Chapter 321: Heart Stirring

This time, the teleportation gave Wang Lin a feeling similar to passing through a Starry Sky Tunnel on his way to the Immortal Realm, but the sensation was short-lived, dissipating almost instantly. Wang Lin's figure appeared inside an Ancient Teleport Formation located an unknown number of miles away.

Wang Lin swept out his Divine Sense, and even with his composure, he couldn't help but show a look of shock.

This place was surprisingly only 800,000 miles away from the Devil Cultivation Sea. A single teleportation had spanned several Ancient Teleport Formations. Wang Lin calculated that the distance covered was at least ten million miles. A journey that would have originally taken over a month was completed in the blink of an eye. This couldn't help but shock Wang Lin internally.

He looked down at the Immortal Jade in his hand; its color was no longer pure white but slightly gray, and about one-tenth of the Immortal Qi within it was gone.

Recalling the phantom image that had appeared on the Ancient Teleport Formation just now, Wang Lin suddenly had a realization: perhaps this was the true way to use the Ancient Teleport Formation. The power of Top-Grade Spirit Stones could only activate the nearest teleportation point, whereas using Immortal Jade could activate all the points connected to the formation, thus providing more choices.

"But a single teleportation consumed one-tenth of it. Although I have quite a bit of Immortal Jade, I can't afford this consumption. This isn't just teleporting; this is burning Immortal Qi… I'm afraid there aren't many people on Vermilion Bird Star who can teleport using Immortal Jade…" Wang Lin gave a self-deprecating smile, moved his body, and flew forward.

Things were not far from Wang Lin's guess. On Vermilion Bird Star, while there were people capable of using Immortal Jade to activate a Teleport Formation, they were extremely few… Only the four Soul Transformation Old Monsters of the Vermilion Bird Country would use Immortal Jade for teleportation without regret… While flying, Wang Lin touched the Beast-Taming Ring on his wrist. After the second battle with Hong Die, the Thunder Frog was severely injured, already on the verge of death. Although it was currently sealed inside the Beast-Taming Ring, the frequency with which it absorbed spiritual energy had changed from once every few days to once every few months.

Wang Lin understood that if he hadn't continued to input spiritual energy during this time, the Thunder Frog would likely not have survived.

"When I return to Chu Country this time, I wonder if Wan'er can heal the Thunder Frog. Alas, this creature faced this life-and-death calamity because of me; I, Wang Lin, cannot abandon it…"

As he thought this, a slight fluctuation suddenly emanated from his wrist, as if in response.

At this moment, at the Cloud Heaven Sect within Chu Country, Li Muwan sat in the Main Pavilion of the East Garden inside the sect. In front of her was a zither. Her slender, jade-like fingers plucked the strings, producing bursts of beautiful music.

For Wang Lin, these past hundred years had passed in a flash, but for Li Muwan, they had been far too long.

Her appearance now was different from back then, showing a slight hint of age. Indeed, given her age, if it weren't for the dew from the Heaven Defying Bead, she would have long ago turned into a pile of white bones.

"For this past century, I have remained stuck at the Core Formation Late Stage… the dew you gave me is no longer effective. I can feel my body weakening day by day… If I still can't form a Nascent Soul within ten years… I…" A hint of sorrow appeared in Li Muwan's eyes. She held back, preventing her tears from falling.

However, the sound of the zither clearly revealed her state of mind. The music was filled with helplessness and grief, causing the hearts of all who heard it to grow heavy.

"Wang Lin… where exactly are you…" The sorrow in Li Muwan's eyes intensified. Her heart ached, intensely.

The scenes of her acquaintance with Wang Lin constantly echoed in her mind. This was the only motivation she had to keep waiting. Without these memories, even if her body hadn't perished, her heart would have died long ago.

"Wang Lin… perhaps by the time you return, we will be separated by life and death…" The tears in Li Muwan's eyes finally broke free, streaming down in two lines.

At this moment, two people stood outside the pavilion, both of them white-haired.

"The Sect Master's zither music carries an aura of death… alas…" one of the elders shook his head and said.

"Liu Fei, the Sect Master failed three attempts at Core Formation in the past century, and she has consumed numerous Medicinal Pills. If she didn't hold onto the thought of seeing that person one last time, she probably would have perished during the failed Core Formation attempt thirty years ago…" The black-robed elder next to him said with a bitter smile.

"Song Qing, about that person… is he still alive?" A stern figure flashed through Liu Fei's mind. He immediately shuddered. A century had passed, yet he still couldn't forget the terror he felt back then.

"A hundred years ago, he was at the Nascent Soul Early Stage. How could he possibly be dead? If I'm not mistaken, he has probably already reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage by now." Song Qing was silent for a moment before sighing softly. The fear in his heart was even greater than Liu Feng's. The scene from back then often woke him up in a cold sweat.

That slaughter had already turned into his Heart Demon.

"Alas, even if he has reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage, I fear he won't be able to save the fate of the Cloud Heaven Sect…" Liu Fei said with a bitter expression.

Song Qing fell silent. After a long while, he smiled bitterly and said, "That foreign Cultivator destroyed the Azure Heaven Gate three days ago. I wonder who his next target will be…"

"Even the Envoy was scared away by this person's Divine Ability and dared not resist at all. The fate of my Cloud Heaven Sect is already sealed," Liu Fei said bitterly.

"We had four Nascent Soul Late Stage Grand Elders. Thirty years ago, Elder Liu died trying to reach Soul Transformation, and now Elder Gongsun's life and death are unknown… Alas." Song Qing sighed.

Just then, the zither music stopped, and Li Muwan's gentle voice came from within the pavilion.

"Seniors, please come in and speak. Wan'er is feeling unwell, so I won't come out to greet you."

Liu Fei and Song Qing hurriedly agreed respectfully, glanced at each other, and quickly stepped forward into the pavilion.

Li Muwan stared blankly at the zither, shook her head gently, and looked at the two men.

A complicated look appeared in Liu Fei's eyes. He whispered, "Sect Master, your health is paramount. Playing the zither is extremely taxing on the spirit…"

Li Muwan sighed softly and smiled, "My body is already frail. Even if I don't play the zither, I won't live for more than ten years."

Liu Fei sighed inwardly.

"Is there any news regarding Elder Gongsun?" Li Muwan asked calmly.

"Elder Gongsun went to find that foreign Cultivator seven days ago and has not returned since… I fear…" Song Qing revealed a look of sorrow and did not continue.

Li Muwan remained silent. After a long time, she gave a miserable smile and asked, "Have you found out anything about the origins of that foreign Cultivator?"

Liu Fei whispered, "We only know that this person looks young, specializes in using various Poisonous Insects, and has a bloodthirsty aura about him; he should be a murderous individual. He suddenly appeared within our Chu Country a month ago. In seven days, he destroyed three sects and killed several Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators… Three days ago, the Azure Heaven Gate was completely annihilated. Only a few peripheral Disciples who were visiting family were spared from this calamity."

Li Muwan stared blankly out the window. After a long pause, just as she was about to speak, an abnormal flush suddenly rose on her face. Her entire body trembled slightly, and she began to cough violently.

Liu Fei and Song Qing immediately showed concern.

Li Muwan placed her right hand over her mouth. After coughing for a moment, she calmed down. She glanced at the shocking blood in her palm, wiped it away with a handkerchief, and whispered, "In a few days, when I feel a little better, I will return your Soul Marks. You… should each flee for your lives…"

"Sect Master!" Liu Fei and Song Qing spoke almost simultaneously, deep sorrow appearing in their eyes. Although their Soul Marks had always been in Li Muwan's hands, she had never once used this fact to threaten them over the past century, and she even treated them with the courtesy due to a Junior. They were not made of wood and stone; over the past hundred years, any trace of resentment they once held had long since vanished.

"Sect Master, Ouyang Zi's Life Extension Pill has been studied for many years. If it succeeds, your health will definitely recover," Liu Fei said.

Li Muwan shook her head and whispered, "It's useless. Even if it is successfully refined, it will only grant me a slight chance at survival. Over the past ten years, I've realized that I am slowly aging… Perhaps in a few more years, my hair will turn completely white… Moreover, I fear the Cloud Heaven Sect cannot escape this calamity…"

Song Qing said bitterly, "Sect Master, we can seek the help of the Giant Demon Race. Since this foreign Cultivator scared away the Giant Demon Race's Envoy, the Giant Demon Race will certainly intervene. We just need to hold out for a while."

"The Giant Demon Race…" Li Muwan shook her head gently and said, "In the eyes of the Giant Demon Race, we are merely tools for their Alchemy… Furthermore, I've heard that the Giant Demon Race is currently at a loss due to the matter concerning Ceng Niu and their Young Clan Chief, so they probably won't have time to bother with us."

"Ceng Niu! Alas, if that person hadn't appeared, the Giant Demon Race certainly wouldn't abandon us…" Liu Fei said.

"If Ceng Niu could come to our Chu Country, this calamity would surely be resolved," Song Qing said self-deprecatingly. He was merely expressing a sentiment; he didn't believe there was even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of it happening.

Liu Fei smiled bitterly and said, "Ceng Niu is a powerful Senior who could even sever the arm of the Heaven's Proud Daughter, Hong Die. I doubt he has even heard the name of our Chu Country."

"You two may leave. Convey my intentions to the two Grand Elders currently in seclusion. After I return your Soul Marks, each of you should leave…" Li Muwan said softly.

"Sect Master, what about you? Come with us," Liu Fei said.

Deep sorrow appeared in Li Muwan's eyes. At this moment, she felt no fear. Even if the Cloud Heaven Sect could not escape this calamity, she would not leave. Even if she died, she would die here—this was the place she had agreed upon with Wang Lin.

She didn't speak, but shook her head gently, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window. Wang Lin's figure appeared in her eyes… "Big Brother Wang…"

A small, fist-sized creature flew out from between Li Muwan's eyebrows. It hovered around her and finally landed on the zither, its small eyes fixed on Li Muwan without blinking.

"Xiao Ling, where is your master?" Li Muwan said softly, stroking the small creature's head with her jade hand.

Covering the 800,000-mile distance, Wang Lin sped along the entire way. On this day, standing at the edge of the Devil Cultivation Sea, his heart suddenly trembled. He gazed toward the direction of Chu Country, and for some unknown reason, a slight tremor rose in his heart.

He had never experienced this tremor before, and it had appeared suddenly now.

"A Heart Demon? Impossible. With my cultivation, an ordinary Heart Demon cannot possibly enter my Primordial Spirit." Wang Lin did not stop and stepped into the Devil Cultivation Sea.

"I haven't seen Wan'er in many years. I should buy her some things she likes…" A smile appeared at the corner of Wang Lin's mouth.