Martial Arts Master: The Lin Family Sword God, who swept through the Five Mountains and Four Sects

Duan Xingzhi felt somewhat relieved and cautiously asked, "Your Highness is so powerful and mighty that you would naturally disdain barbarians. May I ask what brings you to Dali today?"

Lin Tian's eyes flashed, and he said calmly, "Before the Battle of Xiangyang, someone attempted to assassinate me, but was killed in retaliation. I have come here only to eliminate the remaining forces."

"Is this really true?" Duan Xingzhi exclaimed, his face full of shock.

But this shock was 80% staged.

Alarm bells were already ringing in his head—was this just an excuse? Or was there really something going on? If it was indeed an assassination attempt, then who was behind it…?

"Our Dali and the Song Dynasty have maintained friendly relations for generations, yet such a treacherous and disloyal person has emerged!" Duan Xingzhi slammed his fist on the table, filled with righteous indignation. "Your Highness, please tell me who did this. I, Xingzhi, will personally bind them and bring them here to atone for their sins!"

He was extremely clever; he neither denied nor defended himself, but simply followed the trend to investigate—if it was true, he could still clear himself of any involvement; if it was just an excuse, he was not at a disadvantage either.

Lin Tian's lips curled slightly as he slowly said, "That person's surname is Duan."

The air froze instantly.

Duan? A royal surname!

In Dali, only members of the royal family are entitled to bear the surname Duan. Ordinary people dare not overstep their bounds.

Duan Xingzhi's expression changed drastically, but he forced himself to remain calm: "Your Highness must be mistaken. No one from my Duan clan has left the capital in recent months, and our family genealogy is intact. If you have any doubts, you can consult it. Furthermore, there is no record of any clan members dying."

Lin Tian chuckled, "The king doesn't believe me? No problem. Why not come with me and see the truth for yourself?"

Duan Xingzhi was taken aback: "This... I should accompany you. May I ask where Your Highness wishes to investigate?"

Lin Tian's gaze was like a knife as he uttered three words:

Tenryu-ji Temple.

"Your Highness, Tianlong Temple is just ahead." Duan Xingzhi led the way, his tone respectful. "This is a temple of our Dali Kingdom. The monks are all highly accomplished monks with profound cultivation, no less than the Shaolin Temple in the Central Plains. There is absolutely no way they could be hiding assassins. Please rest assured, Your Highness."

Lin Tian chuckled lightly, his expression meaningful: "Heh... Shaolin? It's best not to compare yourself to that place."

Duan Xingzhi was taken aback: "Why?"

Lin Tian glanced at him sideways and said casually, "Because I just wiped out Shaolin. You wouldn't expect me to take down Tianlong Temple too, would you?"

Duan Xingzhi's expression changed slightly, and he quickly smiled apologetically: "Your Highness is joking. Xingzhi would naturally not wish to do such an important matter."

As they spoke, the two arrived at the mountain gate.

"Amitabha Buddha, I am the old monk Liaochen, the abbot of Tianlong Temple. It is an unparalleled honor for our temple to welcome the Crown Prince of the Great Song Dynasty." An old monk with white eyebrows stood before the steps, put his palms together in a gesture of respect, and looked solemn.

"Master Liaochen," Duan Xingzhi bowed first, then pleaded in a low voice, "The Crown Prince has some doubts about this temple, and I hope the Master can enlighten him."

"Amitabha." Liao Chen's expression was solemn. "If I know anything, I would never dare to conceal it."

He knew in his heart that today's matter was of utmost importance—Duan Xingzhi had already secretly reported that it concerned the survival of Dali, and that the slightest mistake would lead to utter ruin.

"I wonder what the Crown Prince is doubting?" Liao Chen turned to Lin Tian, ​​his tone humble yet measured.

Lin Tian smiled slightly, but his tone turned cold: "You juniors know too little. Go and call Duan Yu out."

"Duan Yu?" Duan Xingzhi frowned slightly.

The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. However, given the surname Duan, it must be royalty.

Liao Chen's expression changed slightly, and he hesitated before saying, "Grandmaster Daoyuan has been in seclusion for many years and has long since withdrawn from worldly affairs... I wonder if Your Highness could..."

"No." Lin Tian interrupted directly, stood up, and turned to leave. "Since that's the case, there's no need to talk anymore. Let's find another way to resolve this."

Duan Xingzhi was shocked and hurriedly stopped him, saying, "Master Liaochen! Today's matter is a matter of life and death. Please, we beg you to summon Grandmaster Daoyuan!"

Liao Chen watched Lin Tian's retreating figure and finally sighed, "...Alright, please wait a moment, Your Highness and the Emperor. This humble monk will go to the back mountain to invite you."

After a short while, Liao Chen led an old monk with a hunched back and snow-white hair and beard slowly into the main hall.

"Your Highness, this is Grandmaster Daoyuan," Liaochen reported in a low voice.

"Amitabha," the old monk chanted softly, his gaze serene. "May I ask what business you have with this old monk, benefactor?"

Lin Tian stared at him for a long time, then suddenly shook his head and sighed softly, "Time is cruel... Who would have thought that the elegant Duan Yu of yesteryear would end up like this? I'm afraid that if I live to be a hundred, I'll end up like this too."

Upon hearing the name "Duan Yu," a ripple suddenly flashed across the old monk's eyes.

After a moment, he slowly spoke: "Benefactor, you have entered the legendary realm, your blood and qi are like a dragon, and your spirit is immortal. Not to mention a hundred years, even three hundred years, you will not be as decayed as this old monk."

He was at the peak of the Innate Realm, yet he couldn't see through Lin Tian's aura at all; Lin Tian's realm had already transcended the mortal world.

"You're right." Lin Tian nodded frankly, without any modesty.

Suddenly, his eyes flashed, as if he remembered something, and he raised an eyebrow and asked, "I've always had a question that's been bothering me for a long time—what were you thinking back then? Why did you ignore such a stunning beauty as Wang Yuyan and instead become obsessed with a jade statue?"

The hall fell silent upon hearing this.

Duan Yu shuddered, his cloudy eyes snapping open as he stared intently at Lin Tian.

That was his deepest secret, one he had never revealed to anyone. How could this person know?

But he was old and no longer prone to anger or infatuation. He simply said, "Some people love music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, while others are devoted to martial arts. As for me... perhaps it's just a coincidence that I fell in love with that jade statue."

"..." Lin Tian was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond.

Seeing that the two were getting more and more off-topic, Duan Xingzhi couldn't help but speak up to remind them, "Your Highness, the purpose of this trip is to verify the assassin's identity. Why don't you clarify this matter first, and then have a proper discussion with Master Daoyuan?"

"Oh, right." Lin Tian snapped out of his reverie and chuckled. "Actually, there's nothing else to talk about. I only have one question. Since Your Majesty is in such a hurry, I'll personally verify it—months ago, Wang Yuyan infiltrated Shaolin Temple to kill me, but I instead killed her, leaving no trace of her body. Duan Yu, what was your great-granddaughter—Wang Yuyan—originally supposed to have?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Yu's body trembled violently, and his originally dim eyes instantly lost all light, as if a dry well had sunk into complete darkness.

Duan Xingzhi, who was standing to the side, suddenly narrowed his pupils, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.

Great-grandson?!

Duan Yu?!

The name struck him like a thunderbolt—he suddenly remembered that it was his great-grandfather, the thirteenth emperor of Dali, Duan Yu, who had long since retired to Buddhism and no longer cared about worldly affairs!

He had never met this ancestor. At the time of his birth, Duan Yu had already retreated to Tianlong Temple, where he lived a life of seclusion, severing all worldly ties.

But at this moment, he couldn't afford to dwell on his bloodline.

He only cared about how Duan Yu would answer.

If what Lin Tian said is true, then the survival of Dali is hanging in the balance of Lin Tian's mind; life and death are determined by others, not by oneself.

"Amitabha, Yu Yan should have been surnamed Duan." Duan Yu chanted the Buddhist prayer softly, his voice revealing a trace of undisguised sorrow.

Lin Tian gazed into his eyes, which were clear as mirrors, devoid of hatred or murderous intent. A hundred years of cultivation had long since washed away all grudges, leaving only a clear and empty space.