Chapter 210: After decades of transformation, I realized the path of life

Yao Xixue looked into the distance, a hint of sorrow on her beautiful face. After all, Lin Ye was a child she had watched grow up.

In her heart, Lin Ye was like her own son; even without any blood relation, she still treated him as her child.

Yao Xixue bit her lower lip tightly, looked at Lin Ye before her, and slowly said, "Ye'er… Mother misses you so much."

Wang Lin narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at Yao Xixue. He hadn't expected that after so many years, Yao Xixue, the daughter of the decisive Blood Ancestor Yao Xinghai, would have become like this.

It was indeed incredible.

Wang Lin slowly turned around, his single hand behind his back, and softly said, "Fellow Daoist Yao Xixue, let's put today's matter to rest. It's better if you stay away from Lin Ye."

In Lin Ye's heart, Lin Che and Yao Xixue were always ordinary mortals. If he knew they were both immortals, he might also feel heartbroken.

Yao Xixue subconsciously clenched her fist, pondered for a while, then slowly said, "I understand… Wang Lin, take care of my Ye'er."

"Rest assured, since I am Lin Ye's commander, I will naturally protect his safety. Likewise, for my Senior Brother's sake, I will not let him die tragically on the battlefield."

Wang Lin turned and left, leaving only Yao Xixue watching Lin Ye's position. All the memories of the past flooded into her mind, making her feel as if her heart was being twisted.

"Ye'er, Mother needs to go into seclusion for cultivation. Once Mother breaks through to the Ascension Stage, I will definitely help you."

…In the following years, the conflict between Tianyao County and Fire Demon Prefecture continued. The Demon Generals from both sides had already joined the fray, but the Demon Emperors had not yet made a move, quietly waiting for the opportune moment.

Inside Dongling City.

Lin Che, whose hair had long since turned white, walked out of his room. Looking at the once glorious streets, now scarred and desolate, he couldn't help but sigh at the lament of the human world.

The blacksmith's shop was already closed, and the ironware on the roadside lay there, unheeded. Besides the old men of Lin Che's age, sitting on chairs waiting for their children to return, there were no young people left.

Lin Che placed one hand behind his back, stroked his pale goatee, and narrowed his eyes, saying, "So many years have passed, and I wonder how Tie Dan's family is doing now."

"Alas…"

Lin Che had given them immortal swords for protection before he left. Unless they encountered a powerful Demon General, they would not be in any danger.

But the physical and mental torment could still make one feel broken.

Lin Che glanced at his shop, slowly straightened his back, and at the same time, his aura instantly erupted. He was like a God of Slaughter descending, soaring straight into the sky.

"Cultivating as a mortal for decades, even more difficult and bitter than when Wan'er and I cultivated as mortals back then. Now, I've finally reached that step."

"Tie Dan, don't be afraid. Uncle Lin has arrived."

…In a mine thousands of miles from Dongling City, Tie Dan swung his pickaxe diligently, constantly excavating ore to strengthen the Demon Soldiers on the front lines.

After many years of continuous work, Tie Dan was already gaunt. If he hadn't been a blacksmith originally, he probably wouldn't have been able to endure such high-intensity work by now.

"I say, Uncle Tie Dan, it's been so many years. What are you working so hard for every day?"

A young man beside Tie Dan wiped the sweat from his face, looking at Tie Dan, and asked with some curiosity.

"Of course, it's for my wife and children," Tie Dan sat weakly on the ground, picked up the water bottle in front of him, and drank it all, then replied, "My wife is currently in the armor-making military camp, and my son has joined the legion and become a soldier."

"However, what I worry about most are Uncle Lin and Lin Shen… They are both old now, and without my care, they would find it very difficult to carry on."

"Not long ago, the Demon Soldiers said that as long as we can procure one million catties of iron, we can go home."

Tie Dan exhaled a hot breath: "I can't die. I still have to go back and take care of Uncle Lin and Lin Shen in their old age. If I die, they will also die in their beds."

Hearing Uncle Tie Dan's words, the young man beside him also smiled slightly, then said, "I heard that Tianyao County has recently defeated Fire Demon Prefecture. It looks like we'll be able to go home soon."

"Uncle Tie, my family runs a tailor shop. Remember to come find me then. Before the New Year, I'll make two sets of clothes for you to take back."

Tie Dan laughed and patted the young man's shoulder beside him, saying with a smile, "Good, then I wish us all to leave here alive."

"Instead of working, you're just chatting here. You don't want to live, do you?!"

"I'm telling you, if you don't complete the tasks assigned from above, none of you here will survive!"

Just then, the Demon Soldier in charge of guarding the place walked over, his leather whip lashing fiercely across the young man's body.

The tearing pain instantly made the young man grimace, but he was helpless. He could only pick up the pickaxe in front of him and smash it hard onto the ground… The sun set, and the distant mountains were like a painting.

Inside the dilapidated bed.

The young man who was beaten during the day had developed a high fever due to an infected wound. His body trembled continuously, and even his lips had turned pale.

"Xiao Liuzi, are you alright?"

Tie Dan looked at the trembling young man, frowning slightly, and immediately asked.

Xiao Liu struggled to shake his head, but could only emit indistinct whimpers.

Tie Dan was anxious, but there were no medicines in the mine. He could only dip a tattered cloth in cold water and gently place it on Xiao Liu's feverish forehead.

However, it was all in vain. As night deepened, Xiao Liu's body gradually grew cold, and those eyes, once full of hope, lost their luster forever.

Tie Dan sat blankly by the bed, his mind empty.

Xiao Liu's death was like a thorn, piercing deeply into his heart.

He looked at the dark, damp mine shaft around him, at his companions who were still toiling, and fear and anger surged within him.

This place was hell on earth; no one knew who would be the next to fall.

"No, I have to leave here, I have to leave here! Uncle Lin is still waiting for me, I can't die here!"

Tie Dan clenched his fists. He could no longer stay here and wait for death, he couldn't let Xiao Liu's tragedy repeat itself on him, and he certainly couldn't leave Uncle Lin and Lin Shen unattended.

Recalling the million catties of iron mentioned by the Demon Soldiers, that distant, unreachable goal was nothing more than an excuse to keep these mortals as laborers forever.