Chapter 56: Four Years

Lying on the bed in his small room, Wang Lin's current cultivation meant he had no need for sleep. He sat up, looked at the moon outside the night sky, flipped his right hand, took out a Gourd, and took a large drink.

"The Spiritual Qi required to Breakthrough the Qi Condensation stage and reach Foundation Establishment is too immense. I must start preparing the Dew," Wang Lin muttered to himself.

"That's right, kid. When are you planning to look for Wood Attribute Materials to complete the Heaven Defying Bead?" Situ Nan asked.

"First, I'll find a place nearby to go into seclusion and Cultivate until I reach the Foundation Establishment Stage. It won't be too late to search then," Wang Lin said after a brief contemplation.

The night passed without incident. For the next few days, Wang Lin stayed by his parents' side. After living at home for half a month, Wang Lin bid farewell to his parents. Amidst their reluctant goodbyes, his figure transformed into a long rainbow and vanished into the horizon.

Leaving this time, Wang Lin felt quite melancholic. He didn't know if his next return would be in a few years, or perhaps a lifetime… Originally, his first choice for seclusion was the Wind Eye Cave in the cliff, but after careful thought, Wang Lin abandoned the idea. His method of cultivation was different from others; he required a water source. Otherwise, he wouldn't choose the location, no matter how good the Blessed Cave-Heaven was. Furthermore, the most critical point was that this location was too close to Hengyue Peak, making it too dangerous.

After searching extensively in the surrounding area, Wang Lin found a cave beneath a bare mountain peak. Inside, there was a spring of groundwater. The area was littered with wild beast droppings, suggesting animals frequently visited. After thoroughly searching the cave and confirming there were no other exits, he immediately used the Gravity Spell to control some stones and seal the cave entrance.

In this way, the place was completely sealed, and Wang Lin began his second period of secluded cultivation.

Time flew by, every moment precious. The days in the mountains rushed past—one year, two years, three years, four years—unconsciously, four years had passed.

Outside the cave where Wang Lin was in seclusion, the stones that had been haphazardly piled up were now completely covered by dense climbing plants, obscuring everything. Even upon close inspection, it was difficult to notice anything unusual.

Over the four years, this place had become a gathering spot for mountain beasts. Even some rare Exotic Beasts often lingered here, facing the cave to Breathe and Absorb Qi.

On this day, two long rainbows streaked across the sky. Three people—two men and one woman—arrived, riding beams of Sword Light. The person leading them was already middle-aged. He wore black clothes, his gaze was like lightning, and he hovered in mid-air, emitting wisps of ethereal energy, like an immortal. A small green sword beneath his feet flashed with cold light, inspiring awe.

"Third Senior Brother, this time, you must help me choose a more spiritual Ink Crystal Beast! Next month is the competition to seize the quota for entering the Back Mountain. With an Ink Crystal Beast as my Sword Spirit, I am sure to win." Standing beside the middle-aged man was a woman. She was beautiful, with bright teeth and clear eyes, and her voice was as melodious as an oriole.

If Wang Lin saw this woman, he would surely find her familiar. She was the girl surnamed Xu who had a crush on Wang Zhuo four years ago. In the intervening four years, the once naive girl had become graceful and elegant, her charm even more captivating than before as her beautiful eyes glanced around.

The middle-aged man looked momentarily dazed. After a long while, he recovered and quickly nodded, saying: "Junior Sister, good luck! Try your best to enter the Back Mountain. Once I help you catch the Ink Crystal Beast this time, I also need to go into seclusion for a period of Deep Cultivation."

Standing beside the woman was a boy, about eight or nine years old. He clung tightly to the woman, his face pale, and he cried out loudly: "Senior Brother, Senior Sister, you flew too fast! I couldn't even open my eyes. Since we've arrived, hurry up and go down."

Miss Xu smiled brightly and said: "Little Junior Brother, didn't you insist on coming along? I told you your cultivation wasn't high enough, but you didn't believe me. This is barely any speed, and you already can't handle it."

The middle-aged man glanced back at the two and said sternly: "Little Junior Brother, although your Aptitude is exceptional, if you can't endure even this little bit of hardship, how can you Cultivate Immortality?"

The boy was clearly terrified of the other man, and immediately replied obediently: "Third Senior Brother, I know I was wrong."

Miss Xu tapped the boy's forehead and laughed: "Little Junior Brother, you'll be fine if you just wait a moment. We'll return to the School as soon as we catch the Ink Crystal Beast."

The boy quickly nodded and whispered: "Senior Sister, you are the Genius of our Xuandao Sect! In just four short years, you went from the Fourth Layer of the Qi Condensation Stage to the Seventh Layer. If you catch the Ink Crystal Beast to be your Sword Spirit this time, you will surely leap to become a master of the School. If that Li Shan bullies me again in the future, you have to help me!"

The woman shook her head and gave a wry smile: "If we're talking about Genius, that title belongs to Senior Brother Liu Feng. He is about to reach the cultivation level of the Head Senior Brother and is close to Breaking through into the Thirteenth Layer. Also, Senior Sister Liu Mei, I heard she has also reached the Twelfth Layer. They are all Original Disciples of the Xuandao Sect, so they naturally have the qualifications to enter the Back Mountain. I am different; I originated from the Hengyue School, so I must participate in the competition and win to secure a quota. I hope I can win this time."

The middle-aged man snorted from the side, dissatisfied: "That kid Liu Feng, isn't he only Cultivating so fast because he entered the Back Mountain? Didn't the Founding Ancestor covet the Hengyue School's Back Mountain, which is why he took it over? If it weren't for the Founding Ancestor, how could Liu Feng Cultivate so quickly? Even with good Aptitude, without a large amount of Spiritual Qi, it would still take several years to Breakthrough one layer."

Miss Xu smiled sweetly, changing the subject: "Third Senior Brother, look at this place. I remember four years ago it wasn't like this. Why is it that in just four short years, so many Exotic Beasts from the mountains have gathered here to Breathe and Absorb Qi?"