Chapter 661: Vows with Ying Xiaoxiao
After successfully copying a Thunder Ancestral Symbol and tempering his body with its power to forge the Dragon Kun Thunder Body, Lin Langtian could not help but nod in satisfaction.
Now that he possessed three Ancestral Symbols and the Dragon Kun Thunder Body, his combat strength had once again soared.
Lin Dong, standing at his side, felt his expression grow solemn. He could sense an unimaginably terrifying power slumbering within Lin Langtian.
Even he felt a faint sense of oppression under that aura.
At this moment, Lin Langtian's strength was truly frightening.
Just as Lin Dong was silently marveling at this, he suddenly sensed something and looked off into the distance. Lin Langtian followed his gaze.
A short distance away, a red‑haired figure in golden robes had appeared without a sound. Even across that space, the ancient presence radiating from him could be clearly felt.
It was none other than one of the Eight Ancient Masters, Flame Master.
Flame Master's eyes lingered on Lin Langtian and Lin Dong. After a moment, he flew over and stopped before them, a hint of surprise flashing in his gaze as it settled on Lin Langtian.
"You just copied a second Thunder Ancestral Symbol, didn't you?" he asked in a low voice.
Lin Langtian hesitated briefly, then nodded. With time, more and more people would learn of this. There was little point in concealing it now.
Besides, with his current strength, he could barely protect this secret if needed.
Seeing him nod, Flame Master felt his heart churn.
He had suspected as much, but seeing the power of the newly copied Thunder Ancestral Symbol with his own eyes had still shaken him.
Creating Ancestral Symbols had always been an ability exclusive to his master.
"So your goal is to gather all eight Ancestral Symbols?" Flame Master asked, his eyes flickering.
"More or less. But collecting them is only one step on my path. My true goal is to drive out the Otherworldly Demons and return clear skies to this continent," Lin Langtian said quietly, gazing into the distance.
After living on the Xuan Domain Continent for so long, he already regarded it as his home.
He would never allow the Demons to destroy it—or harm those he cared about.
"Oh? Drive out the Demons? Even my master did not accomplish that. And you think you can?" Flame Master replied, stunned.
His tone was calm, with no trace of mockery.
He simply could not believe it.
The gap between Lin Langtian and Symbol Ancestor was still like that between heaven and earth. There was no comparison.
"Everything depends on effort. How would you know if you never try?
"As Symbol Ancestor's disciple, you were born above others. But do you know where Brother Langtian and I came from? A small, low‑rank dynasty called the Great Yan Dynasty.
"We clawed our way up from nothing, crossing countless hardships and defeating innumerable enemies. You, standing so high above, could never understand what we went through.
"Yet now, even you must admit that Brother Langtian and I stand before you as equals. And perhaps, in the future, he will be the one you look up to," Lin Dong said, lips pressed tight, his voice steady.
As a brother, as a comrade, and from the bottom of his heart, he would always stand at Lin Langtian's side.
Their shared past was not only his faith in Lin Langtian—it was also his affirmation of himself.
"To become someone I look up to, hmm?"
Flame Master did not refute him.
Instead, he fell silent.
Lin Langtian had shaken him deeply. The strange ability to copy Ancestral Symbols was something that would likely astonish even his master.
Combined with Lin Langtian's terrifying talent and near‑legendary experiences…
Perhaps this young man truly could stand where the Ice Master once had—or even become a second Symbol Ancestor.
At that thought, Flame Master glanced toward the icy back mountain, where cold qi lingered.
After a brief silence, he turned to Lin Dong. "What I did in secret before was unfair to you and Ying Huanhuan—shameful, even.
"Your anger was understandable. But if I had to do it again… I would still do the same."
He looked out over the distant sky as he continued. "Back in the Great World War, Master burned his Samsara to seal the dimensional rift, ending that catastrophe. But the Otherworldly Demons are hard to kill. Even though we did our best to hunt them down, many still slipped away.
"Some of the strongest even fought us to mutual ruin. It might've looked like we forced them back, but in truth, we were forced to sleep or reincarnate."
"Now the world falls into chaos again, but Master is gone. Only our little junior sister remains as the last hope.
"Master once said she had the greatest chance to reach his level. So all of us were willing to give our lives to protect her. Even as we lay shattered on the battlefield, none of us objected when Master used his remaining strength to send her into Samsara."
Lin Dong stayed quiet. He had already learned this story—that it was the Devouring Master's sacrifice that had allowed the crisis to end.
Lin Langtian nodded slightly. The Ice Master's talent had indeed been the highest among the Eight Ancient Masters.
But Symbol Ancestor had not pinned all his hopes on her.
He had placed his pieces well—an open one in the Ice Master, and a hidden one in Lin Dong.
While Abyssal Prison's strongest focused on the reincarnated Ice Master, Lin Dong had quietly grown, and in the end, he would overturn the board and become the second Symbol Ancestor.
"Only if our little junior sister reaches Master's height can this world and its countless lives be saved. Only then can we truly withstand the Demons," Flame Master said softly.
"Perhaps. But nothing is absolute," Lin Langtian replied, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Huanhuan is the Ice Master's reincarnation, yes. But as long as there's even a sliver of hope, I believe Brother Dong will never give up—nor will I ever leave his side."
In this life, with his involvement, perhaps the Ice Master would not need to burn her Samsara again.
Perhaps Lin Dong and Ying Huanhuan would not need to be separated as in the original tale.
Lin Dong shot Lin Langtian a grateful smile, then turned to Flame Master. "Brother Langtian is right. I don't want Huanhuan to abandon her duty.
"But maybe he and I can shoulder it for her.
"That way, she won't have to bear a burden heavy enough to break anyone."
He gave a small, self‑deprecating laugh. "I've never thought I was worthy of being some 'savior of the world.'
"I'm just an ordinary person—selfish, impulsive. But for the ones I care about, I can pay any price.
"And now, I'm not alone. Brother Langtian is even more outstanding than I am. Perhaps someday, he'll take up the duty of fighting the Demons and saving this continent, becoming the greatest clan head the Lin Clan has ever had."
Flame Master looked at the two of them and felt the urge to crush their naive determination.
But when he recalled the miracles they had already created, he could only shake his head lightly.
"Perhaps. But time will not wait.
"If, when that day comes, you still lack the strength to carry this burden, then no matter how I sympathize with you, the other Ancient Masters will still awaken the Ice Master.
"That is the responsibility Master left with us."
With that, before either of them could answer, he let out a quiet sigh and vanished.
Lin Dong watched him go, his expression complicated. Then he gave a wry smile. "At least we accomplished something. Flame Master won't try anything behind our backs with Huanhuan anymore."
Lin Langtian clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Brother Dong.
"There's no such thing as an impossible task—only people who don't dare to try.
"With the two of us working together, neither the Ice Master nor the Demons can stop our advance.
"You and Huanhuan will have your happy ending."
"You're right," Lin Dong said, his confidence returning.
He had overcome too many obstacles to falter now.
As they descended from the sky, ready to leave, a voice called out nearby.
They turned and saw Ying Xiaoxiao hurrying toward them.
"Senior Sister Xiaoxiao," Lin Dong greeted with a smile.
"With your strength now, I don't dare accept that title anymore," she said, rolling her eyes. Someone like him could easily become a Sect Master.
Then her gaze shifted to Lin Langtian. Her lips pressed together, a hint of hurt flickering in her eyes. "You came to Dao Sect and didn't think to send me a word?"
Lin Langtian gave an awkward smile. "I had business with Brother Dong and came in a rush, so…"
"Forget it. No need to explain. You once saved my life. Whatever happens, I still owe you," she said quietly, shaking her head.
Compared to Ling Qingzhu's proud aloofness and Tang Xinlian's fiery passion, Ying Xiaoxiao's temperament was balanced—like Yun Yun from another story. Calm on the surface, but with deep, hidden feelings.
Even in her feelings for Lin Langtian, she had neither denied them coldly like Ling Qingzhu once had, nor boldly confessed like Tang Xinlian.
Instead, she had buried them in her heart.
But time had aged that hidden love like fine wine, only making it richer.
Even Ying Xiaoxiao could no longer suppress it.
"Xiaoxiao, love between a man and a woman should be allowed to follow its own course. You and I are no exception.
"If the day comes when I can sit and talk with you, share tea and wine, I will.
"But right now, Abyssal Prison is watching for any opening, and this continent is full of dark currents. I can't offer you any promises yet," Lin Langtian said gently, looking at the soft, steady woman before him.
He would be lying if he claimed to feel nothing for her.
What man would not yearn for a gentle, virtuous wife?
But he knew he could not pursue such things until the Demons were defeated.
To his surprise, Ying Xiaoxiao did not look disappointed. Instead, a quiet joy lit her eyes.
Clearly, he did feel something for her.
Even someone as calm as she was could not hold back a smile.
"It's all right. I'll wait for you," she said softly, her voice warm.
Lin Langtian sighed inwardly.
If he ever let such a woman down, he doubted he would forgive himself.
Of course, there was still the matter of Ling Qingzhu and Tang Xinlian—both proud, headstrong women in their own right.
The thought alone made his head ache.
Beside them, Lin Dong's expression turned a little strange.
So there really was something between Senior Sister Xiaoxiao and Brother Langtian. No wonder Huanhuan had been so prickly with him earlier—she must have known already.
If things kept going this way, Brother Langtian might end up as his brother‑in‑law.
He nearly winced at the thought. He had never imagined that his senior sister and Brother Langtian were entangled like this.
But he knew better than to stick around and play third wheel. He was just about to slip away when Ying Xiaoxiao spoke again.
"Wait, Junior Brother Lin Dong. In the last month or two, your parents sent a message. They want you to handle something."
"Handle something?" Lin Dong blinked. What could his parents need from him?
"They said that if you had time, you should go to the North Xuan Region and bring Qing Tan back."
"Qing Tan…"
The name made his heart tremble. A soft warmth spread across his face.
That stubborn little girl who hurt to think about—how was she now?
Lin Langtian also froze at the name.
He remembered the black‑robed girl with the black scythe and bright smile from two years ago, and his heart warmed.
He missed her dearly.
But another thought narrowed his eyes.
Had the Dark Hall's Palace Master, Bo Xuan, reached Samsara yet?
If he had failed again, then the Dark Hall might once more be thrown into chaos.
If that happened, Qing Tan's situation would be worrisome indeed.
"I understand. I'll bring her back as soon as I can," Lin Dong said with a nod.
Qing Tan had always been the treasure of their home, adored by both parents and brother.
He could only imagine how many tears his mother had shed, knowing her little girl was out suffering in the wider world.
Now that he had returned, it was time to visit the North Xuan Region.
Lin Langtian spoke up. "In that case, I'll go with you. I know the North Xuan Region well—and I miss that little girl too."
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Franklin1