Outperforming Others

Thick smoke billowed into the sky as the eerie purple flames consumed everything in their path. By the time Horn had left, the entire Su family manor was reduced to ashes. Once a powerful force in Linzhou, the Su family's branch was now completely obliterated.

Ten minutes later, Yang Hai, head of the Linzhou branch of the Yinbu, arrived. The sight of the manor in ruins left him speechless, unable to comprehend the devastation. He had received a message from his son, Yang Xuan, warning him about Horn. Yang Xuan had speculated that Horn's cultivation level might be between the perfection of the Sea Transformation Realm and the early stages of the Sky Control Realm. But before he could send another message with updated information, Horn had unleashed his true power.

As Yang Hai approached, the ominous feeling in his gut grew. The thick smoke and the overwhelming scent of destruction fueled his dread. Desperately, he called out, "Xiao Xuan!" But there was no answer. He dialed his son's number, only to be met with the cold, mechanical response of a disconnected phone.

Yang Hai's thoughts raced. Had Horn truly discovered an incredible opportunity, one so valuable that Mr. Meng resorted to a massacre to keep it secret? It was the only explanation that made sense to him. If the opportunity was significant enough, killing for it was a given. And Yang Hai knew that if he were in Horn's position, he would do the same.

But despite his anger and grief, Yang Hai couldn't believe that Horn was responsible for all of this. In his mind, with Mr. Meng present, Horn would have been no match for the power at the Su family's manor. His fury grew as he imagined his son dying without reason, and he vowed to make the Tianhai Su family pay, even if it meant tearing off a piece of their flesh.

Meanwhile, Horn returned to Lin Zixuan's villa. The bloodstain from the battle with Hornan was still visible at the entrance. With a wave of his hand, Horn made it disappear—such stains were bad luck, especially at what he now considered a second home.

Horn made his way to the large terrace on the villa's second floor, lounging on a deck chair in the sun. From his storage ring, he pulled out a jar of fairy brew, taking a deep, refreshing sip. This rare brew, nearly unobtainable even in the Immortal World, was priceless on Earth. Only those with advanced cultivation could drink it without perishing.

As Horn relaxed, contemplating his next move, Lin Zixuan burst into the villa, drenched in sweat and visibly anxious. She had returned as quickly as possible, fearing the worst. "You're okay!" she exclaimed, her relief palpable as she flew up to the terrace.

Horn smiled, sensing her worry. "Zixuan, did you really think anything could happen to me?"

"Don't call me Zixuan, you rogue!" she retorted, though her tone softened when she realized he was safe.

Just then, two old men entered the villa. One, a short and stout man with a friendly smile, was Mr. Qiao, Lin Zixuan's mentor in formation arts. The other, a tall and stern figure, was Mr. Wei, a master of formations whose skills surpassed even Mr. Qiao's.

"Mr. Qiao, Mr. Wei, what brings you here?" Lin Zixuan asked, her tone respectful.

"We're here about the space crack that's going to appear in Linzhou," Mr. Qiao replied gravely. "Old Wei and I thought we might be able to help."

Mr. Wei, intrigued by the formation in the front yard, walked over to inspect it. Lin Zixuan hurried after him, explaining, "That's a one-star Spirit Gathering formation I set up. It's not much compared to your skills."

But as Mr. Wei activated the formation, a deep crimson light burst forth, stunning everyone. Mr. Qiao nearly choked on his own breath. "It's dark red! This is the most advanced one-star formation I've ever seen. Not even Old Wei and I could achieve this level of perfection."

Lin Zixuan was left speechless. This wasn't the formation she had arranged—it was something far beyond her capabilities.