Chapter 30: Three Requests
"I'm Franklin, and I really am your unborn son. I came here from the future."
As soon as Franklin finished speaking while meeting Lin Muyang's eyes, that chilling aura around them instantly vanished. Lin Muyang's expression gradually softened. With a casual wave of his hand, the sword blade in the sky disappeared, and the sword graves surrounding them began to fade away.
Only then did Franklin realize they were now standing in the living room of their home.
"Sit down. I might've gone a bit overboard just now. I didn't leave you with any lasting trauma, did I?"
Hearing his father's concerned tone, Franklin felt a wave of relief wash over him. Looking around at the familiar furnishings, the familiar scent, the familiar atmosphere — it was still the home he remembered.
"That was nothing. If I let something like that traumatize me, how am I supposed to face what's coming next? And besides, Dad, it's right for you to stay vigilant. I'll learn from that. After all, one careless mistake could lead to lifelong regret, and by then, it'd be too late."
Lin Muyang let out a long sigh and shook his head helplessly, as if something had occurred to him. "You're right. Vigilance is necessary. And don't blame me for what I just did.
"At that moment, I truly believed you were up to no good. As far as I know, the River of Time has been sealed, and time travel has been completely forbidden — even I can't break that rule.
"For a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you to travel back from the future — and to be my son on top of that — all these coincidences together should be impossible. With my ten thousand years of experience, I can tell you that coincidences like this don't happen."
"The only possibility is that this was inevitable…"
Lin Muyang's last muttered words didn't reach Franklin's ears — he was already stunned by what his father had just said.
He stared in disbelief at Lin Muyang's youthful skin and thirty-something appearance. No matter how he looked at him, he didn't look like some ancient monster who had lived for over ten thousand years.
"Dad, did you just say you've lived for over ten thousand years? Then… what realm are you at? And what's this about the River of Time? Any other shocking revelations you want to drop?"
"I told you that you talk too much. And you still don't listen. If he learns all this at his age, do you think he can handle it?"
The familiar voice made Franklin turn his head. From the kitchen came his pregnant mother, carrying some strangely shaped, faintly glowing divine fruits.
"Mom… it's been so long. Let me do that. You should sit and rest." As he spoke, Franklin quickly got up, took the fruits from Lin Qin's hands, and gently helped her to a seat.
"Ah, you've suffered enough already. After we left, you must've gone through a lot. To reach the Foundation Establishment stage on your own isn't easy, and even your physical cultivation is so unique. It must've been tough for you."
Franklin smiled lightly, looking utterly at ease. "This is nothing. One day, I'll stand at the very peak of all worlds and rewrite my fate. A bit of hardship is child's play.
"Besides, with the Heavenly Tome you left me, I can travel freely through worlds and even through time. Compared to people with no background or resources, I've had it much easier — and I've grown far faster."
"Heavenly Tome?! The Dimensional Heavenly Tome?"
Seeing Lin Qin lower her head in deep thought and Lin Muyang's utterly shocked expression, Franklin felt confused. "What's with those faces? Don't tell me you don't know. And that strange dream that's been bothering me since you left — the one that sometimes helps me — you're saying you don't know about that either?"
When he voiced the question, the contemplative looks on both Lin Muyang and Lin Qin's faces left Franklin stunned. "You really don't know?"
Lin Qin shook her head slightly, her brows furrowed. "We truly don't. Because of certain special circumstances, we weren't allowed to offer you any direct help. And we had to leave after your tenth birthday — and could never contact you again until you found us yourself. Only then could we…"
Looking at Franklin, still in his teenage form, Lin Qin suddenly understood everything. "So that's how it is… everything was predestined. We were pawns in this game too. I see now!"
Lin Muyang no longer dwelled on it. His eyes lit up as he stared intently at Franklin. "Son, you're going to have a tough road ahead. Our help is limited. Tell us — what do you need right now?"
Their words made a chill crawl down Franklin's spine. The way they were both staring at him felt unsettling. "Whoa, hold on. Calm down. What's this about being pawns? And what do you mean by 'limited help'? I don't even know the rules here. If you're asking what I want most right now, well, there's a long list. I want to ascend to the Immortal Realm now. I want to stand at the pinnacle of all worlds. I want eternal life — infinite longevity."
Lin Muyang let out an awkward laugh. "Ahem… I might've phrased that poorly. As for the whole 'pawns' thing — that's something you'll have to uncover yourself. We can't say, and we're not allowed to. But we can explain the rules for how we can help."
With that, Lin Muyang glanced at Lin Qin. After a brief exchange of looks, Lin Qin sighed helplessly before giving Franklin a faint smile and explaining, "The rules are simple.
"We can help you resolve three problems you're facing at your current cultivation level. Things like breaking through bottlenecks, dealing with powerful enemies, or answering difficult questions."
Hearing that, Franklin pouted in disappointment. "That's it? That's it? Nothing else? Seriously?"
Lin Muyang spread his hands helplessly. "Be grateful we can help at all. Don't be so picky — we really don't have a choice."
"Tch. I thought it'd be something impressive. But breaking through bottlenecks? With my cultivation and physique, you should know I don't have bottlenecks. As for answering questions — sure, I have plenty. But even if I asked, you probably couldn't answer, and even if you could, you're probably restricted. As for powerful enemies — what kind of enemies could I even—"
Before he could finish, Franklin's eyes lit up. In the next instant, he channeled spiritual energy into his eyes, activating the Eye of True Sight. Immediately, his spiritual energy began draining at a terrifying rate.
Whether it was the fruits his mother carried or his parents themselves — everything was covered in countless question marks. The white frames filled his vision completely.
"Eye of True Sight? You even have an ability like that?! Dear, isn't that the innate power of that old freak's son — the one with the giant eyeball? How did our son get it?"
Lin Qin's confusion was mirrored by Lin Muyang's. Both of them stared at Franklin in shock. "That Heavenly Tome of yours is truly extraordinary. Use it well — we may end up relying on you in the future, son."
Franklin ignored their vague and cryptic words. What he cared about was the owner of the Eye of True Sight.
"So you do know who the original owner of this ability is. That confirms it — your strength must already be beyond the peak of the Immortal Realm. And yet even you're being restricted… This world is far more insane than I thought.
"My road ahead is still long. So for now, I have only one request: make sure the original owner of this ability can't find me before I'm strong enough to face him head-on — or, better yet, deal with the problem directly and wipe out his entire clan."
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