Foundation Establishment transformed Lin Xuan's perception, but restraint remained essential. Azure Cloud City now felt small, its power struggles petty, yet leaving prematurely meant abandoning the fractured ley line's remaining benefits.
He needed two more years here, maximizing advantage before the sealing.
Iron Bone Sect's occupation created unexpected opportunities. Their presence attracted rival sects—Flowing Cloud Sect remnants, Blood River Association, minor cultivation families seeking protection. The city's information networks overflowed with intelligence Lin Xuan collected through his multiple identities.
One report disturbed his calculations: a young cultivator in neighboring Crimson Stone City demonstrating impossible knowledge. This "Hong Ming" produced pills using techniques not invented for decades, predicted spiritual vein movements with perfect accuracy, avoided disasters Lin Xuan remembered from his previous timeline.Another reborn soul. The probability seemed astronomical, yet evidence accumulated. Hong Ming's behavior—paranoid, secretive, aggressively accumulating resources—mirrored Lin Xuan's own.
He investigated personally, traveling as Crippled Crow for the first time in months. Crimson Stone City revealed Hong Ming's operation: larger than Lin Xuan's, more visible, protected by purchased Foundation Establishment guards. The young cultivator—apparently fifteen—had established dominance in three years, openly challenging local powers rather than hiding.Lin Xuan observed from shadow, recognizing dangerous similarities. Hong Ming's knowledge came from a different timeline—one where different sects rose, different techniques dominated. Their rebirths originated from distinct futures.
The implications staggered. If two could be reborn, how many others existed? What mechanism selected them? What purpose served?He approached cautiously, using Elder Qing's identity to request meeting. Hong Ming accepted, apparently eager for pill dao exchange.Their conversation occurred in neutral territory, both heavily disguised, guards positioned for mutual destruction if betrayal occurred."You know techniques from 2087," Lin Xuan stated, referencing a pill formula invented that year in his timeline.Hong Ming's tension confirmed suspicion. "You speak of futures. Your origin?"
2163. Heaven Defying Pill. Grand Elder Mo's betrayal.""2044. Spirit Emperor's Ascension. My brother's knife in my back."Different eras. Different deaths. Same second chance.They negotiated carefully, neither trusting, both recognizing mutual benefit. Information exchange: Hong Ming knew earlier history, Lin Xuan later developments. Combined knowledge created predictive power exceeding individual capability.Agreement emerged: non-interference in respective territories, information sharing through coded messages, mutual assistance against threats to reborn status.
They parted as uncertain allies, potential enemies, definitely not friends.Lin Xuan returned to Azure Cloud City with expanded perspective. His rebirth was not unique privilege but part of larger pattern. Caution increased; if others could be reborn, some might be hunting their kind.He began researching temporal anomalies, soul transmigration, heaven's mechanisms. The Azure Cloud Codex contained hints; deeper knowledge required sect library access.Iron Bone Sect's occupation suddenly seemed less obstacle than opportunity.