Morning sunlight slowly spread across the Lin Clan territory.
Yuelan City had already awakened.
Carriages moved through the wide streets, merchants opened their shops, and the distant sound of the metro lines echoed beneath the city as people began their day. The territory had grown far more lively over the past months. Ever since the energy of the continent had begun changing, cultivators, merchants, scholars, and travelers had been arriving in increasing numbers.
Some came to study.
Some came to trade.
Others simply wanted to understand what was happening.
Because something had changed.
And everyone could feel it.
The spiritual energy of the world had grown richer.
Breakthroughs were becoming more common.
Even ordinary people had begun noticing the difference.
Yet for the Lin Clan, the morning carried a very different atmosphere.
Because inside one particular residence—
The night had been… intense.
The door quietly opened.
Lin Huang stepped outside.
He stretched his arms slightly as the sunlight fell across the courtyard.
His posture was relaxed.
His breathing steady.
Not the slightest sign of exhaustion could be seen on his face.
If anything—
He looked unusually refreshed.
On his shoulder, a small fox lazily lifted her head.
Tushan Honghong yawned before glancing at him with half-lidded eyes.
"…You look suspiciously energetic."
Lin Huang rolled his shoulders once.
The circulation of divine power through his body was perfectly smooth.
Body cultivation at the ninth level.
Soul power stable at Rank 77.
Divine Sea calm and expansive.
The Sacred Enlightenment Tree gently swayed within his spiritual world.
Everything felt balanced.
Everything felt powerful.
He nodded slightly to himself.
"Efficient cultivation."
Honghong snorted softly.
"…Sure."
Lin Huang glanced back toward the closed door behind him.
The house was completely silent.
He could sense dozens of auras inside.
All of them asleep.
Or at least resting.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"…Still sleeping."
After last night, that wasn't surprising.
For a moment, Lin Huang simply stood in the courtyard.
Morning wind moved through the garden.
Birds sang from the nearby trees.
In the distance, the city continued waking.
Then Lin Huang quietly muttered,
"Better prepare something before they wake up."
Honghong lifted her head again.
"Preparing an escape route?"
Lin Huang shook his head calmly.
"Preparing diplomacy."
The space around him rippled slightly.
A moment later, Lin Huang disappeared.
Inside the Secret Realm, the environment felt completely different.
The sky of the realm shimmered faintly with layered energy currents.
The World Tree stood tall in the distance, its enormous branches spreading across the artificial sky like a guardian of the realm itself.
Since the breakthrough of Lin Huang's cultivation and the stabilization of the realm, the entire world had begun evolving faster.
Elemental regions had grown larger.
Vitality forests had begun expanding.
Crystals were forming naturally beneath the ground.
The realm was no longer just a cultivation space.
It had become something closer to a living world.
Lin Huang stepped onto the stone platform near the center of the realm.
Several massive worktables had been placed there.
Alchemy furnaces.
Forging arrays.
Formation diagrams.
Stacks of resources.
Soul crystals.
Elemental materials.
Dragon essence fragments.
Vitality crystals.
Spiritual crystals.
An absurd amount of valuable resources filled the area.
Honghong glanced around lazily.
"…You're planning something big."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Something necessary."
He walked toward one of the worktables.
Several rings already rested there.
But they were far from ordinary storage rings.
Each one carried intricate designs.
Different metals.
Different engravings.
Different elemental arrays.
Each ring had been crafted specifically for its future owner.
Storage Rings.
Level 13.
The highest level before true artifact classification.
Lin Huang picked up one of them.
A crimson ring with phoenix patterns engraved along its surface.
He rotated it slightly.
Fire runes glowed faintly across the metal.
"Xiaotao's."
He placed it down carefully.
Next came another ring.
Dark red with dragon scale patterns.
"Wu Feng's."
Another.
Silver-blue.
Cold aura.
"Meng Hongchen."
Another.
Moonlight-colored.
Elegant.
"Lexuan."
Honghong slowly blinked.
"…You're bribing them."
Lin Huang shrugged calmly.
"Strategic diplomacy."
He continued organizing the rings.
Each one already contained enormous amounts of resources.
Soul crystals.
Intermediate and superior grades.
Spiritual crystals.
Vital crystals.
Elemental crystals synthesized specifically for each girl.
And at the center of each storage space—
A small object rested.
A tiny glowing sprout.
A replica.
A fragment born from the energy of the Sacred Enlightenment Tree.
Honghong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You used the tribulation energy."
Lin Huang nodded.
"A small portion."
The sprout gently pulsed with faint light.
"These replicas will help them comprehend laws faster."
"Epiphanies will become easier."
Honghong stared at him for a moment.
"…You're spoiling them."
Lin Huang simply smiled.
He picked up another ring.
This one contained several additional tools.
Alchemy equipment.
Forging materials.
Professional tools.
Even specially designed alchemy cauldrons.
One for Xiaotao.
One for Wu Feng.
One for Zi Ji.
The preparation continued for several minutes.
When Lin Huang finally finished, he looked over the table.
More than a dozen rings rested there.
Each one a carefully prepared gift.
Each one a small fortune.
Each one carrying part of his cultivation path.
Honghong looked at the collection.
"…Think it will work?"
Lin Huang placed the rings into a storage container.
Then he stood up calmly.
"Well."
He glanced toward the entrance of the realm.
"Let's find out."
Somewhere back in the Lin Clan residence—
The girls were slowly waking up.
And when they realized Lin Huang had disappeared—
Their mood would likely become even worse.
Lin Huang calmly stepped toward the exit of the Secret Realm.
Still holding the container.
Still smiling slightly.
Time to test
whether strategic diplomacy
could save a Fox's life.
Morning slowly turned into late morning.
Sunlight now filled the courtyard of the Lin Clan residence, illuminating the garden paths and stone training grounds. Servants moved quietly through the area, careful not to disturb the unusual silence surrounding one particular building.
Inside that building…
The consequences of the previous night were slowly beginning to wake up.
The door finally creaked open.
A familiar figure stepped outside first.
Tang Ya.
She paused at the entrance, one hand gently pressing against her temple as if trying to reorganize her thoughts.
"…Unbelievable."
Her voice was calm, but there was clear exhaustion hidden beneath it.
Moments later another figure appeared.
Ma Xiaotao.
Her long red hair looked slightly messy, and although her phoenix aura remained stable, her expression was complicated.
Half irritated.
Half embarrassed.
She glanced around the courtyard.
"…That fox is ridiculous."
Tang Ya sighed quietly.
"That's one way to put it."
The door opened again.
Xu Tianzhen stepped out next, rubbing her shoulders slightly.
"…I feel like I ran a marathon."
Behind her came Wu Feng, who crossed her arms immediately.
"Next time we ban foxes."
Tang Ya raised an eyebrow.
"Agreed."
More footsteps followed.
Jiang Nannan stepped out quietly, her expression calm but clearly tired.
Right behind her was Ling Luochen, whose cold composure remained mostly intact despite the faint redness on her ears.
Then came Ning Tian.
She blinked several times, still adjusting her glasses as if her brain had not fully caught up with reality yet.
"…That was… an efficient cultivation method."
Another voice followed.
"I would call it excessive."
Su Mei walked out next, stretching her arms slightly.
Her expression carried a strange mixture of embarrassment and curiosity.
Behind her, Ju Zi exited the room while calmly adjusting her sleeves.
Unlike the others, her expression remained almost analytical.
"…From a purely technical perspective, the resonance efficiency was impressive."
Tang Ya stared at her.
"…You're analyzing it?"
Ju Zi shrugged.
"It's useful data."
Then another girl stepped out.
Meng Hongchen.
Her ice aura circulated gently around her body, and she looked far more composed than most of the others.
Yet when she noticed the group watching her, she smirked slightly.
"Well."
She glanced toward the door.
"The angel definitely got caught in foxfire."
Right on cue—
Another figure stepped outside.
Ye Guyi.
Her face turned bright red the moment she saw everyone standing there.
She immediately lowered her head.
"I-I-I didn't mean to…"
Her voice almost disappeared.
Wu Feng burst out laughing.
"Too late for that."
Behind Ye Guyi came two more figures.
Zhang Lexuan stepped out with her usual elegant composure, though her ears carried a faint red tint.
Then came Qiu'er, who looked far more relaxed than most of the others.
She stretched slightly and smiled faintly.
"That was interesting."
Moments later the ground shook faintly.
Heavy footsteps approached.
The next figure to step outside was Zi Ji.
The dragon woman cracked her neck slowly.
Her expression was calm.
Too calm.
"…Where is he."
Behind her appeared Bi Ji, whose gentle aura of vitality remained steady.
Unlike Zi Ji, she seemed more amused than angry.
"…I suspect he ran away."
Tang Ya crossed her arms.
"That would be the smart thing to do."
A long silence followed.
Everyone slowly realized the same thing.
Lin Huang was not here.
Zi Ji's eyes narrowed.
"…Coward."
Not far away in the courtyard, several boys had been watching the entire sequence unfold.
Huo Yuhao stood beside Xiao Hongchen, Chen Zifeng, and Ji Juechen.
At first Yuhao had simply been confused.
Then he started counting.
Quietly.
"…One."
Tang Ya.
"…Two."
Xiaotao.
"…Three."
Tianzhen.
"…Four."
Wu Feng.
"…Five."
Nannan.
"…Six."
Luochen.
"…Seven."
Ning Tian.
"…Eight."
Su Mei.
"…Nine."
Ju Zi.
"…Ten."
Meng Hongchen.
"…Eleven."
Ye Guyi.
"…Twelve."
Lexuan.
"…Thirteen."
Qiu'er.
"…Fourteen."
Zi Ji.
"…Fifteen."
Bi Ji.
Yuhao slowly turned toward Xiao Hongchen.
"…Senior."
Xiao Hongchen didn't even look at him.
"Don't ask."
Yuhao looked back at the group of girls.
His brain slowly tried to process the situation.
"…Maybe they were discussing cultivation."
Xiao Hongchen nodded immediately.
"Very intensive discussion."
Yuhao paused.
"…Oh."
A few seconds passed.
Then realization finally hit him.
"…OH."
Chen Zifeng nearly collapsed laughing.
Ji Juechen quietly turned away, pretending he hadn't heard anything.
Xiao Hongchen patted Yuhao's shoulder.
"Welcome to Lin Huang's world."
Meanwhile, back near the residence door—
Wu Feng suddenly stretched her shoulders.
"…So."
She cracked her knuckles.
"Where is that fox."
Tang Ya nodded calmly.
"Yes."
"…Where did our dear host go."
Zi Ji stepped forward slowly.
Her dragon aura flickered slightly.
"…When I find him."
She paused.
"…We will talk."
Bi Ji sighed softly.
"Try not to destroy the courtyard."
But across the entire group, the same conclusion had already formed.
Lin Huang had disappeared.
And when he came back—
He was going to need
a very good explanation
to survive the morning.
The courtyard slowly grew livelier as more people gathered.
Morning had already turned into noon, and the strange procession coming out of the residence had naturally attracted attention.
Servants tried very hard not to stare.
They failed.
The girls gradually moved toward the pavilion in the center of the courtyard.
Some sat.
Some leaned against pillars.
Others simply stood in silence.
The atmosphere carried a strange mix of embarrassment, irritation… and something else.
Progress.
Because despite the complaints—
Something undeniable had happened during the night.
Everyone present could feel it.
Their cultivation had improved.
Significantly.
Tang Ya was the first to comment on it.
She circulated her soul power slightly, feeling the stability of her meridians.
"…My control improved."
Her Blue Silver Emperor martial spirit responded instantly, vines gently manifesting before dissolving again.
The circulation was smoother.
Faster.
More refined.
Nearby, Jiang Nannan flexed her fingers slightly.
A faint distortion appeared in the air around her hand.
Space.
Lightning.
Wind.
The three elements moved far more naturally together.
"…My elemental coordination improved."
Ling Luochen stood quietly beside her.
Cold air slowly condensed around her body.
Her Extreme Ice aura was now far more stable.
Even the faint pressure of her 500,000-year soul ring felt easier to control.
"…My spiritual pressure is more stable."
Not far away, Meng Hongchen exhaled slowly.
A faint blue frost spread across her palm.
Ice energy flowed smoothly through her meridians.
"…My ice attribute strengthened."
Wu Feng crossed her arms.
A subtle dragon aura flickered behind her.
"…My bloodline resonance improved."
She glanced toward the residence.
"…Still not forgiving him."
Ma Xiaotao stretched her shoulders.
A faint phoenix flame appeared behind her before fading again.
The fire burned hotter.
But it was also more stable.
"…Phoenix fire control improved."
She paused briefly.
"…That fox better appreciate how much work that took."
Qiu'er stood calmly nearby.
Her golden eyes glowed faintly.
Light.
Dragon essence.
Fire.
The three energies within her body resonated more naturally now.
"…My laws stabilized."
Zhang Lexuan raised her hand slightly.
A gentle silver light formed above her palm.
Moonlight intertwined with soft radiance.
"…My moon and light resonance strengthened."
Xu Tianzhen casually summoned a small sphere of solar flame.
The flame rotated smoothly in the air before dissipating.
"…Solar conversion efficiency increased."
Ning Tian looked thoughtful as she examined the faint energy circulation around her Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda.
"…Support amplification improved."
Su Mei flexed her fingers slightly.
Her perception of energy ingredients had clearly become sharper.
"…Spiritual cooking perception improved."
Ju Zi adjusted her sleeves calmly.
"My mental processing speed improved."
At the far side of the pavilion—
Bi Ji quietly circulated her vitality energy.
The emerald aura surrounding her felt stronger.
"…Life energy output increased."
Next to her, Zi Ji simply rolled her shoulders.
Dragon aura flickered around her for a moment before settling.
"…Body cultivation synergy improved."
Then she added calmly,
"…Still going to hit him."
Finally—
All eyes turned toward the last person who had yet to speak.
Ye Guyi.
The angel girl stood quietly near the edge of the pavilion.
Her wings did not appear, but faint golden light surrounded her body.
The aura was purer now.
More stable.
More refined.
Her connection to sunlight and divine light had clearly improved.
But right now—
Her face was still bright red.
Tang Ya looked at her.
"So?"
Ye Guyi hesitated.
"…My light attribute… became more stable."
She paused.
"…And my wings respond faster."
Wu Feng smirked.
"Foxfire purification."
Ye Guyi's face turned even redder.
Across the courtyard, Yuhao was still quietly standing beside Xiao Hongchen.
He watched the entire discussion with wide eyes.
"…Everyone improved."
Xiao Hongchen nodded.
"Of course."
Yuhao hesitated.
"…That cultivation method is terrifying."
Chen Zifeng laughed.
"You're just realizing that?"
Ji Juechen quietly crossed his arms.
"…Efficient."
Meanwhile, back at the pavilion—
Tang Ya leaned slightly against the table.
"The Yin–Yang stage of Resonance works extremely well."
She glanced toward the others.
"…But that still doesn't excuse him running away."
Wu Feng nodded immediately.
"Exactly."
Zi Ji cracked her knuckles again.
"…When I find him."
Bi Ji sighed softly.
"…Please do not destroy the house."
Just then—
A servant passed through the courtyard carrying several folded newspapers.
He placed them neatly on the table before quickly leaving.
Ning Tian picked one up casually.
Her eyes moved across the headline.
Then she blinked.
"…Oh."
Tang Ya raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
Ning Tian slowly turned the paper so everyone could see.
The headline read:
"Spiritual Energy Across the Continent Shows Unusual Increase"
Another article headline below it read:
"Multiple Regions Report Sudden Breakthroughs"
Ju Zi leaned forward slightly.
"…Interesting."
Xiao Hongchen walked over and grabbed another paper.
His eyes moved across the page for a moment.
Then he slowly looked toward the residence.
"…You know."
He scratched his head.
"…I think the fox didn't just ruin your sleep schedule."
He tapped the newspaper.
"I think he might have changed the whole continent."
The courtyard had grown noticeably quieter.
Not because people had left.
But because everyone was waiting.
Tang Ya tapped the table lightly.
Wu Feng leaned against a pillar.
Xiaotao crossed her arms.
Zi Ji sat calmly in a chair with an expression that could only be described as dangerously patient.
Even Bi Ji, usually the most gentle among them, looked mildly amused.
Everyone shared the same thought.
Where was he?
Then—
Space rippled slightly near the entrance of the courtyard.
A familiar figure stepped out.
Lin Huang.
He looked exactly the same as when he had left earlier that morning.
Relaxed.
Calm.
Completely unharmed.
In his hand he carried a small storage container.
For a brief moment…
Nobody said anything.
Then Wu Feng spoke.
"…Fox."
Xiaotao cracked her knuckles.
"…Care to explain."
Lin Huang calmly raised one hand.
"Before anyone attacks me—"
He lifted the storage container slightly.
"I prepared something."
The tension paused.
Not disappeared.
But paused.
Tang Ya raised an eyebrow.
"…A bribe."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"Strategic diplomacy."
He opened the container.
Inside were more than a dozen rings.
Each one different.
Each one carrying a unique design.
Different metals.
Different runic structures.
Different elemental engravings.
Storage Rings.
Level 13.
The highest level before artifact classification.
Lin Huang began handing them out.
One by one.
"Xiaotao."
A crimson ring engraved with phoenix patterns.
"Wu Feng."
A dark red ring with dragon scale engravings.
"Meng Hongchen."
A silver-blue ring emitting faint frost energy.
"Ling Luochen."
A pale crystal ring surrounded by ice runes.
"Nannan."
A thin ring etched with lightning patterns.
"Tianzhen."
A golden ring glowing faintly with solar energy.
"Ning Tian."
A delicate silver ring decorated with moonlight patterns.
"Su Mei."
A warm amber ring infused with culinary energy arrays.
"Ju Zi."
A mechanical-patterned ring containing engineering arrays.
"Qiu'er."
A ring formed from mixed gold and crimson metal.
"Lexuan."
A moonlight-silver ring with light runes intertwined.
"Zi Ji."
A heavy ring with deep violet dragon patterns.
"Bi Ji."
A soft green ring engraved with vitality runes.
Finally—
Lin Huang stepped closer to Ye Guyi.
The angel girl immediately stiffened.
Her face flushed slightly again.
Lin Huang lowered his posture slightly so their eyes were level.
Then he gently held out a ring.
White-gold metal.
Engraved with light and sun runes.
"Angel."
Ye Guyi froze.
Her wings almost appeared for a moment before she quickly suppressed them.
Lin Huang smiled slightly.
"You look like a steam machine."
Her face instantly turned bright red again.
"I—I—!"
Behind them, Wu Feng burst out laughing.
"Angel overheating."
Yuhao immediately looked away.
He absolutely refused to participate in this conversation.
Lin Huang stepped back and gestured toward the rings.
"Take a look."
Curiosity slowly replaced irritation.
The girls opened their rings.
And the moment they looked inside—
Silence filled the courtyard.
Resources.
An enormous amount.
Intermediate and superior Soul Crystals.
Intermediate and superior Spiritual Crystals.
Intermediate and superior Vital Crystals.
Elemental crystals.
But not ordinary ones.
They had been synthesized specifically.
For Xiaotao:
Fire Phoenix Crystals.
For Wu Feng:
Fire crystals and Dragon Essence crystals.
For Meng Hongchen:
Pure Ice crystals.
For Luochen:
Extreme Ice crystals.
For Nannan:
Lightning crystals.
For Tang Ya:
Wood and vitality crystals.
For Tianzhen:
Solar crystals.
For Ning Tian:
Moon crystals.
For Su Mei:
Special culinary essence crystals.
For Ju Zi:
Engineering-grade mixed crystals.
For Qiu'er:
Light crystals.
Dragon crystals synthesized from Dragon Essence.
Fire crystals.
For Lexuan:
Moon and Light crystals.
For Zi Ji:
Dragon crystals.
For Bi Ji:
Life crystals.
For Ye Guyi:
Light and Sun crystals.
But that was not all.
Each ring also contained upgraded equipment.
Weapons and armor.
All refined to Level 13.
Each one tailored to the owner.
There were also professional tools.
New equipment.
Improved devices.
Even new alchemy cauldrons.
Three of them.
One for Xiaotao.
One for Wu Feng.
One for Zi Ji.
Wu Feng stared at the cauldron.
"…You upgraded this too?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"You'll need it."
But the most shocking item rested at the center of each ring.
A small glowing sprout.
A tiny tree.
Radiating faint enlightenment energy.
Bi Ji's eyes widened slightly.
"…Is that…"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Replica sprouts."
He crossed his arms casually.
"Fragments derived from the Sacred Enlightenment Tree."
Tang Ya looked stunned.
"You replicated that?"
Lin Huang shrugged.
"I used a portion of the heavenly tribulation energy I stored."
"These sprouts will grow inside your spiritual seas."
"They will increase comprehension."
"Epiphanies will become easier."
For a moment—
Nobody spoke.
Then Xiao Hongchen broke the silence.
"…You're bribing them."
Lin Huang smiled.
"Strategic diplomacy."
Xiao Hongchen smirked.
"Poor Meng."
He crossed his arms.
"Marrying into this madness."
Lin Huang responded immediately.
"It's alright, brother-in-law."
He shrugged casually.
"Meng and I will work hard to give you many nephews."
Xiao Hongchen nearly choked.
Chen Zifeng collapsed laughing.
Yuhao looked like he wanted to disappear.
At that exact moment—
Three more figures stepped into the courtyard.
Gu Yuena.
Xuedi.
Bingdi.
They had clearly heard the conversation.
Gu Yuena crossed her arms calmly.
She glanced at the rings.
Then at Lin Huang.
Her expression remained composed.
But her voice carried faint pride.
"Good thing you didn't drag me into that."
She looked directly at him.
"If something like that were going to happen…"
She paused slightly.
"…It would be with me alone."
Silence fell across the courtyard.
Xiao Hongchen nearly fell out of his chair.
Chen Zifeng covered his face.
Yuhao stopped breathing.
Meanwhile—
Zi Ji quietly stared at Lin Huang.
Then slowly cracked her knuckles.
"…Fox."
"…We still need to talk."
The tension in the courtyard slowly eased after the rings were distributed.
Some of the girls were still annoyed.
Some were embarrassed.
But the gifts had clearly softened the situation.
Especially after they realized what the replica sprouts of the Sacred Enlightenment Tree actually meant.
A treasure like that would normally be considered priceless.
And Lin Huang had just casually handed out more than a dozen of them.
Under the pavilion, the group gradually settled down.
Ning Tian began carefully examining the sprout inside her ring.
The faint aura of comprehension surrounding it was unmistakable.
"…This will drastically improve cultivation efficiency."
Ju Zi nodded slightly.
"And research."
Meanwhile, not far away, Ye Guyi sat quietly beside Lin Huang.
Earlier she had been completely unable to look at him.
Now she seemed calmer.
Still slightly embarrassed…
But no longer trying to escape the conversation.
Lin Huang casually rested an arm around her shoulders.
She stiffened for a moment.
Then slowly relaxed.
Her wings didn't appear, but faint golden light still shimmered around her.
Across from them, Wu Feng noticed the scene immediately.
She smirked.
"…Angel recovered fast."
Ye Guyi's face turned slightly red again.
"I—I'm just…"
She stopped talking.
Bingdi snorted from the side.
"…Ridiculous."
Her arms were crossed tightly as usual.
"…Humans."
Wu Ming, who had been sitting nearby the entire time, suddenly reacted.
He looked like someone had pulled a cat's tail.
"…There is nothing wrong with my personality."
Everyone turned toward him.
Xiao Hongchen blinked.
"…Who said anything about you?"
Wu Ming froze.
"…You were thinking it."
Chen Zifeng nearly choked trying not to laugh.
"…Tsundere detected."
Wu Ming immediately stood up.
"I AM NOT TSUNDERE!"
Bingdi rolled her eyes.
"…Exactly the same reaction."
Several of the girls laughed quietly.
Even Ye Guyi covered her mouth to hide a small smile.
Lin Huang simply shook his head slightly.
Then he picked up one of the newspapers that had been placed on the table earlier.
The headline immediately caught his attention.
"Spiritual Energy Across the Douluo Continent Shows Unusual Increase"
He flipped the page calmly.
Another headline followed.
"Scholars Report Surge of Breakthroughs Across Multiple Regions"
Xiao Hongchen leaned over.
"…What does it say?"
Lin Huang handed him the paper.
The article described several phenomena.
Cultivators across the continent reporting easier breakthroughs.
Unexpected epiphanies.
Even ordinary people feeling increased vitality.
Ning Tian frowned slightly.
"…The change is spreading."
Ju Zi nodded.
"The energy circulation of the entire continent has shifted."
Tang Ya leaned forward slightly.
"Meaning the world itself is changing."
Yuhao looked thoughtful.
"…Is that because of the Secret Realm?"
Lin Huang shrugged.
"Partially."
He tapped the newspaper.
"The world was already evolving."
"I only accelerated the process."
Chen Zifeng scratched his head.
"…That sentence sounds terrifying."
Meanwhile, Ye Guyi slowly leaned closer to Lin Huang.
Her embarrassment had clearly faded somewhat.
She glanced at the newspaper in Xiao Hongchen's hands.
"…So everyone is feeling it."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"The circulation of high-level energy has begun stabilizing."
"The continent is adapting."
Ning Tian thought for a moment.
"That means cultivation standards will rise everywhere."
Ju Zi added calmly,
"And competition will increase."
Xiao Hongchen flipped through another page.
"…This article says several academies already reported abnormal cultivation growth."
Chen Zifeng blinked.
"…Including Shrek."
At that moment, several people exchanged glances.
Tang Ya looked toward Lin Huang.
"…They're going to suspect you."
Lin Huang didn't deny it.
"They probably already do."
Ye Guyi quietly rested her head against his shoulder for a moment.
"…You really changed the world."
Lin Huang simply smiled faintly.
"I adjusted a few things."
Xiao Hongchen shook his head.
"You're ridiculous."
He folded the newspaper and placed it back on the table.
"…You know what this means, right?"
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"What."
Xiao Hongchen pointed toward the headline.
"The whole continent is about to start chasing you for answers."
Lin Huang leaned back in his chair calmly.
Still holding Ye Guyi close.
"…Good."
Across the courtyard, the wind gently moved through the trees.
Beyond the territory of the Lin Clan, across the entire Douluo Continent—
The ripples of change were spreading.
And everyone
was beginning to notice.
======================================================
========================================
Part VI — The World Begins to Notice
The conversation in the courtyard gradually quieted.
The newspapers remained spread across the table beneath the pavilion, their headlines catching the afternoon light.
For most people on the continent, those headlines were shocking.
For the people gathered here—
They were simply confirmation.
The world had changed.
Ning Tian carefully folded one of the papers.
"The scale of the change is larger than expected."
Her analytical mind had already begun connecting the dots.
"Increased spiritual density."
"Higher breakthrough rates."
"Improved comprehension."
She looked toward Lin Huang.
"…Those effects match what we've been experiencing."
Ju Zi nodded.
"And it isn't localized."
She tapped one of the articles.
"This report mentions similar phenomena in multiple empires."
Chen Zifeng scratched his head.
"…So the whole continent is leveling up."
Tang Ya leaned back slightly.
"The question is whether people understand why."
Xiao Hongchen laughed.
"Oh, they definitely don't."
He picked up another paper and read aloud.
"'Scholars speculate that a natural planetary cycle may have begun.'"
He snorted.
"…Natural cycle."
Wu Feng crossed her arms.
"They'd faint if they knew the real reason."
Across the pavilion, Ye Guyi had relaxed considerably compared to earlier.
Her earlier embarrassment had faded into a quiet calm.
She remained close to Lin Huang, who still had one arm loosely around her shoulders.
At this point she no longer seemed particularly bothered by it.
She quietly asked,
"…Will the changes keep spreading?"
Lin Huang thought for a moment before answering.
"Yes."
His tone remained casual.
"The world's energy structure has already shifted."
"Once that begins, it doesn't stop easily."
Bingdi snorted from her seat.
"…Troublesome human."
Wu Ming immediately reacted.
"There is nothing troublesome about improving the world!"
Bingdi glanced at him.
"…You're loud."
Chen Zifeng whispered to Xiao Hongchen,
"Tsundere again."
Wu Ming spun around.
"I HEARD THAT!"
Even Ji Juechen quietly turned his head away to hide a smile.
Meanwhile, several of the girls were still examining the contents of their rings.
The replica sprouts of the Sacred Enlightenment Tree were especially fascinating.
Tiny.
Yet powerful.
Each one pulsed with faint comprehension energy.
Bi Ji observed hers carefully.
"…This will help stabilize spiritual perception."
Ning Tian nodded.
"It will also accelerate law comprehension."
Ju Zi added calmly,
"And increase the probability of epiphanies."
Tang Ya looked impressed.
"You replicated enlightenment."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"A simplified version."
"I used some of the tribulation energy I stored."
Wu Feng looked at the sprout inside her ring.
"…You really spoil people."
Xiao Hongchen laughed.
"That's because he's guilty."
Lin Huang glanced toward him.
"Careful."
Xiao Hongchen grinned.
"What."
Lin Huang leaned back slightly in his chair.
Still holding Ye Guyi casually.
"Brother-in-law."
He said the word deliberately.
"I could always stop giving you nephews."
Xiao Hongchen nearly dropped the newspaper.
"…Don't you dare."
Meng Hongchen covered her face with one hand.
"…I regret introducing you two."
Across the courtyard, laughter spread again.
Even Bingdi allowed the corner of her mouth to twitch slightly.
Yet beneath the humor—
Everyone present understood something important.
The world outside was beginning to react.
And that reaction would only grow stronger.
Far away from the Lin Clan territory—
Inside a distant academy surrounded by ancient forests—
Several elders sat inside a quiet hall.
Reports were spread across the table.
One of the elders spoke slowly.
"These energy fluctuations…"
"…began several months ago."
Another elder nodded.
"And they continue increasing."
At the head of the table sat Mu En.
The old master slowly closed his eyes for a moment.
He had already read the reports.
He had already considered the possibilities.
And there was only one explanation that made sense.
"…Lin Huang."
The other elders exchanged glances.
None of them argued.
Mu En looked toward the distant horizon beyond the academy.
"That boy…"
He sighed softly.
"…is reshaping the world again."
Back in the Lin Clan territory—
Lin Huang sat beneath the pavilion, calmly watching the wind move through the garden trees.
Around him, his companions continued laughing, arguing, and discussing the strange changes spreading across the continent.
The atmosphere remained peaceful.
Lighthearted.
Almost ordinary.
But beyond the walls of the territory—
Across the entire Douluo Continent—
The ripples of change were spreading further every day.
And sooner or later—
Everyone
would realize
who had started them.