Chapter 65: The Wen Clan’s Liberation

Riding the wind, soaring through the skies, Lin Jiufeng carried Wen Xinyun as they raced through the boundless blue, cutting through the clouds.

Their speed was astonishing, the raging winds howling past with deafening roars, splitting the heavens and sending clouds rolling in waves. But Lin Jiufeng and Wen Xinyun remained unaffected. The moment the wind and clouds approached within five meters of Lin Jiufeng, they were repelled by his permeating Dao aura, splitting apart on either side.

They were following closely behind Wen Yang.

Wen Yang was in a hurry to return to the Wen Clan's mystic realm. He unleashed his full power, employing shield techniques to boost his speed, supplementing his flight with Dao techniques. In a single thought, he crossed mountains and rivers.

Yet, when he turned his head, he found Lin Jiufeng effortlessly keeping up with him. No matter how fast he accelerated, Lin Jiufeng followed with ease, without the slightest strain.

Wen Yang sighed inwardly—Lin Jiufeng was undoubtedly far stronger than him.

Even at full strength, he couldn't shake him off or create any distance between them. The gap between them was simply insurmountable.

"He must be infinitely close to the Tenth Forbidden Realm." Wen Yang's gaze turned somber. Shaking off the thought, he focused on speeding toward the Wen Clan's mystic realm. The sooner he arrived, the sooner the clan's ancestors could be freed.

Lin Jiufeng followed at a steady pace. Since Wen Yang was still accelerating, he matched his speed, staying right behind him.

With Wen Xinyun in his arms, he soared past mountains and valleys, gliding through the clouds. His heart swelled with joy.

This was the first time he had left the Yuhua Sect's domain since joining them.

The last time he had seen the outside world was a century ago.

Lin Jiufeng couldn't help but reflect. In the blink of an eye, a hundred years had passed. Oceans had turned into mulberry fields, and those he had once known had long returned to dust.

A century of hardship, wandering aimlessly, struggling to survive—only now had he awakened his heaven-defying comprehension, setting foot on the true path of cultivation.

As he reminisced about his past while riding the wind, Lin Jiufeng sighed with emotion.

A hundred years of life had passed in a flash. The fleeting nature of mortal existence was truly lamentable.

[You recall your century-long life, activating your heaven-defying comprehension. You have comprehended the Longevity Technique.]

A line of text appeared before Lin Jiufeng's eyes, making him narrow his gaze. Without any visible reaction, he silently accepted this new technique.

The Longevity Technique?

What did it mean?

Lin Jiufeng searched through his sea of consciousness and quickly understood.

The Longevity Technique, as the name suggested, extended one's lifespan far beyond that of others in the same cultivation realm.

For example, a cultivator at the Ninth Forbidden Realm could normally live for 2,000 years. But with the Longevity Technique, that lifespan could be doubled—to at least 4,000 years.

It was astonishing.

With 4,000 years of life, one would have ample time to accumulate knowledge and power, steadily progressing toward perfection.

"If those elders on the verge of death, unable to break through, learned of this technique, wouldn't they hunt me down and devour me alive?" Lin Jiufeng couldn't help but chuckle at the thought.

As he examined the technique further, he realized just how heaven-defying it truly was.

Unlike forbidden arts that required sacrificing something in exchange for longevity—often at great cost—this technique fundamentally elevated one's life essence.

Ordinary mortals operated on a low-level life cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death. Cultivators could prolong this cycle somewhat, with higher cultivation realms allowing for greater longevity. However, if a cultivator failed to break through to the next realm, their lifespan remained capped.

But the Longevity Technique was different.

Once cultivated, it subtly transformed one's life essence, ensuring that even if a cultivator was limited by their talent and couldn't advance further, they would still outlive others at their level by a significant margin.

The most crucial point? There was no realm restriction.

This meant that the stronger one became, the greater the lifespan gap between them and their peers.

Lin Jiufeng had no reason to pass up such an opportunity. Even while flying, he began cultivating the Longevity Technique, refining his life essence.

Following Wen Yang required no effort at all. Even if he divided his focus, he could still keep pace.

They continued their journey, soaring through the skies until, beneath the curtain of night, they finally arrived at a vast mountain range.

At first glance, the mountain range appeared utterly unremarkable—its spiritual energy was neither dense nor particularly unique in size. It seemed ordinary in every way.

But as Wen Yang entered, it was as if a grand stage had been unveiled. Countless runes flickered in the air, forming a massive, resplendent portal embedded within the mountains.

Beyond the portal lay the Wen Clan's mystic realm.

Wen Yang turned to Lin Jiufeng with a smile. "Welcome to the Wen Clan's mystic realm, my friend."

Lin Jiufeng observed the gateway intently, while Wen Xinyun clung tightly to him, her eyes filled with disgust.

She hated the Wen Clan.

It was an instinctual, visceral hatred.

If not for her mother, she would never have set foot in this place.

"Please, enter and join us inside," Wen Yang invited.

Lin Jiufeng shook his head. "No need. First, tell us where Wen Xinyun's mother is."

Wen Xinyun's gaze locked onto Wen Yang, her intensity unwavering.

Wen Yang frowned. "Brother Lin, as soon as Wen Xinyun lifts the seal, I will tell you. If my Wen Clan is willing to part with the Qiu Long Root, what is a mere piece of information?"

Lin Jiufeng shifted his attention to the Wen Clan's portal.

The massive gateway was pitch-black, covered in fragmented runes, though some remained intact, woven together in intricate patterns.

This must be the seal that had imprisoned the Wen Clan for 5,000 years.

"You may begin," Lin Jiufeng said to Wen Xinyun. "I will watch over you."

Wen Xinyun nodded lightly. Her delicate face bore a trace of revulsion as she slowly approached the portal, placing her palm against it.

Wen Yang stood beside her, his eyes filled with anticipation.

Lin Jiufeng remained alert, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of danger.

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

The moment Wen Xinyun's palm touched the portal, a faint hum filled the air.

Gritting her teeth, she began unraveling her cultivation.

Her energy surged from her palm into the portal, imbued with the power of her heterochromatic eyes. The runes on the gateway began to erode and dissolve, releasing a reverberating hum.

Her complexion paled rapidly, sweat dripping down her forehead as strands of hair clung to her face. At last, her Seventh Forbidden Realm power was completely exhausted, and she collapsed, utterly drained.

Lin Jiufeng instantly appeared beside her, catching her frail body.

Transferring his own energy into her, he alleviated her suffering before lifting her into his arms.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Before Lin Jiufeng could react, an earth-shattering tremor erupted from within the Wen Clan's mystic realm.

Thunderous laughter resounded through the heavens.

"Hahahaha! Five thousand years! I am finally free!"

"Five thousand years! My lifespan was nearing its end—but now, I see hope once more!"

"I, Wen Shisan, have returned!"

"Our Wen Clan is liberated at last! Cursed seal—whoever placed you upon us, I will find you!"

One after another, voices roared with exhilaration.

BOOM!

Terrifying auras burst forth, shaking the sky. The Tenth Forbidden Realm had returned to the world.

Brilliant streaks of energy shot into the heavens, illuminating the night like fireworks.

But Lin Jiufeng paid them no mind.

Instead, he turned his gaze back to Wen Yang.

"Tell me. Where is Wen Xinyun's mother?"

Even in her weakened state, Wen Xinyun's cold, piercing eyes fixated on Wen Yang.