As soon as Evan Lin spoke, Dominic Ding's face changed. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground, bowing respectfully to Evan, his voice trembling with excitement: "Understood!"
As long as you spare the lives of everyone in the Southriver Sword Sect, I, Dominic Ding, swear I will not fail you. From now on, the Sword Sect will take you as its supreme lord!
Dominic Ding’s words were filled with excitement—a survivor’s thrill after escaping disaster.
Although the Southriver Sword Sect’s reputation took a massive hit thanks to Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin, if he stays to watch over the sect, their power and influence will definitely reach new heights.
This world has always belonged to the strong.
Dominic Ding understood even more: a freakish genius like Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin probably had some unimaginable powerhouse backing him.
Otherwise, how could any normal clan or family possibly raise such a monstrous talent?
Breaking swords with two fingers, stepping onto blades to ascend to the heavens—his countless feats made his strength obvious.
If Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin were truly ruthless, he could walk out of this hall and wipe out the Southriver Sword Sect in a heartbeat. No one in this world could stand up for them.
After all, the Southriver Sword Sect in Jinnan has always stood above the mundane, hidden from the world. Even if someone wanted to interfere, it’d be nearly impossible.
"Later, I’ll leave behind a sword art. Have everyone in the sect practice it—their skills will definitely improve."
Evan Lin nodded, pondering for a moment. "As for your severed arm, have someone save the stump for now. If you manage the Southriver Sword Sect well, next time I come back, I’ll reattach it for you."
Hearing this, Dominic Ding was even more overwhelmed—so much so that he trembled all over with hope and gratitude.
He’d always been a right-handed swordsman. Losing his right arm meant his strength was crippled for sure.
Originally, Dominic thought sparing the lives of everyone in the Southriver Sword Sect was already a heaven-sent blessing. Now, hearing Evan Lin’s words, he was even more grateful.
"By the way, Lin..."
Dominic Ding seemed to remember something and was about to speak, but for a moment, he didn’t know how to address Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin.
He didn’t dare call him by name.
Calling him Sect Master didn’t feel right either—after all, the teenager just said Dominic should keep the title, clearly not interested in being Sect Master himself.
Dominic Ding was at a loss, terrified of saying the wrong thing and angering Evan 'Nine Mysteries' Lin.
"Just call me Young Master."
Evan Lin saw his awkwardness and nodded.
Dominic Ding let out a heavy sigh, looking much better. He respectfully said, "Young Master, in Jinnan, aside from our Southriver Sword Sect, there is also Master Baiyun Whitecloud, whose strength is truly formidable."
Master Baiyun Whitecloud may have already stepped into the Life-and-Death Mage realm. He has coveted our Thousand-Sword Burial Ground for a long time. If word of today gets out, he might come to seize the formation.
Dominic Ding looked a bit nervous.
Master Baiyun Whitecloud is extremely powerful. Back when he was at the peak of Mystic Arts Adept, he once visited Heavenly Sword Mountain.
But that day, Dominic Ding could still fight him and managed to drive him away.
After that, Master Baiyun Whitecloud went into seclusion for bitter cultivation and did not appear for a long time. There was a period when it was rumored he had emerged, and this time, he may have already entered the Life-and-Death Mage realm.
The gap between Life-and-Death Mage and peak Mystic Arts Adept may seem small, but the difference in power is enormous.
If Master Baiyun Whitecloud comes to the mountain again, this time Dominic Ding would be powerless to stop him. The Prison-Sword Formation would likely fall into his hands, and then the whole sect would be doomed.
"Master Baiyun Whitecloud?" Evan Lin shook his head. "You don’t need to worry about that. He’s already died by my hand."
"He... died?"
Dominic Ding, who had looked worried, was stunned, his tone full of shock.
"Mm."
Seeing Evan Lin nod, Dominic Ding hesitated for a long time before cautiously saying, "If he’s dead, then that’s one less thing to worry about."
"But there’s one more thing—I heard that Master Baiyun Whitecloud came from the Profound Clarity Sect. Years ago, he escaped from the sect and became a renegade, later making waves around Jinnan."
"And this Profound Clarity Sect is said to be a Dao-seeking sect. Ordinary people can’t even approach such a sect. Even though Master Baiyun Whitecloud was a renegade, if you really think about it, he still counts as one of them."
"If the Profound Clarity Sect comes looking for trouble, you must be careful."
Dominic Ding looked hesitant, but finally spoke up.
"A Dao-seeking pipeline? Are there really immortals in this world?"
Evan Lin was stunned, and asked curiously.
The so-called Mystic Arts Adepts Evan Lin had seen before were just people who knew a little superficial Daoist arts, nowhere near true Dao-seeking or immortal cultivation.
But that day, when Evan Lin emerged from the abandoned air-raid shelter and fought Master Baiyun Whitecloud, who had entered the Life-and-Death Mage realm—even though Evan won easily, Master Baiyun Whitecloud managed to seriously damage Evan’s Soul-Sacrifice Beauty Scroll and Scarlet Flame Command, making Evan realize that some Daoist arts were actually quite profound.
Maybe Earth is far more interesting than I thought?
"I don’t know much, but it’s definitely not true immortal cultivation. Still, some powerful Daoists can call the wind and rain or split rivers and seas with a hand. As for me, I’m just a martial man—I’ve been stuck at second-grade Vajra for decades, and I’ll probably never get any further."
Dominic Ding gave a bitter laugh and sighed repeatedly.
He was already old, with little time left. In martial arts, talent is crucial—second-grade Vajra may be peerless to others, but for Dominic Ding, it’s just an unsatisfying ceiling. Wanting to go further is easier said than done.
"Above second-grade Vajra is first-grade Vajra, but what comes after that?"
Ever since Evan Lin’s rebirth, he’s crushed Outer Strength experts, trampled Inner Strength geniuses, slain pseudo-Vajra masters, defeated Jincheng’s top fifth-grade Vajra Drake Huang, stomped fourth-grade Vajra Cheng Jiahe, and today, with a willow twig, defeated the Southriver Sword Sect’s second-grade Vajra Dominic Ding. To Evan Lin, the so-called Vajra experts—terrifying to ordinary people—are just slightly more lively bugs.
Now, with early Foundation cultivation, Grand Dao Foundation Art, the Fire-Spirit Mortal Body, and the Left-Hand Dragon constantly refining his body and qi, Evan Lin no longer cares about Vajra experts.
Now, hearing Dominic Ding mention it, Evan Lin grew even more curious.
Above the Vajra Realm—what lies there?