### Chapter 2257 — A Sudden Decision
The vast sky stretched endlessly ahead.
Yang Lin and Zhi Nan flew side by side.
Immortal qi flowed throughout the heavens like endless rivers.
Below them—
immortal sects occupied enormous mountain ranges.
Ancient peaks pierced through the clouds.
Magnificent immortal pavilions stood upon their summits, surrounded by formations that shimmered faintly beneath the sunlight.
Some sects possessed entire floating mountain ranges.
Others had enormous immortal lands extending for countless light years, with spiritual forests, immortal lakes, ancient palaces, and cultivation grounds scattered throughout their territories.
Occasionally—
an enormous immortal ship crossed the sky.
Some ships were hundreds of miles long.
Others were even larger.
They carried powerful cultivators from ancient families and sects.
Several enormous family territories could also be seen below.
Massive immortal lands floated above the earth, surrounded by layers of formations.
Ancient ancestral palaces stood at their centers.
Spiritual waterfalls descended from floating mountains.
Immortal rivers flowed through valleys filled with dense immortal qi.
The entire Lower Realm seemed endless.
Zhi Nan quietly looked at the scenery.
Her expression was calm.
She had spent countless years cultivating.
She had seen countless magnificent places.
Yet even she had to admit—
the Lower Realm was extraordinarily vast.
Yang Lin, however, simply flew forward.
His expression remained completely relaxed.
Then—
suddenly.
He stopped.
His body remained suspended in midair.
His feet were positioned straight beneath him as though he were standing upon an invisible road.
The surrounding immortal qi continued flowing.
Zhi Nan stopped immediately.
Her long hair moved gently in the wind.
She looked toward Yang Lin with slight confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Yang Lin calmly turned toward her.
"You go back to the Qingyun Sword Sect."
Zhi Nan was stunned.
Yang Lin continued,
"Protect the sect."
"And help Sect Master Zhen Yi and Sect Mistress Sun Mi advance from Immortal Emperor Supreme Peak to Dao Severing Realm."
His voice remained completely calm.
"Make sure they succeed."
"If Heaven interferes, don't let it."
"If something goes wrong, make sure they still break through."
"And protect them during the entire process."
Zhi Nan's expression slowly became serious.
She stared at Yang Lin.
For a moment—
she didn't speak.
Then she finally asked,
"Wait."
"If I'm going back to the Qingyun Sword Sect..."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What about you?"
Yang Lin calmly looked at her.
"Don't hide your realm."
Zhi Nan understood immediately.
The disguise covering her cultivation disappeared.
Boom!
An extremely profound aura spread through the surrounding heavens.
The immortal qi around them trembled.
Her true cultivation was revealed.
**Transcendence Realm — Perfection Early Stage**
The surrounding void became faintly distorted.
Zhi Nan calmly looked at Yang Lin.
"What's wrong?"
Yang Lin answered,
"Even a Transcendence Early Stage cultivator can ignore all Heavenly Laws of the Lower Realm."
"So naturally, you can help Sect Master Zhen Yi and Sect Mistress Sun Mi break through to Dao Severing Realm."
Zhi Nan nodded.
"That's not the problem."
She looked directly at him.
"The problem is..."
"Where are you planning to go without me?"
Yang Lin remained silent for a moment.
Then—
he slowly raised his right hand to his side.
Darkness gathered.
A long, dark sword appeared on his right hand.
Around the blade—
an extremely profound Transcendence Qi silently circulated.
Zhi Nan's pupils contracted.
Yang Lin calmly looked toward the distant horizon.
"I'm going to conquer the Lower Realm first."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Zhi Nan's expression froze.
Her eyes widened.
Her normally calm face became completely horrified.
"Conquer..."
She stared at him.
"The Lower Realm?"
Yang Lin nodded.
"Yes."
He spoke as though he had merely said that he was going for a walk.
"Go tell the Qingyun Sword Sect that I'm going to the Central Domain to begin my journey."
"I've enjoyed myself for a while."
"Now..."
"It's time for some tiny tasks to be completed."
Zhi Nan's expression became even more complicated.
She knew him well enough by now.
Yang Lin wasn't acting arrogantly.
He wasn't trying to intimidate anyone.
He wasn't exaggerating.
He was simply stating something he considered completely ordinary.
That realization made her expression even more horrified.
After several seconds—
Zhi Nan slowly sighed.
"Alright."
"I'll pass the message to the Qingyun Sword Sect."
She turned around.
But before leaving—
she suddenly stopped.
Then she turned back toward Yang Lin.
Her face became slightly red.
She stepped closer.
Yang Lin looked at her calmly.
Zhi Nan suddenly leaned forward.
A tiny kiss landed upon Yang Lin's right cheek.
Yang Lin froze.
For the first time in several moments—
even he was completely speechless.
His expression remained calm.
But his eyes showed a trace of surprise.
Zhi Nan immediately stepped back.
Her face was already bright red.
She quickly looked away.
Then she took out a talisman.
"This..."
Her voice was slightly embarrassed.
"Contains ten of my full-powered strikes."
"Use it carefully."
Yang Lin looked at the talisman.
He calmly accepted it.
"I usually don't accept things like this."
"But since you're giving it..."
"I'll accept it."
He placed the talisman into his storage ring.
"Thank you, Zhi Fairy."
Zhi Nan's face instantly became even redder.
She looked as though she had been cooked like a tomato.
She quickly turned away.
"Alright."
"Do whatever you want."
Then—
Whoosh!
Her figure transformed into a stream of light.
She rapidly disappeared toward the Qingyun Sword Sect.
Yang Lin remained suspended in the sky.
His right hand slowly touched his cheek.
He remained silent for several seconds.
Then he calmly looked toward the direction in which Zhi Nan had disappeared.
---
### Chapter 2258 — The Message
Several moments later—
Zhi Nan arrived above the territory of the Qingyun Sword Sect.
The enormous sect appeared below her.
Ancient immortal mountains surrounded the sect.
Sword qi filled the heavens.
Countless immortal pavilions stood upon the peaks.
Immortal waterfalls descended from mountain cliffs.
The main mountain gate remained magnificent beneath the sunlight.
Zhi Nan descended.
The moment she appeared—
several figures immediately noticed her.
Sect Master Zhen Yi.
Sect Mistress Sun Mi.
The twelve peak masters.
Yuqin Yi.
Lan Bailian.
Ju Jingli.
And the four young masters who had arrived the previous day.
They quickly approached.
Their expressions carried surprise.
Zhi Nan had only left with Yang Lin not long ago.
Yet she had already returned.
Sect Master Zhen Yi looked toward her.
"Senior Zhi Nan?"
He glanced behind her.
His expression became slightly confused.
"Where is Yang Lin?"
Zhi Nan remained silent for a moment.
Her face was still faintly flushed.
Sun Mi noticed this immediately.
The twelve peak masters also exchanged confused glances.
Yuqin Yi's eyes showed curiosity.
Lan Bailian looked toward the empty sky behind Zhi Nan.
The four young masters were similarly puzzled.
Had Yang Lin already left?
Zhi Nan finally spoke.
"He asked me to pass a message to everyone."
Zhen Yi immediately became serious.
"A message?"
Zhi Nan nodded.
"Yes."
Before she could continue—
more figures arrived.
Qin Lu.
Xue Yao.
Shuiluo Sha.
Han Chen.
FeiFei.
Su Qinglan.
Liao Yue.
Xiao Rui.
Daji.
Zhao Feng.
Gu Tian.
Bai Yao.
Ning Mei.
Han Qing.
Yue Bingxin.
Su Liyulu.
Cui Ye.
Liu Yi.
Qin Mo.
Shen Rui.
Baiyu.
Xu Yi.
Mo Han.
Yu Lianhua.
Yu Huaxianzi.
Hua Chao.
One after another, they gathered around Zhi Nan.
Everyone looked toward her.
Qin Lu's expression was calm.
Xue Yao's eyes carried curiosity.
Shuiluo Sha quietly waited.
Han Chen and FeiFei exchanged glances.
Su Qinglan's expression was thoughtful.
Liao Yue looked toward the direction Zhi Nan had come from.
Xiao Rui remained silent.
Ning Mei and Han Qing were similarly curious.
Daji, however—
her eyes immediately landed upon Zhi Nan's flushed face.
She stared for a moment.
Then—
a tiny understanding appeared within her eyes.
Her lips curved slightly.
She understood something.
Zhao Feng looked at Zhi Nan.
Then he looked toward Gu Tian.
Gu Tian also noticed the strange expression on Zhi Nan's face.
The two exchanged a glance.
Zhao Feng smiled.
"Oh?"
Gu Tian chuckled.
"Interesting."
Zhao Feng folded his arms.
"Could it be that another one will join us in the future?"
Zhi Nan's face became even redder.
Xue Yao looked at Zhao Feng.
Then she looked back at Zhi Nan.
"I guess."
Her expression quickly became serious.
"More importantly..."
"What did Yang Lin say?"
Shuiluo Sha nodded.
"Yes."
"What message did he send?"
Zhen Yi also waited silently.
Sun Mi looked toward Zhi Nan.
The twelve peak masters became serious.
Yuqin Yi and Lan Bailian also focused completely upon her.
Everyone wanted to know what Yang Lin had said.
Zhi Nan took a slow breath.
Her expression gradually returned to normal.
Then she calmly said—
"Yang Lin said..."
"He intends to conquer the Lower Realm."
Silence.
The entire area became completely silent.
---
### Chapter 2259 — Conquer the Lower Realm
For several seconds—
nobody spoke.
The expressions of Zhen Yi and Sun Mi froze.
The twelve peak masters stared blankly.
Yuqin Yi's eyes widened.
Lan Bailian was equally stunned.
The four young masters looked at one another.
Even the surrounding disciples became quiet.
"Conquer..."
One of the peak masters murmured.
"The Lower Realm?"
Zhi Nan nodded.
"Yes."
"He said he is going to the Central Domain to begin his journey."
"He said he has enjoyed himself for a while."
"And now..."
"It's time for some tiny tasks to be completed."
The atmosphere became even stranger.
Some people looked toward the sky.
Others looked at Zhi Nan as though wondering whether they had heard correctly.
Yet—
Qin Lu remained calm.
Xue Yao wasn't surprised.
Shuiluo Sha's expression didn't change.
Han Chen quietly sighed.
FeiFei remained calm.
Su Qinglan's eyes were peaceful.
Liao Yue simply shook her head.
Xiao Rui showed no fear.
Daji's lips curved slightly.
Zhao Feng and Gu Tian exchanged knowing looks.
Bai Yao.
Ning Mei.
Han Qing.
Yue Bingxin.
Su Liyulu.
Cui Ye.
Liu Yi.
Qin Mo.
Shen Rui.
Baiyu.
Xu Yi.
Mo Han.
Yu Lianhua.
Yu Huaxianzi.
Hua Chao—
none of them were truly surprised.
They had already known that this day would eventually arrive.
Yang Lin had never regarded the Lower Realm as something worthy of even nothingness.
For him—
the even the entire Immortal Realm and the Rui Star was simply another place he could walk through.
Qin Lu slowly exhaled.
"Looks like that day finally came."
Xue Yao nodded.
"Earlier than I expected."
Shuiluo Sha quietly said,
"He really intends to do it."
Han Chen smiled faintly.
"Of course he does."
FeiFei sighed.
"Those who cross his path..."
She shook her head.
"I almost feel sorry for them already."
Su Qinglan's expression remained calm.
"They simply shouldn't provoke him."
Daji smiled.
"Anyone who meets him will probably have terrible luck."
Zhao Feng laughed.
"Those people don't even know what's coming."
Gu Tian nodded.
"Exactly."
There was no fear in their expressions.
Only pity.
They felt sorry for the countless beings who might eventually stand in Yang Lin's way.
After a long silence—
everyone sighed.
Zhi Nan looked at them.
Then she remembered the other reason she had returned.
"There is another message."
The atmosphere immediately became serious again.
Zhi Nan looked toward Zhen Yi and Sun Mi.
"Yang Lin also instructed me to help Sect Master Zhen Yi and Sect Mistress Sun Mi."
"Help both of you break through from Immortal Emperor Supreme Peak..."
"to Dao Severing Realm."
Zhen Yi's pupils contracted.
Sun Mi's expression changed.
The twelve peak masters immediately became serious.
"Dao Severing Realm..."
Yuqin Yi murmured.
Lan Bailian's eyes narrowed.
The four young masters became stunned.
For the Qingyun Sword Sect—
this was an enormous matter.
A breakthrough from Immortal Emperor Supreme Peak to Dao Severing Realm was not ordinary.
It was a true transformation.
Zhi Nan continued calmly,
"Yang Lin said that I must ensure both of you succeed."
"If Heaven interferes..."
"I am not allowed to let it interfere."
"And if something unexpected happens..."
"I must still make sure both of you break through."
Zhen Yi slowly clenched his fists.
Sun Mi's eyes became determined.
The twelve peak masters exchanged glances.
This was clearly not something that could be discussed casually.
Zhen Yi finally said,
"Everyone."
"Let's go to the main hall."
"We need to discuss this properly."
Everyone nodded.
---
### Chapter 2260 — The Qingyun Sword Sect's Decision
The group soon entered the main hall.
The enormous doors slowly closed behind them.
Zhen Yi sat at the head.
Sun Mi sat beside him.
The twelve peak masters took their respective positions.
Yuqin Yi and Lan Bailian stood nearby.
The four young masters also remained present.
Zhi Nan stood before everyone.
The atmosphere was solemn.
Zhen Yi looked toward her.
"Senior Zhi Nan."
"How confident are you that you can protect us during the breakthrough?"
Zhi Nan calmly answered,
"Completely."
The word was simple.
Yet it carried absolute confidence.
Zhen Yi nodded slowly.
Sun Mi looked toward Zhi Nan.
"Then we will rely on you."
Zhi Nan nodded.
"I'll make sure nothing happens."
One of the twelve peak masters spoke.
"But Yang Lin..."
He hesitated.
"Is he truly going to the Central Domain alone?"
Zhi Nan calmly replied,
"Yes."
The hall became silent again.
Zhao Feng and Gu Tian exchanged another glance.
Daji smiled faintly.
Xue Yao remained calm.
Qin Lu simply closed his eyes.
None of them were worried.
They knew Yang Lin.
If he said he was going to do something—
he would do it.
And if he said conquering the Lower Realm was a tiny task...
then, to him—
it truly was.
Zhen Yi slowly sighed.
"Then we should prepare ourselves as well."
Sun Mi nodded.
"Yes."
The twelve peak masters became serious.
The Qingyun Sword Sect had just received two enormous pieces of news.
One—
Yang Lin was heading toward the Central Domain.
Two—
the sect's Sect Master and Sect Mistress were about to attempt the breakthrough into Dao Severing Realm.
Zhi Nan quietly looked toward everyone.
She suddenly remembered Yang Lin's calm expression before leaving.
There had been no arrogance.
No hesitation.
Only certainty.
She quietly thought—
*He really is going to conquer the Lower Realm.*
Her expression became complicated.
Yet there was no fear.
She simply knew—
the Lower Realm was about to become much less peaceful.
---
### Chapter 2261 — Before the Storm
The discussion continued inside the main hall.
The Qingyun Sword Sect began preparing for the breakthrough of Zhen Yi and Sun Mi.
Every detail needed to be considered.
The breakthrough could not be treated casually.
Dao Severing Realm represented a completely different level.
Even an Immortal Emperor Supreme Peak cultivator needed enormous preparation.
Yet with Zhi Nan present—
everyone's confidence increased dramatically.
Zhi Nan calmly explained what she would do.
"I'll remain beside both of you during the breakthrough."
"If the Heavenly Laws descend..."
"I'll suppress them."
"If the tribulation becomes stronger..."
"I'll handle it."
"If anything unexpected appears..."
"I'll protect you."
Zhen Yi nodded.
"Then we can proceed without worry."
Sun Mi's expression became firm.
"We will not waste this opportunity."
Around them—
the twelve peak masters nodded.
Yuqin Yi and Lan Bailian looked serious.
The four young masters also understood the importance of what was happening.
Meanwhile—
Qin Lu, Xue Yao, Shuiluo Sha, Han Chen, FeiFei, Su Qinglan, Liao Yue, Xiao Rui, Daji, Zhao Feng, Gu Tian, Bai Yao, Ning Mei, Han Qing, Yue Bingxin, Su Liyulu, Cui Ye, Liu Yi, Qin Mo, Shen Rui, Baiyu, Xu Yi, Mo Han, Yu Lianhua, Yu Huaxianzi, and Hua Chao remained calm.
They were not worried about Yang Lin.
Not even slightly.
They simply knew that—
somewhere far away—
Yang Lin had already begun walking toward his next destination.
And whoever encountered him...
would soon understand exactly what the phrase—
**"conquer the Lower Realm"**
actually meant.
Outside the main hall—
the immortal qi continued flowing through the Qingyun Sword Sect.
The ancient mountains remained peaceful.
The spiritual waterfalls continued descending.
The immortal pavilions remained surrounded by clouds.
Everything appeared unchanged.
Yet beneath that peaceful surface—
something enormous had already begun.
The storm had not arrived.
But it was coming.
__
### Chapter 2262 — Those Who Were Watching
Meanwhile—
far away from the Qingyun Sword Sect.
The vast sky remained peaceful.
Immortal qi flowed between countless immortal mountains.
Yang Lin was still suspended in midair.
His hands were resting behind his back.
His dark-purple immortal robe moved gently in the wind.
His gaze remained fixed in the direction where Zhi Nan had disappeared.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Have you seen enough?"
His voice was calm.
The surrounding sky became silent.
Yang Lin slowly turned his head.
"Come out."
The next moment—
Whoosh!
Ten figures wearing black robes appeared from the surrounding void.
They quickly surrounded Yang Lin.
At the front stood a young man.
His expression carried a faint fake smile.
"My name is—"
Yang Lin calmly interrupted him.
"No need to say more."
The young man's smile stiffened.
The expressions of the ten black-robed men behind him also changed slightly.
Yang Lin looked at them.
"You ten are at Heaven Immortal Sixth Stage, right?"
The ten men exchanged glances.
Then one of them answered,
"Yeah."
"So what?"
Yang Lin's gaze moved toward the young man standing in front.
"You are Heaven Immortal Seventh Stage Peak."
The young man's expression became slightly surprised.
"Yes."
"So what?"
Yang Lin calmly looked at the eleven people.
"You aren't fools."
"You clearly saw a Qingyun Sword Sect disciple traveling beside me."
"And you also clearly saw a Transcendence Perfection Early Stage cultivator beside me."
The young man and the ten men stared at him.
Then—
they suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha!"
The young man shook his head.
"You're joking, right?"
"She was clearly only an Immortal King First Stage cultivator."
"How could she possibly be a Transcendence Perfection Early Stage?"
Yang Lin remained calm.
"Oh."
"I forgot."
"There was an invisible sound barrier around her."
"It conceals and blocks outsiders from hearing or sensing everything happening inside."
"Only someone at Transcendence Perfection Early Stage could notice something like that."
The young man's expression became strange.
The ten black-robed men looked at one another.
Their expressions were almost comical.
They had been completely unaware that the woman beside Yang Lin had concealed her true cultivation.
Yang Lin calmly asked,
"What are you here for?"
The young man's gaze immediately fell upon the dark sword in Yang Lin's possession.
His eyes became greedy.
"That sword."
"It carries Transcendence Qi."
"It's a Transcendence weapon."
"Give it to me."
Yang Lin looked at the sword.
Then he looked at the young man.
"Oh?"
"Really?"
The young man sneered.
"Don't pretend you don't know what you're holding."
Yang Lin simply stood there.
Then—
his concealed cultivation suddenly disappeared.
Boom!
An enormous aura spread across the heavens.
**Heaven Immortal Seventh Stage Peak!**
The young man's expression changed.
The ten black-robed men also froze.
Yang Lin calmly looked at him.
"So that's what you came for."
The young man slowly recovered.
Then his eyes narrowed.
"Your cultivation is the same as mine."
He smiled again.
"But I possess a treasure from the Immortal Venerable Realm."
"Can you fight me?"
Yang Lin looked at him.
Then calmly said,
"I've already made my move."
The young man's expression became confused.
"What?"
The next instant—
nothing happened visibly.
There was no enormous explosion.
No dazzling technique.
No terrifying roar.
Only—
a thin dark line silently crossed the surrounding void.
The expressions of the ten black-robed men suddenly froze.
The young man's eyes widened.
Their bodies began disappearing.
Not falling.
Not exploding.
Not even turning into ashes.
They were simply—
**erased into nothingness.**
Their bodies vanished.
Their souls vanished.
Their traces vanished.
Even their connection to time and space was severed.
The void where they had stood was torn apart.
A terrifying spatial crack appeared.
Then—
the crack slowly closed.
Everything became completely silent.
Yang Lin looked at the empty space.
"I just created this sword technique."
He calmly examined the dark sword.
"This is called..."
**"Cut the Source, Sever the River of Time into Nothingness."**
He paused.
"What a river of time."
"Such boring stuff."
Yang Lin put the dark sword back into his storage ring.
Then he placed both hands behind his back.
Without another glance toward the place where the eleven people had disappeared—
he flew toward the distant border between the Southern Domain and the Central Domain.
---
### Chapter 2263 — The Vast Immortal Forest
Yang Lin traveled through the sky alone.
The scenery beneath him continuously changed.
An enormous immortal forest stretched across the land.
Immortal qi filled every region.
Massive ancient trees reached into the clouds.
Some were thousands of meters tall.
Others were so enormous that their trunks resembled mountain ranges.
Immortal mountains floated above the forest.
Spiritual waterfalls descended from those floating mountains.
They poured down like silver rivers before merging into enormous rivers below.
Those rivers crossed the immortal forest.
Their waters contained dense immortal qi.
Occasionally—
powerful immortal beasts emerged from the forests.
Some roared toward the heavens.
Others silently watched passing cultivators.
Yang Lin continued forward.
His expression remained calm.
Then—
he suddenly noticed something.
A figure was rapidly fleeing through the forest below.
Behind her—
four figures were pursuing her.
All four possessed powerful auras.
**Immortal King Late Stage.**
Two appeared to be at the middle portion of the late stage.
The other two were also extremely close to the peak of the realm.
They were all middle-aged men.
Their faces were filled with murderous intent.
The woman fleeing ahead was clearly injured.
Blood covered one of her arms.
She held a bloody sword in her hand.
Her breathing was hurried.
Yang Lin looked down.
The woman was a rogue cultivator.
She possessed—
**Immortal King First Stage cultivation.**
Her figure was slender.
Her long dark brown-black hair flowed behind her.
Her dark brown-black eyes carried both determination and exhaustion.
She wore a simple white cultivation dress.
A small white cloth covered her chest, leaving only a subtle portion of the upper chest visible while keeping her figure properly covered.
The white fabric was simple but elegant.
Her lower clothing flowed naturally around her slender figure.
Over both shoulders rested a dark cultivation robe.
The robe draped loosely behind her shoulders and partially covered her back, moving in the wind as she fled.
Despite her injuries—
her appearance remained striking.
Her face was pale from blood loss.
Yet her eyes remained sharp.
The four Immortal King Late Stage cultivators continued chasing her.
"Stop!"
"You won't escape!"
The woman gritted her teeth.
She continued running.
Yang Lin looked at the scene.
"A rogue cultivator..."
"She probably killed someone related to those four."
He paused.
"Whatever."
"I'll help her."
Yang Lin descended.
Boom!
His figure appeared directly before the fleeing woman and the four Immortal King Late Stage cultivators.
The woman's expression changed drastically.
She immediately shouted,
"Run!"
"You'll get involved!"
The four middle-aged men stopped.
One of them sneered.
"Too late."
The woman rushed toward Yang Lin.
She reached out and attempted to grab his hand.
"Run!"
Yang Lin calmly held her hand.
Then—
he stepped forward.
His expression remained completely peaceful.
He stood directly between her and the four Immortal Kings.
Yang Lin looked at the four middle-aged men.
"Why in the world are four middle-aged men hunting down a junior like this?"
The four men became furious.
One of them immediately stepped forward.
"Don't interfere!"
The Immortal King Late Stage cultivator's aura erupted.
The woman looked horrified.
"Be careful!"
"They're all Immortal King Late Stage!"
"Even I can't fight one of them!"
She stepped in front of Yang Lin.
"Thank you for trying to help me."
"But run!"
Yang Lin calmly raised his right hand.
Red Immortal Qi mixed with brilliant golden light gathered around his palm.
The woman froze.
The Immortal King Late Stage cultivator charged forward.
"Die!"
Yang Lin calmly pushed his hand outward.
A gentle force moved the woman toward the left.
At the same time—
the Immortal King reached Yang Lin.
The woman shouted,
"Be careful!"
Yang Lin simply raised his right hand.
His palm met the Immortal King's head.
Then—
he gently squeezed.
Boom!
The Immortal King's head was crushed into **nothingness**.
Not shattered.
Not reduced to dust.
It simply disappeared.
His body followed.
His soul followed.
His entire existence was wiped clean into nothingness.
Yang Lin calmly looked at his hand.
"Immortal King Late Stage?"
"Is this it?"
---
### Chapter 2264 — Qiuyue Lu
The remaining three Immortal King Late Stage cultivators froze.
Their faces became pale.
Their previous anger disappeared.
Fear filled their eyes.
They had just watched their companion—
an Immortal King Late Stage cultivator—
die from a single hand.
Yet the three still clenched their teeth.
They pulled out their Immortal Supreme Treasures.
Three enormous sword lights appeared.
"Kill him!"
They charged simultaneously.
Yang Lin calmly looked at them.
"This fuss is over."
Behind the three—
the void suddenly cracked open.
A gigantic dark spatial crack appeared without warning.
The three Immortal Kings didn't even have time to react.
The crack swallowed them.
Their bodies were torn apart.
Their souls were destroyed.
Their entire existences were dragged into the endless void.
There was no reincarnation.
No remnant soul.
No trace.
Nothing remained.
The void crack slowly closed.
Silence returned to the forest.
Yang Lin calmly stood there.
"What a joke."
The woman stared at him.
Her eyes were completely wide.
Her expression was filled with disbelief.
She had personally witnessed four Immortal King Late Stage cultivators disappear within moments.
For her—
this was beyond comprehension.
Her injuries had already caused her to lose a tremendous amount of blood.
Her vision gradually became blurry.
She swayed.
Then—
her body collapsed.
Yang Lin turned around.
He looked at the unconscious woman.
He sighed softly.
"She passed out."
Her injuries had been severe.
Immortal King blood had flowed from several wounds.
Yang Lin calmly walked toward her.
He took off his dark cultivation robe.
Then he gently covered her body with it.
He lifted her.
After traveling deeper into the immortal forest—
he found an empty region.
Yang Lin looked around.
"Well."
"This place is good enough to treat her wounds."
He raised his hand.
Nothing happened.
No Immortal Qi appeared.
No spiritual energy gathered.
No formation was activated.
No thought was deliberately released.
Yet—
something appeared.
A wooden house slowly emerged from nothingness.
It wasn't constructed.
It wasn't summoned.
It simply—
**appeared from nothingness itself.**
As though nothingness had decided to gift the wooden house to him.
Yang Lin looked at it.
"Well."
"This will do."
He entered.
Inside was a simple bamboo-and-wood interior.
The walls were constructed from smooth dark wooden boards.
Thin bamboo beams supported the roof.
A simple wooden bed stood on the right side beside an open window.
Soft sunlight entered through the window.
A wooden table rested beside the bed.
Two wooden chairs stood nearby.
There was a small shelf against the wall.
The entire house carried a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
Yang Lin gently placed the woman upon the bed.
She remained unconscious.
Yang Lin took out a pill from his storage ring.
He carefully fed it to her.
The pill immediately dissolved.
The wounds across her body began healing.
The bleeding stopped.
Her internal injuries also began recovering.
Yet Yang Lin still took out another item.
A bowl of **Transcendence Soup**.
Dense Transcendence Qi quietly flowed within it.
This was an absolute-perfection soup.
There were no flaws.
It would not harm her.
Even though the pill was already capable of healing her visible and hidden injuries—
drinking the Transcendence Soup would provide additional benefits.
Yang Lin placed it on the wooden table beside the bed.
Then he sat down on the chair to the left of the table.
He casually took out a novel.
And began reading.
Several hours passed.
---
### Chapter 2265 — Qiuyue Lu
The woman slowly opened her eyes.
Her dark brown-black eyes moved slightly.
She stared at the wooden ceiling.
For several seconds—
she didn't understand where she was.
Then she slowly sat up.
Her expression changed.
She looked at her body.
The wounds were gone.
The blood was gone.
Even the hidden injuries within her body had completely disappeared.
There was not even the slightest trace that she had ever been injured.
Her Immortal King First Stage cultivation had also risen.
**Immortal King First Stage Peak.**
Her eyes widened.
"What..."
She slowly looked around.
The wooden bamboo house was quiet.
Sunlight entered through the open window.
Then—
she noticed the bowl on the table.
And beside it—
Yang Lin was sitting calmly on a wooden chair.
He was reading a novel.
Without looking up—
he calmly said,
"Woke up?"
The woman froze.
Then she slowly stood.
She stretched her arms slightly.
Her body felt completely different.
Every injury was gone.
Her Immortal Qi was also more powerful than before.
She looked toward Yang Lin.
"Thank you very much for saving my life."
Yang Lin continued reading for another moment.
Then he calmly put away the novel.
The woman sat down.
She looked at him.
"My name is Qiuyue Lu."
"I'm a rogue cultivator."
Yang Lin nodded.
"Nice name."
Then he calmly added,
"And I know you're a rogue cultivator."
"But why were you being chased by four Immortal King Late Stage cultivators?"
Qiuyue Lu became silent.
Then she answered honestly.
"Because..."
"I killed all of their sons."
Yang Lin nodded calmly.
"So that's how it is."
He didn't ask anything further.
"Whatever."
"They're all gone now."
"Don't worry about them."
Qiuyue Lu's expression suddenly became horrified.
Her memories returned.
The four Immortal Kings.
Yang Lin's palm.
Their bodies disappearing.
Their souls disappearing.
The terrifying void crack.
She stared at Yang Lin.
*He killed all four...*
And he had done it so casually.
Qiuyue Lu swallowed.
Then she asked,
"What's your name?"
Yang Lin paused.
"Ah."
"My name?"
"I'm Yang Lin."
Qiuyue Lu stared at him.
Her expression became complicated.
"Yang Lin..."
Yang Lin looked at her.
"What are your plans?"
Qiuyue Lu lowered her gaze.
"I don't really have anything to do."
"I'll just keep becoming stronger."
"One day..."
"I want to be strong enough to protect everyone who is close to me."
Yang Lin nodded.
"Well."
He pointed toward the bowl on the table.
"Drink that soup."
"Afterward, whether you leave or stay is up to you."
Qiuyue Lu looked at the soup.
Then at Yang Lin.
Her expression showed hesitation.
She finally picked up the bowl.
Then—
she drank it.
The moment the Transcendence Soup entered her body—
Boom!
Her Immortal Qi surged.
Qiuyue Lu's eyes widened.
The power within the soup was far beyond anything she had ever experienced.
She quickly circulated her cultivation.
Then she looked toward Yang Lin.
"I'll follow you."
Yang Lin looked at her.
"Why?"
Qiuyue Lu calmly answered,
"I don't have anyone else."
"And I don't have anywhere else to go."
Yang Lin thought for a moment.
"Why don't you join a sect?"
Qiuyue Lu shook her head.
"I like being free."
"I want to make my own rules."
She looked toward Yang Lin.
Then asked,
"Where are you planning to go next?"
Yang Lin calmly answered,
"The Central Domain."
Qiuyue Lu's expression immediately changed.
"The Central Domain?"
Her eyes became serious.
"That place is much more dangerous."
Yang Lin remained completely calm.
"I'm going to conquer the entire Lower Realm."
"Not just a tiny Central Domain."
"Not even merely the Lower Realm."
Qiuyue Lu stared at him.
Her expression became completely horrified.
---
### Chapter 2266 — The Transcendence Soup
Qiuyue Lu stared at Yang Lin for a long time.
Her expression was still filled with shock.
Then—
a strange smile slowly appeared.
"I like the way you are."
"We seem to have the same kind of ambition."
She looked at herself.
"I'm still only an Immortal King First Stage Peak."
Then she looked toward Yang Lin.
"And you're only Heaven Immortal Seventh Stage Peak."
Her expression became puzzled.
"How did you manage to wipe out four Immortal King Late Stage cultivators?"
"The gap between those realms is far too massive."
Yang Lin calmly stood from the chair.
He looked toward her.
"From my hands."
"And from the Open Void cultivation technique I mastered."
"Nothing more."
Qiuyue Lu's expression became even more complicated.
Yang Lin then pointed toward the empty bowl.
"The soup you just drank..."
"Was Transcendence Soup."
Qiuyue Lu froze.
Her eyes widened.
"Transcendence..."
She looked at the bowl again.
A mixture of horror and astonishment appeared on her face.
Yang Lin calmly said,
"Try breaking through."
"Immortal King Middle Stage."
"Or Second Stage Peak."
Qiuyue Lu took a deep breath.
She immediately sat down.
Her legs crossed.
She closed her eyes.
Then—
she began circulating her Immortal Qi.
Boom!
A powerful aura slowly emerged.
Yang Lin looked around the wooden house.
He calmly raised his hand.
An invisible barrier quietly spread outward.
It completely covered the wooden bamboo house.
No aura leaked outside.
No Heavenly Law could sense what was occurring inside.
Yang Lin wasn't doing this because he feared anyone.
It was simply troublesome to constantly erase cultivators who came looking because they sensed someone's breakthrough.
He preferred avoiding unnecessary disturbances.
Inside the barrier—
Qiuyue Lu's cultivation continued rising.
Her Immortal Qi became increasingly powerful.
Her aura climbed steadily.
Immortal King First Stage Peak.
Then—
the barrier around her cultivation began breaking.
Boom!
A profound Immortal King aura spread throughout the wooden house.
**Immortal King Middle Stage!**
Or—
**Second Stage Peak!**
Qiuyue Lu's breakthrough succeeded.
The Immortal Qi around her gradually stabilized.
After some time—
she opened her eyes.
Her dark brown-black eyes were filled with surprise.
She slowly stood.
"Thank you, Yang Lin."
Yang Lin calmly looked back at her.
"No problem."
"It's your own effort anyway."
Qiuyue Lu looked away.
A faint blush appeared on her face.
For a moment—
she seemed slightly shy.
Then the blush quickly disappeared.
Yang Lin calmly said,
"You rest tonight on the bed."
"I'll sit on the chair."
Qiuyue Lu looked at him.
"But what are you going to do?"
Yang Lin calmly answered,
"I'll sit on the chair."
"Or I'll go outside and look for any dangerous Immortal beasts."
Qiuyue Lu stared at him.
Her expression became slightly speechless.
She had just broken through to a higher Immortal King stage.
Yet Yang Lin was already casually talking about going outside to search for dangerous Immortal beasts as though nothing had happened.
She finally sighed softly.
"You're really strange."
Yang Lin simply smiled.
Outside the wooden bamboo house—
the immortal forest remained quiet.
Immortal qi drifted between the ancient trees.
Spiritual waterfalls continued flowing from distant floating mountains.
The night slowly descended.
And within the small wooden house—
the journey of Yang Lin and Qiuyue Lu had quietly begun.