At that moment, Lin Yun paused.
“Phew, I’ll rest a bit before continuing,” Lin Yun said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
This intensity was somewhat overwhelming for him.
Lin Yun could endure the pain it caused, but his body had its limits.
He couldn’t help but marvel at how powerful *Withered Silence* was, able to harness even the violent barren energy for cultivation.
“At this rate of absorption, in just over a year, my physical body should reach the mid-stage of the Pure Yang Body,” Lin Yun calculated silently.
Cultivating normally outside, without the aid of this barren energy, advancing from the early to mid-stage of the Pure Yang Body would be time-consuming and difficult.
Lin Yun’s efficiency was astonishingly fast.
“Lin Yun, you’re a freak! Absorbing such vast amounts—I can’t help but admire you!” the old man exclaimed.
“Senior Yan, you flatter me,” Lin Yun said with a grin.
“But I’m still more concerned about how soon you can get me out of here!” the old man said.
“Don’t worry, I believe it won’t be long,” Lin Yun replied, still smiling.
“Hm?”
At that moment, Lin Yun suddenly froze.
“What’s wrong?” the old man asked, puzzled.
“It seems someone’s coming,” Lin Yun said, turning his head.
A shadowy figure approached.
As it drew closer, Lin Yun gradually made out who it was.
The commander of the Xingwu Empire’s imperial guard!
“Looks like the matter of leaving is settled,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
Hearing this, the old man’s face lit up with excitement.
“Hm? Your spirit-binding rope is gone?” The commander glanced at Lin Yun, noticing the absence of the rope.
He also looked at the old man beside Lin Yun and understood why the rope had disappeared.
“Commander, this place is so torturous. Why’d you come in here?” Lin Yun asked, a playful smile on his face.
“You got lucky, kid. I’m here to take you out. Come with me,” the commander said coldly.
The commander still couldn’t fathom why they were suddenly releasing Lin Yun.
But since Emperor Xingwu had ordered it, he simply followed through.
“Leave? I’m quite comfortable here. I’m not going,” Lin Yun said, spreading his hands.
“What did you say?” The commander’s face darkened at Lin Yun’s words.
He had expected Lin Yun to be overjoyed and grateful at the chance to leave. After all, this hellish place was torturous—who would want to stay even a second longer?
Lin Yun’s attitude completely caught him off guard.
“Kid, don’t be ungrateful! His Majesty is showing mercy by releasing you, and you dare act tough?” Anger surged on the commander’s face.
“Commander, it seems you haven’t grasped the situation. Go back and tell your emperor that I’m enjoying my stay here and have no plans to leave for now,” Lin Yun said, waving his hand before closing his eyes.
“Hmph!”
The commander let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeve, and left.
After he departed.
“Lin Yun, this… this was a rare chance to leave. Why did you refuse?” the old man said anxiously.
“I’ve just mastered *Withered Silence*. Of course, I want to cultivate more,” Lin Yun said, spreading his hands.
“But… but you can’t just turn down a chance to leave!” the old man said, growing more frantic.
For him, the opportunity to leave this wretched place and regain freedom was incredibly precious.
“Don’t worry. By refusing to leave, the ones who should be anxious are them,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
The old man was taken aback.
“I’ll continue cultivating. Senior Yan, just be patient. You’ve seen it yourself—the chance to leave is already here,” Lin Yun said, still smiling.
“Fine, fine. As long as there’s a chance to leave, I’ve been here nearly a thousand years—what’s a little longer?” the old man said.
“Senior Yan, since you’ll be able to leave, cultivation is no longer pointless. Take this chance to cultivate more,” Lin Yun suggested.
“Right, right!” The old man nodded, enlightened.
He had been stuck here for nearly a thousand years. Even after obtaining *Withered Silence*, he had only cultivated it for about a century before stopping, thinking there was no point in growing stronger if he couldn’t leave. Being strong enough to withstand the oppression here was sufficient.
Now, with the prospect of leaving, cultivation had purpose again.
The old man then entered a cultivation state, beginning to practice *Withered Silence*.
Of course, his efficiency and capacity for absorbing barren energy were far inferior to Lin Yun’s.
…
On the other side.
Inside the imperial palace hall.
Emperor Xingwu was awaiting news. Releasing Lin Yun would resolve the matter.
Yet, he couldn’t shake a faint sense of unease.
At that moment, the commander hurriedly entered.
“Where is he? Have you released him?” Emperor Xingwu asked immediately.
“Your Majesty, the guy said he’s comfortable there and won’t leave!” the commander reported.
“What?”
Emperor Xingwu’s face twitched, the words piercing his heart like a thorn.
“Bang!”
“That bastard dares to play games with me!” Emperor Xingwu slammed the table in rage, his face ashen.
“Your Majesty, he’s so arrogant. Why not leave him in the Land of Exile to suffer its torment?” the commander suggested.
Emperor Xingwu looked up, “If he doesn’t come out within five days, the Heavenly God Palace will hold me accountable!”
“What? It’s that serious?” The commander was shocked.
He finally understood why Emperor Xingwu was so eager to release Lin Yun.
“Go back! Lower your stance and *invite* him out. My order is clear: no matter what, you must bring him out. Understood?” Emperor Xingwu instructed.
Though furious, he needed Lin Yun to come out.
If Lin Yun didn’t, the consequences would be dire.
“I understand, Your Majesty. I’ll go now,” the commander said, clasping his fists.
…
In the Land of Exile.
Both were cultivating intensely.
Lin Yun’s absorption of barren energy was extraordinarily rapid.
This continuously strengthened his physical body, though reaching the next realm—a qualitative transformation—would still take time.
At that moment, Lin Yun paused his cultivation and looked at the old man.
“Senior Yan, if we get out, *Withered Silence* must remain an absolute secret. It cannot be revealed,” Lin Yun said seriously.
“Of course. I understand the importance of that,” the old man nodded.
At that moment, a shadowy figure appeared again, quickly approaching.
“Looks like they’re back,” Lin Yun said with a smile.
