Chapter 40: Slowing Down the Updates

After an entire day and night of refining, Lin Yang finally succeeded. He handed the pill to Ancestor Gong Sun.

“Fortunately, I did not fail you.”

“Excellent, excellent.” Ancestor Gong Sun took the pill and fed it to Gong Sun Yao. At once, a surge of green energy billowed from Gong Sun Yao’s body. Although nothing changed externally, her wounds healed rapidly. Soon, her complexion lost its pallor and gradually grew rosy.

“Where am I?” Gong Sun Yao awoke, gazing about in confusion at her surroundings.

Seeing that she had been successfully saved, Lin Yang left the premises; it was no longer suitable for him to remain there. He stepped outside, thinking it best to return to Yellow Maple Valley first. He wondered if that shaman woman from the Harmony Sect would still be waiting to capture him.

Lin Yang found his senior sister and shared his suspicions.

“Very well, let’s skirt around within Yuanwu Kingdom’s borders to reach Yellow Maple Valley,” she agreed with his plan.

“Nangong junior sister, we’ll head back for now,” the senior sister said to Nangong Wan. Then, she took hold of Lin Yang’s collar and soared into the air.

“Red Whisk senior sister, I’ll see you next time.”

“Until then.”

Thus, she flew with Lin Yang in the opposite direction from which they had come. At their swift pace, two hours later they left Yue Kingdom and arrived at the border of Yuanwu Kingdom.

At the border, they encountered a small mortal town. The senior sister put Lin Yang down, intending to rest for a while.

Lin Yang and his senior sister entered an inn.

“Keeper, two rooms upstairs, please.”

“At once.”

Lin Yang chose a room and entered it, taking out the manual for cultivating mental strength, the Unyielding Heart Zen. Through careful study, he realized the technique was quite restricted.

One must be well-versed in Buddhist teachings to swiftly enhance mental power, and the process is influenced by Buddhist philosophies, which could interfere with one’s mind. All in all, it was rather unsatisfactory.

Yet Lin Yang could attempt to integrate it with the Soul Suppression Technique.

“Open the panel.”

Name: Lin Yang
Age: 21/240
Cultivation: Mid Foundation Establishment (20,400/4,000,000)
Techniques: Five Elements Formula (102/20,000) Proficient
Primary Profession: Second-tier Superior Alchemist (Maxed Out)
Secondary Professions: Second-tier Inferior Talisman Master, Second-tier Intermediate Formation Master, Second-tier Intermediate Artifact Refiner, First-tier Superior Beast Tamer, Second-tier Inferior Puppet Master
Skills: Sword Control (Mastery—can double flight speed and increase sword move speed by 20%; experience maxed)
Soul Suppression Technique: Mastery. Can be cast instantly, merging three previous divine sense attack waves into one, capable of attacking or intimidating everything within a hundred feet.
Basic Swordsmanship (Mastery 450,250/500,000—Endless) can increase all sword learning speed by 50%, refine sword intent, and reach the realm where every move counters another.
Tai Chi Fist (16,504/20,000) Master level (can subtly incorporate soft-overcomes-hard techniques in combat)
Dragon Elephant Technique (7th Layer 24,815/30,000): Each layer adds the strength of an elephant; thirteen layers equal the strength of a dragon.
Available Attribute Points: 2,800
Items: 70,286 spirit stones, two peak Foundation Establishment puppets, five Golden Essence Pills, twelve second-tier flying swords, one Golden Core-level talisman treasure, one Thunderbolt Seed, a small high-speed flying ship...

“Open synthesis function.”

A blue panel appeared before Lin Yang again. He placed the Unyielding Heart Zen manual upon it. Using spirit stones, he had the system replicate a Soul Suppression Technique manual and placed it in the plus slot.

“Synthesis requires 1,000 attribute points. Proceed?”

“Proceed.” Lin Yang watched as the two manuals transformed into a thread of light, gradually merging and settling before him as a new technique.

“Unyielding Heart Soul Suppression.” Lin Yang read the name.

He studied it carefully, discovering that it had no real drawbacks. If anything, it might keep one in a rational state for extended periods.

But Lin Yang was not concerned; after all, calmness was often preferable.

Lin Yang began cultivating his mental power, channeling it according to the technique. He felt his mind being hammered continuously, as if countless invisible hammers struck every corner of his consciousness. His eyes grew vacant, his spirit seemingly absent, yet in truth his mind was steadily growing stronger.

Thus, the night passed in cultivation. Early the next morning, Lin Yang awoke feeling everything before him had become clearer. His divine sense expanded, and the things he could perceive increased.

The immediate effects delighted him.

Lin Yang went to the dining table outside and ordered breakfast, waiting for his senior sister to arise.

About a quarter of an hour later, she descended the stairs. Her beauty, as she appeared, was stunning enough to stand alone in the world, leaving all the patrons below astonished.

Yet none dared approach her. Though her appearance was captivating, beneath it lay a formidable strength, a gulf impossible to cross, preventing anyone from mustering the courage to speak.

After eating two small buns, she said to Lin Yang, “Let’s go, it’s about time.”

“Alright, senior sister. Where shall we go?”

Lin Yang and his senior sister left the inn. Only afterward did the inn come alive with chatter.

“I say, Bull Bold, aren’t you usually quite the rogue? Why didn’t you try your luck this time?”

“It’s not about being a rogue; you have to judge the person. One glance at those two and you know they’re dignitaries—maybe even immortals.”

“If you want to die, go ahead yourself.” Bull Bold knew how to pick his targets, clearly a bully who feared the strong.

Lin Yang and his senior sister were aware of the minor commotion behind them, but paid it no mind.

Following her, Lin Yang asked, “Senior sister, where are we headed?”

“The capital of Yuanwu Kingdom—Martial City.”

“What are we going to Martial City for?” Lin Yang inquired, curious.

“Stop asking so many questions. I’m going to the Ghost Market there to see if they have what I need.”

“Senior sister, what do you need?”

“You’re too talkative. Just follow me.”

“Oh.” Lin Yang felt somewhat rebuffed.

Together, they flew toward a grand city wall. The plaque above read “Martial City.” Entering the city, they watched the bustling crowds.

“Stay close,” his senior sister instructed. She darted swiftly through the throng, unnoticed by those around.

Lin Yang quickly followed her into a slum, where they found a dilapidated City God Temple. His senior sister stamped the floor with spiritual energy, and after a moment, a floorboard retracted inward, revealing a deep tunnel.

...