The moment Lin Shuan stepped beyond the northern gates of Starlight City, the atmosphere around him completely changed.
Behind him—
civilization remained alive.
Bustling markets.
Noisy merchants.
Laughing travelers.
Countless cultivators chasing their dreams.
But ahead—
only wilderness remained.
An endless sea of ancient trees stretched toward the horizon.
Gigantic trunks rose into the heavens.
Their branches intertwined like the arms of forgotten giants.
Thick vines hung from above.
The scent of damp earth and ancient medicinal plants drifted through the air.
For ordinary cultivators—
the Eastern Ancient Forest was a dangerous place filled with countless hidden threats.
But for Lin Shuan—
it felt strangely familiar.
Like returning home after a long journey.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"It's been a long time."
Longshe poked his tiny golden head out of Lin Shuan's sleeve.
The little serpent lazily glanced around.
Then immediately retreated back inside.
Clearly—
walking was too much effort.
Lin Shuan laughed.
"Lazy."
Longshe completely ignored him.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen snorted.
"He learned that habit from you."
Lin Shuan nearly choked.
"Master, that accusation is completely unfair."
"Unfair?"
The old monster laughed.
"You spent almost an entire year sleeping."
"..."
Lin Shuan wisely decided not to continue the argument.
Some battles simply couldn't be won.
Especially against an ancient monster who had lived longer than entire kingdoms.
The forest appeared peaceful.
At least on the surface.
But Lin Shuan knew better.
This place was never truly quiet.
Closing his eyes slightly—
he released his Spiritual Vision.
Immediately—
the world changed.
Everything within fifty meters became perfectly clear.
Every leaf.
Every insect.
Every movement.
Then his perception expanded.
One hundred meters.
Three hundred meters.
Five hundred meters.
Soon—
countless forms of life appeared within his consciousness.
Small beasts.
Birds.
Hidden insects.
Even several cultivators hunting nearby.
It was an incredible sensation.
He didn't need his eyes.
The world itself existed within his mind.
A smile appeared on his face.
"Spiritual Vision really is unbelievable."
Tian Wuchen nodded.
"It will become even more useful later."
Lin Shuan raised an eyebrow.
"How useful?"
The old monster casually replied,
"Powerful spiritual cultivators can observe entire cities."
Lin Shuan nearly stumbled.
"Entire cities?"
Tian Wuchen calmly continued.
"Some can observe entire continents."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lin Shuan suddenly felt much smaller.
Every single time he thought he had become powerful—
Tian Wuchen found a new way to remind him that he was still weak.
Very weak.
The old monster chuckled.
"The path of cultivation has no end."
"Never become arrogant."
Lin Shuan nodded seriously.
He understood.
Within Da Cang Empire—
Meridian Tracer Rank was impressive.
But beyond the empire?
Beyond the continent?
Beyond the countless worlds hidden throughout existence?
He was still insignificant.
Hours passed.
The sun slowly descended toward the horizon.
Golden light covered the forest.
Lin Shuan moved swiftly through the trees.
After reaching Meridian Tracer Rank—
his Lightning Immortal Path had evolved tremendously.
Each step carried him dozens of meters forward.
His figure flashed through the forest like lightning itself.
Several powerful beasts noticed him.
Yet none could catch him.
At one point—
a massive black bear emerged from behind a rocky hill.
Its body stood nearly six meters tall.
Its cultivation had already reached Peak Energy Core Rank.
To ordinary cultivators—
it was a terrifying existence.
The bear released a thunderous roar.
The surrounding forest trembled.
Birds scattered.
Trees shook.
Then—
it looked directly at Lin Shuan.
Lin Shuan looked back.
Nothing more.
Just one glance.
The pressure of a Third-Star Meridian Tracer spread outward.
The bear froze.
Its roar abruptly stopped.
"..."
"..."
For several awkward seconds—
the two stared at one another.
Then—
the bear slowly turned around.
And calmly walked away.
As if absolutely nothing had happened.
Lin Shuan blinked.
Tian Wuchen laughed.
"A wise beast."
Longshe peeked out briefly.
Then nodded in apparent approval.
The bear had clearly chosen life.
A very intelligent decision.
Night gradually descended.
The forest became darker.
Strange sounds echoed from every direction.
Nocturnal beasts began emerging from their hidden lairs.
The moon rose high above.
Silver light illuminated the wilderness.
Eventually—
Lin Shuan arrived beside a quiet river.
Moonlight reflected beautifully across its surface.
The flowing water produced a peaceful melody.
After inspecting the surroundings—
he selected a massive ancient tree.
Its roots spread across the ground like giant dragons.
Lin Shuan sat beneath it.
Longshe immediately jumped out.
The little golden serpent curled into a comfortable circle nearby.
Apparently preparing for sleep.
Lin Shuan rolled his eyes.
"You really are lazy."
Longshe ignored him again.
A true master of avoidance.
Meanwhile—
Lin Shuan began removing medicinal treasures from his sleeve storage.
Ancient herbs.
Rare fruits.
Precious vines.
Several roots that emitted powerful medicinal energy.
Their fragrances quickly filled the area.
A translucent figure emerged from the pendant.
Tian Wuchen appeared.
The old monster's eyes immediately brightened.
"Good."
Lin Shuan looked up.
"What?"
Tian Wuchen smiled.
A dangerous smile.
The kind of smile that usually led to suffering.
"We begin tomorrow."
Lin Shuan narrowed his eyes.
"Begin what?"
The smile widened.
"Training."
Immediately—
a bad feeling appeared in Lin Shuan's heart.
A very bad feeling.
Tian Wuchen folded his arms.
"You've become stronger."
"Much stronger."
"But your control is terrible."
Lin Shuan opened his mouth.
Then closed it again.
Because unfortunately—
the old monster was correct.
His strength had increased too quickly.
Energy Core Rank.
Meridian Tracer Rank.
Consciousness Realm.
Spiritual Vision.
The Frost Divine Heart.
Everything had evolved at once.
He still hadn't fully adapted.
Tian Wuchen continued.
"For the next few months—"
"You will train."
Lin Shuan suddenly became alert.
"How much training?"
The old monster smiled.
"Day and night."
Lin Shuan's eyelid twitched.
"Master."
"Yes?"
"Can I refuse?"
"No."
The answer arrived instantly.
Mercilessly.
Without hesitation.
Without even a tiny amount of sympathy.
Longshe released a strange noise.
It sounded suspiciously like laughter.
Lin Shuan stared at both of them.
For the first time in his life—
he felt completely surrounded by enemies.
One was an ancient monster.
The other was a lazy snake.
Neither could be trusted.
Tian Wuchen ignored his expression.
The old man's gaze slowly shifted toward the darkness beyond the river.
His eyes gradually became serious.
Very serious.
The smile disappeared.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
"Lin Shuan."
The young cultivator immediately noticed it.
"What is it?"
For several moments—
Tian Wuchen remained silent.
Then finally spoke.
"A storm is coming."
Lin Shuan froze.
His expression slowly hardened.
Yu Long Sect.
Yue Sha Empire.
The destruction of the Lin Clan.
The black liquid.
The hidden infiltrators.
Everything resurfaced inside his mind.
Tian Wuchen continued quietly.
"Your enemies have already begun moving."
"They are stronger than you imagine."
Lin Shuan frowned.
However—
he misunderstood.
He thought Tian Wuchen was speaking only about Yu Long Sect.
Only about Yue Sha Empire.
He didn't realize—
the old monster was thinking of something far older.
Something far more terrifying.
The ancient sword.
The golden eye.
The mysterious existence hidden beyond the Lost Divine Region.
The eyes that had looked back at Lin Shuan.
Tian Wuchen remembered that description clearly.
And it troubled him deeply.
Some dangers couldn't be measured by cultivation alone.
Some secrets had existed since before recorded history.
Yet Tian Wuchen didn't explain.
Not now.
Lin Shuan wasn't ready.
The night air became colder.
Lin Shuan slowly clenched his fists.
His gaze rose toward the distant horizon.
Toward the direction where Yu Long Sect stood.
A cold light appeared within his eyes.
"I know."
The answer came quietly.
But firmly.
The old monster nodded.
"Good."
"Then become stronger."
"So strong that nobody can ever take away what matters to you again."
The words struck deeply.
Lin Shuan immediately remembered the burning ruins of his clan.
The silence.
The ashes.
The bodies.
The helplessness.
His fists tightened.
The Frost Divine Heart beat heavily within his chest.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
A terrifying determination gradually appeared in his eyes.
The river continued flowing peacefully.
The moon remained high above.
The forest remained quiet.
Yet beneath that calm surface—
something had already begun changing.
Under the moonlight—
a young cultivator silently made a vow.
The next time he faced his enemies—
he would not run.
He would not be powerless.
And he would never again watch everything he cherished disappear before his eyes.
Far away—
beyond the darkness of the forest.
Beyond the mountains.
Beyond the borders of Da Cang Empire.
Invisible currents were already moving.
Schemes.
Alliances.
Betrayals.
Ancient secrets.
None of it was known to Lin Shuan.
Nor was it known to Yu Long Sect.
But fate had already begun pushing both sides toward an unavoidable collision.
A collision that would shake the entire Da Cang Empire.
And this time—
Lin Shuan would stand at the center of the storm.