One month had passed since the training pavilion of the Lin Clan had been transformed.
At first, very few people understood what Lin Huang had actually built beneath that quiet structure of stone and formation arrays.
But over the course of the following weeks, the effects slowly became impossible to ignore.
The air itself around the central territory of the Lin Clan felt… different.
Richer.
Alive.
Caravans arriving from distant regions often paused before even reaching the outer gates. Cultivators unfamiliar with the territory would instinctively slow their steps, frowning slightly as their spiritual perception reacted to the unusual density of energy in the atmosphere.
It wasn't oppressive.
Nor chaotic.
Instead, it felt remarkably stable.
Balanced.
Like stepping into a place where cultivation itself had become easier.
Inside the expanded training pavilion, the reason was obvious.
The internal space of the chamber had grown far beyond its original size.
From the outside, the pavilion still appeared to be a large but ordinary building within the central estate of the Lin Clan.
But the moment one stepped inside—
the space unfolded.
Dimensional formation arrays layered beneath the stone floor expanded the internal area into something closer to a small valley. The ceiling rose high above, supported by stabilizing pillars engraved with spatial runes.
A faint white mist drifted across the ground.
Soul power mist.
Near the center of the chamber, a shallow pool shimmered quietly.
Liquid soul power.
The lake itself was not large.
But the density of energy contained within it was extraordinary.
Around the edges of the chamber, different sections of the pavilion had gradually been refined over the past month.
Some areas contained heavier gravitational pressure designed for body cultivation.
Others held calm zones where the mist of soul power gathered thickly for martial cultivation.
And in the quietest corner of the pavilion, formations designed to stabilize spiritual fluctuations created a perfect environment for spiritual cultivation.
The pavilion had become something rare even among ancient cultivation sects.
A complete cultivation environment.
Inside the mist-filled chamber, several figures sat quietly in meditation.
Wu Feng was the first to break the silence.
She exhaled slowly and opened her eyes.
"…This place is ridiculous."
Across from her, Xu Tianzhen stretched slightly, the faint glow of solar energy fading around her body.
"I know."
She looked toward the lake of condensed soul power.
"Training here for a month feels like training outside for half a year."
Nearby, Ning Tian finished circulating her cultivation before standing slowly.
Her eyes moved thoughtfully across the formation arrays surrounding the chamber.
"The efficiency has stabilized."
She glanced toward the center of the pavilion.
"Even when all of us cultivate simultaneously, the formation holds."
Xiao Hongchen leaned casually against one of the pillars, a floating projection of several formation diagrams hovering in front of him.
"That's because he overbuilt the system."
He gestured toward the floor.
"There are redundant stabilizing arrays everywhere."
Wu Feng raised an eyebrow.
"You sound impressed."
Xiao Hongchen pushed his glasses slightly.
"I am."
He looked toward the lake again.
"Even the Sun Moon Empire would struggle to replicate this."
Not far from them, Tang Ya stood beside a small cultivation garden that had been added near one of the side formations.
Several young spirit herbs grew there, their leaves swaying gently in the dense spiritual mist.
Tang Ya crouched slightly, touching one leaf carefully.
"They're growing faster again."
Beside her, Bi Ji smiled softly.
"The vitality in this place has deepened."
Her emerald eyes drifted across the chamber.
"Even the plants can feel it."
Near the far side of the pavilion, another figure quietly practiced her cultivation.
Golden-white light slowly circulated around Ye Guyi's body.
Compared to when she had first arrived at the Lin Clan, the difference was clear.
Her control over the Light attribute had grown significantly.
The energy around her was far more stable now, the once slightly rigid flow of light power becoming smoother with each passing week.
When she finally finished circulating her energy, she opened her eyes.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"…Rank fifty."
It wasn't a dramatic breakthrough.
But for Ye Guyi, the significance was enormous.
She had spent most of her life cultivating alone, constantly hiding from the pursuit of the Holy Spirit Church.
Now, within the territory of the Lin Clan—
surrounded by allies—
her cultivation had advanced faster than she had ever imagined.
Across the chamber, Lin Huang finally opened his eyes.
He had been sitting quietly near the center of the pavilion for most of the morning.
The mist parted slightly around him as the subtle pressure of his cultivation receded.
His gaze swept across the chamber.
Everyone seemed to be progressing smoothly.
Good.
After observing for a moment, he slowly stood.
The mist shifted around his figure as he stepped out of the central formation circle.
Wu Feng noticed immediately.
"You're done already?"
Lin Huang nodded once.
"For now."
Xu Tianzhen crossed her arms.
"That usually means you're about to start something else."
Lin Huang didn't deny it.
Instead, he walked toward the exit of the pavilion.
"Come with me."
Several curious looks immediately followed.
Tang Ya straightened.
"Where are we going?"
Lin Huang glanced back over his shoulder.
"There's something I want to show you."
That answer was vague enough to spark interest from everyone.
One by one, they followed him out of the cultivation pavilion and into the inner estate of the Lin Clan.
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky, bathing the territory in warm golden light.
The estate had grown noticeably over the past month as well.
New workshops had appeared near the outer districts.
Several merchant caravans could be seen unloading goods near the transport platforms.
But Lin Huang ignored the bustle of activity.
He led the group toward a quieter structure deeper within the estate.
A research hall.
When the doors opened, the interior revealed a long stone table in the center of the room.
And on that table—
three objects rested side by side.
At first glance they looked like nothing more than ancient pieces of fossilized wood.
Dark.
Twisted.
Almost lifeless.
But the moment Gu Yuena stepped into the room, her silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Earth Veins."
The room grew quiet.
Everyone looked toward the table again.
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He approached the stone table and rested one hand lightly on its surface.
"These are Earth Vein Roots."
He paused briefly.
"The cores of spiritual forests."
Tang Ya's eyes widened slightly.
"You mean the thing that makes forests grow spirit herbs?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Among other things."
Wu Feng leaned closer to the table.
"…They look dead."
Lin Huang glanced at the roots.
"They are."
For a moment, silence settled across the room.
Then he added calmly—
"But not beyond repair."
The room remained quiet for a moment after Lin Huang spoke.
Several pairs of eyes studied the three twisted roots resting on the stone table.
At first glance they truly did look like nothing more than ancient fragments of wood—dark, dried, and lifeless. Their surfaces were cracked with age, their once-living veins now nothing more than brittle lines frozen in time.
Yet beneath that stillness…
a faint echo remained.
Gu Yuena stepped closer.
Her silver eyes lingered on the roots with deeper focus than anyone else in the room.
"…These once belonged to spiritual forests."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Tang Ya leaned slightly over the table.
"How old are they?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Several thousand years."
That alone was enough to make Wu Feng whistle softly.
"And they're just sitting on a table?"
Xiao Hongchen stepped forward, adjusting his glasses as he examined one of the roots more carefully.
"No."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"They're stabilized."
He looked toward Lin Huang.
"You've already sealed the remaining energy."
Lin Huang did not deny it.
"They were deteriorating."
Bi Ji studied the roots quietly.
Even to her, the faint trace of ancient vitality lingering inside them felt… fragile.
"These were once the heart of forests," she murmured softly.
"The veins that nourished the land."
Ning Tian looked between the roots.
"And now?"
Lin Huang rested both hands on the table.
"Now they're empty."
Xu Tianzhen frowned slightly.
"If they're dead, what's the point?"
Lin Huang finally allowed a faint smile to appear.
"They still remember what they used to be."
That answer made several people pause.
Gu Yuena, however, understood immediately.
"…Memory of function."
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Yes."
Earth Veins were not simply pieces of wood.
They were conduits of natural energy.
In ancient forests, these veins connected the land itself to spiritual energy circulating beneath the surface of the continent. They nourished soil, stabilized natural energy flows, and allowed spiritual plants and beasts to flourish.
But once a forest died—
the veins slowly withered as well.
The three roots on the table were the remnants of such veins.
Long Xiaoyi crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"Where did you even find these?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"The Star Dou."
Several people immediately glanced toward Gu Yuena.
She did not react.
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"Not near the core region."
Tang Ya blinked.
"You just found three Earth Veins lying around?"
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"Not exactly."
He tapped one finger lightly against the table.
"The Daevic Eyes helped."
The room quieted again.
Gu Yuena's gaze sharpened slightly.
"…You saw something."
Lin Huang nodded.
"The Lake of Life."
That made Bi Ji look up immediately.
"What about it?"
Lin Huang spoke casually, as if discussing something minor.
"There was a subtle imbalance."
Gu Yuena did not interrupt.
She already knew what he meant.
The Lake of Life was one of the largest concentrations of vitality on the continent.
If Lin Huang's Daevic Eyes had noticed a missing element—
it meant something significant had once been removed.
Lin Huang continued.
"Something that used to circulate through the life energy."
Tang Ya tilted her head.
"And you found it?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"A turtle."
Wu Feng blinked.
"…A turtle."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"It was old."
Xiao Hongchen sighed.
"That somehow makes it sound worse."
Gu Yuena, however, understood the implication immediately.
"…Gold of Life."
Lin Huang glanced at her.
"Yes."
Bi Ji's eyes widened slightly.
"That substance should have vanished long ago."
Lin Huang rested his hand on one of the roots.
"There was just enough left."
Ning Tian frowned thoughtfully.
"Enough for what?"
Lin Huang looked down at the three dead veins.
"To wake them."
Silence returned to the room.
Wu Feng leaned against the table.
"You're planning to revive them?"
Lin Huang shook his head.
"No."
He paused.
"Something better."
That statement drew everyone's attention again.
Lin Huang gently rotated one of the roots, exposing the cracked interior where faint traces of ancient energy still lingered.
"These veins used to produce natural spiritual resources."
He gestured lightly across the three roots.
"But there's no reason they must produce the same things again."
Tang Ya blinked.
"…Wait."
Xu Tianzhen frowned.
"You're changing them?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Gu Yuena studied him carefully.
"…You're rewriting their function."
Lin Huang met her gaze.
"Exactly."
That statement carried enormous implications.
Earth Veins were natural structures formed over centuries.
They were not tools.
They were part of the world's energy system.
And Lin Huang was talking about altering them.
Wu Feng slowly straightened.
"…That sounds expensive."
Lin Huang answered without hesitation.
"It is."
Xiao Hongchen folded his arms.
"How expensive?"
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"Ten million soul crystals per vein."
The room went silent.
Xu Tianzhen stared at him.
"…Thirty million."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Wu Feng ran a hand through her hair.
"That's insane."
Xiao Hongchen didn't disagree.
Even for the Lin Clan, that amount of resources was enormous.
Tang Ya looked back toward the table.
"So what do they become?"
Lin Huang gestured toward the first root.
"This one will produce soul crystals."
He pointed toward the second.
"This one will produce spiritual crystals."
Ning Tian immediately leaned forward.
"The kind used for spiritual cultivation?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He finally placed his hand on the third root.
"This one will become a Vital Vein."
Bi Ji's eyes brightened slightly.
"Using the Gold of Life."
Lin Huang nodded.
"That one will nourish vitality itself."
Tang Ya slowly exhaled.
"So…"
She looked around the room.
"…you're basically creating three resource sources."
Lin Huang corrected her calmly.
"Three cultivation resources."
He gestured lightly toward the door outside.
"The training pavilion covers cultivation speed."
Then he tapped the roots again.
"These will sustain it."
For a moment the group simply stared at the table.
Ning Tian was the first to fully grasp the implications.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…You're building a resource cycle."
Lin Huang gave a small nod.
"Exactly."
For several moments after Lin Huang finished speaking, no one in the room said anything.
Thirty million soul crystals.
Even within the rapidly growing territory of the Lin Clan, that number carried weight.
Not because the clan lacked resources.
But because the scale of what Lin Huang was proposing was… unusual.
Ning Tian was the first to move again.
She stepped closer to the table, studying the three roots with a far more analytical expression.
"If these veins truly start producing resources…"
Her eyes moved slowly across the room.
"…this changes the entire economic structure of the territory."
Xiao Hongchen nodded faintly.
"It also removes the biggest limitation of high-level cultivation."
Wu Feng leaned against the table.
"Which is?"
Xiao Hongchen gestured toward the cultivation pavilion outside.
"Energy."
He tapped the table once.
"Resources."
High-level cultivation consumed enormous amounts of spiritual materials.
Pills.
Crystals.
Rare herbs.
Most powerful sects and clans spent centuries building stable supply chains for these materials.
Lin Huang was proposing something else entirely.
Self-sustaining production.
Xu Tianzhen whistled softly.
"So basically…"
She pointed at the roots.
"…you're turning the clan territory into a permanent resource generator."
Lin Huang didn't disagree.
"That's the idea."
Tang Ya tilted her head slightly.
"But how do you actually change them?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"With creation."
He placed one hand lightly on the first root.
Not activating anything yet.
Just touching it.
The cracked surface of the ancient vein looked fragile under his palm.
Yet faint traces of old spiritual lines still remained deep inside the structure.
Memory.
Function.
Purpose.
Earth Veins were not random natural formations.
They were structures that shaped the flow of energy in the land.
And Lin Huang intended to reshape that function.
Gu Yuena observed quietly from the side of the room.
Her silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"…You're going to rebuild the internal energy pathways."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He lifted one of the roots carefully.
Despite its dry appearance, the weight of the object was surprising.
Inside the root, ancient channels once carried energy through the forest floor.
Those channels were empty now.
But they were still there.
Lin Huang turned the root slowly in his hand.
"The structure is intact."
He glanced briefly toward Xiao Hongchen.
"Which means it can be rewritten."
Xiao Hongchen pushed his glasses slightly higher on his nose.
"…You're treating it like a formation core."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
"That's essentially what it is."
Wu Feng frowned.
"Except formations don't usually grow forests."
"That depends on the formation."
The room grew quiet again.
Lin Huang set the root back on the table.
Then he pointed toward the three veins in order.
"This one becomes the Soul Crystal Vein."
He moved his hand toward the second.
"This one becomes the Spiritual Crystal Vein."
Finally, he rested his hand on the third root.
"And this one becomes the Vital Vein."
Bi Ji stepped forward slightly.
The faint aura of life energy around her responded instinctively to the last root.
"…This one will nourish the land itself."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Tang Ya folded her arms.
"So the territory gets stronger the longer they exist."
"Correct."
Xu Tianzhen grinned.
"That sounds broken."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"Efficient."
But Ning Tian was still thinking.
Her gaze moved toward the window, toward the direction of the cultivation pavilion.
Then back to the roots.
"…You're linking them together."
Lin Huang glanced toward her.
"Yes."
Now everyone looked confused.
Ning Tian continued slowly.
"The training pavilion accelerates cultivation."
"The veins produce resources."
She tapped the table lightly.
"And the resources feed cultivation."
Xiao Hongchen's eyes widened slightly as he realized the implication.
"…It's a closed cycle."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Tang Ya blinked.
"…You built a cultivation ecosystem."
Lin Huang didn't correct her.
Because that was exactly what it was.
Outside the research hall, the territory of the Lin Clan continued to grow busier with each passing week.
Trade caravans arrived daily.
Workshops expanded.
New formations were constructed across the city.
Most of the continent still believed the Lin Clan's rapid rise was simply the result of influence and military strength.
But inside this quiet hall—
the true foundation of that future was being built.
Wu Feng looked back at the roots again.
"So when do you start?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Now."
Several people instinctively stepped back.
Not out of fear.
But because everyone present understood something important.
If Lin Huang was about to activate thirty million soul crystals worth of energy—
standing too close might not be wise.
Lin Huang reached into his storage ring.
A moment later—
crystals appeared on the table.
Then more.
Then more.
Within seconds the entire surface of the stone table was covered with shimmering soul crystals.
And that was only the beginning.
Lin Huang placed both hands on the first root.
The room grew still.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then—
power began to move.
The crystals on the table started to glow.
Lines of light flowed across the surface of the root as Lin Huang guided the energy through the ancient channels inside it.
The dead vein trembled faintly.
Wu Feng blinked.
"…It's reacting."
Gu Yuena watched the process with calm focus.
"This will take time."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Thirty million soul crystals were not consumed instantly.
Reviving the veins required careful control.
Gradually—
the ancient channels inside the root began to light up.
Faint golden lines spread slowly across the surface of the wood.
The root itself began to change.
Not alive yet.
But no longer completely dead.
Tang Ya stared.
"…It's waking up."
Lin Huang continued channeling energy calmly.
"This is only the first step."
The real transformation—
was still coming.
The transformation did not happen quickly.
Even with Lin Huang's control, the process of rewriting an Earth Vein was not something that could be rushed.
The first root trembled faintly beneath his hands as streams of soul power flowed through the ancient channels inside it.
One by one, the dried veins began to glow.
The golden light slowly spread across the surface of the root like living threads.
Wu Feng leaned slightly forward, watching carefully.
"…That doesn't look like ordinary soul power."
Lin Huang didn't look up.
"It isn't."
Inside the root, the old pathways that once carried natural energy through ancient forests were slowly filling again.
But this time, the energy was different.
Not wild.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
Guided.
Lin Huang's cultivation had reached a level where manipulating the structure of energy itself had become second nature.
Creation did not always mean forming something entirely new.
Sometimes it meant reshaping what already existed.
Gu Yuena's gaze remained fixed on the glowing root.
"…You're replacing the natural circulation."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"With something more efficient."
Xiao Hongchen folded his arms.
"That's one way to describe it."
Ning Tian crouched slightly closer to the table, watching the golden lines spread deeper into the root's structure.
"The internal channels are stabilizing."
Tang Ya blinked.
"You can tell that?"
Ning Tian nodded.
"They're behaving like formation pathways now."
And that was exactly the point.
The root had once been a natural conduit for energy flowing through the land.
Now—
Lin Huang was transforming it into something closer to a living formation core.
The golden light slowly intensified.
Then—
a faint pulse spread through the room.
Thrum.
The root trembled.
Not violently.
But with a steady rhythm.
Wu Feng raised an eyebrow.
"…Did it just breathe?"
Xu Tianzhen laughed.
"That's unsettling."
Lin Huang finally lifted his hands slightly from the root.
The glow did not disappear.
Instead—
it stabilized.
The once dead root now radiated a steady aura of condensed spiritual energy.
Xiao Hongchen stepped closer.
"…It's active."
Lin Huang nodded.
"The Soul Crystal Vein is awake."
Tang Ya looked down at it again.
"…That was only one."
Lin Huang glanced toward the other two roots still resting on the table.
"Yes."
Then he raised his hand again.
The remaining stacks of soul crystals surrounding the table lifted slightly from the surface.
Energy gathered.
The second root rose slowly into the air.
Ning Tian watched the movement carefully.
"This one is the spiritual crystal vein."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Unlike the first root, this one reacted differently when the energy began flowing into it.
Instead of golden light—
a soft silver glow spread through its internal channels.
The atmosphere in the room shifted slightly.
A calm pressure filled the space.
Not physical.
Mental.
Tang Ya blinked.
"…My mind just got clearer."
Ning Tian nodded slowly.
"That's spiritual energy."
Lin Huang continued guiding the flow carefully.
"Spiritual crystals are normally synthesized from memory crystals."
He tapped the root lightly.
"This vein will produce them naturally."
Xiao Hongchen rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"…That will be extremely valuable."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"That's the point."
The silver light spread faster than the golden energy had earlier.
Within moments the entire root glowed faintly.
Then—
Thrum.
Another pulse spread through the room.
This one felt quieter.
Sharper.
More focused.
Wu Feng stretched slightly.
"…Okay that one feels weird."
Tang Ya laughed softly.
"It feels nice."
Lin Huang lowered his hand again.
The second root stabilized beside the first.
Two Earth Veins now rested on the table.
Both alive.
Both radiating energy.
Only the third remained.
Bi Ji's gaze had never left it.
The moment Lin Huang turned toward the final root, the faint aura of life energy surrounding her reacted instinctively.
"This one will be different," she said quietly.
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He reached into his storage ring again.
This time he removed something much smaller.
A small fragment of metal.
But the moment it appeared—
the entire room felt the change.
Even the air seemed to grow richer.
Alive.
Wu Feng blinked.
"…What is that?"
Gu Yuena answered before Lin Huang did.
"Gold of Life."
The small fragment glowed faintly in Lin Huang's hand.
It was not large.
But the vitality contained within it was extraordinary.
Lin Huang placed the fragment gently into the hollow center of the third root.
Then he spoke calmly.
"This one will become the Vital Vein."
Bi Ji stepped slightly closer.
"This vein will nourish life itself."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He placed both hands on the final root.
The remaining soul crystals around the table ignited simultaneously.
Energy surged.
But unlike the previous two transformations, the energy flowing into this root felt warmer.
Gentler.
Alive.
Green light slowly spread through the cracked wood.
At first it was faint.
Then stronger.
Tiny lines of emerald light appeared across the surface of the root as the Gold of Life awakened.
The entire room seemed to brighten.
Tang Ya stared.
"…Plants would grow instantly in this energy."
Bi Ji's voice carried quiet amazement.
"The land itself will recover faster."
Lin Huang continued guiding the energy steadily.
Slowly—
the final root pulsed.
Once.
Then again.
Thrum.
A wave of vitality spread through the room.
Wu Feng straightened slightly.
"…Alright."
She looked at the three glowing roots.
"That's definitely alive."
Lin Huang finally withdrew his hands.
The light stabilized.
Three Earth Veins now rested quietly on the stone table.
Each one glowing with its own unique energy.
Gold.
Silver.
Emerald.
For a moment no one spoke.
Then Ning Tian exhaled slowly.
"…You just revived three Earth Veins."
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"No."
He gestured toward the door.
"Now we plant them."
Because only then—
would the real changes begin.
Evening had already begun to settle across the territory of the Lin Clan when Lin Huang left the research hall.
The sky above the growing city was painted in deep shades of orange and violet, the last sunlight reflecting across the rooftops of workshops and merchant houses surrounding the central estate.
But Lin Huang did not walk toward the outer districts.
Instead, he turned back toward the inner territory.
Behind him, the others followed quietly.
Three faint lights floated beside him.
Gold.
Silver.
Emerald.
The three Earth Veins hovered within a controlled field of spiritual power, their newly awakened energy pulsing softly like distant heartbeats.
Wu Feng folded her arms as she walked.
"So where exactly are you putting them?"
Lin Huang answered without slowing.
"Inside the system."
Xu Tianzhen tilted her head.
"That doesn't explain anything."
Ning Tian, however, had already begun to understand.
"The training infrastructure."
Lin Huang glanced at her briefly.
"Yes."
They reached the entrance of the training pavilion soon after.
The structure looked calm from the outside.
But everyone present knew that beneath it lay one of the most powerful cultivation environments on the continent.
Inside, the mist of condensed soul power drifted quietly across the enormous chamber.
The lake of liquid soul power at the center shimmered faintly beneath the formation arrays.
Lin Huang stepped toward the lake.
"The first vein goes here."
Wu Feng blinked.
"…In the lake?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"This is already a condensation point."
The golden Earth Vein slowly descended toward the water.
The moment the root touched the surface—
the reaction was immediate.
Golden lines spread through the lake like flowing currents.
The liquid soul power trembled slightly as the new vein connected with the formation beneath the chamber.
Ning Tian watched the process closely.
"The energy density is stabilizing."
Lin Huang withdrew his hand.
"This becomes the Soul Crystal Vein."
He gestured toward the lake.
"It will feed the condensation process."
Over time, the lake would not simply hold liquid soul power.
It would produce soul crystals naturally.
Wu Feng whistled softly.
"…So the lake becomes a crystal mine."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"More efficient."
But he did not linger there.
Instead he turned toward the exit again.
"Next."
—
The second destination stood not far from the pavilion.
The Yin-Yang Tower rose quietly against the darkening sky, its structure faintly glowing with the balanced energy of fire and ice.
At its heart rested the two orbs Lin Huang had once refined from the Dragon Kings of Fire and Ice.
Even from outside, the pressure of the opposing elements could be felt.
Xu Tianzhen stretched slightly as they approached.
"This place always feels intense."
Lin Huang stopped at the base of the tower.
"The balance here is perfect."
The silver root floated forward.
"This one becomes the Spiritual Crystal Vein."
Tang Ya tilted her head slightly.
"Because of the Yin-Yang balance?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"The tower already refines opposing energies."
The silver root sank slowly into the ground beneath the tower.
For a moment nothing happened.
Then—
soft silver light spread through the foundation of the structure.
The air grew quieter.
Sharper.
Clearer.
Tang Ya blinked.
"…My mind feels lighter."
Ning Tian nodded slowly.
"Spiritual energy."
The Spiritual Crystal Vein had connected.
Lin Huang stepped back.
"This will naturally produce spiritual crystals."
Xiao Hongchen adjusted his glasses thoughtfully.
"…That's going to make spiritual cultivation much easier."
Lin Huang didn't deny it.
"That's the point."
—
Their final stop lay deeper inside the estate.
A quiet valley where rows of medicinal gardens had been planted over the past months.
Spirit herbs grew across the fields.
Medicinal plants cultivated for alchemy.
Young spirit trees swayed gently in the evening wind.
Bi Ji stopped the moment they arrived.
Her emerald eyes softened.
"This place already carries vitality."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He lowered the final root.
The emerald glow pulsed faintly.
"This becomes the Vital Vein."
The root touched the soil.
And the land responded.
Green light spread through the earth beneath their feet.
Nearby plants trembled softly.
Leaves slowly expanded.
Tang Ya stared.
"…The herbs are reacting."
Bi Ji smiled quietly.
"The land itself is breathing."
The vitality spreading through the soil was not violent.
It was gentle.
Sustaining.
Lin Huang withdrew his hand.
"The system is complete."
Ning Tian looked across the valley.
"Three veins."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Then he continued calmly.
"But this is only the first stage."
Several curious looks turned toward him.
"This entire system is still a prototype."
Xu Tianzhen blinked.
"…Prototype?"
Lin Huang gestured toward the distance.
"The veins are connected through formation channels beneath the estate."
Ning Tian's eyes widened slightly.
"…So the energy circulates."
"Yes."
A portion of the energy would remain concentrated in the three locations.
But a small part would slowly spread outward.
Through the territory.
Strengthening soil.
Stabilizing energy.
Improving cultivation conditions.
Wu Feng tilted her head.
"So the entire clan benefits."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Gradually."
Tang Ya crossed her arms.
"And if it works?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"Then I build more."
This time for the entire territory.
Xiao Hongchen suddenly frowned.
"…Wait."
He looked at Lin Huang.
"Thirty million soul crystals."
"Did the clan actually approve that?"
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"They didn't pay for it."
Wu Feng blinked.
"…Then who did?"
Lin Huang answered casually.
"I did."
Several people stared.
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"I saved them over the years."
Ning Tian shook her head faintly.
"…You planned this a long time ago."
Lin Huang didn't deny it.
"The clan will benefit."
For a moment the group stood quietly in the growing darkness.
Then a familiar voice sounded behind them.
"So this is what you were doing."
Lin Huang turned.
Lin Yueqin approached slowly along the garden path.
And in her arms—
a small child squirmed excitedly.
Lin Yuxin immediately noticed Lin Huang.
Her tiny arms stretched forward.
Lin Yueqin sighed softly.
"She's been doing that since she saw you earlier."
Lin Huang stepped forward.
Lin Yueqin placed the baby carefully into his arms.
The moment Lin Yuxin settled against him, she wrapped both arms around his neck tightly.
Wu Feng laughed softly.
"Looks like someone missed her brother."
Lin Huang adjusted his hold on the baby.
Lin Yuxin pressed her face against his shoulder happily.
Lin Yueqin glanced around the valley, sensing the change in the land.
"You changed something again."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Improved the soil."
Lin Yueqin shook her head with quiet amusement.
"You say that so casually."
Tang Ya had been watching the scene quietly.
Then she spoke.
"Lin Huang."
He looked at her.
"Yes?"
Tang Ya hesitated briefly.
Then her expression became serious.
"The Iron Blood Sect."
Several people went silent.
Tang Ya looked toward the distant mountains beyond the territory.
"I will deal with them."
Her voice carried no hatred.
Only certainty.
Lin Huang studied her for a moment.
"When?"
Tang Ya answered calmly.
"Five months."
Wu Feng raised an eyebrow.
"Why wait that long?"
Tang Ya smiled faintly.
"Because revenge driven by hatred is reckless."
She looked down briefly.
"I want it finished properly."
Lin Huang nodded slowly.
"Five months."
Tang Ya exhaled quietly.
Then Lin Huang added casually—
"Well."
Tang Ya looked at him.
"What?"
He shrugged slightly.
"If you're abandoning your hatred soon…"
Tang Ya blinked.
"…Yes?"
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"Then in the future we can focus on rebuilding the Tang Sect."
Tang Ya nodded slowly.
"That was always the plan."
Lin Huang finished the thought.
"And eventually fill it with our children."
For a moment—
the entire valley froze.
Tang Ya's face turned red instantly.
Wu Feng burst out laughing.
Xu Tianzhen nearly choked.
Meng Hongchen crossed her arms.
"Excuse me?"
Even Zhang Lexuan couldn't hide a small smile.
Tang Ya turned away quickly.
"You're impossible."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"Just planning ahead."
Tang Ya tried to glare at him—
but the faint smile she failed to hide made the moment obvious.
The future was already moving forward.
And beneath their feet—
the land of the Lin Clan had begun to change.