"A cave?"
"Only my brother Lin Dong and I know about it," Lin Qingtan said softly. "Even our parents have no idea it exists. Come, Master Ye, I'll take you there."
Ye Feng followed Lin Qingtan to the edge of a towering cliff. From their vantage point, he could see jagged rocks protruding from the cliffside, forming a narrow, hidden path barely visible to the untrained eye.
Lin Qingtan was clearly familiar with the route. She moved with practiced caution, descending carefully. But just as she reached a jutting rock—
"Ah!"
Her foot slipped.
She fell.
It was a cliff thousands of feet high. A fall from such height meant certain death.
In a flash, Ye Feng moved. His silhouette blurred as he appeared beside her, wrapping an arm securely around her slender waist.
"Master Ye, you can fly?!"
"Naturally."
A soft laugh. "I almost forgot... you're the God of Creation."
"Where's the cave? Point it out and I'll take us there."
"There, hidden behind those boulders!"
Ye Feng soared toward the spot Lin Qingtan indicated. Behind a cluster of enormous rocks lay a concealed opening—the entrance to the cave. Nestled within the cliffside and obscured by its natural stone guardians, the cave was a place no ordinary person would stumble upon.
Once inside, the cool, refreshing air instantly washed over them. It was an ideal retreat from the heat outside.
The cave wasn't large. Apart from a smooth stone pool at its center, there was little of note. Yet the pool itself radiated a subtle chill that blanketed the cave in a refreshing serenity.
A young man lay in the pool, shirtless, half-submerged in the clear water.
"Brother Lin Dong!" Lin Qingtan called out.
The man stirred, blinking awake.
"Qingtan? You brought someone?"
Lin Dong's voice held a mix of confusion and slight displeasure. This place was their little secret—a sanctuary he'd discovered while gathering herbs. Here, he would relax after exhausting training sessions. Every bath in the stone pool seemed to sharpen his mind, allowing him to enter a state of deep focus. Only he and Qingtan knew of its existence.
Now she'd brought someone else.
"Master Ye isn't a stranger," she explained quickly. "Besides, he just built us a new home!"
"A new home?"
"Yes! A courtyard, elegant and magnificent, conjured in the blink of an eye. If he trains you, Brother, you could easily reach the top three in the clan competition!"
Her eyes gleamed with excitement, clearly hoping Ye Feng would take Lin Dong under his wing.
But Ye Feng remained silent, his gaze fixed on the stone pool.
"Master Ye, after bathing here, one feels more focused and energized. Why is that?" she asked curiously.
"Because of the rune stone," Ye Feng said, pointing to a stalactite hanging above the pool.
"Tick."
A drop of liquid—not water, but crimson like blood—dripped from the stalactite into the pool below, sending ripples across the surface.
"Come," Ye Feng muttered, extending his hand. With a flick of his fingers, a small stone dislodged from the stalactite and floated into his palm.
The stone was about the size of two fingers. Pale gray-white in color, it felt soft yet solid—neither stone, jade, nor wood. Strange and elusive, its surface bore arcane lines that pulsed faintly, forming a mystical rune.
"A stone... with runes? A stone rune?!" Lin Dong exclaimed in shock.
"You mean the stone pool's effects come from this?" Lin Qingtan asked.
Ye Feng nodded. "Exactly."
Lin Dong's expression faltered. This was his discovery—his secret. That stone rune was meant to be his golden opportunity.
But before he could speak, Ye Feng casually placed the stone into his storage soul guide.
Ding!
"Congratulations, you have altered the original storyline and intercepted Lin Dong's golden finger, the Stone Talisman. Reward: 6666 attribute points to distribute."
"There's nothing more to see here," Ye Feng said, brushing dust from his sleeves. "Qingtan, let's head to the city."
With that, he led Lin Qingtan to the cliffside, leaving Lin Dong behind in the cave, staring blankly at the pool—petrified and wordless.
---
Later that day, Ye Feng and Lin Qingtan explored the local town. They enjoyed a hearty lunch, tasting several regional specialties before returning home for dinner.
Liu Yan had prepared a feast, and Ye Feng found himself reluctant to leave, savoring every dish.
Buzz.
Suddenly, Lin Qingtan's expression turned pale. Frost began to gather on her skin, and wisps of cold air spiraled from her body, chilling the room. Thin ice began to form on the floor beneath her feet.
"Not good! Qingtan's condition is acting up again!" Lin Dong stood up in alarm.
"What do we do?" Lin Xiao asked in panic.
Lin Qingtan had suffered from this affliction since childhood. Periodically, a surge of terrifying cold energy would erupt within her body, causing unbearable pain. No one had found a solution.
Lin Xiao had once tried to expel the energy using his own cultivation, but the backlash had nearly crippled him. After lying in bed for half a month, he had given up trying.
Since then, whenever the coldness returned, all the family could do was worry.
"This isn't just a sickness," Ye Feng said calmly. "This is the Yin Sha Physique—also known as the Terminus Devil Body."
"Terminus Devil Body?" Lin Xiao repeated, stunned.
"A top-tier physique for cultivation," Ye Feng explained. "The Yin Qi in her body is equivalent to fifth-grade Yin Sha energy. If she practices the right technique, her growth will be astonishing."
He paused, then looked at Lin Xiao. "In fact, with your current realm, her cold aura could assist your cultivation."
Lin Xiao blinked. "You mean... I could train with her?"
"Exactly."
A moment of silence passed, and then Lin Xiao nodded solemnly.
"Young Master Ye," he said, his tone more respectful than ever, "if you understand this condition... do you know how to cure it?"
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