After organising the information obtained from Mo Tou's memories, Lin Sheng continued examining the remaining cultivation inheritances.
Most of the techniques were demonic cultivation methods, many of which revolved around absorbing Yin Qi, refining corpses, nurturing ghosts, and using the blood essence of living beings to strengthen one's cultivation. Although some were quite profound, they weren't particularly useful to him. Mo Tou had spent most of his life cultivating demonic arts, and apart from artifact refining, he hadn't devoted much effort to mastering other auxiliary methods.
Lin Sheng casually skimmed through several memories before his attention finally settled on a collection of fragmented memories.
His expression changed slightly.
These fragments appeared to contain the remnants of a particular body-refining inheritance.
He carefully examined them, using his chip to reconstruct the scattered information. After a while, a few ancient characters gradually emerged in his consciousness.
Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang Ode!
Lin Sheng's eyes brightened.
From the incomplete information, this was a body-refining method that could lead to Rank 5 Treasure Body. Its principles were extraordinarily profound, revolving around the refinement of the essence of the sun and moon, using the Yin and Yang energies of Heaven and Earth to temper the physical body until it became comparable to a powerful Dharma Treasure.
It was a method whose potential was equivalent to the Nascent Soul Realm.
For a moment, Lin Sheng couldn't help feeling excited.
He had been searching for a suitable path towards Rank 5, and although he had already developed some ideas of his own, obtaining an established inheritance was naturally preferable to relying entirely on speculation.
Unfortunately, his excitement didn't last long.
After carefully examining the fragments, he discovered that the inheritance was incomplete. The information Mo Tou possessed only contained the portion corresponding to the Treasure Body realm, while the preceding Golden Body portion was missing.
More importantly, even the Treasure Body portion wasn't a complete cultivation method. It merely contained the principles and requirements for advancing, together with fragments of the techniques needed to condense the corresponding Divine Abilities.
Lin Sheng leaned back slightly.
'So I still have to gather the missing pieces myself.'
According to the fragments, the Heaven and Earth Yin and Yang Ode required five specific minor Divine Abilities to be condensed before they could be combined into a Major Divine Ability. Only after successfully forming that Major Divine Ability could a cultivator begin refining the essence of the sun and moon to advance towards Treasure Body.
The five minor Divine Abilities weren't ordinary techniques that could simply be replaced with similar methods. Each one corresponded to a particular aspect of the body's transformation, and together they formed the foundation of the entire inheritance.
Without them, attempting to cultivate the method would be no different from building a magnificent palace without laying its foundation.
Furthermore, since the Golden Body portion was absent, Lin Sheng would have to find the remaining minor Divine Abilities and reconstruct the earlier stages himself.
Fortunately, this wasn't an insurmountable problem.
He had already made arrangements for his fourth minor Divine Ability, and with his existing foundation, he was confident that he could eventually gather the remaining requirements.
'Five minor Divine Abilities to form a Major Divine Ability, followed by the refinement of Heavenly Essence. This method is certainly ambitious.'
He stored the fragmented inheritance away.
Even if he couldn't immediately cultivate it, the information was valuable enough to preserve. It had at least given him a clearer direction for his future advancement, and that alone was worth the effort of recovering Mo Tou's memories.
After finishing his examination, Lin Sheng finally shifted his attention towards the outside world.
His inner consciousness spread through the surrounding area, extending beyond the restrictions of Changsheng Abode. He carefully examined the mountains, forests, and distant regions, paying particular attention to any unusual spiritual fluctuations that might indicate someone had been tracking him.
Several breaths later, he withdrew his perception.
There was no sign of pursuit.
Lin Sheng wasn't particularly surprised. He had deliberately concealed his movements after killing Mo Tou, and considering the distance he had travelled, it would take some effort for anyone to trace him accurately.
Nevertheless, he didn't intend to remain here any longer than necessary.
He immediately activated the formations surrounding the abode, strengthening their concealment before taking out several healing pills and swallowing them one after another.
The medicinal power spread through his body, transforming into warm streams of energy that flowed through his damaged meridians and nourished his exhausted organs. His Golden Body had endured an intense battle against Mo Tou, and although his physical foundation was exceptionally strong, the repeated consumption of Qi-Blood and the strain placed upon his organs couldn't be ignored.
He circulated his cultivation method, guiding the medicinal power through his body while allowing the Qi-Blood Furnace to gradually recover.
His injuries were already stabilising, but he needed to recover as quickly as possible.
He couldn't afford to remain on the Immortal Continent for too long.
After killing Mo Tou, there was a considerable possibility that the remaining traces of the battle would attract the attention of the True Monarchs. Some might investigate the destruction left behind, others might attempt to trace the origin of the spiritual fluctuations, and a few could even use divination techniques to determine the identity and whereabouts of the person responsible.
Lin Sheng had no intention of testing whether his concealment methods could withstand the divination of a True Monarch.
He had no reliable countermeasure against such methods at present.
Fortunately, he had already made preparations during the previous years. His arrangements were sufficient to allow him to leave the Eastern Region without attracting unnecessary attention, and once he reached the Martial Continent, the situation would be different.
With the strength he had accumulated, he would have considerably more confidence in facing whatever threats came his way.
For now, however, surviving and leaving safely were his priorities.
---
Several hours later, at Dragon Yuan Mountain, an escape light quietly descended.
The figure concealed its aura and passed through the outer defensive formations before entering Lin Yan's abode. The restrictions recognised the visitor, allowing him to move through without triggering any alarms.
Inside the cultivation chamber, Lin Yan was sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed.
Her breathing was steady, and the faint spiritual fluctuations surrounding her body indicated that she had already recovered considerably. The healing pills Lin Sheng had given her were indeed effective, particularly the Rank 4 medicinal pills, whose medicinal properties had helped stabilise her damaged spiritual foundation and repair most of her injuries.
At present, she was concentrating on dealing with the remaining minor injuries.
Lin Sheng stood at the entrance for a moment, observing her before a faint smile appeared on his face.
It seemed she was doing considerably better than he had expected.
Perhaps sensing his presence, Lin Yan slowly opened her eyes.
Her expression immediately became cautious, and her spiritual energy stirred instinctively. However, the moment she recognised the figure standing before her, the wariness in her eyes disappeared.
"Little brother?"
Lin Sheng smiled as he removed his disguise.
Lin Yan stared at him.
For a while, neither of them spoke. A multitude of emotions passed through her eyes, relief, surprise, lingering worry, and something she couldn't quite express. She examined him from head to toe, seemingly trying to determine whether he had sustained any injuries.
Eventually, Lin Sheng broke the silence.
"I'm leaving."
Lin Yan's expression changed slightly.
She lowered her gaze for a moment before looking back at him.
"For how long?"
Lin Sheng didn't answer.
He merely maintained his faint smile.
That was enough.
Lin Yan understood what his silence meant, and although she had already expected this day to come, hearing him say it so casually still made her feel somewhat reluctant.
She slowly stood up.
"Then be careful."
Lin Sheng nodded.
They stood facing each other, and after a moment, Lin Yan suddenly chuckled. Her earlier solemn expression gradually disappeared as she raised her hand and pinched his cheek.
"Look at you. I didn't even realise my little brother had grown so strong and tall."
Lin Sheng's mouth twitched slightly.
Lin Yan continued examining him with a smile.
"You've grown up quite a bit, haven't you? You're no longer that little boy who used to follow me around the family grounds. At this rate, I suppose I should start worrying about when you'll get married."
She pinched his cheek once more.
"Don't forget to find yourself a wife. You're also a member of the Lin family, and I expect to hold my nieces and nephews someday. Don't keep wandering around the world forever."
Lin Sheng couldn't help laughing.
"Alright, alright. I'll get to it."
"That's better."
Lin Yan finally withdrew her hand.
For a moment, the two siblings simply looked at each other before Lin Yan stepped forward and embraced him.
Lin Sheng returned the embrace.
Neither of them spoke.
They remained like that for several breaths, and although Lin Yan didn't say anything else, the slight tightening of her arms revealed that she wasn't particularly willing to let him go.
Eventually, she released him.
"Go."
Lin Sheng nodded, turned around, and left the abode.
He didn't look back.
---
A few breaths later, another escape light descended within the secluded region where his master's abode was located.
Lin Sheng entered through the defensive restrictions and immediately noticed that several familiar auras were gathered inside.
Lou Han, Qian Feng, Lin Xiaolu, and Lin Shou were all present.
Qian Feng was the first to notice his arrival.
"Lin Sheng!"
He immediately stood up, and the others turned towards the entrance.
Lin Shou moved forward first, his gaze sweeping across Lin Sheng's body.
"Are you injured?"
Lin Sheng smiled.
"I'm fine."
Only after hearing his answer did Lin Shou relax.
Qian Feng, however, was already looking at him with sparkling eyes.
"How did it go? Was the fight intense? Did you manage to defeat that fellow? What was his cultivation like? I heard that he was a Golden Core cultivator, but considering the commotion, could he have been stronger?"
He fired off several questions without pausing for breath.
Lin Sheng couldn't help smiling.
"It was alright."
"Alright?"
Qian Feng looked somewhat dissatisfied with the answer.
"That's all? You can't simply say it was alright after fighting a Golden Core cultivator!"
Lin Sheng laughed but didn't elaborate.
Instead, he glanced at everyone and said, "I'm leaving."
Lin Xiaolu immediately opened her mouth.
"Where are you—"
Before she could finish, Lou Han gently stopped her.
"Be careful on your journey."
Lin Sheng looked towards her and nodded.
The others understood.
Lin Sheng had deliberately revealed a portion of his strength during the battle against Mo Tou. Even if the exact details remained unknown, it was inevitable that his existence would attract attention from some of the stronger cultivators on the continent.
Remaining within the Lin family's territory would only bring unnecessary trouble.
They didn't ask where he intended to go, nor did they try to persuade him to stay.
Qian Feng suddenly grinned.
"Since you're leaving, how about we make an appointment? Let's meet at Cloud Mist Market in fifty years for a gathering. By then, I should have made some progress myself."
Lin Sheng looked at him and smiled.
"Sure."
"Then it's settled!"
Qian Feng extended his hand.
Lin Sheng shook it.
The others couldn't help smiling at the exchange, and for a brief moment, the atmosphere became considerably lighter.
Lin Sheng then took out four storage rings and handed one to each of them.
"I left something for you inside. Consider it a parting gift."
Qian Feng's eyes immediately brightened.
"Parting gift? Then I certainly won't refuse!"
He accepted the storage ring without hesitation, while Lin Shou, Lou Han, and Lin Xiaolu also received theirs.
Lin Sheng didn't explain what he had left inside. There was no need to turn a simple farewell into a lengthy discussion, and the contents would speak for themselves.
After exchanging a few more words, he took his leave.
---
His next destination was the Grand Elder's cave abode.
Old Liang was already there when Lin Sheng arrived.
The moment he entered, Lin Sheng bowed respectfully.
"Disciple greets Master."
Old Liang raised his eyes and examined him.
Lin Sheng smiled before speaking.
"I have recently broken through to Astral Gang, and I intend to travel for a while to gain more experience. There may also be some opportunities outside that could help me improve further."
Old Liang stared at him.
Then he sneered.
"There's no need to hide yourself from me."
Lin Sheng's smile stiffened slightly.
He scratched his head and laughed sheepishly.
"I didn't want to shock you too much."
Old Liang's mouth twitched.
"Shock me? You think I'm so old that I can't withstand a little surprise?"
He snorted.
"Although I'm not as strong as you, I still have enough strength left in these old bones to keep myself alive. You don't need to worry about me."
Lin Sheng laughed.
Old Liang continued examining him, his gaze lingering for a moment before he finally shook his head.
"Your progress is truly absurd. I remember when you first arrived, you were still trying to understand the basics of cultivation. Now you've already reached a level where even I can't properly judge your strength."
Lin Sheng didn't respond directly.
He merely smiled.
The two spoke for a while, discussing a few matters concerning cultivation and the Lin family's situation. Old Liang didn't ask him to remain, nor did he attempt to persuade him to disclose everything he had been doing outside. He was well aware that Lin Sheng had his own secrets, and as his master, he was satisfied as long as the disciple remained safe and continued advancing.
Before leaving, Lin Sheng took out another storage ring.
"Master, I've prepared something for you as well."
Old Liang accepted it and glanced inside.
His expression changed slightly.
He looked up at Lin Sheng, but the latter had already taken a step back.
"Take care of yourself, Master."
Old Liang sighed.
"You too."
Lin Sheng bowed once more before leaving the cave abode.
---
The moment he sped out of Dragon Yuan Province, Lin Sheng finally allowed his escape light to accelerate.
As the mountains and rivers passed beneath him, he recalled the arrangements he had made during his stay on the Immortal Continent.
Fortunately, he had refined a sufficient number of pills for the Myriad Dao Pavilion. The transactions had allowed him to accumulate a considerable quantity of resources, and through the Pavilion's channels, he had managed to obtain several items that would otherwise have been difficult to acquire.
He had also made arrangements for Su Chen.
The latter's cultivation had already approached the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and Lin Sheng had helped him refine a special natal weapon. It had been designed to accompany him through his subsequent advancement, remaining useful during both the Foundation Establishment and Purple Palace realms.
Considering Su Chen's circumstances, having such a weapon would be considerably more beneficial than relying on ordinary magical artefacts.
Lin Sheng had taken care of what he could before departing.
Now, there was little reason to linger.
His escape light continued travelling at tremendous speed, crossing mountain ranges and vast stretches of wilderness. With his current strength, he was considerably faster than an ordinary airship, and there was no need to waste time waiting for one or following its fixed routes.
Eventually, the Eastern Region's landmass disappeared behind him.
Before him stretched a boundless ocean.
The sea extended towards the horizon, its surface reflecting the distant sunlight. From his position high above the water, Lin Sheng could see countless waves rolling towards the distant coastline, while occasional islands appeared like scattered specks upon the vast blue expanse.
He slowed down slightly.
This time, he intended to fly directly towards the Southern Archipelagos.
Previously, he had relied on an airship to travel across the ocean, but his current strength was entirely different. Even if the journey took several days, he could maintain a considerably higher speed than most airships, and travelling alone would also allow him to avoid unnecessary attention.
He adjusted his direction and continued forward.
As the wind swept past him, Lin Sheng suddenly recalled something.
'Speaking of which, why didn't Mo Tou's memories contain any information about the Heavenly Phenomenon that appeared decades ago?'
He had carefully examined the memories recovered from Mo Tou's spiritual fragments, but there had been no clear record of such an event.
Considering Mo Tou's cultivation and the era in which he had lived, it wasn't particularly surprising that he knew nothing about events that occurred after his death. However, he had also possessed memories from his earlier life, and some of the information he had left behind suggested that he was familiar with the world's major changes.
Yet the Heavenly Phenomenon was completely absent.
Lin Sheng's expression became thoughtful.
'Could it have been something that only occurred after the arrival of the current Golden Age?'
He considered the possibility for a while.
Perhaps it was related to the Heavenly Mechanism, a kind of reward or response from the world itself towards those living beneath the Heavens. If the world's restrictions had changed, then certain phenomena that had never appeared in previous eras might naturally emerge.
However, he couldn't be certain.
He shook his head and stopped thinking about it.
There was no point trying to reach a conclusion without sufficient information. If the phenomenon was genuinely connected to the Heavenly Mechanism, its significance would eventually become clear.
For now, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
Lin Sheng circulated his cultivation method, and the Qi-Blood within his body surged as his escape light accelerated across the boundless ocean.
The Eastern Region gradually disappeared behind him, while the distant Southern Archipelagos lay ahead.