Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

Chapter 81 Lin Aotian

Lin Aotian ran for two blocks, turned into a small alley, and then stopped.

He leaned against the wall, panting heavily, his forehead covered in cold sweat—not from exhaustion, but from fear.

He had actually noticed the boy in the audience and the man in dark brown clothes beside him while he was on the stage.

The man looked ordinary, the kind of person you wouldn't notice in a crowd, but Lin Aotian just felt something was off.

He couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong; it was just a gut feeling.

So he deliberately pointed at the person with his finger, trying to test him.

This single finger gesture nearly scared him out of his wits.

The moment his finger pointed at that person, the jade pendant in his arms suddenly became so hot it felt like it was about to catch fire!

He withdrew his finger and pointed at the boy again. Instantly, he felt several powerful auras staring intently at him, and the jade pendant became as hot as a red-hot iron. That's why he quickly started to sing off-key.

He found the jade pendant half a year ago in an ancient cave.

The jade pendant is entirely emerald green, with some incomprehensible runes engraved on the front and a smooth back.

He studied it for a long time and discovered that this thing has a magical function: it gets hot when it encounters danger.

The more intense the burn, the greater the danger.

In the past six months, he has escaped several life-threatening situations and found several opportunities thanks to this jade pendant.

It's common for jade pendants to get hot, but this has never been this hot!

Just a moment ago, the jade pendant was as hot as a piece of red-hot iron; you could feel the heat even through your clothes.

What's worse, the burning sensation persisted until he withdrew his fingers, at which point it slowly cooled down.

Lin Aotian caught his breath and took out the jade pendant from his pocket.

The jade pendant was still warm, but not so hot anymore.

On the emerald green jade surface, the runes faintly glowed, flickering as if warning something.

"Damn it..." Lin Aotian cursed under his breath.

"Who exactly is that person?"

He recalled the boy beside the man, who looked to be fourteen or fifteen years old, ordinary, and nothing special.

Why does the jade pendant get hot when it points to the boy?

He didn't understand.

But one thing he was very clear about was that he couldn't afford to offend those two people.

At least for now, he's someone you can't afford to mess with.

"The wind is strong, let's get out of here..." he muttered, putting the jade pendant back into his pocket, straightening his clothes, and trying to walk out of the alley.

We need to leave Cloudsea City as soon as possible.

This place is no longer safe to stay.

Suddenly, the jade pendant became hot again. Before he could put it back in his pocket, it turned red from the heat. He knew that great danger was coming, and he looked around frantically.

Immediately afterwards, a man in black appeared at the alley entrance.

"Who are you? I am the young master of the Lin family. How dare you..." Lin Aotian said as he retreated.

Suddenly, the man in black in Lin Aotian's eyes vanished instantly, and the next moment he completely lost consciousness and lay down stiffly.

The man in black stood there and looked at the jade pendant that Lin Aotian was still clutching tightly in his hand.

boom!

Jade shattered!

His figure flickered for a moment, then turned into fragments and vanished into the air.

Thus, Lin Aotian, the young master of the Lin family, returned to the ranks of the good-for-nothings.

He may have thought that obtaining the jade pendant was the beginning of his legendary life, but unfortunately it was just a pipe dream.

The crowd gradually dispersed from below the arena.

Lin Feng stood there, the scene replaying in his mind. Lin Aotian's arrogant demeanor, his sudden withdrawal, the speed at which he fled…

"Let's go." Qinglong patted his shoulder.

Lin Feng snapped out of his daze and followed Qinglong back.

He didn't say a word the whole way.

My mind was a jumbled mess, and I thought about my cultivation level at the second stage of the Acquired Realm...

"Uncle Qinglong," he suddenly spoke.

"Eighth level of the Day after tomorrow... is that strong?"

"Very weak," Qinglong said.

"But for these young people, it's not bad."

"Then... what about the second level after tomorrow?"

"Even weaker," Qinglong replied bluntly.

Raymond Lam: "..."

"But you've only been practicing for a month."

Qinglong said again,

"How many years have they trained? The Iron-Blooded Prince has trained for at least ten years, and Lin Aotian... although I don't know what method he used, it certainly wasn't something he developed in just a day or two."

Lin Feng felt a little better.

Yes, he's only been practicing for a month.

To go from a complete novice to the second level of the Day After Tomorrow realm in just one month—even Master Yu Yuan said that was fast.

"Kid, don't compare yourself to others."

The voice of Master Yu Yuan echoed in his mind.

"Cultivation is a personal matter; there's no point in comparing yourself to others. Just be a little better than you were yesterday each day, and that's enough."

Lin Feng hummed in agreement.

It was already noon when we got back to Yuelaiju.

The innkeeper, seeing them return, hurried to greet them with a smile: "You two are back? What would you like for lunch?"

Qinglong waved his hand: "Just make something simple."

"Okay!"

Lunch consisted of two dishes and a soup, and it tasted good.

Lin Feng ate quickly, still thinking about what happened that morning.

After finishing his meal, he returned to his room and sat by the window, lost in thought.

Outside the window is a courtyard.

Further away, the street scene of Yunhai City unfolds, bustling with people.

Suddenly, I feel... a little unfamiliar.

He didn't know a single person in this city.

He wasn't familiar with any of the roads in this city.

Everything in this city has nothing to do with him.

He thought of Hexi Town, his father, Aunt Yao and Uncle Xiao Hei, Zhang Kai, Li Qianqian, Chen Jing'an, and even Zhao Mingxuan...

Those people and those events seem so distant now.

"Missing home?" asked Master Yuyuan.

Lin Feng didn't say anything.

"That's normal," said Master Yu Yuan.

"It's normal to feel this way the first time you travel far from home. You'll get used to it as you go and broaden your horizons."

"Old man," Lin Feng asked in his mind, "where do you think... I can go?"

"We'll go wherever the road takes us," said Master Yu Yuan.

"The path of spiritual practice has no end. Just keep walking and don't stop."

Lin Feng remained silent for a while.

"I think..." He hesitated for a moment.

I want to take a walk by myself.

"What do you mean?"

"I want to... venture into the world on my own."

Lin Feng said,

"Following Uncle Qinglong is very safe, but... but I always feel like something is missing."

Master Yu Yuan did not speak immediately.

After a long while, a voice finally rang out: "You little rascal... you've got some nerve."

"I just feel..." Lin Feng paused.

"My father sent me out here not so that I would always follow others. I have to walk my own path, see for myself, and experience things for myself."

"Then go and talk to your Uncle Qinglong," said Master Yuyuan, "and see if he agrees."

Lin Feng gritted his teeth.

That evening, he found Qinglong.

Qinglong was sitting by the window drinking tea, a top-quality cloud and mist tea specially sent by the shopkeeper, with a refreshing aroma.

Seeing Lin Feng enter, he pointed to the chair opposite him and said, "Sit down."

Raymond Lam sat down, placing his hands on his knees, looking a little nervous.

"Uncle Qinglong," he began, his voice a little dry, "I...I want to tell you something."

"explain."

"I want to... travel on my own," Raymond Lam said. "To roam the world on my own."

Qinglong paused for a moment, holding the teacup.

He looked up at Lin Feng.

The room was quiet, with only the faint sounds of the street market outside the window. The light from the oil lamp flickered, casting the two people's shadows on the wall, swaying gently.

Qinglong stared at Lin Feng for a long time.

It went on for so long that Raymond Lam thought he was about to get angry.

But Qinglong simply put down his teacup and slowly nodded: "Alright."

Lin Feng was stunned: "You...you agree?"

"Why don't you agree?" Qinglong retorted.

"You've grown up; it's time for you to go your own way. It's certainly safer to stay with me, but you won't really learn anything from me. You have to make your own way in the world."

Lin Feng's nose suddenly felt a little sore.

"However," Qinglong added, "there are a few things you must remember."

"Please speak."

"First, don't flaunt your wealth. Don't carry too much money on you, and don't let people know you're rich."

"Um."

"Secondly, don't reveal your true abilities. Don't easily let others know about your cultivation level and skills."

"Um."

"Third," Qinglong paused.

"If you encounter someone you can't beat, run. There's no shame in it."

Raymond Lam nodded emphatically: "I've got it."

Qinglong stood up, walked up to Lin Feng, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Keep it up," he said.