Miles away, at the scene of the ambush, the Ghost Blade Sect members… mid-stage Heavenly Yuan experts driven by greed… were just about to strike down the few remaining Lin Family guards.
Suddenly, they froze… every single attacker, from the leader to the lowest bandit, became utterly still, unable to move an inch, their eyes wide with incomprehensible terror. The Lin Family guards, equally startled by the abrupt, supernatural paralysis of their foes, gulped, unsure if they were witnessing a miracle or a curse.
The strange, unnatural silence did not last.
"Ahhhh,"
"Nooo,"
Next moment, a wave of horrific, psychic cries spread as the spiritual attack descended. It was not a single force but an elemental onslaught of absolute laws:
Some sect members combusted instantly, turning to black ash. Others' bodies decayed and spoiled in the span of a breath, their life force stolen by an unseen hand.
A few froze mid-scream, their physical forms scattered into invisible ice particles as they were destroyed by absolute cold. Still others simply imploded into a vacuum of nothingness or were shredded by invisible spatial blades.
Amidst the surprised, horrified gazes of the Lin Family guards, the Ghost Blade Sect force vanished entirely, leaving behind only empty, pristine surroundings and a scattering of discarded weapons.
"Thank you Lord for life saving grace."
The Lin Family guards, finding their courage, dropped to their knees and thanked the invisible, divine entity who had helped them from concealingly, their bodies still trembling from fear and awe.
Lin Yi receded his consciousness, ignoring the subsequent chaos and the inevitable cleaning up of the remnants. The test was a resounding success. The Heavenly Symbol Master realm, combined with the integrated Ancestral Symbol patterns, possessed a power that was absolute and utterly beyond the comprehension of ordinary cultivators.
He stood up, his charcoal robe flowing with a whisper. "It's time to leave the Lin Family and return to the capital," he muttered, his gaze drifting toward the faint, spiritual fluctuations he could sense in the distance. He was already noticing some significant change in the Tiandu Mountain range, an ancient, powerful ripple that signaled the inevitable: the Nirvana Tomb would reveal itself soon.
Then he thought of the special encounters Lin Dong would have within the Tomb, particularly the unexpected, fated relationship with the main heroine, Ling Qingzhu.
A strange, thoughtful expression crossed his face… a mix of amusement and playful calculation.
'Should I intercept this critical opportunity?'
Thinking of the main Yin and Yang Nirvana heart treasure in the Tomb, which can only be absorbed through special relationships… Lin Yi's mouth curved into a playful smile and then shook his head, a subtle dismissal of the surging thoughts.
'I should leave it to destiny… if I encountered it naturally, then it's fine. If not, then forget it.'
Just as he was about to leave the room, a light rap came on the door, and Qing Tan's musical voice sounded from the outside.
"Big Brother Yi? Are you done?"
Lin Yi paused, a gentle smile returning to his features, 'This girl… always on time to divert my attention.'
He walked to the door and slid it open, seeing his younger sister standing there, her aura more powerful and controlled than before.
"What is it, little Tan?" he asked, his voice soft, as he patted her head.
Qing Tan's face was radiant, her eyes bright with success, she smiled and said proudly, "Big Brother, I've mastered the first layer of the technique you taught me! The Dark Descent Palm!"
She took a quick, decisive stance in the middle of the courtyard, and the air around her immediately chilled.
Swish!
A deep, abyssal layer of dark, pure Yin energy emanated from her right palm, instantly compressing the light and spreading over the stone floor.
Next moment, the dark energy transformed into a colossal, five-fingered palm shadow made of pure, abyssal Yin energy… the Darkness rose with a terrifying, crushing stillness. It swept across the ground, absorbing all ambient light, exactly as Lin Yi had demonstrated before.
Lin Yi nodded, a genuine sense of pride in his gray eyes looking at her, praised immediately. "Excellent, Qing Tan. You have perfectly mastered the first layer, your talent is truly exceptional."
He then retrieved the cold-jade box he had prepared earlier from his Chaos Talisman space and passed it to her. "This is the treasure I refined for you. Now that you have grasped the first layer, you are ready for it. Use your Yuan Power and a drop of blood to instantly recognize it as your own."
Qing Tan's excitement was palpable. She hurriedly took the box, her eyes wide with curiosity, and opened it.
Inside, lying on the silk, was the single, intricately detailed petal of obsidian-like metal, veined with pure silver light. It was stunningly beautiful, like a perfectly preserved flower petal, yet it radiated a chilling, profound power. She was mesmerized by its design and felt a strange, visceral attraction… as if a piece of her soul was calling out to the item.
Lin Yi smiled, noting the instinctive connection, he began to explain its formidable properties. "This is the first petal of your weapon, the Yin Petal of Destruction Qinglian. It is a growth-type weapon forged from the Core Chaos Yin Metal. It is intrinsically linked to your Terminus Devil Body. As you cultivate and absorb high-level Yin resources, the petal will devour them, grow stronger, and eventually breed more petals. Its ultimate power will be the absolute crushing force of extreme Yin destruction, a power only your physique can wield."
Qing Tan's pupils brightened at Lin Yi's explanation. Overwhelmed by a rush of excitement, she moved forward swiftly, planting a light, affectionate kiss on his cheek.
"Thank you, Big Brother Yi, You are the best."
She exclaimed, her voice ringing with pure, unadulterated joy. Without waiting for a reply, she spun around and sprinted back toward her private hall, the cold-jade box clutched tightly in her hands, eager to begin her bond with the legendary weapon.
...