Lin Yun gazed out the window, his voice resolute as he uttered two words: “Revenge!”
“Understood. But Huo Zhen and Yang Wan are in seclusion, advancing their realms. I’ve been handling miscellaneous tasks with other generals. We’d need to wait for them to finish or interrupt their seclusion,” Liang Yuan said.
“In seclusion? Then we’ll wait until they’re done and notify them,” Lin Yun said.
Though eager for revenge, Lin Yun saw no need to disrupt their breakthroughs. After all this time, a little longer wouldn’t hurt.
“Alright, I’ll inform them as soon as they’re out,” Liang Yuan agreed.
“I’ll continue my seclusion. Call me when they’re ready,” Lin Yun instructed.
“Got it,” Liang Yuan replied.
Having reached Fourth Transcending Tribulation Realm, Lin Yun could now focus on body refinement.
His divine sense also had room for improvement.
Lately, his cultivation had prioritized realm advancement, neglecting divine sense. From Third Mahayana Realm to now, he hadn’t devoted time to it, diminishing its edge against same-realm foes.
Transcending Tribulation Realm cultivators typically had strong divine senses—most reached divine-grade, some even ultra-divine, with weaker ones at pseudo-divine.
Higher realms meant greater endurance. The pain of cultivating pseudo-divine sense, unbearable for a Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator, was far less daunting for a Transcending Tribulation Realm cultivator, whose resilience far surpassed the former.
As for Shadow Sword Art, the emperor had given Lin Yun the remaining forms. He could study the sixth form, though its difficulty was immense, requiring gradual training over time.
All improvements demanded time and effort.
Cultivation was a lifelong endeavor, not an overnight feat.
While advancing his realm, Lin Yun had to keep up with these other aspects.
Some prioritized realm alone, neglecting other areas, making them vulnerable to being outclassed.
With so many facets to cultivate, Lin Yun had to plan carefully.
He’d largely abandoned Holy Spirit-grade techniques, save for body refinement. Overloading on techniques would dilute his focus—spending time on Holy Spirit-grade secrets would be inefficient given his many priorities.
After Liang Yuan left, Lin Yun didn’t rush back into seclusion, having just emerged from one.
“I’ll visit the Zhu family,” he murmured.
He’d promised to drink with them.
Lin Yun left the Lord’s Palace for the Zhu residence. Sun Butler asked if he wanted an honor guard, as lords typically traveled with one.
Lin Yun declined, heading out alone.
Though lord of Dongyuan Prefecture, he had little interest in such pomp.
At the Zhu residence gate.
“Who goes there!” a new guard barked, blocking Lin Yun.
Lin Yun, fresh from seclusion, wasn’t wearing his lord’s robes.
Another guard recognized him—years ago, Lin Yun had often visited the Zhu family in Dongyuan Prefecture.
“It’s… it’s Lord Lin!”
“What? The lord?”
“Pay respects to Lord Lin! Pay respects to Lord Lin!”
The guards dropped to their knees, the new one who’d challenged him trembling in fear.
“Lord Lin, I’ll report your arrival!”
A guard dashed into the residence.
Soon, the Zhu family father and son appeared.
“Lord Lin, it’s really you! Your visit honors our humble home!”
The Zhu duo was overjoyed, their enthusiasm boundless.
“I’m here to drink,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
“Haha, perfect! Come, come inside!”
They ushered him in, immediately ordering a feast.
For Lin Yun to visit personally was an immense honor.
In the past, meeting a lord meant the Zhu patriarch visiting the Lord’s Palace, often struggling to secure an audience without serious business.
The banquet lasted until midnight. At the Zhu family’s insistence, Lin Yun stayed the night, returning to the Lord’s Palace the next day.
Back at the palace, Lin Yun instructed Sun Butler to notify him only for urgent matters, otherwise leaving him undisturbed.
Then, he entered seclusion again.
Inside the One Thought Clear Heart Tower.
Lin Yun produced stone materials.
“Let’s begin!”
Taking a deep breath, he drew his carving knife and started etching.
Since adapting his carving technique to incorporate various profundities, Lin Yun had gained considerable experience. But mastering it fully, achieving perfection, was a long road. Balancing multiple profundities—knowing when to apply each—was immensely challenging, requiring countless experiments.
…
Time flew in cultivation.
Five years passed quietly.
In that time, beyond advancing his divine sense, Lin Yun elevated his body refinement to another level.
Each body refinement stage now demanded astronomical spirit crystals. To fund it, Lin Yun sold unused weapons and artifacts, converting them to crystals to master the thirteenth layer of Taixu Body Refinement.
Additionally, he stabilized his realm and broke through to Fifth Transcending Tribulation Realm, using over 8,000 Transcending Tribulation Pills.
Emperor Huoyun had given him 50,000 pills, plus Lin Yun’s prior gains—8,000 was a drop in the bucket.
With ample pills, early Transcending Tribulation Realm breakthroughs were swift.
But as realms climbed, pill consumption soared.
As for Shadow Sword Art, Lin Yun trained it over these five years.
At that moment, he was practicing swordplay in the tower.
After finishing a set, Lin Yun sheathed his sword.
“Not good enough.”
He shook his head.
Each new form of Shadow Sword Art exponentially increased in power—and difficulty.
Despite refining his swordsmanship over five years, Lin Yun was still far from mastering the sixth form.
