Unrivaled Comprehension: From Mortal to Immortal King

Under the moonlit sky, the battlefield's aftershocks stretched for hundreds of miles. A mountain peak had been severed, the ground was cracked, and the land lay in ruins.

The power of the Ninth Restriction far surpassed that of the Eighth. If this battle had taken place within the boundaries of the Feathered Immortal Sect, at least half of it would have been destroyed.

Fortunately, Wen Yuan had been arrogant. At the beginning, he had underestimated Lin Jiufeng, willingly following him to this desolate land.

As the battle concluded, Lin Jiufeng withdrew the Chronicles of Time, dispelling the celestial phenomena. The once-dark battlefield was instantly illuminated by daylight.

In the next moment, Bai Yunfei arrived with his three disciples, along with Bai Ling.

As they landed, everyone gazed at Lin Jiufeng in shock.

The Eighth Restriction had defied and slain the Ninth.

It had truly happened.

And from their perspective, it had seemed effortless. Lin Jiufeng had remained calm and composed throughout, showing no signs of struggle.

"Senior Brother, you're incredible," Bai Yunfei exclaimed, staring at Lin Jiufeng in awe.

As someone who was also at the Eighth Restriction, he understood the disparity better than anyone.

If he had faced Wen Yuan, he would have undoubtedly lost. There was no chance of victory.

Even if he pushed the Feathered Ascension Sutra to its absolute limit, it would have made no difference.

The gap between the Eighth and Ninth Restriction was akin to the difference between a small stream and a vast river.

That was precisely why Wen Yuan had looked down on Lin Jiufeng earlier.

But who could have expected that, while Lin Jiufeng appeared to be a mere stream, his depths concealed an unfathomable abyss—far surpassing a river.

Lin Jiufeng turned to Bai Yunfei and said, "Wen Yuan is dead. You may take his treasure, the Dragonhide War Drum, and refine it. It is an exceptional artifact—perhaps it will aid your breakthrough to the Ninth Restriction."

Bai Yunfei nodded, his gaze filled with excitement as he looked at the fallen war drum, now devoid of its former power.

He had witnessed its immense strength firsthand. It was undoubtedly a supreme treasure.

"If I refine such a peerless artifact, forging a deep connection with it through my own essence, my advancement to the Ninth Restriction will be much smoother. Our Feathered Sect once possessed similar divine weapons, but over the years, they were lost," Bai Yunfei murmured.

"Senior Brother, you should keep it. That way, you can reach the Ninth Restriction sooner," Bai Yunfei said earnestly. He hoped Lin Jiufeng would break through as soon as possible—if Lin Jiufeng at the Eighth Restriction was already so formidable, then at the Ninth, who could possibly oppose him?

"I have no need for it. Relying on an artifact for a breakthrough is indeed a shortcut, but I prefer to advance step by step," Lin Jiufeng declined without hesitation. His comprehension was unparalleled—why would he require external assistance?

Seeing this, Bai Yunfei no longer insisted. He walked over and carefully picked up the Dragonhide War Drum.

"Thank you, Martial Uncle," a soft voice sounded.

Wen Xinyun approached, and without warning, threw her arms around Lin Jiufeng, burying her face in his chest as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Lin Jiufeng gently patted her trembling back in silent comfort. He understood the immense pressure Wen Yuan's presence had placed on her.

Having endured a dark childhood, Wen Xinyun cherished the peace of the Feathered Sect. The past few years had allowed her to bury the nightmares of her early years.

She had thought she could finally leave the past behind.

But today, Wen Yuan's arrival shattered that illusion, dragging her back into that suffocating darkness. Overwhelmed by the weight of it all, she trembled, powerless to resist.

But Lin Jiufeng was here.

No one had expected him to defy the heavens and slay the Ninth Restriction. Wen Yuan's death became the beacon of hope that allowed Wen Xinyun to truly say goodbye to her past.

And so, she could no longer hold back her emotions, letting out all her grief in a single, cathartic outburst.

The others watched in silent sympathy, allowing her this moment.

Before long, Wen Xinyun wiped away her tears and stepped back. However, as she glanced at Wen Yuan's lifeless body, a new worry crept into her eyes.

"Martial Uncle, now that you've killed Wen Yuan, the Wen Clan will surely seek revenge."

Lin Jiufeng remained calm. "If they come, we will deal with them. No need to worry."

Now, he had confirmed his strength—he could contend with the Ninth Restriction. Wen Yuan had only recently broken through and was still at the initial stage, whereas Lin Jiufeng estimated that his own combat power was at the mid-level of the Ninth Restriction.

"Martial Uncle, most of the Wen Clan remains hidden in their private realm. They have numerous experts at the Ninth Restriction. Their true power may even surpass the Supreme Dao Sect. We must remain cautious," Wen Xinyun warned with a solemn expression.

Lin Jiufeng's gaze turned serious as well. He looked at Bai Yunfei. "What about the other Eighth Restriction cultivators from the Wen Clan?"

"They fled long ago. The shockwaves from your battle with Wen Yuan were immense—they must have sensed his fall. They will undoubtedly report this to the clan," Bai Yunfei replied.

Lin Jiufeng sighed with a wry smile. "First the Supreme Dao Sect, now the Wen Clan. One is the foremost Daoist sect, the other an ancient hidden family. Reviving the Feathered Sect will be a long and arduous path."

"Indeed. Even though you now wield the power of the Ninth Restriction, our enemies are simply too numerous. We are still in grave danger," Bai Yunfei said grimly.

"It seems I must reach the Ninth Restriction as soon as possible. Otherwise, if the Wen Clan and Supreme Dao Sect join forces, we will have no choice but to abandon the Feathered Sect and retreat," Lin Jiufeng murmured, gazing into the distance.

"Senior Brother, do you have confidence in breaking through?" Bai Yunfei's eyes lit up.

"One can only forge ahead. There's no point in speculating before the breakthrough happens. Deal with Wen Yuan's body—I will return first," Lin Jiufeng said, turning to leave.

Bai Ling quickly followed as he headed back to the Scripture Pavilion.

Meanwhile, Bai Yunfei and his disciples remained behind to dispose of Wen Yuan's remains.

Feathered Sect, Scripture Pavilion

Upon returning, Lin Jiufeng entered his study and immediately began his seclusion.

Bai Ling, though a newcomer to the sect, could sense the grave crisis looming over them. Everything depended on Lin Jiufeng now, and the pressure was immense. Thus, she stood guard outside, silently cultivating while ensuring that no one disturbed him.

Inside the study, Lin Jiufeng lit an incense stick.

A faint tea blossom fragrance filled the air, refreshing his mind and momentarily dispelling the weight of the Wen Clan and Supreme Dao Sect.

"The Wen Clan is an ancient family, undoubtedly concealing vast reserves of power. If they were willing to dispatch four Eighth Restriction cultivators and a Ninth just to retrieve Wen Xinyun, they must have had a compelling reason.

"Even if I hadn't slain Wen Yuan, merely refusing to hand over Wen Xinyun would have made them our enemies."

Lin Jiufeng's expression turned resolute. He had raised Wen Xinyun since she was ten—though he was her Martial Uncle, he had taught her everything, making her practically a daughter to him.

How could he possibly give her up?

Moreover, Wen Yuan's attitude had made it clear that bringing her back would only mean disaster. There was no way Lin Jiufeng would throw her into the fire.

Thus, facing the Wen Clan was inevitable.

"They will not wait. Unlike the Supreme Dao Sect, whose Ninth Restriction elders are in seclusion, the Wen Clan will respond swiftly and decisively."

"But this battle with Wen Yuan has granted me great insight. The Ninth Restriction truly stands far above the Eighth, and their comprehension of the Dao is profound."

Lin Jiufeng cleared his mind, sat cross-legged, and meticulously reviewed every detail of the battle.

As his thoughts deepened, a line of golden text appeared before his eyes—

[Through battle with a Ninth Restriction cultivator, your unparalleled comprehension has been triggered, granting you an epiphany—A Rain of Dao.]