Evan Lin's voice was calm.
As his words left his mouth, the force in his hand dissipated.
The Profound Clarity Sect grandmaster beneath his feet let out a miserable, trembling sound.
His face turned pale, all traces of his initial arrogance completely gone.
He looked like a dead dog.
The Young Family members standing nearby witnessed the scene, frozen in place, eyes wide as they stared at everything before them.
"Profound Clarity Sect disciples are just people."
"Just like him—is he really that scary?"
Evan Lin spoke slowly, his voice lacking much emotion.
"You have two choices now: one, keep bowing at Profound Clarity Sect's feet and stay their dogs; or two, follow me. I'll teach you alchemy mental methods and pill formulas, so you can form your own faction and break free from Profound Clarity's control."
"You want... to rebel?"
The Profound Clarity Sect grandmaster lying on the ground rasped, barely alive but still forcing a ferocious expression: "Young Family... is the Young Family planning to drag the whole clan to its death?"
"Alive, you're Profound Clarity's dogs. Dead, you're Profound Clarity's dead dogs!"
"You..."
He didn't finish his sentence.
Evan Lin flicked out a wisp of flame, landing it on him.
In an instant.
The Profound Clarity Sect grandmaster turned to ash before everyone's eyes.
"Now it's peaceful."
Evan Lin looked at them: "You have one hour to decide. Once you've made up your mind, come find me in the courtyard. I'll teach you pill arts and formulas, and purge the slave seed hidden in your bloodline."
"It's your own choice."
Evan Lin couldn't be bothered to waste words. He returned to the courtyard, his fiery eyes and red hair fading away, reverting to his original black hair and black eyes.
"You..."
Yuna Young walked over, looking at Evan, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"You can make your own choice too."
Evan Lin glanced at her.
"You killed Profound Clarity Sect's people. Profound Clarity won't let you off."
Yuna Young sighed.
"If Profound Clarity Sect sends people, I'll just wipe them out one by one. In my eyes, they're not worth much."
Evan Lin shook his head.
Hearing his words, Yuna Young gave a bitter laugh.
"I'll talk to the Young Family. Whatever choice they make is up to them. But no matter what, I'll follow you."
After speaking, Yuna Young and Yvonne Young turned and left together.
Her words carried a note of determination.
Evan Lin watched her leave and shook his head.
An hour later.
Over thirty Young Family members gathered outside the courtyard.
"These are the ones from the Young Family willing to follow you."
Yuna Young spoke: "By choosing to follow you, we're effectively betraying Profound Clarity Sect."
"Profound Clarity Sect is so powerful, it's beyond our imagination. So now, our lives are in your hands."
Yuna Young's voice was low and heavy.
Behind her, Yvonne Young and the other Young Family members shared the same look in their eyes.
"Profound Clarity Sect is just too strong. Their power is beyond anything we can imagine," someone said, voice trembling.
"But we have no way out now. The grandmaster from Profound Clarity is dead, and if the sect returns, they definitely won't spare us," another person said shakily.
"I'm a little scared... really scared."
The group whispered, their eyes still fixed on Evan Lin.
By following Master Lin from Seacrest, they're risking their lives.
Most of them came mainly for Yuna Young's sake.
The rest of the Young Family hesitated again and again, and in the end, didn't dare to come—only watching from a distance.
Profound Clarity Sect hangs over the Young Family like a sword.
Master Lin from Seacrest is strong, but in most people's eyes, he's still no match for the real Profound Clarity Sect.
Most of them looked timid and fearful.
The servant seed Profound Clarity Sect planted in their blood deeply affected everything about them.
"Doesn't matter."
Evan Lin stood up, drawing complex fiery patterns in the air with one hand.
Flames erupted from the patterns, rushing straight toward the thirty-odd people. In moments, the fire split into dozens of scorching streams and poured into their bodies.
Yuna Young, Yvonne Young, and the others felt their blood heat up instantly.
Dirty black qi hidden in their veins boiled out under the high temperature.
This was the simplest kind of curse technique.
For Evan Lin, it was easy to handle.
The thirty-something people had looked timid at first.
Once the black filth was burned away,
"Profound Clarity Sect actually treated us like dogs! That's outrageous!"
"Even if I'm a dog, before I die, I'll bite them hard!"
"Suddenly, I'm not scared anymore. I'm a person! Not Profound Clarity's dog!"
All at once, the mood shifted—servility vanished and anger took its place.
Yuna Young and Yvonne Young instantly felt lighter.
Remembering Profound Clarity's grandmaster dying by Evan Lin's hand, they weren't so scared anymore.
"I'll take you somewhere. From today on, you're free."
Evan Lin looked at them: "I can give you everything you want—pill recipes, pills, herbs, alchemy methods—but you must never betray Yuna Young and Yvonne Young."
The Young Family's alchemy talent is clearly a cut above the rest.
Evan Lin needs their strength for the future. As for Yuna Young and Yvonne Young, he's not worried they'll betray him.
He led the Young Family group out of their mountain valley.
As they left, the ones who stayed behind watched Evan Lin and his group with pity.
In their eyes,
Defecting from Profound Clarity Sect now means certain death.
Those who stayed behind thought themselves wise, just waiting for Profound Clarity Sect to return so they could keep being loyal dogs.
As long as they're loyal enough, Profound Clarity Sect might show mercy and spare their lives.
Evan Lin took the thirty-something people to Miracle Hand Sect.
He summoned Warren Wu and asked him to arrange a new place for the Young Family.
At the same time, Evan Lin handed down pill recipes and alchemy methods, allowing them to form their own faction outside Miracle Hand Pavilion, still as Young Family members.
Yuna Young became clan head, Yvonne Young the deputy.
They could also recruit other alchemists.
After all this was arranged, half a month had already passed.
Evan Lin returned to Harborview City, attended the last class before winter break, and got ready for final exams.
Deep winter had arrived.
Snow fell heavily in Harborview, the world blanketed in white.
Evan Lin stood on his dorm balcony and received a call from Bella Xiao.