Morning light spread slowly across Yuelan City.
The city had changed a great deal over the past months.
New streets had been expanded to accommodate the increasing number of visitors. Merchant caravans entered through the outer gates almost every morning now, escorted by Lin Clan guards while officials recorded cargo and destination.
Cultivators from various regions walked through the wide avenues.
Some had come seeking resources.
Others came for training.
And many came simply because they had heard of the city.
Because across the Douluo Continent, Yuelan had developed a reputation.
A place where systems worked.
A place where growth was structured.
Near one of the central plazas, several young cultivators sat around a stone table while checking their spiritual phones.
One of them scrolled through the Lin Clan Journal.
"Another fight over a Soul Crystal mine."
Another cultivator leaned closer.
"Where this time?"
"Near the western mountains. Two sects and a Star Luo garrison."
Someone else refreshed the page on the Lin Clan Forum.
"They've been arguing about it since yesterday."
The group laughed quietly.
Conflicts across the continent had become frequent since the world expanded.
But here—
Yuelan remained calm.
Across the plaza, several younger clan members practiced agility drills while formation arrays projected moving obstacles around them.
Others trained reaction speed using floating targets that appeared and vanished unpredictably.
The entire city felt active.
Disciplined.
Organized.
Not far from the plaza, four figures walked along the main avenue.
Wang Dong'er looked around quietly as she took in the surroundings.
Beside her walked Keke, whose eyes moved constantly between buildings and formation arrays embedded into the streets.
Ahead of them, Su Mei walked with relaxed confidence while Ju Zi guided the group through the district.
Su Mei smiled slightly when she noticed Dong'er observing everything carefully.
"First time seeing Yuelan?"
Dong'er nodded.
"Yes."
Her golden eyes moved slowly across the city.
She noticed many details.
Formation lights embedded into street corners.
Clan members moving between facilities with clear purpose.
Even the ordinary cultivators walking around carried stable auras.
Keke spoke first.
"This place feels different from most cities."
Ju Zi answered calmly.
"Yuelan was designed for cultivation and development."
Dong'er said quietly,
"…It feels structured."
Ju Zi nodded slightly.
"That was intentional."
They turned onto a wider avenue.
In the distance, a massive structure rose above the surrounding buildings.
Its circular shape and towering stands made it impossible to ignore.
Keke immediately pointed.
"That building looks huge."
Su Mei laughed softly.
"That's because it is."
Dong'er narrowed her eyes slightly.
She already knew what it was.
Even before arriving in Yuelan, she had heard about this place.
The Yuelan Sports Complex.
A stadium where cultivators competed in sports instead of traditional combat.
At first the idea had sounded strange.
But word had spread quickly across the continent.
Even some sects had begun sending observers to watch the competitions.
Keke tilted her head curiously.
"Do cultivators really compete there?"
Su Mei nodded.
"All the time."
Dong'er continued walking while observing the structure.
"…Interesting."
Meanwhile—
inside the Lin Clan residence.
Lin Huang sat beneath the branches of the World Tree, reading several reports on his phone.
The leaves above him rustled softly in the morning breeze.
Honghong rested lazily on his shoulder, her tails draped loosely across his back.
"…The city keeps getting busier."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Trade reports.
Mission hall statistics.
Contribution point distributions.
Everything showed growth.
The systems he built were functioning exactly as intended.
He scrolled through several screens before pausing.
Honghong noticed immediately.
"…What?"
Lin Huang leaned back slightly in his chair.
"I've been thinking about something."
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"That's usually trouble."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
"The phones are spreading."
"The information network is stable."
He tapped lightly on the device in his hand.
"Which means the next step is possible."
Honghong tilted her head.
"What step?"
Lin Huang answered casually.
"Games."
Honghong blinked.
"…What?"
Lin Huang continued as if it were obvious.
"Interactive ones."
"Things people can play on their phones."
Honghong stared at him.
"…Play?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Something like Minecraft."
"Or Pokémon."
Honghong frowned slightly.
"…I have no idea what those are."
Lin Huang paused.
Then shrugged.
"You will."
Honghong looked unconvinced.
"…You're saying people will stare at their phones and enjoy that?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Honghong was silent for a moment.
Then finally muttered,
"…Humans are strange."
Lin Huang simply looked toward the city beyond the courtyard.
Because in his mind—
Yuelan City
was still only beginning to grow.
The four of them eventually arrived at the entrance of the Lin Clan Training Complex.
Compared to the rest of Yuelan City, this place felt different.
More serious.
Large stone gates stood open while several clan members entered and exited constantly. Some wore training uniforms while others carried weapons or cultivation manuals.
Above the entrance, a formation screen displayed several lines of information.
Training Rankings
Mission Hall Updates
Contribution Point Leaderboard
Keke stopped immediately when she saw the projection.
"…That's a ranking board?"
Ju Zi nodded.
"Yes."
Dong'er looked up as well.
The board was constantly updating.
Names.
Points.
Mission completions.
Combat rankings.
Some names were highlighted in gold.
Others in silver.
Su Mei explained calmly.
"The ranking changes frequently."
"Especially the combat evaluation one."
Dong'er tilted her head slightly.
"…So people fight for position?"
Ju Zi answered.
"In a controlled environment."
"They gain resources depending on their ranking."
Keke leaned closer to the screen.
"And the points?"
Su Mei pointed toward another column.
"Contribution Points."
"They're the internal currency of the clan."
Dong'er observed quietly.
Several entries appeared on the board.
Mission Completed — Resource Transport
Training Evaluation Cleared
Combat Rank Advancement
Ju Zi continued explaining while leading them inside.
"Members earn contribution points through missions, training achievements, and other forms of contribution."
"Those points can be exchanged for resources."
Keke blinked.
"Resources like what?"
Ju Zi answered simply.
"Soul Crystals."
"Training access."
"Formation usage."
"Special manuals."
Dong'er looked thoughtful.
The system was straightforward.
But efficient.
Inside the complex, the training grounds spread out across a large area.
Different sections had been divided using formation barriers.
They walked past several rooms where cultivators were already training.
The first hall they passed had a sign above the entrance.
Agility Room
Inside, several clan members moved rapidly through a constantly shifting formation.
Floating platforms appeared and disappeared while energy barriers forced sudden direction changes.
Dong'er watched silently for a moment.
"…Footwork training."
Su Mei nodded.
"It improves mobility."
They continued walking.
The next room had another sign.
Reaction Room
Inside, dozens of small projectiles shot out from the walls at unpredictable angles.
Several cultivators moved through the room while deflecting or dodging them.
The formation adjusted automatically based on their speed.
Keke blinked.
"…That's intense."
Ju Zi smiled slightly.
"It gets faster the longer you stay inside."
They moved further into the complex.
Another hall came into view.
Precision Room
Here, cultivators focused on controlling their soul skills.
Floating targets appeared and disappeared rapidly while users attempted to strike them with controlled attacks.
Some used weapons.
Others used soul power techniques.
Dong'er nodded slowly.
"…Accuracy training."
Su Mei gestured toward the far end of the complex.
"That's not the main attraction though."
They reached a much larger arena.
Open.
Circular.
Dozens of cultivators stood around its edges while two fighters faced each other in the center.
Above the arena, another projection screen displayed rankings.
Combat Evaluation Arena
Keke leaned forward slightly.
"…So this is where they fight."
Ju Zi nodded.
"Controlled duels."
"Winning improves ranking."
Dong'er watched the fighters closely.
Their techniques were clean.
Efficient.
No wasted movement.
She noticed something else too.
Even though many participants were young—
their combat discipline was extremely solid.
Su Mei crossed her arms.
"Higher rankings get better rewards."
"More resources."
"Priority access to some training rooms."
Keke nodded slowly.
"That explains the competition."
Dong'er remained quiet for a moment.
Then asked,
"…Are there new training rooms?"
Ju Zi glanced toward another wing of the complex.
"Yes."
"They were added recently."
At the far end of the corridor, a row of newly constructed halls stood behind formation barriers.
Above them were three new signs.
Law Perception Room
Qi and Blood Ring Formation Room
Psychic Ring Formation Room
Dong'er stopped walking.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she read the signs.
"…So they institutionalized the system."
Ju Zi nodded.
"Yes."
"People can stabilize their ring formation attempts there."
Keke blinked again.
"…That's incredibly efficient."
Dong'er remained silent.
But internally—
she was impressed.
This place wasn't just a training ground.
It was a structured cultivation system.
And the results were already visible.
After leaving the training complex, the group continued walking toward the eastern district of Yuelan City.
Even before they arrived, the atmosphere changed.
The streets became wider.
The flow of people increased.
And ahead of them—
the massive structure of the Yuelan Sports Complex rose above the surrounding buildings.
From a distance, the stadium resembled a colossal circular fortress, its outer walls covered with formation panels that projected moving symbols and announcements.
Today, one of the displays showed a simple message:
LIN CLAN TRAINING SESSION — FOOTBALL TEAM
Keke blinked.
"…It's even bigger up close."
Su Mei smiled.
"Wait until you see the inside."
They passed through one of the large entrances and stepped into the stadium.
Immediately, the sound of activity filled the air.
Dozens of cultivators trained on the enormous field.
Some ran speed drills along marked lanes.
Others practiced ball control or passing sequences.
Several groups trained physical conditioning along the edges of the arena.
But at the center of the field—
a familiar figure stood with his arms crossed.
Lin Huang.
Honghong sat comfortably on his shoulder while he watched a group of players moving across the grass.
Dong'er and Keke slowed slightly when they saw him.
Su Mei chuckled.
"…Looks like you arrived during training."
Keke tilted her head.
"He's coaching them?"
Ju Zi nodded.
"Yes."
On the field, Lin Huang raised one hand.
"Stop."
The players immediately halted their movement.
Several of them gathered around him.
Lin Huang gestured toward the field while speaking calmly.
"You're pushing too far forward."
One of the players scratched his head.
"But we had an opening."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"You had space."
"That's not the same as an opening."
He walked across the field and pointed toward several positions.
"You."
He looked at the player standing near the back.
"Center back."
"If the midfield pushes forward, you move here."
He tapped a spot on the ground.
"Not here."
The player nodded quickly.
Lin Huang turned to another player.
"You're playing left wing."
"When the striker pulls defenders, you cut inside."
"Don't stay on the sideline."
Another player asked,
"What about the pass?"
Lin Huang pointed toward the midfield line.
"Midfielder switches sides."
"Quick pass."
"Then you shoot."
The players exchanged glances.
One of them grinned.
"A set play?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He stepped back slightly and looked across the team.
"Football isn't just running after the ball."
"It's positioning."
"Timing."
"And coordination."
Honghong flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…You're treating this like a battlefield."
Lin Huang answered casually.
"Strategy applies everywhere."
He pointed again.
"Run the play."
The players immediately spread out across the field.
The ball moved quickly between them.
Pass.
Switch.
Cut inside.
Shot.
The ball struck the net cleanly.
Several players cheered.
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Better."
He crossed his arms again.
"If the Lin Clan wants to stay at the top of the league…"
"…we train properly."
Honghong chuckled quietly.
"…You're serious about this."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"If we're doing something, we do it well."
At the edge of the stadium, Dong'er watched the scene quietly.
Her eyes moved between the players.
Their coordination.
Their movement patterns.
The way Lin Huang directed the field like a commander.
It was different from normal combat training.
But the principles were familiar.
Keke whispered beside her,
"…He's organizing them like a tactical formation."
Ju Zi nodded.
"That's basically what it is."
On the field, the players restarted the drill.
Lin Huang remained standing calmly at the center of the stadium.
Directing.
Adjusting.
Improving their strategy.
Because if the Lin Clan was going to play football—
they would play it
better than anyone else.
The training session at the stadium continued for some time.
Lin Huang adjusted positions.
Corrected movements.
Occasionally stopping the players to explain spacing or timing.
From the stands, Dong'er observed everything quietly.
At first glance, it looked like a simple sport.
People running.
Passing a ball.
Trying to score.
But after watching a few minutes more closely—
she noticed something different.
The players weren't just relying on physical strength.
They were reading the field.
Predicting movements.
Reacting to positioning.
It reminded her of combat formations.
Except here—
the goal wasn't defeating an enemy.
It was coordination.
Keke leaned forward slightly in her seat.
"…This is actually more complicated than I expected."
Su Mei laughed softly.
"Most people think that the first time they see it."
Ju Zi added calmly,
"Lin Huang treats it like tactical training."
Below them, the Lin Clan team ran another drill.
The ball moved rapidly between players.
Midfielders shifting positions.
Wings cutting inward.
Defenders pushing forward in a controlled formation.
Then one of the players misjudged a pass.
The ball rolled too far.
Lin Huang raised his hand immediately.
"Stop."
The players froze.
He walked toward the midfielder who had passed the ball.
"You rushed."
The player looked slightly embarrassed.
"I thought the striker had space."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"He did."
"But you passed before he created the lane."
He pointed toward the opposing side of the field.
"You wait half a second."
"Then pass."
The player nodded.
Lin Huang stepped back.
"Again."
The players reset.
The drill resumed.
This time the pass came slightly later.
The striker moved forward.
Clean opening.
Goal.
Several teammates cheered.
Lin Huang gave a small nod of approval.
"Better."
Honghong stretched lazily.
"…You're really serious about this."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"If we're doing something, we do it properly."
From the stands, Dong'er continued watching.
Her attention shifted slowly from the players—
to Lin Huang.
And that was when it happened.
A subtle ripple passed through her body.
Her Martial Spirit reacted.
It wasn't strong.
Barely noticeable.
But it was unmistakable.
A faint resonance.
Dong'er's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…?"
She glanced down at her own hand.
The reaction faded quickly.
Almost like it had never happened.
But she was certain she had felt it.
Beside her, Keke noticed the movement.
"What's wrong?"
Dong'er shook her head.
"…Nothing."
But she looked toward the field again.
Toward Lin Huang.
At that exact moment—
Lin Huang also paused slightly.
His gaze shifted briefly toward the stands.
Honghong noticed immediately.
"…You felt that too."
Lin Huang didn't answer right away.
His eyes rested on Dong'er for a brief moment.
Then he looked back toward the field.
"…Probably nothing."
Honghong's tails swayed slowly.
"…Sure."
She clearly didn't believe him.
But she didn't push the topic either.
Below them, the football team had already resumed their training drills.
The ball moved quickly across the grass.
Lin Huang gave a few final instructions.
Then stepped away from the center of the field.
The players continued practicing without him.
Because by now—
they already understood the system he had built.
And above them in the stands—
Wang Dong'er watched quietly.
Still thinking about
that strange resonance.
While the football training continued below, Su Mei stretched slightly and stood up.
"Well, since you've seen the stadium, we might as well show you the rest."
Keke looked curious.
"There's more?"
Ju Zi nodded.
"The Sports Complex isn't just the field."
They began walking along one of the inner corridors of the stadium.
Through the wide openings along the walls, Dong'er could still see the field below where the Lin Clan players continued practicing their drills under Lin Huang's earlier instructions.
But the further they walked, the more she realized the place was much larger than she first thought.
The complex had multiple sections.
Different arenas.
Different training spaces.
In one area, several cultivators were running through a circular track.
But it wasn't a normal track.
Formation arrays periodically altered the gravity around certain sections, forcing the runners to adjust their balance and speed.
Keke stopped to watch.
"…That's a speed training track."
Su Mei nodded.
"Track racing events are held there."
Dong'er observed the runners carefully.
Even through the physical training, she could sense controlled circulation of soul power.
They weren't just exercising.
They were cultivating while moving.
Further down the corridor, another arena opened up.
Inside, two teams were practicing with long sticks and a ball across an icy field.
Keke blinked.
"…What sport is that?"
"Hockey," Ju Zi answered.
Dong'er tilted her head slightly.
"…You have a lot of these."
Su Mei laughed.
"Lin Huang created most of them."
They continued walking.
Another arena contained a tall platform where several cultivators practiced acrobatic movements.
Some flipped through the air.
Others balanced on narrow bars.
"Gymnastics training," Ju Zi explained.
Keke folded her arms thoughtfully.
"So this place trains the body in many different ways."
Dong'er nodded slowly.
"…It's not random."
Every section seemed to focus on a different aspect of physical development.
Speed.
Balance.
Precision.
Endurance.
Even teamwork.
And when combined with cultivation—
the results were obvious.
Su Mei leaned casually against the railing.
"Sports turned out to be a good way to train people."
Dong'er asked,
"…Do cultivators take it seriously?"
Ju Zi smiled faintly.
"You saw the football team."
Keke laughed softly.
"That looked pretty serious."
They continued walking until they reached another open balcony overlooking the stadium field again.
Down below, Lin Huang had finished giving instructions.
The players were now running through the coordinated play he had explained earlier.
Pass.
Movement.
Spacing.
Everything flowed smoothly.
Dong'er watched for a moment before turning away.
Her attention shifted back to the complex around them.
The scale of it all was impressive.
But what stood out most was something else.
Everything here had a purpose.
Nothing seemed wasted.
Keke suddenly pointed toward a nearby corridor.
"Is that another training area?"
Ju Zi followed her gaze.
"Yes."
"That's where the engineering teams sometimes run physical tests for equipment."
Keke's eyes immediately lit up.
"…Equipment testing?"
Su Mei chuckled.
"Looks like we're losing her."
Keke was already walking toward the corridor.
"I just want to take a quick look."
Ju Zi followed her calmly.
Inside the next hall, several engineers were working around a set of partially assembled devices.
Metal frames.
Energy conduits.
Formation arrays etched into armor plates.
Keke's expression instantly changed.
Her curiosity sharpened.
"…Battle armor prototypes."
Ju Zi nodded.
"Early models."
Keke stepped closer, carefully examining one of the energy channels.
"You're integrating formation circuits directly into the frame."
Ju Zi answered calmly.
"That was Lin Huang's idea."
Keke ran her fingers along one of the etched arrays.
"…Interesting."
Her eyes moved quickly across the structure.
Analyzing.
Calculating.
For Dong'er, the engineering hall wasn't nearly as fascinating.
Instead, she turned back toward the open stadium.
Her eyes searched the field again.
Lin Huang was no longer directing the players.
He stood near the sidelines now, speaking with several team members.
For a brief moment—
Dong'er felt that faint resonance again.
Her Martial Spirit stirred slightly.
It disappeared almost immediately.
But this time—
she knew it hadn't been her imagination.
Dong'er frowned slightly.
"…Strange."
She didn't say it aloud.
But her gaze lingered on Lin Huang for a moment longer.
Before finally turning away.
By the time they left the Sports Complex, the sun had already begun descending toward the western horizon.
The streets of Yuelan City were still busy.
Vendors sold spirit-infused food along the avenues, cultivators moved between training halls, and several groups gathered around projection screens showing highlights from recent sports matches.
Keke was still talking with Ju Zi about the engineering hall they had just visited.
"You actually managed to stabilize the formation channels inside the armor plates?"
Ju Zi nodded.
"It took a while."
"The early versions were unstable."
Keke crossed her arms, clearly thinking through the design.
"If you add a secondary circulation route through the frame…"
She stopped mid-sentence and frowned slightly.
"…Actually, that might overload the energy flow."
Ju Zi smiled faintly.
"Exactly."
Su Mei laughed softly as they walked.
"Looks like the two of you will get along just fine."
Keke didn't even deny it.
Her mind was already running through engineering possibilities.
Ahead of them, the path opened into a quieter courtyard.
Lin Huang was already there.
He sat beneath the familiar branches of the World Tree, reading something on his phone.
Honghong rested comfortably on his shoulder.
When the group approached, Honghong glanced at them lazily.
"…Back from sightseeing?"
Su Mei nodded.
"More or less."
Keke was still thinking about engineering designs.
Dong'er remained quiet.
Her attention lingered briefly on Lin Huang.
That strange resonance had not appeared again since the stadium.
But the memory of it remained.
Lin Huang lowered his phone slightly.
"…How was the tour?"
Su Mei answered first.
"They've seen most of the city already."
Keke nodded quickly.
"The engineering division is impressive."
Ju Zi crossed her arms.
"You'll be working there soon enough."
Keke looked excited at the thought.
Dong'er, however, spoke more calmly.
"…Your systems are very organized."
Lin Huang simply nodded.
"That was the goal."
Honghong flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…She's talking about the training complex."
Dong'er nodded slightly.
"The ranking system."
"The mission hall."
"The training facilities."
She paused for a moment.
"…It's efficient."
Lin Huang didn't respond immediately.
Instead, he leaned back slightly and looked toward the distant sky above the city.
Something had been lingering in his thoughts for a while now.
A faint sensation.
Very distant.
But unmistakable.
Honghong noticed the shift instantly.
"…You're thinking about that again."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Su Mei raised an eyebrow.
"Thinking about what?"
Lin Huang spoke calmly.
"A trace of angelic power."
The courtyard grew slightly quieter.
Ye Guyi, who had been standing nearby, blinked in surprise.
"…Angelic power?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"I felt it earlier."
"It's faint."
"But it's definitely there."
Ju Zi frowned slightly.
"…Could it be some kind of inheritance?"
Keke tilted her head.
"I thought the Angel God was gone."
Su Mei added quietly,
"…Tang San defeated that god."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
"But divine inheritances rarely disappear completely."
"Fragments remain."
"Echoes."
Residual divine intent.
Honghong flicked her tail thoughtfully.
"…So you think this might be one of those."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"Possibly."
He glanced toward Ye Guyi.
"I'll investigate it later."
Then he added casually,
"…For my little angel."
Ye Guyi froze for a moment.
Her face turned slightly red.
Su Mei laughed immediately.
"There it is."
Honghong chuckled softly.
"…You really don't hide favorites."
Lin Huang simply closed his phone and stood up.
"It's practical."
He glanced toward the distant horizon once more.
Because somewhere far away—
something ancient
had left a trace behind.
Night gradually settled over Yuelan City.
The bright activity of the day slowly shifted into a calmer rhythm.
Lantern formations lit the streets with a soft glow, illuminating rows of shops and training courtyards where cultivators still practiced under the night sky.
Even at this hour, the city did not truly sleep.
Near the central district, several groups gathered around projection panels displaying highlights from the day's football training.
Children tried to imitate the movements they had seen earlier in the stadium.
Nearby, merchants continued negotiating trades involving Soul Crystals and cultivation materials.
Yuelan had become a place where activity never completely stopped.
Inside the Lin Clan residence, the courtyard beneath the World Tree was much quieter.
A soft breeze moved through the leaves overhead.
Lin Huang stood with his hands behind his back, looking out over the distant lights of the city.
Honghong rested lazily on his shoulder, her tails swaying slowly.
"…You're thinking again."
Lin Huang didn't deny it.
"Yes."
The faint angelic trace he had sensed earlier remained in the back of his mind.
It was distant.
Subtle.
But clearly real.
Honghong glanced toward Ye Guyi, who was speaking with Su Mei and Ju Zi near the edge of the courtyard.
"…You really plan to investigate that?"
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Yes."
"If it's related to the Angel inheritance, it could help her."
Honghong chuckled quietly.
"…Your little angel again."
Lin Huang simply shrugged.
Before he could say anything else—
his phone vibrated slightly.
A new notification appeared on the screen.
Ju Zi had sent a report.
Lin Huang opened it.
Several statistics appeared immediately.
Network usage numbers.
Contribution system reports.
Training complex statistics.
Even the Sports Complex attendance numbers.
Honghong glanced at the screen.
"…Looks like the systems are working."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
The training complex.
The mission system.
The sports facilities.
The information network.
Everything had begun integrating into a single structure.
A city designed for growth.
But as he scrolled through the data—
his thoughts drifted toward something else.
The phones.
The network.
The growing number of users.
Honghong noticed his expression again.
"…Now what are you planning?"
Lin Huang spoke casually.
"The network will grow."
"Which means people will start spending more time on their phones."
Honghong blinked.
"…And?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"So we should create things for them to use."
Honghong frowned slightly.
"…Like what?"
Lin Huang thought for a moment.
Then spoke as if the idea was completely normal.
"Games."
Honghong stared at him.
"…Games?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Interactive ones."
"Things people can play together."
He paused slightly.
"Something like Minecraft."
"Or Pokémon."
Honghong stared at him for a few seconds.
"…I have absolutely no idea what those are."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"You will eventually."
Honghong looked unconvinced.
"…You're planning something weird again."
Lin Huang simply looked toward the distant lights of Yuelan City.
Because in his mind—
the systems he had built were only the beginning.
This city…
was still evolving.
And its future
was only getting started.
The night deepened over Yuelan City.
Most of the activity in the streets had begun to fade, leaving only scattered lantern lights and the occasional group of cultivators returning from late training sessions.
Inside the Lin Clan residence, the courtyard beneath the World Tree had become almost completely silent.
Lin Huang stood alone now.
The others had already returned to their rooms.
Even Honghong had jumped from his shoulder and was resting on a nearby branch, her nine cerulean tails draped lazily across the bark.
The soft glow of spiritual energy from the tree illuminated the area faintly.
Lin Huang closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed.
The world around him became quiet.
And within that silence—
a familiar presence appeared.
A vast, gentle pressure descended into his spiritual sea.
The Divine Realm's authority.
A voice echoed faintly in his consciousness.
Not loud.
But impossible to ignore.
The system of the divine trials responded once again.
A golden light appeared within Lin Huang's spiritual sea.
The same light that had accompanied the previous trials.
Slowly, words formed.
Divine Trial V
Lin Huang remained calm.
His consciousness observed the message silently.
The golden text continued forming.
Objective:Advance your cultivation to Rank 80.
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow slightly.
That was… surprisingly straightforward.
But the message had not finished yet.
More words appeared.
Additional Requirement:Condense and form one additional Soul Core.
For a moment, the spiritual sea remained silent.
Honghong opened one eye from the branch above him.
"…Another trial?"
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Honghong stretched lazily.
"…This one sounds easy."
Lin Huang didn't answer immediately.
Because while the objective itself seemed simple—
he understood something important.
Advancing to Rank 80 for him would not be normal.
It involved too many systems.
Soul power.
Body cultivation.
Spiritual cultivation.
Divine energy.
The Divine Seed.
All of them were connected.
Which meant this breakthrough would affect everything.
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…You were planning to reach Rank 80 soon anyway."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
The trial simply confirmed the direction he had already chosen.
He looked toward the sky beyond the branches of the World Tree.
"…But the soul core requirement is interesting."
Most cultivators struggled to form even one.
A second was considered extremely rare.
A third—
almost unheard of.
Honghong flicked her tail.
"…You already turned impossible things into routine."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"Preparation helps."
He had already begun laying the foundation.
The Qi Rings.
The Blood Rings.
The Psychic Rings.
The stabilization of his Divine Sea.
Everything had been building toward the same point.
Honghong watched him quietly for a moment.
"…So when are you planning to do it?"
Lin Huang didn't answer right away.
Instead, he glanced briefly toward the distant direction where he had sensed the faint angelic trace earlier that day.
Then he looked back toward the quiet city beyond the clan residence.
"…Soon."
Above them, the branches of the World Tree rustled softly in the night breeze.
Because the next step in Lin Huang's path
was already approaching.