Chapter 73: The Remnant Regret of the Immortal Lord

“So it’s Daoist Lin. I happen to have a Snow Jade Pill here—please take it immediately. I believe your wounds will heal in no time.” Lin Yanghao recognized the Snow Jade Pill; it was a high-grade, low-tier elixir, renowned in the cultivation world as a priceless remedy for injuries. Considering his current state, Lin Yanghao did not refuse. He accepted the pill and swallowed it in one gulp.

“At this moment, everyone is gathered in the council hall. They must be growing impatient. Daoist Lin, let’s hurry and join them!” Seeing Lin Yanghao take the pill, Ren Wu offered him a subtle, satisfied smile.

“Very well,” Lin Yanghao replied, eager to hear what plans these people had for dealing with the spirit beasts.

As they entered the hall, the leaders of the cultivation world were already seated inside. Ren Wu promptly introduced Lin Yanghao to the assembly. “Allow me to introduce Daoist Lin Yanghao. Despite his youth, he has already reached the Integration stage. Moreover, he is an elusive recluse.”

Among the crowd sat representatives of the four great families of the cultivation world, which reminded Lin Yanghao of his brother, Tan Zhuo. Though the spirit Ling’er had assured him Tan Zhuo was safe, Lin Yanghao couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Scanning the members of the Tan family present, he found no sign of his brother, which only deepened his concern.

“Greetings, Daoist Lin. I am the Master of the Heavenly Heart Sect, Heavenly Heart Daoist. I used to pride myself on my cultivation speed, but compared to you, I must have spent all these years training in vain.” The speaker was a distinguished cultivator, robed and bearded, well-known as a prodigy in the cultivation world. With his heavenly spiritual roots, he had reached late Integration stage within a few centuries. Yet, upon learning Lin Yanghao was just a few decades old and already at the Integration stage, he couldn’t help but feel disheartened.

“Greetings, Senior Heavenly Heart!” Lin Yanghao replied. Heavenly Heart Daoist smiled with satisfaction, evidently pleased by Lin Yanghao’s display of respect. Though both were at the Integration stage, age set them apart; to Lin Yanghao, a newcomer, he was indeed a senior.

“Since you address me as senior, I shouldn’t be stingy, should I? This Scarlet Spirit Sword is a high-grade, mid-tier spiritual weapon. It has accompanied me for years. Today, in front of everyone, I present it to you, Daoist Lin.” With that, a crimson longsword appeared in his hand. As Lin Yanghao took it, he felt a wave of heat from the blade—a testament to its quality and latent spirit.

“Haha, Heavenly Heart, you are truly generous. If I recall, this Scarlet Spirit Sword was bestowed upon you by your master, Shangtong. The sword itself is a formidable spiritual weapon,” Ren Wu remarked with a laugh.

“True, but rather than let it gather dust with me, I’d rather see it shine in the hands of Daoist Lin.” Though he spoke thus, Heavenly Heart Daoist’s heart ached at the loss, reluctant to part with his treasured sword.

“I am Yu Ling Daoist, master of the Beast Taming Sect. Daoist Lin, for one so young to achieve Integration is extraordinary. Why not consider us friends? From now on, the Beast Taming Sect is your home as well. Here, I have a set of beast-controlling rings and an advanced beast pouch. They may not be as valuable as Heavenly Heart’s gift, but I trust they’ll be of use to you. Please don’t disdain them.” The speaker, Yu Ling Daoist, was also a prominent figure in the cultivation world. His intention was clear: he sought to win Lin Yanghao’s favor. At such a young age, Lin Yanghao’s future was limitless; his ascension to the immortal realm was only a matter of time.

“You sly Yu Ling!” interjected Wu Yazi from the side, his face darkening as he saw the gifts Yu Ling Daoist produced. “Not long ago, I begged you for a beast ring and a beast pouch and you flatly refused. Now you’re suddenly so generous!”

The rest of the gathering proceeded with pleasantries and offerings, each seeking to curry favor with Lin Yanghao. By the end, he had received several high-grade spiritual weapons, superior elixirs, and rare cultivation materials.

“It’s true—the cultivation world venerates power above all. The weak are but fodder for the strong. Though my current strength is but a facade, with the ‘Chaos Divine Spirit Manual’ and the Chaos Ring, the day I become truly powerful can’t be far off,” Lin Yanghao mused.

“We all know the situation we face,” Ren Wu began. “The demonic cultivators haven’t attacked, but now these spirit beasts threaten us. Though we’ve assembled the might of the entire Southern Domain, Daoist Lin is still gravely injured from the last battle. We may not be able to withstand the spirit beasts.”

When the Beast Domain began its assault on the Seven Luminaries Sect, nearly every sect in the Southern Domain received word. Rather than wait for annihilation, they mobilized the entire cultivation world and marched to the Northern Continent of Purple Jade, leading to the events that followed.

“Lord Ren, I just remembered something. Do you recall what the Immortal Lord said upon his departure?” Heavenly Heart Daoist paused in thought, then spoke excitedly.

“Yes, the ancient records do mention this. When the Immortal Lord left, he entrusted each sect with a crystal stone, saying that in times of crisis, uniting the eight stones would resolve the danger. Why are we waiting? Masters and sect leaders, let’s retrieve our crystals and find a solution!” Ren Wu exclaimed, recalling the event with growing excitement.

Soon, they produced nine crystal stones. A few were missing, likely lost over the millennia to untimely deaths among sect leaders. According to ancestral teachings, the crystal must never leave the sect leader’s side; otherwise, today they might not even have eight. The stones were black, and for some reason, Lin Yanghao found them increasingly familiar.

“Aren’t these Soul-Nourishing Wood?” Lin Yanghao suddenly recalled where he had seen such stones—they were made of the same material as his Soul-Nourishing Wood dagger.

As the nine stones were brought together, they gradually condensed into a blue sphere of light, which then took the shape of a person. Though the figure appeared faint, its aura of authority remained undiminished. This must be the Immortal Lord they spoke of.

“Greetings. What you see before you is but a remnant of my will. My true self perished ten thousand years ago,” the Immortal Lord said, glancing at those gathered around him. He knew that what must come could not be avoided.