Chapter 76: Meeting Elder Lin Again

Spiritual veins, like spirit stones, are classified into three grades: lower, middle, and upper. Lower-grade spiritual veins are quite common; one can usually find one or two in any region with sufficient spiritual energy. Middle-grade veins are relatively rare, while upper-grade veins are scarce throughout the entire Southern Domain. Only grand sects such as the Seven Luminaries Sect, Extreme Fire Gate, and Heavenly Heart Sect possess a single upper-grade spiritual vein.

Before assembling in the Northern Capital, the sect leaders had already taken their spiritual veins with them. The most precious possession of any sect is undoubtedly its upper-grade spiritual vein; how could they bear to abandon such a treasure?

Like spirit stones, spiritual veins are consumables. Yet, an upper-grade spiritual vein can be utilized for thousands of years in the Spirit Realm; in a place as lacking in spiritual energy as the Dragon Martial Continent, it would surely last at least several hundred years.

“Farewell, everyone. Let us meet again in ten years!” The Heavenly Heart Master spoke, then led his disciples toward the southern regions of the Dragon Martial Continent.

In the struggle between the human race and the beast race, humans were already at a disadvantage. The countless casualties among human cultivators on the Dragon Martial Continent only worsened the situation, leaving the already weak human race even more vulnerable. Thus, the cultivators decided to seek out those with spiritual roots across the continent and recruit disciples, so as to strengthen their sects.

“Fellow rogue cultivators, these are extraordinary times. It is not wise for everyone to disperse. For now, you may join the major sects as guest elders.” Seeing the few remaining rogue cultivators, Ren Wu thought to himself that this was not the Spirit Realm, and letting them remain independent was clearly unsuitable; so he could only make this suggestion.

...

“I shall soon see Elder Lin again. It has been so many years—I wonder how he is, whether he remains as robust as before?” Five days had passed since Lin Yanghao parted from Ren Wu. Lin Yanghao was thoroughly familiar with the Dragon Martial Continent; returning here gave him a deep sense of belonging. Apart from his previous life on Earth, the Dragon Martial Continent was truly his homeland.

Ren Wu had tried repeatedly to persuade Lin Yanghao to help him establish a sect and embark on a grand enterprise together. Yet Lin Yanghao refused. First, his main purpose in returning to the continent was to heal Elder Lin; second, he was unwilling to be confined by this small world. Only by facing constant trials and tribulations could life be truly meaningful. To be bound within a sect, focusing solely on cultivation, was contrary to his own heart.

“Hahaha! Lin Yanghao has returned!” Standing atop a desolate mountain, Lin Yanghao gazed upon Xiaohe Village. From afar, the village had changed little; it remained as small as before. Without further thought, Lin Yanghao rushed eagerly toward Xiaohe Village.

“Young man, you must be a stranger here. May I ask whom you seek in our village?” As soon as Lin Yanghao entered, someone approached him. Outsiders rarely visited Xiaohe Village.

Lin Yanghao recalled the man—everyone called him Old Tang. He was kind-hearted and always willing to help, and had often assisted Lin Yanghao in the past. Seeing this familiar face from years ago, Lin Yanghao felt a warmth rise within him.

Looking at Old Tang’s body, worn from years of toil, and his thin, sallow face, Lin Yanghao took a middle-grade Purification Pill from his storage ring. He cast a simple spell, causing Old Tang to fall briefly unconscious, and quickly slipped the pill into his mouth.

“Meeting you is fate. This is all I can do for you,” Lin Yanghao thought to himself. Not long after, he arrived at Elder Lin’s door.

What Lin Yanghao did not know was that, thanks to that Purification Pill, Old Tang’s body gradually grew stronger, and he lived to the remarkable age of over one hundred and thirty years. Such details, of course, belong to later times. Though the Purification Pill had little effect on cultivators, for ordinary people and martial artists it greatly improved their constitution and cleansed their bones and marrow.

“Who are you?” Lin Xiangdong, as usual, had just returned home after a day’s work, only to find a stranger standing in his house. The pressure this man exuded was unlike anything Lin Xiangdong had ever felt, not even from the strongest Martial Emperors.

The man was, of course, Lin Yanghao. Having waited outside for some time without success, he finally entered Elder Lin’s dwelling.