Lin Yi's internal vision registered the result. The Devouring World gained an infinitesimally small, almost negligible increase in mass... the transmuted essence of the consumed stone. The consumption was utterly efficient, leaving no residue, no trace of the granite's existence in the outside world.
His expression became profoundly strange, a cold mix of triumph and chilling contemplation. The Devouring Avenue Symbol had arrived, and it had fundamentally shifted the power scale of his entire existence.
He stood up slowly, reaching for a handful of loose pebbles by the riverbank. With the same silent, absolute activation, he directed the Devouring energy, but this time with a conscious, meticulous division of the resulting refined essence.
The small stones vanished instantly, transmuted into pure, fundamental essence. Lin Yi's internal vision confirmed the immediate, harmonious integration: a minuscule fraction flowed into his spiritual sea, bolstering the immense density of his soul power; another portion sank into his physical form, subtly strengthening his already perfect Nirvana Golden Body; and the remainder merged with his Dantian, enhancing the colossal reserves of his Yuan Power. The balance was automatic, flawless, and profound.
'Not merely a Soul-boosting technique,' he mused, a cold satisfaction spreading through him. 'The Devouring Avenue Symbol is a perfect, three-pronged method of cultivation, perfectly balancing Soul, Physique, and Energy. A boundless, limitless wellspring of power.'
He mentally scaled the power. If a mere handful of stones provided such a balanced, multi-faceted boost, what could an entire mountain range yield? He calculated the terrifying truth: with his current, consolidated Ninth Turn Nirvana Realm, and the foundational power of the Avenue Symbol, a full, unrestrained surge of the Devouring power could indeed consume a small mountain range, instantly transforming it into trillions of units of balanced, refined power. The implications were staggering; he had gained a cheat that transcended all established cultivation concepts.
A faint, calculating light sparked in his pupils beneath the shadow of his hat. He had retreated for a year to cultivate and solidify his foundation. Now, that foundation was absolute, and his power was beyond measure. His thoughts shifted from the limitless potential of his new Symbol to the necessary, mundane currents of destiny.
He muttered to himself, his voice a low, analytical whisper. "It is almost time. Lin Dong should be returning to the capital city soon for the main Lin Clan gathering and the competition."
The thought of his brother's imminent return to the center stage brought with it the necessary, familial considerations. Lin Yi decided he should visit. Not for any grand confrontation, but for a simple farewell and reassurance.
'I should visit my parents and Qingtan,' he resolved. His little sister, too, would be attending the gathering... her destiny was approaching its own critical turning point, though now, with the subtle guiding influence of Lin Yi's early interventions, it might be a calmer path.
He looked down at the silver-scaled river fish in the wicker basket, which was still struggling faintly. He reached out, his hand moving with a gentleness that was completely at odds with the terrifying power he now wielded. He carefully removed the fish from the hook, noting the frantic, desperate flick of its tail.
With a soft splash, he tossed the silver fish back into the slow-moving river, granting it its simple, non-consequential life. Then, without a moment of hesitation, he straightened his straw hat, stood up from his fishing spot, and turned away from the river.
A shimmering tear opened silently in the fabric of the void before him. Lin Yi stepped into the chaotic, glittering rift, his figure dissolving into the void as he began his journey back to the city of his origin.
The shimmering spatial tear closed silently, leaving the air undisturbed. A few steps away from the dense bamboo groves that concealed the Lin Family compound, Lin Yi's figure solidified. He lowered his feet to the grassy earth with the lightness of a falling leaf. For a nirvana cultivator of his current stature, crossing the distance from the remote wilderness to Yan City was not a journey but a mere flicker of thought, spanning thousands of miles in a handful of moments.
He pulled the brim of his straw hat lower, his gray pupils scanning the familiar, imposing gate of the Lin Family. The guards posted at the entrance, two robust men of the Tempered Body Realm, immediately stiffened at the sight of the lone, powerful figure approaching. They moved to intercept, their hands resting defensively on the hilts of their swords.
"Halt! State your name and business!" the lead guard called out, his voice laced with caution.
Lin Yi paused directly before them. He made no sudden movements; instead, he simply raised his head, tilting the wide brim of the straw hat back just enough to reveal the sculpted lines of his face and the calm, gray intensity in his eyes.
The instant the guards recognized the face of the second young master, the entire defensive posture of the gate dissolved. Their eyes widened with immediate shock and then melted into profound, genuine excitement. They immediately dropped their hands and executed a low, respectful bow.
"Young Master Lin Yi!" the lead guard exclaimed, his voice trembling slightly with awe. "Welcome back! We were not expecting you."
Lin Yi merely gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod in acknowledgment, his expression unreadable. "It's been a while. Are my parents and sister inside?"
"Please, Young Master, you may pass," the second guard stammered, pulling the gate open wide. "But… almost all of the younger generation, along with the elders, have already left for the capital province."
'They are not here,' he realized, the internal confirmation absolute. He stopped, the familiar architecture of the house seeming alien in its vacancy. 'I am late.'
The guard, sensing the faint, immense pressure radiating from Lin Yi's calm presence, quickly explained. "Young Master, the Main Lin Clan Gathering and the preparatory competition for the Hundred Empire Battle are imminent. They began mobilizing a week ago. Young Miss Qingtan… She was selected to participate in the junior division. Your father and grandfather, along with Elder Lin Ming, accompanied the entire contingent to the capital to ensure their safety and preparation."
Lin Yi nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place with cold, geometric precision. The grand stage of the Great Yan Empire was opening, and his entire family was already moving toward the center of the coming storm.
He turned away from the guards, his mind already calculating the quickest route to the capital. The journey he had just completed in an instant would still take the Lin Family contingent weeks to complete. The seclusion had been worth the power, but it had cost him the simple farewell he had intended.
'Let's visit the capital, I won't participate in a children's competition. Let Lin Dong deal with his revenge… as for the next battle of seeds for sect recruitment, it requires an identity, I already have that.' Lin Yi thought of his Yi pavilion… which has become a behemoth in just a year's duration.
As he reached the center of the courtyard, away from the watchful eyes of the guards. Without pausing, he allowed his figure to blur, becoming a faint, shimmering outline against the midday sun. With a soundless rush, the air tore open, and Lin Yi stepped once more into the raw, glittering embrace of the void, his destination now fixed: the capital of the Great Yan Empire.
…