——
Two months had passed since their arrival on the Planet of the Eternal Sun.
The celestial portal opened by Yuè Míng Zhēn Míng had sealed itself above a small village of mid-level cultivators, affiliated with the Coalition of the Southern Kings—a peripheral region, seemingly stable, yet gnawed by tensions that only the elders could still perceive.
During those two months, Wang Lin had found refuge with an old cultivator and his grandson. The dwelling they lived in was ancient, nearly dilapidated, but it carried a warmth Wang Lin had not felt for a long time. Here, time flowed slowly, without any sense of urgency, as if the outside world could not breach the tired walls of the house.
Under the patient guidance of the old man, Wang Lin had broken through.
Without a celestial spectacle.
Without upheaval.
But with a stability that forced even the elder to look at him differently.
"Wang Lin… you are a genius."
The old cultivator spoke in a hoarse voice, seated on a flat rock used as a cultivation platform, while the eternal sun spread its constant light over the silent village.
"You have already reached the fifth level of the Mortal Realm. If you continue like this, one day you may join one of the Three Great Mortal Sects… the true powers of this world."
As he always did, he spoke of the opportunities reserved for rare talents.
The Purple Heaven Sect, ancient and prestigious, specializing in Qi refinement and spiritual pacts, whose political influence extended as far as the Scarlet Dragon Empire.
The Thousand Blades Sect, dominant and aggressive, where the spiritual sword was carried to its extreme, and whose openly declared goal was mass access to the Immortal Plane.
And finally, the Temple of the Silent Ancestors, hidden within a desert of gray sand—a mysterious sect whose techniques related to the soul and karmic memory inspired a quiet fear, even among elders.
Wang Lin listened without interrupting, seated on the flat stone, while Ye Shi, the old cultivator's grandson, remained by his side.
Since arriving in this calm yet oppressive village, Wang Lin had never known the old man's true name. Through his eyes, however, he knew that the old cultivator was already beyond the reach of destiny. The only one who could not yet leave the village's ghosts behind was Ye Shi.
And Wang Lin knew it.
That was why his heart sometimes felt heavy for no apparent reason.
Inside the nearly uninhabitable old house, a clear voice suddenly rang out.
"Grandpa! Wang Lin! The meal is ready, come eat!"
A boy about the same age as Wang Lin appeared at the doorway, his face lit by a simple smile.
"Grandpa, after the meal, can you tell us about your adventures as a cultivator when you were young?"
The old cultivator smiled gently.
"You know I can't refuse you anything, Ye Shi."
"Then eat well, Grandpa, so you stay healthy," the child replied seriously.
The old man let out a soft laugh.
Wang Lin helped him sit down on the old wooden chair.
"Thank you, Wang Lin."
"We can begin the meal."
Then, before touching the food, the old cultivator clasped his hands together.
"Let us thank the gods for allowing us to share this meal today."
The dinner unfolded in a peaceful, almost joyful atmosphere, until the old cultivator broke the silence.
"Tell me, Wang Lin… what do you plan to do after surpassing the tenth level of the Mortal Realm?"
Wang Lin smiled faintly.
"I don't know yet. But in a few days, I will leave this place to join a sect. I want to cultivate further, prepare for ascension to the higher realms… and become stronger."
He paused for a moment.
"And find my parents."
The old cultivator nodded slowly.
"Very well. A cultivator must have goals."
At that moment, Ye Shi suddenly stood up. His hand slammed down on the table, which cracked under the impact.
"That's enough!"
The old cultivator flinched.
"Wang Lin… let Ye Shi follow you. Let him help you find your parents."
"Ye Shi, come back. We need to talk."
Wang Lin watched the scene in silence. He already knew.
"It's fine," the old cultivator finally said as he rose with difficulty. "I'll take care of the dishes."
"No, Grandpa, let me do it. Go and rest."
The old man stopped for a moment and looked at Wang Lin.
"If one day Ye Shi loses his way… help him find the path of truth again."
Wang Lin nodded without hesitation.
"Don't worry. I'm here. I will never abandon him."
Later, after washing the dishes, a thought crossed Wang Lin's mind.
" What if I tried to open the sealed scroll my future self left me… "
He went to see the old cultivator, seated on his wooden chair, lulled by the silence.
"Grandpa, I'm going out to get some air. I won't be long."
The old man smiled faintly.
"You say that every night… and you always return by morning. Go on."
Wang Lin left the village and walked away until he reached a clearing bathed in moonlight.
He raised his head.
"…It's beautiful."
After witnessing the appearance of the horned demon, after losing so many people who mattered to him, this peaceful forest felt almost unreal.
" Before opening the scroll… let me first try the power Liang Feng left me. Rest in peace. "
Another thought tried to surface.
" Maybe if I became strong enough… I could bring them back. Him. Grandpa too… "
He shook his head.
"Stop confusing dreams with reality."
His gaze hardened with resolve.
"I swear I will never give up. I will find my real parents. And I will become strong enough to never lose anyone again."
He closed his eyes.
This time, he fully opened his Qi storage organ—the Node of Breath—and guided the energy through his internal Threads to activate the technique inherited from Liang Feng.
It was his first success.
But he immediately lost control.
Rain began to fall.
Snow followed.
Two elements similar, yet fundamentally opposed.
"When Liang Feng used it… everything seemed so simple…"
He clenched his teeth.
The ice contracted.
He focused his Qi once more, seeking stability, forcing harmony.
Then an image appeared in his mind.
The giant sword of Liang Feng's avatar.
"This is not yet within my reach…"
But the idea had already materialized.
A massive ice sword took shape above the forest, crushing the air with its spiritual pressure. The ground trembled. The sound echoed for kilometers.
Within the forbidden forest, ferocious beasts awakened one after another.
And the nocturnal calm was shattered.