Chapter 76: Ten Years of Time

While the world outside was filled with turmoil, the 藏经阁 (Scripture Pavilion) enjoyed peaceful and tranquil years.

Every day, Lin Jiufeng practiced his martial arts, read books, brewed tea, cultivated, and contemplated the Tao—his life was simple yet fulfilling.

He gradually began mastering the Shenmo Lian Ti Fa (God and Demon Body Refinement Technique), and the shadow of a god and demon that resided in his Dantian slowly began to take shape.

This shadow, with the head of a man and the body of a serpent, seemed to transcend countless years, existing within Lin Jiufeng's Dantian. Its appearance was unclear, its gender ambiguous, but this blurry figure drained all of Lin Jiufeng's Dragon Elephant Power.

It sat quietly in Lin Jiufeng's Dantian, faintly gazing at him as though from a time long past. Sometimes, Lin Jiufeng even wondered whether this shadow truly existed.

One day, Wen Xinyun's injuries healed, and she began to train with Lin Jiufeng.

She had to start from scratch, but with the Qiu Long Root enhancing her talents, the process was hardly difficult.

On the first day of training, she broke through the First Jin (level) effortlessly, just like eating and drinking.

Three days later, she broke through the Second Jin.

Seven days later, she reached the Third Jin.

Half a month later, she passed the Fourth Jin.

One month later, she reached the Fifth Jin.

From then on, every month, Wen Xinyun broke through one level.

A year later, she had reached the Ninth Jin.

At the age of sixteen, her breakthrough to the Ninth Jin broke records in the Yu Hua Men (Ascension Sect) and put immense pressure on both Yue Dashan and Zhou Tianzi.

They had worked hard for a year to break through to the Eighth Jin, which meant they were one major level behind Wen Xinyun.

As a result, they each came to bid farewell to Lin Jiufeng, leaving the Yu Hua Men to travel the world.

Zhou said, "I want to visit the major demonic sects, to see what the Ten Halls of Yama and Hell's Purgatory are truly like."

Yue Dashan said, "I want to visit famous mountains, watch the rolling waves of the ocean, see the vast skies of the prairie, the yellow sands of the northern desert, and the delicate beauty of the southern rivers. I will travel millions of miles and practice my martial arts a million times, forging my own path in the martial world!"

Lin Jiufeng watched them leave, not stopping them.

Youth, after all, has its own vitality—something that a hundred-year-old like him no longer cared for.

After Zhou Tianzi and Yue Dashan left, Lin Jiufeng sent Wen Xinyun away from the 藏经阁, urging her to experience the world for herself.

From that moment on, only Lin Jiufeng and the White Fox remained in the pavilion.

Every day, they practiced martial arts, drank tea, admired the beauty of the mountains, watched the clouds stretch across the sky, and witnessed the rising and setting of the sun.

Lin Jiufeng's cultivation progressed steadily. Though not fast, it was stable.

In the morning, he focused on cultivating his soul and advancing his cultivation realm; in the afternoon, he practiced martial arts and strengthened his body.

At night, he sat by a lonely lamp, reading silently.

The White Fox was always by his side, either cultivating or simply watching Lin Jiufeng.

Time flowed like water, slipping by unnoticed.

Before they knew it, ten years had passed.

Ten Years Later in the Scripture Pavilion

Outside, the trees were lush, flowers bloomed profusely, and birds chirped.

Inside, the fragrance of sandalwood lingered, tea aroma filled the air, and the scent of books refreshed the mind.

Occasionally, a warm breeze from the mountains carried the fragrance of plants.

The towering tree outside swayed gently in the wind, its leaves rustling and falling, creating a melody that echoed throughout the pavilion.

Lin Jiufeng, who had been sleeping soundly, slowly opened his eyes. Looking at the sun, he stretched lazily and said, "The sun is high, and I sleep alone. Who is a god? I am a god."

[You have attained a serene state of mind, transcending external distractions, and activated your innate wisdom to understand the essence of the heavenly heart.]

[Heavenly Heart Awareness: Viewing the Dao from different perspectives to gain deeper insights into its true nature.]

Lin Jiufeng nodded in satisfaction, realizing this new understanding would give him a better grasp of his Dao practice.

He accepted the Heavenly Heart Awareness.

Boom!

The Heavenly Heart Awareness entered his sea of consciousness, and immediately, it felt like being immersed in an endless ocean. A massive wave crashed, pulling the Heavenly Heart Awareness into it, making it a part of Lin Jiufeng.

Over these ten years, Lin Jiufeng's soul had constantly ascended. He finally reached the pinnacle of the Tenth Jin, achieving the Shen Chang Jie (Divine Ascension Step) with his soul.

His soul became like an infinite ocean, with every drop of water representing his soul. Even if his body were destroyed, as long as the ocean remained, he could not truly be killed.

Lin Jiufeng had integrated the Tao he had comprehended into his soul, truly making the various mystical manifestations of his Tao his own.

Additionally, he had reached a higher level with the Shenmo Lian Ti Fa, elevating his body to a new height.

His physical strength had become so great that even those with magical treasures couldn't harm him with their strikes.

His body was now closer to the realm of gods and demons.

At the same time, over the ten years, Lin Jiufeng had fully understood the Life and Death Sword of the Cao Mu Dao Ren (Cao Mu Immortal).

It was the only Human Dao he had mastered so far.

The Dao he comprehended himself had not yet reached the level of Human Dao.

Lin Jiufeng couldn't help but sigh in admiration—Human Dao was truly difficult to comprehend, and he respected the Cao Mu Dao Ren for achieving it with just a wisp of soul, on the verge of life and death, between the realms of Yin and Yang.

Throughout these ten years, Lin Jiufeng had also activated his extraordinary wisdom repeatedly, comprehending various techniques, but most of them were no longer of much help to his cultivation.

However, the Heavenly Heart Awareness would certainly aid him, and he was very pleased with this.

Having reached the peak of his cultivation in all aspects, Lin Jiufeng felt that ten years ago, his previous self would be easily shattered with a snap of his fingers.

This confidence came from the accumulation of his strength over the past decade.

The only one to witness Lin Jiufeng's growth over the past ten years was the White Fox, who had stayed by his side, aware of the terrifying strength hidden within his body.

After all, she had always been with him.

When Lin Jiufeng read, she read.

When Lin Jiufeng drank tea, she tasted it.

When Lin Jiufeng slept, she curled up in his embrace.

Over the course of these ten years, the White Fox reached the pinnacle of the Ninth Jin, just one step away from breaking through the Tenth Jin.

However, she still couldn't transform into a human, which frustrated her greatly.

Her bloodline had reverted too strongly to its ancestral roots, suppressing her human blood, preventing her transformation into a human shape. She could only maintain her fox form.

The White Fox was getting fed up with it.

Seeing her pouting, Lin Jiufeng smiled and comforted her, saying, "Don't be in such a hurry. How many people would wish for the bloodline return you have, yet here you are, upset about it?"

The White Fox huffed and said, "I don't want to be treated like a pet forever."

Lin Jiufeng gently stroked her fur, "I treat you as family, not a pet."

Upon hearing this, the White Fox calmed down and lay contentedly in his arms. "I heard Wen Xinyun broke through to the Tenth Jin?"

Lin Jiufeng nodded lightly and looked out the window. "Wen Xinyun has always been a genius. With the Qiu Long Root enhancing her bones and talents, she was already at the Ninth Jin ten years ago. Over the past decade, the spiritual energy surged, and the Dao manifested, so breaking through the Tenth Jin was only natural."

While the 藏经阁 remained unchanged, the world outside was stirring with activity.

Everything, it seemed, began with that one sword strike, three thousand miles long, unleashed by Lin Jiufeng...