Lin Yuan was ultimately not a Rank Thirteen time-being.
Even with the power of the Heavenly Void Cauldron, the future scene he glimpsed was extremely fragmented.
And entirely without context.
But from what little could be inferred, it was likely that his future self would form a deep grudge with a certain special realm.
To the point of abandoning everything in the Chaos Void just to destroy it.
Yet now, with Lin Yuan’s current strength, even the spirits of special realms wouldn’t be able to do anything to him.
No such enmity could exist.
Certainly not one that would drive him to destroy the other at all costs.
“The future…”
Lin Yuan's expression grew thoughtful.
The future was ever-changing. Every node in time branched into countless possible futures.
The future vision he saw was only one possibility—not a predetermined outcome.
Moreover, Lin Yuan was already on guard, so that particular future was unlikely to occur.
Source World, capital of the Liyang Kingdom.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, observing the pulsing “Yuanlong's heart” before him.
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
The more he studied it, the more amazed he was. The power system and fundamental structure of the Yuanlong far surpassed his previous understanding of life.
At first, Lin Yuan had thought the foundation of cultivators in the Chaos Void would be superior to that of the Source World. But for the Yuanlong, its foundation was its greatest strength.
Every particle of its body contained a vast world. Its heart even nurtured a miniature Source World.
With such a foundation and such depth, even Lin Yuan, who was currently cultivating Infinite Void, might not match it.
“If I could ‘imitate’ the Yuanlong and open up a ‘universe’ within each of my body’s particles, then reconstruct it all with Infinite Void, my strength…”
Lin Yuan’s heart surged with excitement.
Crossing from Rank Twelve into Rank Thirteen involved a massive leap in the essence of life, evolving into a time-being.
But even among time-beings, strength varied greatly. The deeper one’s foundation at Rank Twelve, the greater the leap upon entering Rank Thirteen.
Why had the Void Ancestor immediately attacked the Yuanlong upon entering Rank Thirteen?
Because if he had waited, the Yuanlong might have stepped into Rank Thirteen as well.
And with the Yuanlong’s terrifying foundation, if it had made that step, its strength would likely have surpassed the Void Ancestor.
“Let’s try.”
Lin Yuan resumed his deep study of the Yuanlong’s Heart.
In the Golden Mist Treasure Land—
Most of Lin Yuan’s focus was on comprehending the origin operation of the Source World.
The rest of his attention was devoted to sorting his karmic ties.
“Ever since the Martial Dao evolutionary path spread throughout the six ancient Kingdoms, my karmic threads have become endlessly complex.”
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
The reason was simple—every Martial Dao cultivator formed a karmic link with him, the Martial Dao Ancestor.
And due to his authority over the evolutionary path, Lin Yuan could even use those karmic links to observe the details of each cultivator’s life.
“For the initial propagation of Martial Dao, I need to take on some disciples with Martial Dao potential to train.”
He had two goals in mind: one, to better spread Martial Dao—at the very least letting all beings in the Source World see that he was earnestly spreading it.
Second, to prepare for founding the Seventh Ancient Kingdom.
Creating an ancient Kingdom would require many subordinates to manage it.
He couldn’t personally oversee everything, could he?
Unlike other ancestors who had countless descendants, Lin Yuan had risen too quickly and had no offspring yet. In this case, disciples could be a perfect substitute.
The advantage of disciples was that they weren’t limited by bloodline—he could take in any gifted being.
As long as they practiced Martial Dao, they would be his disciples.
“Let’s see…”
Lin Yuan began to trace the karmic lines. Through the connections between threads, he could see the status of each Martial Dao practitioner, and thus determine their potential in the Dao.
“Hmm?”
He hadn’t been looking long before he was pleasantly surprised.
“A Martial Dao time talent?”
A strange light flickered across Lin Yuan’s face. Starting from Rank Two, Martial Dao required one to comprehend a corresponding power.
For example, Lin Yuan had comprehended the forces of Yin and Yang, which had evolved into the current Chaos Yin-Yang Tai Chi Tao.
And now, he discovered a cultivator with a Martial Dao time affinity.
If he continued on this path, he would eventually condense a Martial Dao time soul, then evolve a time great path—an incredible potential, possibly the most gifted Martial Dao talent Lin Yuan had ever seen.
“He's in the Thousand Fang Domain of the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom?”
Following the karmic sensation, he pinpointed the location. “His name is ‘Meng Shi’?”
“Such a promising Martial Dao seed—I’ll take him in.”
With a flick of thought, Lin Yuan condensed a projection in the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom and began heading toward the Thousand Fang Domain.
Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom, Thousand Fang Domain.
A pale-faced young man was fleeing desperately, with several powerful auras rapidly closing in behind him.
“I can’t stay in the Thousand Fang Domain anymore. If I do, the Thousand Fang King will drain me dry.”
The youth gritted his teeth. The Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom cultivated primarily through the ‘spirit’ of life, so many of its powerful figures liked to manipulate, control, or even absorb others’ spirits to nourish themselves.
The youth despised this method. To him, every life was an independent being. Their spirit was their own—how could it be toyed with, controlled, or absorbed?
“Not long ago, the Martial Dao founded by the Heavenly Sovereign Milky Way spread to the Thousand Fang Domain. I cultivated it briefly—it suits me well. Even if I leave this domain, leave the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom, and give up the Ling cultivation inheritance, I can still survive and grow stronger.”
His thoughts churned. The ruler of the Thousand Fang Domain, the Thousand Fang King, was a Heavenly Sovereign—a terrifying existence who saw the domain’s populace as mere resources. Periodically, he selected groups of beings to consume.
Of course, for sustainability, he never devoured everything—only part. The youth had been selected multiple times, and felt that if he stayed, it was only a matter of time before he was sucked dry.
“Run, run, run!”
He pushed his speed to the limit. He had to escape quickly.
If it dragged on, more pursuers would come—even Great Sovereign-level experts might be alerted.
The Thousand Fang King was extremely possessive of the lives in his domain and didn’t tolerate escape. His subordinate Great Sovereigns had stationed multiple guardians to prevent cases like this youth’s.
At that moment—
A figure silently appeared in the youth’s path.
His pupils shrank. He tried to dodge, but his body was instantly frozen in place.
“What…?”
A chill ran through his heart. He immediately realized this newcomer was someone he couldn’t contend with.
“One of the Thousand Fang King’s subordinates?”
The youth's mind trembled. He immediately prepared to take his own life—anyone caught after fleeing would suffer a fate worse than death.
“Don’t panic.”
Lin Yuan smiled at the youth. “I don’t know the Thousand Fang King.”
Before arriving, Lin Yuan had already learned about the Thousand Fang Domain. In truth, the entire Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom was like this. Because of their cultivation of the ‘spirit’, their hierarchy from bottom to top was extremely rigid.
The weak had to offer their spirit to the strong, who in turn offered theirs to those above them. This repeated upward, with the royal family of Grand Ling reaping the final benefit.
This was why the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom was second only to the Grand Ancient Void Kingdom among the six ancient Kingdoms—it had a unique cultivation system.
Lin Yuan didn’t approve of this system, but he didn’t strongly oppose it either—it was just another path of cultivation.
“You don’t know the Thousand Fang King?”
The youth let out a long breath.
That was good.
“You’re Meng Shi?”
Lin Yuan glanced at him and casually asked.
“How do you know that, senior?”
Meng Shi was momentarily stunned, curious.
“If I want to know, I know,” Lin Yuan smiled.
“Yes, sir.”
Meng Shi didn’t understand but nodded obediently.
He now realized this man wasn’t from the Thousand Fang Domain—probably not even a cultivator of the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom.
“All right, let’s get to the point.” Lin Yuan looked at the youth and, confirming his time talent in Martial Dao, said directly, “I intend to take you as a disciple. What do you think?”
“Take me as a disciple?”
Meng Shi was slightly stunned.
“What? You don’t want to?”
Lin Yuan asked.
“I do. Of course I do.”
Meng Shi nodded immediately.
He was sure this man was vastly stronger than himself. Being accepted as a disciple by such a figure was definitely a great stroke of fortune.
However—
“Senior, I won’t hide it from you.”
Meng Shi said, “Taking me as a disciple may bring you trouble.”
“I’ve been selected by the Thousand Fang King. I’m required to regularly offer up my ‘spirit’. I fled because I refused.”
Meng Shi looked at Lin Yuan. “Now I’m being hunted by his subordinates. If you take me in, you’ll be making an enemy of the Thousand Fang King. He’s a Heavenly Sovereign… offending him…”
Meng Shi had considered accepting the offer and escaping the domain with Lin Yuan.
But if they were discovered, Lin Yuan could be implicated—and Meng Shi didn’t want to cause that.
“Mm.”
Lin Yuan nodded and continued, “Just answer: do you want to or not?”
“Senior, of course I do. But this is the Thousand Fang Domain, part of the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom. The Thousand Fang King can summon countless followers. If you accept me, I’m grateful—but the consequences…”
Meng Shi’s voice grew urgent. He could vaguely sense the pursuers closing in.
“Senior, the Grand Ling Ancient Kingdom is different from others. It heavily restricts people like us. This is just how it works. You should leave while you still can.”
After speaking, Meng Shi prepared to flee in another direction.
But he found his body still immobilized. He looked at Lin Yuan in confusion. “Senior?”
“Rules?”
Lin Yuan turned toward the capital of Grand Ling and paused briefly before smiling. “Among the six ancient Kingdoms, beneath the ancestors, many things—if I say they can be done, then they can be done.”
“If I say yes…”
“Then it’s yes.”
With that, Lin Yuan gently raised his right hand and drew inward—instantly summoning the Thousand Fang King from far-off Thousand Fang City.
He glanced at the terrified king and asked calmly, “What do you think?”
...
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