Watching Wang Shaoqing’s departing figure, his spirited demeanor, Lin Yun’s gaze carried a hint of helplessness.
Twenty years ago, wasn’t he himself a dragon among men, a favored son of heaven?
In Wang Shaoqing, Lin Yun saw a shadow of his former self—that same vibrant energy!
The Cultivation Continent was vast, never lacking in geniuses, but few ever reached the pinnacle of immortality.
“Lord Lin, please enter,” the imperial guard said to the dazed Lin Yun.
“Oh, alright.”
Snapping back to reality, Lin Yun turned and entered the hall.
Inside the hall.
Emperor Huoyun sat on his throne, eyes slightly lowered.
Twenty years later, his appearance hadn’t changed a bit.
For an immortal like Emperor Huoyun, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, twenty years was but a fleeting moment.
“Lin Yun, it’s been twenty years since you last came, hasn’t it?” Emperor Huoyun slowly opened his eyes.
“Yes, Master, twenty years,” Lin Yun replied.
“What brings you here this time?” Emperor Huoyun asked.
“Your disciple wishes to visit the Land of Exile. That place is peculiar, and I want to explore it again,” Lin Yun said, looking up.
“The Land of Exile is indeed unique, but it was thoroughly explored by the Heavenly God Palace long ago. There’s little left to discover,” Emperor Huoyun said.
“Master, I simply wish to explore it, even if it yields nothing. Please assist me,” Lin Yun said, his gaze resolute.
Seeing Lin Yun’s determination, Emperor Huoyun felt a pang of sorrow.
He knew Lin Yun wasn’t resigned to dying in obscurity and still sought a cure for his poison. But he also knew it was likely futile—the Heavenly God Palace had found nothing there. What could Lin Yun hope to achieve?
Yet he understood Lin Yun’s refusal to give up, even if it was in vain.
He knew Lin Yun was not one to surrender easily…
“Very well, since you’re set on it, I’ll help you. The Land of Exile has two entrances—one in the Xingwu Empire, one in the Tianqian Empire. I’ll report to the Heavenly God Palace, and with their approval, you can enter. Neither empire will dare obstruct you,” Emperor Huoyun said.
“Thank you, Master,” Lin Yun saluted.
“Go wait for news. I’ll send someone to guide you once it’s arranged,” Emperor Huoyun said.
“Your disciple takes his leave.” Lin Yun saluted again and exited the hall.
After Lin Yun left.
“Master, Lin Yun still refuses to give up,” the red-haired cat said, hopping out.
“Let him try. Holding onto a sliver of hope is better than despair,” Emperor Huoyun murmured.
Over these twenty years, he had fully accepted the reality of Lin Yun’s fall. It was unchangeable.
Then, Emperor Huoyun used his Heavenly God Palace communication band to report the matter.
It was a minor request, and with his personal endorsement, the Heavenly God Palace had no reason to refuse.
…
Shortly after returning to Lin Manor, an imperial guard deputy commander arrived to escort Lin Yun.
Under his guidance, Lin Yun traveled to the Tianqian Empire, then through a passage in a temple deep in a remote mountain, entered the Land of Exile.
The deputy commander waited outside the temple for Lin Yun’s return.
Inside the Land of Exile.
Woo! Woo!
Howling winds screamed like wailing ghosts.
A powerful oppressive force pressed down on Lin Yun.
When Lin Yun’s body was still at the Pure Yang level, this force had been unbearable.
But now, with his body at the late stage of the Tianhao Body, even without using internal energy, this oppression posed no threat.
“I can’t believe I’m back here.”
“Let’s go.” Following his memory, Lin Yun set out to find the stone.
It took four days to reach his destination.
“That’s the stone!” Lin Yun gazed at the massive rock, a smile spreading across his face.
But the smile soon faded.
“This stone must be extraordinary. How else could one of the three ancient body-refining techniques, ‘Withered Silence,’ be sealed inside? Yet I can’t find anything special about it,” Lin Yun mused, staring at the rock.
Even now, having found it, Lin Yun faced the same problem as before—he had tried many methods to uncover its secrets but found nothing.
He had attempted infusing internal energy, divine sense, and striking the stone, all to no avail.
“Master, try this incantation,” the artifact spirit’s voice suddenly rang in Lin Yun’s mind.
“Incantation?” Lin Yun was startled.
“Yes, I’ll teach it to you, though I’m not certain it’ll work.”
The spirit recited the incantation.
Lin Yun didn’t hesitate—any method was worth trying.
After learning the incantation, he recited it.
When he finished, nothing happened.
“Still no reaction? Seems this incantation didn’t work either,” Lin Yun said with a bitter smile.
Just as he spoke, the stone began to emit a faint glow.
“What’s happening?” Lin Yun quickly looked at the stone.
Patterns slowly emerged on its surface.
At that moment, Lin Yun’s heart raced.
“It seems… the incantation worked! It actually triggered a change in the stone. Artifact spirit, your incantation really worked!” Lin Yun exclaimed in delight.
“Master, I wasn’t sure. Since you said ‘Withered Silence’ came from this stone, it must be linked to its creator, Master Withered Silence. I happen to know something about him,” the spirit said.
It continued, “The incantation I gave you is one of Master Withered Silence’s mantras, known only to those familiar with him!”
“Master Withered Silence? He must have been an extraordinary figure, right?” Lin Yun asked curiously.
“Of course. Master Withered Silence devoted his life to refining his body, with a unique understanding of physical cultivation. ‘Withered Silence’ was the culmination of his life’s work. When he completed it, his body had reached the Indestructible Divine Body, nearly immortal and terrifyingly powerful,” the spirit said.
It added, “His goal was to achieve sanctity through his body, but that’s almost impossible. Whether he succeeded or where he went afterward, I don’t know. That was hundreds of thousands of years ago.”
Hearing this, Lin Yun gained insight into the creator of ‘Withered Silence.’
Then, his gaze returned to the glowing stone.
“But… what will appear?” Lin Yun stared at it, filled with both anticipation and unease.
