Breaking the Deadlock, Sean Xuan Comes to Make Trouble
Skyvault Palace Master Sean Xuan requests an audience!
With the Martial Arts Conference at Skyvault Fortress about to begin, martial artists from across the land are arriving one after another. Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena weren’t the earliest or the latest to arrive; Sean Xuan came even later than they did.
As soon as Sean Xuan arrived, he inquired about Serena and Ninth Royal Uncle. Learning that the Skyvault Fortress Lord was deliberately making things difficult for them, he quickly tidied himself up and came to visit Serena. He was the very first person to pay a call after Serena and Ninth Royal Uncle reached Skyvault Fortress.
There was no helping it—once Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena arrived at Skyvault Fortress, the Fortress Lord refused to meet them. Word spread quickly, and those martial artists hoping to curry favor with Ninth Royal Uncle held back for now, lest they fail to please him and instead offend Skyvault Fortress.
But with Sean Xuan taking the lead, more and more people would come to visit. When Fortress Lord Ling and Linden Ling heard the news, they smashed a whole set of teacups in anger. They’d hoped to use this opportunity to put a damper on Ninth Royal Uncle’s influence, but Sean Xuan ruined their plans.
Sean Xuan’s visit was a clear message to those watching the political winds: Ninth Royal Uncle and Serena are under his protection. In the jianghu, anyone who shows disrespect to these two is challenging Skyvault Palace Sect itself.
Skyvault Fortress is no minor power, but as a newly risen force, its reputation and prestige still can’t compare to old ‘Xuan‑character’ sects like Skyvault Palace Sect. Those who are skilled at reading the political climate naturally know who can be offended—and who cannot.
Sean Xuan’s main purpose in visiting was to see Serena. After some brief pleasantries, he brought up Ling Mo’s situation. As for Linden Ling, Sean Xuan repeated his usual line: “As long as things look fine on the surface, that’s enough. I’m not close to that Little Junior Uncle, Serena, you don’t need to worry about saving my face.”
“About Linden Ling…” Serena sighed and recounted all of Linden’s actions in Eastlyn—including Ruby Redsleeve’s schemes against her. Sean Xuan wasn’t surprised at all; he simply said, “Martial‑Uncle Linden has always been like that—proud and arrogant, unable to stand anyone stronger than himself.”
The irony is, Sean Xuan is even more gifted than Linden Ling. But because of his role in Skyvault Palace Sect, Sean Xuan always keeps a low profile, so the outside world doesn’t know just how talented he really is. Even so, Linden Ling can’t hide his dislike whenever he looks at Sean Xuan.
There are always higher mountains, greater people. Just because he’s talented doesn’t mean he’s the only one—there could always be another genius. Serena herself had been called a prodigy as a child, so she understood Linden Ling’s mindset.
Too much praise makes a person vain, convinced they’re the best in the world, unable to accept anyone stronger or anyone stealing their spotlight.
Serena was right—martial arts have no limits, and genius is only a head start. Without proper cultivation, even a genius can end up worse than a mediocrity." Sean Xuan gave Ninth Royal Uncle a meaningful look; Ninth Royal Uncle frowned, but before Serena noticed, Sean Xuan withdrew his gaze and said to her, "Ling Mo’s aptitude is actually above Linden Ling’s."
“Really?” Serena was stunned. “Did Linden Ling cripple Ling Mo because of that?”
If that’s true, then Linden Ling is truly frightening—he was just a child back then.
“Half and half.” Sean Xuan shook his head and explained everything Ling Mo wanted to say but couldn’t: “Ling Mo’s mother was the Demon Sect Saintess. She killed Linden Ling’s mother, his uncle, and his grandfather’s entire family.”
“I see… A blood feud from the previous generation.” Serena understood that some family grievances can never be resolved simply. If she were in Linden Ling’s position, she might have retaliated just as fiercely.
“Exactly. It’s a blood feud from the previous generation, so Ling Mo doesn’t hate Linden Ling—there’s no hatred in his heart. He only wants to destroy Ling Fortress, the place that gave him nightmares. The last generation already paid with their lives; the Demon Sect suffered for it, and Ling Mo was just an innocent baby. How could he be at fault?
“I understand.” Serena admitted she’d always been curious about Ling Mo’s background. “What was his mother’s relationship to the Demon Sect Lord?”
“You mean Zed Bloom? Ling Mo’s mother was his aunt—his actual blood aunt, but there wasn’t much affection between them. Back then, Ling Mo’s mother fell for Fortress Lord Ling, disregarded the Demon Sect’s survival, ignored the fact he was already married, and followed him without asking for a title. In the end, Fortress Lord Ling only used her to attack the Demon Sect. Because of her, the Demon Sect was nearly wiped out; the sect refused to acknowledge her and Ling Mo, and they’ve been hunted ever since.
Serena knew some of the story, and in some ways, she was a bit like Ling Mo’s mother. Sean Xuan worried that one day, Serena might end up the same way. If that ever happened…
Even if it meant sacrificing all of Skyvault Palace Sect, Sean Xuan would kill Ninth Royal Uncle to avenge Serena.
Sean Xuan’s words were so direct, Ninth Royal Uncle couldn’t possibly miss the warning. He snorted and turned away, refusing to acknowledge Sean Xuan.
Every time they appeared, they had to make trouble for him. Couldn’t Sean Xuan and William Wang Jinling ever behave?
Rather than worrying about betraying Serena, Ninth Royal Uncle was more afraid that Serena would one day leave him. He was the one who truly worried.
The rivalry between the two men was obvious; Serena noticed, but this wasn’t something to discuss openly. She coughed lightly, interrupting the staring contest between Sean Xuan and Ninth Royal Uncle.
“Did Ling Mo’s mother kill Linden Ling’s maternal family because they helped massacre the Demon Sect?” Serena believed that even someone from the Demon Sect wouldn’t slaughter a rival’s entire family just for a man. No matter how ruthless the Demon Sect Saintess, she wouldn’t go that far.
Sean Xuan ignored Ninth Royal Uncle and continued speaking to Serena: “Yes, Skyvault Fortress rose to fame because of that event. When the Demon Sect was slaughtered, the ones who benefited most were Skyvault Fortress and Linden Ling’s mother’s family. But after the latter was wiped out by Ling Mo’s mother, only Skyvault Fortress remained. They say… Ling Mo was born that very day. His mother cut open her own belly, pulled out the bloody infant, and handed him to Fortress Lord Ling, begging him to treat Ling Mo well for all she’d done. Only after receiving his promise did she die.”
Sean Xuan’s voice caught on that last sentence, and Serena’s eyes reddened. “So Ling Mo’s mother slaughtered Linden Ling’s maternal family for Ling Mo and Fortress Lord Ling?”
Sean Xuan nodded. “There’s no solid proof, but the facts speak for themselves—Skyvault Fortress gained the most. All the benefits that were supposed to be split ended up with Fortress Lord Ling, even the influence of Linden Ling’s maternal family, thanks to Linden’s connection.”
Even at the cost of her own life, Ling Mo’s mother paved the way for Fortress Lord Ling. But what did Fortress Lord Ling do? He let Linden Ling torment Ling Mo, left Ling Mo to struggle at the edge of life and death. That man was truly heartless.
“Fortress Lord Ling really is ruthless,” Serena finally understood why Ling Mo wanted to destroy Ling Fortress.
“Those who accomplish great deeds aren’t bound by small kindnesses. Back then, Skyvault Fortress was just a third-rate sect, and now, in just over twenty years, it’s become the top fortress in the martial world. How could Fortress Lord Ling have succeeded without such methods?” Sean Xuan shot a meaningful look at Ninth Royal Uncle.
Ninth Royal Uncle clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking. He was certain Sean Xuan hadn’t come to help, but to stir up trouble…