The Dragon Yuan Mountain remained peaceful beneath the morning sunlight, its peaks rising above the surrounding forests as wisps of spiritual energy drifted between the trees. Since Lin Sheng's return, the mountain had appeared much the same as he remembered it, with familiar paths winding between the cultivation grounds, guards maintaining their posts, and disciples moving about their daily routines. Yet beneath this apparent tranquillity, the Lin family had become considerably more cautious, for the recent disturbances across the Eastern Region had reminded every cultivation force that peace could disappear with little warning.
Lin Sheng paid little attention to the activities around him as he followed a familiar mountain path towards the inner ravine.
He had visited this place countless times in the past, and although his cultivation had advanced to a level that made the surrounding formations seem relatively simple, he still remembered the effort he had once needed to pass through them. The restrictions guarding the inner mountain responded to his presence, allowing him to proceed without obstruction, and after passing through several overlapping formations, he finally reached the entrance to the deep ravine.
The instant he stepped inside, a wave of heat washed over him.
Lin Sheng's eyebrows rose slightly as he felt the surrounding Fire Spiritual Qi beginning to stir. Unlike the ordinary spiritual energy drifting through the mountain, the Fire Spiritual Qi here had become unusually active, flowing through the ravine as though it were being drawn towards a single point. The temperature continued rising with every step he took, and the faint reddish glow illuminating the surrounding rock walls became increasingly noticeable.
Someone was cultivating within.
Lin Sheng's perception spread through the ravine, and a familiar aura immediately entered his awareness.
Lin Shou?
He followed the gathering Fire Spiritual Qi towards the central platform, where a young man stood alone with a long spear in his hands. His feet were planted firmly against the stone, his upper body slightly inclined forward, and his spear held in a position that appeared almost ordinary at first glance. Yet the longer Lin Sheng observed him, the more he noticed the profound changes occurring around the weapon.
A reddish aura had gathered along the spear shaft, flowing towards its tip like a stream of molten metal. The surrounding Fire Spiritual Qi continued pouring into the aura, gradually increasing its density until the space immediately surrounding the spear began to shimmer from the intense heat.
Lin Shou remained completely focused.
His breathing was steady, his eyes closed, and every muscle in his body seemed to have settled into a state of perfect coordination. Rather than continuously thrusting his spear or attempting to overwhelm his surroundings with brute force, he was concentrating everything into a single movement, refining the energy gathering around his weapon until it became increasingly compact.
The spear trembled faintly.
The reddish aura contracted.
Then, as though an invisible boundary had finally been crossed, the aura ignited.
Flames surged along the spear shaft, wrapping around the weapon in a brilliant crimson glow. The surrounding Fire Spiritual Qi responded immediately, rushing towards the burning spear and merging with the flames until the tip shone like a small sun.
Lin Shou's expression remained solemn.
He had spent years practising his spear techniques, repeating the same movements until his body could perform them almost instinctively. He had experienced countless failures, endured the frustration of repeatedly approaching a breakthrough only to find himself blocked by an invisible barrier, and received guidance from the Grand Elder whenever the latter had the time to spare.
Even so, the final step had remained beyond his reach.
He understood the movements of his spear, and he could gather his Gang Qi into a formidable attack, but there had always been something missing between the technique he performed and the deeper principle he wanted to express through it.
Today, that final obstruction had finally begun to crumble.
The flames gathered at the spear tip became increasingly concentrated, their wild movements gradually settling into a steady, almost silent radiance. Lin Shou could feel the connection between his spear, his Gang Qi, and the surrounding Fire Spiritual Qi becoming clearer, as though the three had finally found a common rhythm.
His mind grew unusually calm.
Then he opened his eyes.
A sharp light flashed through them.
"Break!"
Lin Shou stepped forward and thrust his spear.
The movement was simple, yet the instant the spear left its original position, the entire ravine seemed to tremble. His Gang Qi surged through the weapon, carrying the accumulated Fire Spiritual Qi forward, and the crimson flames abruptly compressed into a single line before erupting from the spear tip.
BOOM!
A blazing torrent shot across the ravine.
The attack travelled with astonishing speed, leaving a trail of distorted air in its wake before striking the inner rock wall with a deafening explosion. Flames spread across the impact point, illuminating the ravine in brilliant red as the surrounding spiritual energy surged chaotically.
The stone platform shook beneath Lin Shou's feet.
Dust and fragments of rock fell from the upper walls, while the heat generated by the attack swept through the ravine like a sudden furnace blast. Even after the initial explosion had subsided, the remaining flames continued licking at the rock surface, their light gradually fading as the surrounding Fire Spiritual Qi dispersed.
Lin Shou held his spear steady, breathing slightly harder than before.
He stared at the impact point.
When the smoke finally cleared, the result was revealed.
A single dent had appeared on the inner wall.
It was not particularly deep, and the surrounding stone had remained largely intact despite the tremendous force of the attack. Nevertheless, Lin Shou's eyes brightened as he examined the mark.
The wall was no ordinary rock formation. The inner ravine had been reinforced by formations established by the Lin family's ancestors, and its walls could withstand attacks from powerful Xuan Gang martial artists without suffering significant damage. Even so, his final spear thrust had managed to leave a visible mark.
More importantly, he could feel the difference between this attack and every thrust he had performed before.
Previously, his spear techniques had relied primarily upon his Gang Qi, using the sharpness of the weapon and the explosive force of his cultivation to inflict damage. The Fire Spiritual Qi he gathered had strengthened those attacks, but it had remained something external, an additional source of power that he could direct through his spear.
This time, however, the situation had been different.
The flames had moved according to his will, and the final thrust had carried something beyond the ordinary force of his Gang Qi. It was as though the principle he had spent years pursuing had finally taken shape, allowing his understanding to influence the attack itself rather than merely strengthening the energy behind it.
Lin Shou slowly lowered his spear.
A smile gradually spread across his face.
He had finally done it.
He had crossed the threshold that had frustrated him for so long and reached the Martial Will stage.
At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind him.
"Not bad. It seems you haven't wasted all your time practising."
Lin Shou's body stiffened.
He immediately turned around and found Lin Sheng standing near the entrance, his hands resting casually at his sides as he examined the dent in the ravine wall.
For a moment, Lin Shou simply stared at him.
Then his expression changed.
"You finally remember that you have a family?"
Lin Sheng laughed.
"What's this? I've only been away for a while, and you're already planning to disown me?"
"A while?" Lin Shou snorted, walking towards him with his spear resting against his shoulder. "You disappear for ages, and then you suddenly show up as though nothing happened. If I hadn't seen you standing here with my own eyes, I would have thought you'd forgotten the way back to Dragon Yuan Mountain."
"That's a little unfair," Lin Sheng replied, still smiling. "I've been busy, you know. The world hasn't exactly been peaceful lately, and I heard about the unrest spreading across the region, so I decided to return and see how everyone was doing."
Lin Shou studied him for a moment before clicking his tongue.
"Busy, he says. You make it sound as though the rest of us have been sitting around doing nothing."
"Have you not?" Lin Sheng glanced at the dent in the wall. "Judging by that attack, you seem to have spent your time quite productively."
Lin Shou immediately grinned.
"Of course. Did you see that final thrust? I finally managed to take the last step."
"I did."
Lin Sheng nodded, his expression becoming genuinely approving.
"Congratulations. Reaching Martial Will isn't easy, especially when you've spent so long refining a single spear technique. Now that you've crossed the threshold, you should begin preparing to fuse your Astral Qi."
Lin Shou's grin widened.
He had already been thinking about that possibility, but hearing Lin Sheng mention it so casually made the achievement feel even more substantial. Martial Will represented a profound advancement in comprehension, while the fusion of Astral Qi would mark another major step towards the peak of Xuan Gang.
He was no longer merely strengthening his cultivation.
He was beginning to prepare for the next realm.
Before Lin Shou could say anything, however, a figure appeared at the side of the platform.
The Grand Elder had evidently noticed Lin Sheng's arrival, and he approached with his usual unhurried steps, his long beard moving gently as he examined the two younger men.
Lin Sheng and Lin Shou immediately turned towards him.
"Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder nodded, his eyes resting briefly upon Lin Sheng before shifting towards the dent in the wall.
He stroked his beard.
"That final thrust was considerably better than your previous attempts, Lin Shou. You have finally managed to move beyond the level of ordinary Martial Intent and enter Martial Will."
Lin Shou straightened unconsciously.
Although he had already realised that he had succeeded, hearing the Grand Elder confirm it made the achievement even more satisfying. The older man's guidance had played an important role in his progress, and Lin Shou had always regarded him as one of the most knowledgeable martial artists within the family.
"Thank you, Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder waved a hand.
"You have earned this through your own effort. My guidance could point out the direction, but I could not walk the path for you."
His gaze became slightly more approving.
"Continue refining your understanding, and don't allow your excitement to make you careless. Martial Will is not the end of your comprehension, merely the point at which your understanding begins to exert a more direct influence upon your strength. If you want to fuse Astral Qi successfully, you must ensure that your foundation is stable enough to withstand the transformation."
Lin Shou nodded seriously.
He understood the warning.
Astral Qi was not something that could be obtained simply by gathering ordinary spiritual energy and compressing it. At the peak of Xuan Gang, a martial artist had to locate a suitable gathering of their specific Astral Qi, absorb it, and successfully fuse it with their existing Gang Qi. The process could greatly increase their strength, but it also carried considerable risks if their foundation or comprehension was insufficient.
Martial Will would improve his chances, but it would not guarantee success.
He needed to prepare properly.
The Grand Elder's gaze returned to Lin Sheng.
"And what about you? Have you made any progress in your search?"
Lin Sheng understood what he meant immediately.
He smiled and replied, "I've made some progress. I should be close to locating the Astral Qi suited to my cultivation."
The Grand Elder's eyes brightened slightly.
"That is good news. At your level, you should already be making preparations for the next stage. The longer you wait after reaching the peak of Xuan Gang, the more opportunities you may miss, particularly if the Astral Qi you require is difficult to find."
Lin Sheng nodded. Even though he was already at the Astral Gang realm, he still needed to act.
For Martial artists wishing to reach the Astral Gang realm the challenge was not simply finding a location where Astral Qi existed, but finding one whose nature matched one's cultivation closely enough for them to absorb it without damaging their foundation.
Astral Qi was not uniformly distributed throughout the world.
Different forms of Astral Qi were associated with different attributes, and the locations where they gathered often reflected those characteristics. Places where a particular type of spiritual energy accumulated over long periods could eventually develop conditions suitable for the formation of the corresponding Astral Qi, especially when the surrounding environment repeatedly produced the same phenomenon.
For example, a region frequently struck by lightning, where violent thunderous energy gathered within the atmosphere and the earth, might gradually form a suitable gathering point for Lightning Astral Qi. Likewise, places battered by relentless winds, steep mountain passes where the air currents never ceased, or regions where the spiritual energy of the wind attribute surged violently could potentially produce Wind Astral Qi.
The same principle applied to the other attributes.
A place filled with intense volcanic activity might nurture Fire Astral Qi, while a region dominated by bitter cold could produce Ice Astral Qi. Some gathering points formed naturally through the environment, while others emerged because of spiritual veins, ancient formations, or peculiar geographical arrangements that caused the relevant spiritual energy to accumulate and interact over long periods.
However, the presence of abundant attribute spiritual energy did not guarantee the existence of Astral Qi.
The energy had to undergo a further transformation, gradually developing the distinctive properties that separated Astral Qi from ordinary spiritual energy. That was why martial artists often spent years searching for a suitable location, gathering information from merchants, travelling cultivators, and established factions before committing themselves to a particular gathering point.
Choosing incorrectly could waste a considerable amount of time, and in the worst cases, attempting to absorb Astral Qi that conflicted with one's foundation could damage the Gang Qi that had taken years to cultivate.
The Grand Elder studied him for a moment, apparently satisfied with his answer.
"Then continue your search carefully. There is no need to rush merely because others are advancing. The correct Astral Qi is more important than an early breakthrough."
"I understand."
Lin Shou, who had been listening to their exchange, suddenly turned towards Lin Sheng.
"Since you're back, are you planning to visit Lou Han and the others? They've been asking about you, and I doubt they'll let you leave the mountain again without hearing what you've been doing."
Lin Sheng chuckled.
"Of course. I came back to see everyone, didn't I?"
"Good." Lin Shou clapped him lightly on the arm. "Then let's go. If we leave you alone, you'll probably disappear into some cultivation chamber before anyone else gets a chance to speak with you."
"You're making me sound like some kind of recluse."
"You say that as though it isn't true."
Lin Sheng could only laugh.
The Grand Elder watched their exchange with a faint smile. The two younger men had grown considerably since the days when they first began cultivating, and although their paths were different, both had made progress that would have been difficult for the family to imagine in the past.
Lin Shou had finally stepped into Martial Will, while Lin Sheng had reached a level of strength that remained difficult to judge even for someone as experienced as the Grand Elder.
The latter naturally had his own suspicions, but he had learned not to probe Lin Sheng too deeply.
Every cultivator possessed secrets, and Lin Sheng had never been someone who willingly revealed everything he knew.
"Go on, then," the Grand Elder said. "The family has been rather lively since your return, and there are several matters you should hear about. Just don't spend the entire day talking."
Lin Shou laughed.
"Don't worry, Grand Elder. I'll make sure he doesn't escape."
Lin Sheng shook his head helplessly.
"You're welcome to try."
With that, the two left the ravine together, passing through the familiar formations as they made their way towards the residences where Lou Han and the others were staying. Lin Shou continued talking about his recent cultivation, occasionally demonstrating small changes in his spear movements, while Lin Sheng listened and offered a few observations whenever he noticed a flaw in the way Lin Shou directed the force of his thrusts.
Their conversation gradually returned to the easy familiarity of the past.
For a little while, at least, Lin Sheng could set aside the growing instability of the Eastern Region and the numerous plans occupying his mind, allowing himself to enjoy the simple pleasure of returning to a place where people still treated him as one of their own.
Yet while the Lin family was enjoying a brief period of tranquillity, an entirely different kind of danger was moving through the Eastern Region.
Mo Tou, the ancient Devil Head, was travelling towards a particular destination.
He moved through the wilderness with measured steps, his figure passing between mountains and forests without attracting unnecessary attention. Occasionally, he would pause to examine the surrounding terrain, then continue along a route that appeared to have no particular significance to anyone unfamiliar with the region.
His destination was one of the Eastern Region's Forbidden Zones.
Among the many dangerous places scattered across the continent, Forbidden Zones occupied an especially troubling position. Some had formed around ancient battlefields where countless cultivators had perished, while others were associated with peculiar geographical conditions, corrupted spiritual veins, or remnants of forces that had never completely dissipated. There were also places whose origins had been lost to history, leaving behind only a name and a collection of warnings passed down through generations.
Most cultivators knew that Forbidden Zones were dangerous.
Far fewer understood why.
The knowledge surrounding their formation had gradually disappeared over the centuries, and even among the major cultivation factions, only a select few possessed records detailed enough to explain the true nature of certain zones. Many of the accounts available to ordinary cultivators were incomplete, distorted by hearsay, or based upon the experiences of people who had entered a Forbidden Zone and never returned.
Mo Tou, however, was not among those who needed to rely upon rumours.
He knew considerably more about these places than the current cultivators of the Eastern Region, and the knowledge he possessed was not something that could be obtained merely by studying ancient records. His understanding came from a period in which the world had been very different, when certain forces that were now regarded as legends had still existed and some of the secrets buried beneath the continent had not yet been forgotten.
The Forbidden Zone he intended to visit was one of the places where Yin Energy gathered most intensely.
Even before reaching its outskirts, he could already sense the change in the surrounding environment. The spiritual energy gradually became thinner, while a cold, oppressive aura began seeping through the landscape. The vegetation grew increasingly sparse, and the birds that had once crossed the sky had disappeared, leaving the mountains ahead wrapped in an unnatural silence.
Mo Tou's footsteps slowed.
For the first time since beginning his journey, a faint tension appeared in his expression.
He stopped upon a rocky ridge and looked towards the distant region, where layers of dark mist covered the valleys like a vast, unmoving sea. The mist did not drift with the wind, nor did it disperse beneath the sunlight. Instead, it remained suspended over the land, its depths occasionally producing faint ripples that vanished before he could determine what had caused them.
A cold sensation travelled through his body.
Mo Tou narrowed his eyes.
Even he felt a trace of apprehension.
It was not fear of an ordinary enemy, nor was it the hesitation of someone uncertain about his own strength. He had once possessed a level of power that the current cultivators of the Eastern Region could scarcely imagine, and although his strength had declined considerably since then, his knowledge and experience remained.
What lay within this Forbidden Zone was not something he could afford to underestimate.
He understood how certain Forbidden Zones had formed, why their Yin Energy continued to accumulate, and what kinds of existences might be drawn towards such an environment. More importantly, he knew that some of the things dwelling within them were not ordinary Yin entities that could be subdued through brute force or destroyed with a sufficiently powerful divine ability.
They had their own territories, their own rules, and their own means of responding to intruders.
Disturbing them without preparation could turn a simple search for resources into a disaster.
Mo Tou slowly exhaled.
I must be careful.
His original purpose for coming here remained important, but he had no intention of rushing into the Forbidden Zone simply because he possessed knowledge unavailable to others. The ancient era had taught him that even the most powerful cultivator could meet an unfortunate end through a single moment of carelessness, especially when dealing with places that had survived the passage of countless years.
He needed to examine the outer region first, determine how the Yin Energy was circulating, and identify the safest route towards his destination. Only after understanding the conditions within the zone would he decide how deeply to venture inside.
Mo Tou's gaze remained fixed upon the dark mist.
After a moment, he took another step forward.
The moment his foot crossed the invisible boundary at the edge of the Forbidden Zone, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and the dark mist in the distant valley stirred for the first time.
Mo Tou's expression became even more solemn.
Something within the depths had noticed his arrival.
He did not immediately retreat, but neither did he advance recklessly. Instead, he stood motionless at the boundary, allowing his perception to spread cautiously through the surrounding Yin Energy while keeping his aura suppressed to the greatest extent possible.
For several breaths, nothing happened.
Then, from somewhere deep within the mist, a faint sound drifted across the valley.
It resembled a whisper. Yet it was too distant to make out the words.
Mo Tou's eyes narrowed.
He had not come here to provoke whatever dwelled within the Forbidden Zone, and he had no intention of revealing his true strength unless absolutely necessary. For now, he would proceed according to his original plan, carefully, patiently, and without drawing the attention of the existence hidden within the mist.
After all, there were some things in this world that even he preferred not to disturb.