Chapter 7: Mountain Range

Lin Ming, the son of the first wife of the Lin family, possessed a pure bloodline and noble birth. From a young age, he carried himself with the grace and style befitting a scion of a prestigious family. What set him apart, however, was his extraordinary talent. He was tested and found to have an exceptionally high aptitude for cultivation. As a result, he had become the linchpin of the Lin family's resurgence, and the current Patriarch had taken a special liking to him.

Due to his favor with the Patriarch, Lin Ming's path to greatness had been deliberately paved. The Patriarch had strategized countless times, even sacrificing the family of Lin Yang, who had been betrothed to Lin Ming, in order to assist Lin Ming's rise.

However, Lin Yang was not the kind to be easily subdued.

With a determined wave of his sleeve, he sneered, "If the Lin family think they can pave their road to success with the bones of my family, they will need my permission!"

Lin Yang had resolved to seize this opportunity for himself.

Every time he seized an opportunity, it was as if he was robbing fortune itself. And if he succeeded, his own luck would undoubtedly soar, just as Lin Ming had robbed the original "Lin Yang" of his fortune.

Just as Lin Yang made up his mind, a sense of foreboding filled the Lin family's mansion. Lin Ming, who was engrossed in conversation with a dignified old man, suddenly felt a wave of unease wash over him. He clutched his chest, his face contorted with pain.

The dignified old man, Lin Qing, looked at Lin Ming with a serious expression and asked, "Lin Ming, what's the matter with you?" Furrowing his brows, he was genuinely concerned for his grandson.

"Grandfather, I feel a deep sense of unease, as if something ominous is about to happen!" Lin Ming replied, his voice filled with anguish.

Lin Qing's face grew solemn. "Lin Ming, have you been exerting yourself too much in your cultivation lately? I know that you've been anxious ever since you heard about Qin Yu's breakthrough. But remember, haste makes waste. You are the pride of the Lin family, a rare genius that appears only once in a hundred years. You are the key to our family's revival. Don't let a moment of anger jeopardize your future."

With a kind and gentle smile, he added, "The Lin family's future rests on your shoulders. Once I take care of that person, you can marry Qin Yu without any worries. When the two of you are united, the Lin family's hundred-year plan will finally come to fruition."

Lin Ming nodded reluctantly, but a trace of unease still lingered in his eyes. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. It gnawed at him, leaving him deeply unsettled.

"For now, let's put these thoughts aside. I need to find the Profound Yang Ginseng to remove the curse of the Three Yin Absolute Body. That wretched old man Lin Qing is truly despicable for inflicting me with this extreme physique. Thankfully, where there is a will, there is a way!" Lin Yang snorted coldly, a sense of helplessness enveloping him. If it weren't for his vast knowledge and erudition, he would have been consumed with regret for being reborn into such a useless existence during this golden era. He refused to sit idly by while the storm raged, watching his opportunity slip through his fingers.

Meanwhile, in the estate, a lazy young man reclined on a tiger-skin chair, fanned by a group of beautiful maids who held palm-leaf fans. The table before him was filled with rows of dried fruits, exuding an air of luxurious comfort. This young man, dressed in green, had an air of arrogance, with a thin-lipped smile that betrayed his capricious nature. He was the sixth young master of the Lin Clan, Lin Yun.

The Lin Clan boasted a thriving generation, with over ten young masters vying for prominence. Lin Yun and his brother, Lin Han, from the third branch, held higher positions among them. However, in comparison to the seventh young master, Lin Ming, who bore the title of revival master of the clan, all the other young masters paled in comparison.

"So, the ninth brother left the mountain alone? Wasn't he severely injured by the fifth brother? He should be confined to his bed," Lin Yun lazily mused. A glint of curiosity sparked in his sinister triangular eyes. "They say that Lin Zhan, his father, was an average martial artist with ordinary talent. But in just a few years, he made remarkable progress and was only a step away from entering the Spirit Palace Realm. The Patriarch even suspected that Lin Zhan was hiding a shocking secret, so he went to great lengths to capture and torture him. Unfortunately, no matter what they did, Lin Zhan remained tight-lipped."

"No, I must follow him and see what tricks he has up his sleeve! What if he truly holds a secret?" Lin Yun's eyes gleamed with a hint of avarice. Interest piqued, he set his mind on tailing Lin Yang.

Descending from the Lin Mountain Range, Lin Yang made his way toward the outskirts of the Black Forest Mountain Range. He took great care to evade any signs of human presence, mindful of his precarious situation within the Lin Clan. If anyone were to uncover his escape from their surveillance, it would prove dire for him.

However, Lin Yang did not intend to venture deep into the Black Forest Mountain Range. Despite its abundant Spirit Qi and the presence of ancient herbs and elixirs, it was also teeming with dangerous demon beasts. The deeper one ventured into the forest, the greater the risk of encountering these formidable creatures.

The Lin Mountain Range, a smaller branch of the Black Forest Mountain Range, had higher altitudes as one climbed further. The Profound Yang Ginseng, though a humble plant, thrived in specific environments. It required high altitudes, ample sunlight without direct exposure, and preferably grew on mountainsides facing the sun. Some could even be found on cliffs and precipitous edges. What distinguished them were their bright red flowers, and their age determined their potency. A hundred-year-old Profound Yang Ginseng was already considered a highly valuable herb, while a thousand-year-old one was a true rarity.

For Lin Yang, procuring a hundred-year-old ginseng was crucial to safeguarding his heart and meridians.

Trekking through the dim forest, dark clouds blanketed the sky, heralding an impending downpour. Lin Yang's eyes traversed the dusky terrain, keenly searching for his target. Soon enough, he spotted a Profound Yang Ginseng nestled beneath an ancient tree, entangled in thorns and vines. Carefully excavating the soil, he soon discovered the disappointment of finding a mere five to six-year-old ginseng. It fell far short of his requirements.

"I can see signs of human and beast activity here. It seems herb-gatherers frequent this area. All the mature herbs have likely already been harvested. I suppose I will need to climb a few more mountains! These insects, however, are tenacious. They cling to me without respite!" Lin Yang nonchalantly crushed a few blood-sucking mosquitoes. With a sizzle, the bloated insects met their demise, blood staining his palm. He glanced back in a certain direction, as if sensing something, before offering a smile steeped in hidden meaning. He then resumed his journey with renewed purpose.

Soon after, a malicious youth emerged from behind an ancient tree. Utter confusion marked his expression as he mumbled to himself, "Did he discover I was following him?"

"That's impossible. Ninth Brother's cultivation has been crippled. Furthermore, what would it matter even if he did notice?" Dismissing his doubts, Lin Yun continued to stealthily pursue Lin Yang.

However, he soon realized that Lin Yang had started moving in circles through the forest, randomly digging here and there. Whether intentional or not, he seemed to deliberately seek out thorny and mosquito-infested spots. Before long, even Lin Yun, with his cultivation at the peak of the early stage of the spirit awakening realm, fell prey to the mosquitoes of the mountains. These mosquitoes were notorious for their venom, and only those at the mid-stage of the spirit awakening realm could effectively fend them off.

As frustration began to consume Lin Yun, his face turned ashen. Lin Yang had vanished without a trace.

"Lin Yang, you wretched scoundrel! How dare you toy with me? I will not let you get away with this!"