Chapter 13: One Year

Today, Lin Jiufeng finally understood the true nature of the Eighteen Bans in cultivation.

"So, cultivation isn't always smooth sailing. The Eighteen Bans require a cultivator to retreat into seclusion, endure in silence, and persist for 365 years," Lin Jiufeng murmured to himself.

Rather than increasing one's strength, this phase actually weakens it to an extreme degree.

However, upon careful thought, he found it intriguing—like porcelain being forged in a blazing fire. Only under intense heat could the most beautiful colors and shapes be produced, without the slightest margin for error, interference, or damage.

"I'm only at the Twelfth Ban of the Eternal Giants. The Eighteen Bans are still far off, so I don't have to worry about it yet," Lin Jiufeng muttered.

Looking around at the dimly lit library, he felt reassured that taking a job as a clerk here was the right choice.

No salary? That didn't matter. Being able to read books freely was enough.

As night deepened, Lin Jiufeng extinguished the lamps, locked the doors, and returned to his rented residence.

The moment he opened the door, he heard the deep, thunderous sound of the Sacred Beast Qilin inhaling spiritual energy. It rumbled like rolling thunder. Fortunately, the house was protected by an array that concealed the sound and energy fluctuations, preventing others from detecting them.

Back in his room, Lin Jiufeng sat cross-legged, breathing in spiritual energy and refining his cultivation.

The night passed in silence.

—

The next morning, as the sun rose and bathed the land in golden light, Lin Jiufeng arrived at the library once again.

Today, he planned to read about the other races to broaden his understanding.

Pushing open the door, he saw a graceful woman standing by the window. She wore a flowing red dress, her dark hair elegantly tied up. She gazed silently at the passing pedestrians outside, lost in thought.

"Good morning, Lady Xin," Lin Jiufeng greeted.

Lady Xin turned her head slightly, gave him a gentle nod, then resumed looking outside.

Lin Jiufeng didn't mind. He cast a Dust-Clearing Spell, sweeping away the dust, then brewed a pot of tea, pouring a cup for Lady Xin before retreating to a quiet corner with a book.

The book introduced the various races of the Dimensional Battlefield.

According to its records, there were countless races in this realm, but only one hundred could make it onto the prestigious ranking. Each of these races had at least one peerless expert who had surpassed the Eighteen Bans.

Among them were the Giant Clan, the Asura Clan, the Golden Lion Clan, the Ant Clan, the Holy Angel Clan, the Yaksha Clan, the War Clan, the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan, the Lizard Clan, the Ancient Barbarian Bull Clan, the Dream Butterfly Clan, the Divine Silkworm Clan, the Skeleton Clan…

All of them were immensely powerful, dominating their own territories in the Dimensional Battlefield.

"I wonder which race is currently ranked number one?" Lin Jiufeng mused as he flipped through the pages.

The book stated that the current top-ranked race was the Holy Angel Clan.

Over the years, they had flourished, establishing the grand Holy Angel City as their stronghold. Through relentless efforts in cultivating their younger generations, their overall strength had become unfathomable.

Approximately three thousand years ago, during the last Hundred Clans Tournament, they defeated the Golden Lion Clan in the final match, securing their place as the number one race in the rankings.

"The Holy Angel Clan is actually at the top?" Lin Jiufeng was surprised. He hadn't expected to find himself in the territory of the strongest race.

Thinking back to the grand scale, formidable presence, and open nature of Holy Angel City, he had to admit—they had truly earned their place.

"But what exactly is the Hundred Clans Tournament?" Lin Jiufeng wondered.

Delving further, he discovered that the rankings of the Hundred Clans on the Heavenly Dao Gold List were determined every three thousand years through a grand tournament.

Every race in the Dimensional Battlefield had the right to register and compete for a ranking spot, regardless of their current status.

However, races already ranked in the Hundred Clans were required to participate. If they refused, they would be automatically disqualified and banned from entering the tournament for the next three cycles—meaning nine thousand years of exclusion.

"So, since the Holy Angel Clan claimed first place three thousand years ago, that means the next tournament is coming up soon…" Lin Jiufeng furrowed his brows.

Could the Human Race still maintain its place in the rankings?

After all, their only known powerhouse was the enigmatic Painted-Skin Scholar. No one knew if they had any new rising talents.

"Sigh… I'm still too weak right now. Worrying about this won't change anything. I should just focus on improving myself."

With that thought, Lin Jiufeng closed the book, smoothing out its pages before returning it to the shelf. He then picked up another text and continued absorbing knowledge about the Dimensional Battlefield.

—

The entire day passed without a single visitor to the library.

Lin Jiufeng was content with the quiet. He simply read in peace, finishing an entire pot of tea he had brewed for himself.

As night fell and the golden hues of sunset painted the sky, he bid farewell to Lady Xin and walked back to his small courtyard.

Lady Xin watched him leave, glancing at the neatly arranged library and the cleaned teacups. A faint smile tugged at her lips.

"He's a meticulous one," she murmured. "Loves books, and treats them with care."

—

Time flew by like a galloping horse.

Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months.

Lin Jiufeng continued his daily routine—spending his days reading at the library and his nights cultivating in solitude. His life was simple yet fulfilling.

The Sacred Beast Qilin remained in seclusion, immersed in his breakthrough. His aura grew heavier, his breathing thunderous, yet the protective formation kept them hidden.

Lin Jiufeng never disturbed him. He simply checked in occasionally to ensure everything was fine before returning to his studies and training.

He read not only about the Hundred Clans but also biographies of legendary figures, hoping to trigger his Enlightenment ability once more.

Yet, unlike before, no sudden insights came to him. Perhaps he had exhausted his previous luck at Gu Baili's tomb.

Still, Lin Jiufeng wasn't discouraged.

"If I can't activate it now, I'll just keep accumulating knowledge. When the time comes, I might have an even greater breakthrough."

And so, eleven months passed.

A full year had gone by since Lin Jiufeng arrived in Holy Angel City.

—

As the year came to a close, the Sacred Beast Qilin finally emerged from his long seclusion.

A deep, booming voice echoed from his room.

"Haha! Big Brother, I've finally broken through!"

Lin Jiufeng stepped out and saw the Qilin's form had grown larger. Flames flickered around his hooves, his presence even more imposing than before.

"You took quite a long time for this breakthrough," Lin Jiufeng remarked curiously.

The Qilin replied, "I awakened my Innate Divine Ability. That's why it took so long—I was comprehending and absorbing it."

"Innate Divine Ability?" Lin Jiufeng's eyes gleamed with interest.

"Naturally gifted races possess inherent divine abilities," the Qilin explained. "These abilities do not require cultivation; they simply awaken at a certain age or realm."

"For example, the Phoenix Clan's most famous ability—Nirvana Rebirth."

Lin Jiufeng nodded. "Then what's yours?"

The Qilin took a deep breath, his voice carrying a weighty resonance.

"The Dao of Space."

Lin Jiufeng's eyes widened in shock.

"What?!"