Lin Xi with the sole aim of stealing his fortune or capturing him to exploit his blood for their own purposes, but they wouldn't possess such visceral hatred and desire to kill.

Drenched as he was, Lin Yutian's clothing clung to him in the downpour. Lacking the ability to step into the Realm of Essence, he couldn't project his Genuine Qi to repel the rain.

Lin Xi recognized the figure before him; with his night vision and the intermittent flashes of lightning, it would be impossible not to.

"Hmph! Lin Yutian, you're the last person I expected to be the first to try and take my life!"