Chapter-18

7 days later- The morning sun broke gently over the hills, casting soft golden light across the quiet grave. Dew shimmered on the grass, and the fragrance of incense hung faintly in the air. A single sword stood planted before the mound of earth—its hilt wrapped in worn cloth, fluttering slightly in the breeze.

Lin Haoran knelt in silence.

His hands rested on his thighs, his head lowered slightly, as if listening for something the wind might carry. The edges of his sleeves were damp from kneeling in the grass, and the skin beneath his eyes carried the faint shadows of sleepless nights. A few old scorch marks clung to his robe—he hadn't changed it in days. The stillness around him felt heavy, as if the world itself mourned with him.

Seven days. And still, the silence felt louder than anything.

He gently reached forward and adjusted a crooked incense stick, his fingers lingering there for a moment longer than needed. "Master…" he whispered, barely audible, as though speaking any louder might disturb the peace left behind.

Footsteps approached slowly from behind.

"May I join you for a moment, kid?"

The voice was calm, respectful. Elder Zhou, the vice-head of Lin County's Martial Court, stood a short distance back, his hands clasped behind his back. His robes were neat, though the corners were dusted from travel.

Lin Haoran did not turn, but gave a small nod.

Zhou stepped forward, but kept a respectful distance from the grave. "Though we only became acquainted in these past two months, I wish to offer my sincerest condolences."

"…Thank you," Lin Haoran replied quietly.

The silence that followed was not uncomfortable. Zhou seemed to understand the weight that still lingered over the young man.

"Your master," he said after a pause, "was not well-known by many… but his strength was undeniable. And from what I've seen of you, he taught well."

Lin Haoran remained silent for a moment then asked- "What is Elder seeking?"

seeing that there was no point in saying too much Elder zhou spoke-

"Then I'll be direct ..." elder Zhou replied. "All the villager than can be save had been saved...The village had been cleared of wild beast and animal, a medium size village had been made at the base of this mountain, we have done our part and...we will be leaving in a few days."

"Kid....The Martial Court would be honored to have you. You have potential. A calm mind, a steady nature. With guidance, I believe you could go far." Elder Zhou spoke directly.

On hearing this, Lin haoran remained calm he raised his head slightly and looked toward the horizon, where the sun was slowly rising.

He had already known why the Elder Zhou was here, and Even Lin haoran was bit tempted to out and see this corner of the world, however the things that he had seen in the past 3 months had made him changed his minds.

It was so dangerous in this world!! it was unbelievable!! first there was the strange disease that leave the entire human race helpless and even took his master, then there was the god who with a single stomp collapse mountains and rivers!! then there was the immortal cultivators that his master had mentioned!!

Although Lin haoran had traveled a bit with his master and with his own ability of astral vision had spied a bit on the world one must know he had never seen anything beyond 500 kilometers surrounding this mountain, and what he had seen and heard within these 500 kilometers made him speechless.

Can't go, definitely can't go!! atleast before The invisible hand of God had reach level 300 or more!! at that time Lin haoran hope he would have some bit of self defense ability.

"I'm grateful for your kindness, Elder Zhou," Lin haoran said, voice soft. "But… I must decline."

Zhou's expression didn't change, though he seemed to hesitate. "May I ask why?"

"Our entire heritage is buried here" Haoran said simply. "And I hope to accompanied my master for a few more days.."

Hearing this the elder nodded slowly, thoughtful. "That's fair."

He glanced once toward the grave, then back at Lin Haoran.

"Then Should you leave this place ever come… the offer remains open. No obligation, no expectation. Just a door, should you wish to enter."

Lin Haoran turned to face him fully and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Elder Zhou. I won't forget your kindness."

Zhou nodded, a faint smile at his lips and took something out a book form his satchel

"Take care of yourself kid, Here let this be farewell gift and my hope for you to go far in the path of martial arts" saying this he threw the book towards Lin haoran.

With that, he took his leave, descending the slope with quiet steps.

Lin Haoran remained where he was, looking at the book in his hands.

"Journey of the rat eating thief Vol.1...A story book??" he was puzzled.

He then sat down and began reading the introduction...after a while his eyes lit up- what a treasure!!!

....

At first glance, the book looked like just another storybook—and it was, in a way. It chronicled the life of a man on his journey to pursue martial arts. But as one kept reading, something astonishing became clear: the martial realms described in the book—Martial Apprentice, Official Martial Artist, Martial Master, and Martial Grandmaster—perfectly matched the stages of cultivation in real life! What did that mean? It meant this wasn't just a fictional tale. It was likely a biography, written by someone who had truly walked that path—someone famous.

A biography written by an ordinary person is valuable—but one penned by a true martial artist? That is a treasure.

Lin Haoran continued reading without pause. At times, he gasped in amazement; at others, he fell into deep thought. By the time he turned the final page, the sun had already slipped beneath the horizon. He had read for an entire day—and gained much.

However, upon reaching the end, Lin Haoran was left speechless.

"SIgh~ elder zhou what an old fox" Lin haoran smiled helplessly.

The final page bore only a few lines, written in elegant calligraphy that somehow managed to be both beautiful and irritating:

[This handbook is a property of the martial court congratulating all new members who had entered the court, private ownership or distribution to any non member of the court will be dealt seriously]

From the very moment he caught the book he had already joined the martial court!!! he was tricked!!!

"Then again, it was not without a loss" Lin haoran thought.

The book had truly broadened Lin Haoran's worldview.

First was the hierarchy of martial cultivation across the land. If everything written was true, then the Martial Grandmaster realm—though powerful—was far from the pinnacle.

Beyond it lay the Great Grandmaster.

Then the Martial Venerable, Martial Sage, and finally, the Martial Supreme!

And this was only the first volume! The story ended with the protagonist leaving the Longyao Kingdom to explore the wider world. Could there be a second volume? A third?

And wait… Longyao Kingdom?

Wasn't that exactly where he was?

The kingdom ruling over Yan County… and the Skyfall Mountain Range?

That wasn't even the end of it.

Through the protagonist's journey, Lin Haoran also picked up many clues about immortal cultivators—clues that surprised him.

It was nothing like what he had imagined.

According to the book, long ago, humanity didn't focus on martial arts. They practiced immortal cultivation—techniques that allowed them to live as long as the heavens.

 Unfortunately due to unfortunate accident which was not mentioned in the book, those cultivators vanished. The few survivors either perished or retreated into hidden worlds. The only remnants of their existence were scattered ruins and ancient inheritances that whispered of their legacy.

Lin Haoran, exhaled in relief.

"Well… that's one worry off the plate."

Although part of him yearned to witness their legends firsthand, he had no complaints about their near-extinction.

After all, he was a practical man. He didn't believe he was some once-in-a-lifetime prodigy sent from the heavens.

In fact, the idea of immortal cultivators lurking around terrified him to no end.

It was one thing to read about people who could live for a million years, but another thing entirely to know they might exist—and could be watching him.

No, thank you.

The last and most crucial thing lin haoran gained from the book was the existence of the 'strange and the unknown'

According to the protagonist, during his travel throughout the country he had encountered many strange and wired things, that could not under any circumstances be explained by him.

This things ranges anywhere from harmless object and shadows that follows him to disaster that could wipe out a country!!

And surprising enough the book actually had records of the demonic corpse poison and even gods much similar to the once he saw back then.

And what was even more surprising was that the author actually categorizing the things he encounter much like the realm of martial arts.

First were the 'Wired' according to the author, these can range anywhere from a group of fire ball he once saw following each other in the distance and object that can move on their own- a classic case of poltergeist, to shadows that had followed him the dark.

These 'wired' according to the author of the book, never really harmed any one unless provoked and even according to Lin Haoran were similar to ghost and haunting back on earth.

The next were the 'Strange', contrary to 'wired' these things actually constantly harms people.

 A classic case of 'strange' which the protagonist encounters in his travel was a 'Strange bridge', where by every week or so one person from any part of the country walks to this bridge to commit suicide.

The protagonist of the story even tried and intervene in this case but as he got deeper and deeper the case became more and more strange.

Firstly every time he save a person falling and or stop a person trying to commit suicide they forgot everything and even forgot the reason they were there, as if something or someone was influencing them to come to the bridge and commit suicide.

It even led to a condition where the author was blamed of kidnapping people and was chase throughout the country.

In the end of this case, the main protagonist use violent means and even decided to thoroughly destroy the bridge but in the end that proved useless as the bridge was rebuilt the following the next few months by the same group of people who tried to commit suicide.

In the end the main protagonist decided to turned a blind eye to this case and just leave directly seemingly running out of ideas.

Next was the 'Unknown' and the 'great unknown' .... The demonic corpse poison was a great unknown!!