Six days had passed since Lin Huang arrived at Tianshui Academy.
The academy grounds no longer looked the same.
Morning sunlight spread across the marble courtyards and quiet lakes that surrounded the campus, but now the air carried a constant hum of activity. Students moved quickly between training fields, instructors gathered near newly constructed buildings, and curious spectators often paused just to watch what was happening.
Because in only six days, something remarkable had appeared within the academy.
Entire training facilities had been built.
Not crude structures.
Not simple exercise rooms.
But cultivation environments carefully designed to refine different aspects of a spirit master's growth.
The changes were already causing a stir across the academy.
Near the center of the training grounds, one of the new buildings stood open.
Inside, several students were attempting to walk across the stone floor.
And failing miserably.
A loud thud echoed.
One of the students collapsed face-first onto the floor.
"…I can't move!"
Another student struggled nearby.
"This room is ridiculous!"
This was the Gravity Training Room.
Within the chamber, a formation array inscribed beneath the stone floor amplified the weight pressing down on anyone inside.
Even walking became difficult.
But that was the point.
Outside the room, a group of instructors watched with stunned expressions.
"…This formation is incredibly stable."
"And it doesn't consume much energy…"
One of them shook his head slowly.
"How did he build this in only a few days?"
No one had an answer.
Because this was only one of the new facilities.
Elsewhere in the academy stood several other training rooms that had appeared just as suddenly.
A Speed Chamber, where air resistance increased dramatically, forcing students to move faster to maintain balance.
An Agility Hall, filled with constantly shifting platforms and obstacles.
A Perception Room, where subtle illusions tested a student's awareness and reaction time.
And perhaps the most unusual of all—
A chamber designed specifically for training soul skills without revealing soul rings.
The formations inside allowed spirit masters to practice their techniques while suppressing the visible appearance of their rings.
For students preparing for competitions or secret techniques, the value of such a place was immeasurable.
And that was not all.
Near the lake stood another structure.
Inside, several students sat cross-legged while attempting to stabilize a small sphere of rotating spiritual energy in their palms.
A boy groaned.
"It exploded again!"
Another student sighed.
"I can't keep the rotation stable!"
This was the Soul Power Control Room.
Inside it, the spiritual energy of the environment was deliberately destabilized by formation arrays.
Anyone entering the room was forced to maintain extremely precise control over their own power just to stabilize their techniques.
It was here that Lin Huang had introduced one of the strangest exercises the academy had ever seen.
The Rasengan training method.
Students attempted to condense rotating spheres of soul power while maintaining balance and stability.
The exercise forced them to refine their control far beyond what most spirit masters ever practiced.
Nearby, several instructors were discussing the method with excitement.
"…This technique alone could improve soul skill accuracy dramatically."
"If students master this level of control…"
"…their combat efficiency will increase by several levels."
But the most impressive developments were not limited to the students.
Within the inner courtyard of the academy, the Tianshui tournament team was currently training.
Each of them wore a pair of dark metallic bracelets around their wrists.
These were another creation of Lin Huang.
Soul Power Suppression Bracelets.
The bracelets performed several functions at once.
They suppressed the user's soul power output.
Increased the weight of the body through a gravity array.
Purified the spiritual energy circulating through the meridians.
And subtly improved the user's perception of soul power.
Training while wearing them was exhausting.
But the results were undeniable.
Even after only six days, the improvement in the girls' control had become obvious.
On the edge of the training field, Lin Huang stood quietly watching.
The breeze from the nearby lake moved gently through the academy grounds.
Perched comfortably on his shoulder sat Tushan Honghong.
Her ten tails swayed lazily behind her as she observed the training.
"…You've turned this place upside down."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Not really."
Honghong glanced toward the new training buildings scattered across the academy.
"…You built half the academy in six days."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"They lacked infrastructure."
Honghong snorted.
"…Your standards are ridiculous."
Before Lin Huang could respond, a sudden burst of laughter echoed across the training field.
Shui Yue'er had just lost control of her Rasengan again.
The rotating sphere of soul power burst apart with a loud pop.
"…It exploded again!"
Several of the girls nearby couldn't help laughing.
Even the normally composed Shui Bing'er allowed a small smile.
Lin Huang watched quietly.
The atmosphere of the academy had changed completely.
Students trained harder.
Instructors studied new techniques.
And the tournament team was improving faster than anyone expected.
Six days.
Only six days.
Yet the ripples of change had already begun spreading through Tianshui Academy.
The training field of Tianshui Academy had become unusually crowded that morning.
Not with students.
But with instructors.
Several teachers of the academy had gathered near the training grounds after hearing about the new training methods introduced over the past six days.
Some of them had already seen the new facilities.
Others had heard rumors.
But what truly drew their attention today was the strange technique the tournament team had begun practicing.
At the center of the field stood the seven girls of the Tianshui team.
Each of them wore the familiar dark bracelets around their wrists.
By now they had already grown accustomed to the weight.
The bracelets constantly applied a light gravitational pressure to their bodies while suppressing their soul power output.
Training with them for six days had been exhausting.
But the results were already visible.
Their breathing was steadier.
Their movements more controlled.
Their circulation of soul power smoother.
Even their spiritual presence had become more stable.
Standing nearby, one of the instructors whispered quietly.
"…Their control has improved significantly."
Another nodded.
"And in less than a week."
Near the edge of the field, Lin Huang stood calmly watching.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong lazily flicked one of her tails.
"…You're showing off again."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"They asked."
Indeed, several instructors had approached him earlier that morning.
They had heard about the unusual exercise the girls were practicing.
And they wanted to see it themselves.
Lin Huang stepped forward slightly.
"Begin."
The girls immediately understood.
Shui Yue'er stepped forward first.
She raised her hand.
Soul power gathered in her palm.
Unlike the first few days, the condensation was now much smoother.
The energy compressed into a sphere.
Then the rotation began.
The Rasengan slowly formed.
A small sphere of rotating soul power hovered above her palm.
The instructors watching nearby immediately stiffened.
"…Condensed rotational energy?"
"…Without releasing a soul skill?"
Shui Yue'er grinned slightly.
"Look carefully."
The sphere rotated faster.
But remained stable.
For several seconds.
Then she released the technique, letting the energy disperse harmlessly.
One of the instructors stared in disbelief.
"That level of control…"
Another instructor spoke quietly.
"She did not use a soul ring."
Nearby, Shui Bing'er stepped forward next.
Her approach was calmer.
More controlled.
Soul power gathered in her palm.
The condensation formed almost instantly.
Then the rotation began.
Unlike Shui Yue'er's energetic attempt, Bing'er's Rasengan rotated smoothly.
Like flowing water.
The sphere remained perfectly stable.
The instructors watching the demonstration grew even more shocked.
"…Her control is incredible."
Lin Huang observed quietly.
Honghong leaned slightly closer to his ear.
"…That one might actually succeed."
Lin Huang did not respond.
Shui Bing'er allowed the rotating sphere to stabilize for several seconds.
Then she gently released it.
The sphere dissolved quietly into spiritual mist.
No explosion.
No instability.
Only smooth dissipation.
A low murmur spread among the instructors.
"…Extraordinary."
"…This training method…"
"…It forces absolute control."
One of the instructors turned toward Lin Huang.
"…What is this technique called?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"Rasengan."
The instructor repeated the word slowly.
"…Rasengan…"
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"It is not a soul skill."
"It is a control exercise."
He gestured lightly toward the girls.
"If they can stabilize that rotation…"
"…their soul skills will become far more precise."
Several instructors exchanged thoughtful looks.
The logic was obvious.
Soul skills required precise control of energy.
If a student could maintain such a complex rotating structure—
Controlling ordinary techniques would become much easier.
Meanwhile, Shui Yue'er had walked back toward the group.
She crossed her arms proudly.
"See?"
"I told you we're getting better."
Yu Hairou sighed.
"You're still the worst at controlling it."
Shui Yue'er glared.
"I lasted longer than you today!"
Behind them, Honghong snorted softly.
"…Children."
Lin Huang simply watched the training continue.
Six days ago, none of them could stabilize the technique for even a second.
Now they were already improving.
And this…
Was only the beginning of their training.
The murmurs among the instructors had not yet faded.
Several of them were still discussing the demonstration they had just witnessed.
Condensing rotating soul power without releasing a soul skill was already something extraordinary.
But Lin Huang had not moved yet.
He watched the Rasengan training for a moment longer.
Then he raised one hand.
"…You're focusing too much on the shape."
The girls turned toward him.
Shui Yue'er blinked.
"…There's more?"
Honghong sighed lazily from his shoulder.
"There is always more."
Lin Huang extended his palm.
Soul power gathered again.
But this time, something different happened.
The sphere formed almost instantly.
Then—
Wind began to swirl around it.
The air surrounding the sphere rotated violently.
The instructors stiffened.
"…Wind control?"
But that wasn't all.
Inside the rotating sphere—
Ice began to form.
A frozen core appeared within the spinning energy.
A sphere of wind rotating around a center of condensed ice.
The girls stared in shock.
"…He layered elements inside it…" Yu Hairou whispered.
Lin Huang spoke calmly.
"The Rasengan is not a technique."
"It is a principle."
The wind around the sphere suddenly dispersed.
The sphere collapsed—
Only to reform instantly.
This time the structure changed.
The center became liquid.
But not ordinary water.
The pressure inside the sphere compressed the liquid until it became incredibly dense.
The instructors felt it immediately.
"…That pressure…"
"It's like deep sea water…"
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Water can be compressed."
The liquid sphere rotated slowly.
Then the outer layer froze.
Ice spread outward.
Forming sharp edges.
The sphere transformed into a rotating structure resembling a cluster of icy blades.
Almost like a spinning shuriken made of ice.
Shui Yue'er's jaw dropped.
"…What is that?"
Lin Huang casually tossed the spinning construct into the air.
It flew several meters before dissolving harmlessly.
"Control."
The instructors had fallen completely silent.
But Lin Huang was not finished.
He extended his hand again.
Water gathered from the moisture in the air.
A thin stream formed in his palm.
"This is ordinary water."
The liquid began to move.
Then it started dissolving a small stone he picked from the ground.
Several instructors leaned forward.
"…It's melting the stone."
Lin Huang explained calmly.
"Water can become acidic."
He released the liquid.
The stone dropped.
Then he raised his hand again.
Water gathered once more.
But this time—
It separated.
Hydrogen and oxygen energy structures formed within the sphere.
The instructors' eyes widened.
"…That energy structure…"
Lin Huang closed his hand.
The sphere collapsed instantly.
"Water can also become explosive."
He did not release the energy.
Instead he dispersed it harmlessly.
Honghong flicked her tails slightly.
"…You're scaring them."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
He raised his hand one last time.
Cold spread across the training field.
Ice formed on the ground.
Then the frozen energy began to shape itself.
Within seconds—
Humanoid figures formed from ice.
Armored.
Holding weapons.
The instructors stared in disbelief.
"…Ice constructs…"
The figures moved.
Slowly.
Like silent soldiers.
Honghong watched the scene.
"…That girl Meng would like that."
Lin Huang dispersed the constructs with a flick of his hand.
The ice shattered into mist.
He looked calmly toward the group.
"The Rasengan is only the beginning."
Silence filled the training field.
Even the instructors were struggling to process what they had just seen.
Meanwhile, Shui Yue'er stared at him with wide eyes.
"…Teacher Lin…"
"…what exactly are you?"
Honghong answered before he could.
"…Trouble."
The murmurs across the training field had not yet settled.
Several instructors were still discussing Lin Huang's demonstration. The Rasengan alone had already challenged their understanding of soul power control.
But the layered elemental constructs he had displayed afterward had shaken them even more.
Wind, ice, pressure, and water manipulation woven together as if they were nothing more than variations of the same principle.
Now the field had returned to training.
The girls resumed their practice.
Some continued stabilizing the Rasengan.
Others practiced controlling water or ice using the breathing and meditation techniques Lin Huang had taught them days earlier.
Standing quietly at the edge of the training ground, Lin Huang observed.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…You're staring at that one again."
Lin Huang did not answer immediately.
His gaze remained fixed on the same person.
Shui Bing'er.
At that moment she stood near the lake, practicing the same Rasengan control exercise the others were attempting.
But something about her energy circulation was different.
Subtle.
Yet unmistakable.
The moisture in the air around her moved more naturally.
The water within the nearby lake seemed to respond slightly to her breathing rhythm.
Her soul power was not forcing the element.
It was resonating with it.
Honghong followed his gaze.
"…What is it?"
Lin Huang finally spoke.
"…Interesting."
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"That doesn't answer my question."
Lin Huang continued watching Bing'er.
"She's not just controlling the element."
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…What do you mean?"
Lin Huang spoke calmly.
"Her body is adapting to it."
At that moment, Bing'er lifted her hand again.
A sphere of rotating soul power appeared above her palm.
The Rasengan formed.
But something unusual happened.
Tiny threads of frost began forming inside the rotating energy.
Not forced.
Natural.
The moisture in the air condensed instinctively.
Shui Yue'er immediately noticed.
"…Bing'er?"
Yu Hairou turned as well.
"…Your Rasengan is freezing."
Bing'er blinked in surprise.
"I didn't mean to…"
Lin Huang stepped forward.
"Don't stop."
Bing'er hesitated.
Then stabilized the rotation again.
The sphere spun slowly in her palm.
Inside it, water condensed.
Then froze.
A delicate balance between liquid and ice.
Lin Huang watched closely.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Honghong spoke quietly.
"…You see something."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He folded his arms.
"She has extremely high affinity with water."
"That much was obvious."
Honghong waited.
"But?"
Lin Huang continued.
"She also resonates naturally with ice."
Honghong's ears twitched slightly.
"…Dual affinity?"
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"More than that."
He looked toward Bing'er again.
"Her body already aligns with those elements."
Honghong thought for a moment.
"…A developing elemental physique?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Something similar."
He looked thoughtful now.
"This should not happen so early."
Normally such transformations required years of cultivation.
Or rare resources.
Yet Bing'er was already showing signs.
Honghong flicked her tail.
"…Lucky girl."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Not luck."
"Talent."
He watched Bing'er disperse the Rasengan carefully.
Her breathing remained perfectly synchronized with the environment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"…This helps explain something."
Honghong looked up at him.
"What?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"The body cultivation system."
Honghong blinked.
"What about it?"
Lin Huang gestured toward the training field.
"Rank Four normally condenses soul bones."
He paused.
"But in rare cases…"
"…the body can condense something else."
Honghong immediately understood.
"…A spirit body."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
The realization had come naturally.
The moment he observed Bing'er's elemental resonance.
The body cultivation system could evolve further.
Instead of only creating condensed soul bones—
It could also form a spiritual physique aligned with elemental affinity.
Lin Huang looked toward Bing'er again.
"…Interesting."
Honghong sighed.
"…Whenever you say that, someone's life becomes complicated."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
"…Or extraordinary."
The training field gradually returned to its usual rhythm.
Students continued practicing in the new facilities scattered throughout Tianshui Academy. The sounds of training echoed across the courtyards—footsteps within the gravity chamber, bursts of soul power from the control room, and the occasional frustrated shout when a Rasengan collapsed.
But Lin Huang was no longer watching the field.
His gaze had turned inward.
The scene he had just witnessed lingered in his thoughts.
The natural resonance of Shui Bing'er with water and ice had revealed something important.
Something that even he had not fully considered before.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong noticed immediately.
"…You're thinking again."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Yes."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"That usually means trouble."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
Instead, he spoke slowly.
"The body cultivation system can evolve further."
Honghong listened.
He continued.
"Condensed soul bones are only one possibility."
"Spirit bodies are another."
"But neither of those is the limit."
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Lin Huang looked toward the distant lake.
"…I can go further."
Honghong tilted her head.
"…Explain."
Lin Huang folded his arms.
His voice remained calm.
"My cultivation paths are no longer the same as ordinary spirit masters."
That was an understatement.
His Touki had already transformed.
Forged through the fusion of divine power, dragon essence, and the ancient vitality of draconic bloodlines.
The presence of dragon energy within his body had strengthened his physical existence far beyond what normal cultivation could achieve.
And that was only one part of his power.
His spiritual power had also evolved.
Through the fusion of divine energy and celestial law, his spiritual sea had already begun transforming into something far more stable and refined.
A higher form of consciousness.
Yet one core system remained incomplete.
His soul power.
The foundation of spirit master cultivation.
Honghong understood immediately.
"…Your soul power."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He spoke calmly.
"My Touki evolved."
"My spiritual power evolved."
"But my soul power remains incomplete."
Honghong frowned slightly.
"…Incomplete?"
Lin Huang continued.
"My soul power is the foundation for my understanding of laws."
"All elements."
"All principles."
"But its structure is still ordinary."
That imbalance had become clear to him now.
His cultivation paths had grown in different directions.
Touki, spiritual power, and soul power had each evolved differently.
They were powerful.
But they were not synchronized.
Honghong watched him carefully.
"…You want to unify them."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He continued thinking aloud.
"If the body cultivation system can create spirit bodies…"
"…then it should also be able to evolve further."
Honghong's ears twitched.
"…Into what?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"A sacred physique."
Not merely a spirit body.
But something far more complex.
A body capable of supporting multiple forms of energy simultaneously.
Divine power.
Dragon essence.
Kitsune essence.
Celestial energy.
Elemental laws.
And the core structure of soul power itself.
Honghong looked impressed despite herself.
"…That sounds insane."
Lin Huang smiled slightly.
"Yes."
"But possible."
He continued analyzing the problem.
"The foundation must be soul power."
"Everything else is built on top of it."
But the current structure of his soul power could not support such a transformation.
It needed a stronger core.
Multiple cores.
Lin Huang raised one hand slightly.
"The solution is simple."
Honghong crossed her arms.
"…That word means nothing good when you say it."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
"I need additional soul cores."
Honghong blinked.
"…More?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
His current soul core already stabilized his spiritual power and internal energy.
But for what he intended…
That was not enough.
He continued explaining.
"To synchronize all my energies…"
"I will need at least two more soul cores."
Honghong stared at him.
"…You're serious."
Lin Huang nodded.
"One to stabilize elemental resonance."
"One to stabilize divine and celestial energy."
The result would create a perfect synchronization between:
Soul power.
Touki.
Spiritual energy.
Elemental laws.
And his physical body.
Honghong finally understood the scale of what he was planning.
"…You're not creating a spirit body."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"No."
"A spirit body would be too limited."
His gaze grew distant for a moment.
"I will create a sacred physique."
A body forged from multiple energy systems.
A body capable of supporting the full extent of his cultivation paths.
Even his condensed soul bones would evolve alongside it.
Reforged.
Strengthened.
Integrated into the new structure.
Honghong stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…Your wives are really going to kill you someday."
Lin Huang looked amused.
"…Probably."
Honghong flicked her tails lazily again.
"…Just make sure you survive long enough to cook dinner first."
Lin Huang chuckled quietly.
Even as his mind continued calculating the next steps of his cultivation.
The sun had already begun descending toward the western mountains when the training session finally ended.
Across the courtyards of Tianshui Academy, students slowly returned to their dormitories, many of them still discussing the unusual training methods introduced over the past six days.
The academy had never been this lively before.
Even the instructors were busy studying the newly constructed training rooms and the strange cultivation principles Lin Huang had introduced.
But at that moment, Lin Huang was no longer standing in the training field.
Instead, he sat in a quiet pavilion beside the lake.
A long stone table stood before him.
And on that table…
Rows of jade bottles.
Dozens of them.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong looked down curiously.
"…That's a lot."
Lin Huang continued working calmly.
"Yes."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"…You're making pills for the entire academy?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Every student will receive one."
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"…Generous."
Lin Huang did not stop refining.
Thin strands of steam rose from the jade cauldron in front of him.
Unlike traditional alchemy, there was no roaring flame beneath the vessel.
Instead, the cauldron was surrounded by flowing water.
The liquid circulated slowly around the vessel while spiritual energy heated it from within.
The water gradually began to boil.
Steam rose gently into the air.
Honghong watched the process carefully.
"…Water alchemy."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Traditional pill refinement relied on fire.
But that method favored cultivators with strong fire affinity.
Tianshui Academy specialized in water and ice.
Fire-based alchemy was inefficient for most of their students.
So Lin Huang had chosen a different approach.
Water.
The boiling liquid extracted the essence from the spirit herbs placed inside the cauldron.
The steam condensed above the vessel.
And slowly…
Pure droplets of spiritual essence formed.
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…Steam extraction."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Water pressure can purify the essence of herbs."
"Even better than fire in some cases."
The condensed droplets gathered together.
Slowly forming small spiritual pills.
One by one.
Lin Huang placed each completed pill inside a jade bottle.
"These pills will stabilize their foundations."
"Remove impurities."
"And improve elemental affinity."
Honghong snorted softly.
"…You're basically rebuilding their entire academy."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"They hosted me."
That was explanation enough.
Just then footsteps approached.
A moment later, the headmaster appeared beside the pavilion.
Shui Linlong.
She stopped when she saw the table.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Those are pills."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
She walked closer.
Her gaze moved across the rows of jade bottles.
"…There must be hundreds."
"One for every student," Lin Huang replied calmly.
For a moment, Shui Linlong did not speak.
The value of what she was seeing was enormous.
Even a single high-quality pill could be extremely valuable.
But Lin Huang had prepared enough for the entire academy.
Finally she asked quietly:
"…Why?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"Consider it payment."
Honghong muttered under her breath.
"…He's pretending to be humble again."
Lin Huang ignored her.
Instead he gestured toward several scrolls placed beside the pills.
"I also prepared manuals."
Shui Linlong looked down.
Several thick scrolls rested on the table.
Each one carefully inscribed.
She opened the first.
Her eyes widened.
"…Cultivation methods."
Another scroll.
"…Alchemy manuals."
Another.
"…Formation basics."
Another.
"…Inscription techniques."
Even a section describing water-based alchemy methods.
Steam refinement.
Pressure extraction.
Thermal water purification.
Shui Linlong slowly closed the scroll.
For several seconds she simply stared at Lin Huang.
"…Do you understand what you're giving us?"
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
The headmaster exhaled slowly.
"…This knowledge could change the future of our academy."
Lin Huang said nothing.
He simply finished sealing the final jade bottle.
Then placed it on the table beside the others.
Honghong leaned forward slightly.
"…You're leaving soon, aren't you?"
Lin Huang glanced toward the distant mountains beyond the academy.
"Yes."
Honghong smiled slightly.
"…Treasure hunting?"
Lin Huang's gaze settled on the horizon.
Somewhere far beyond those mountains lay a place he had been curious about since arriving in this era.
A place where extraordinary herbs were said to grow.
The legendary valley of
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
Lin Huang stood up slowly.
"…Research."
Honghong snorted.
"…Sure."
The evening wind moved softly across the lake of Tianshui Academy.
The academy had grown quieter.
Students had returned to their dormitories, instructors were still discussing the changes happening across the campus, and the new training rooms continued operating under the supervision of the staff.
From the pavilion beside the lake, Lin Huang could see several students still practicing in the distance.
Even at night, the academy felt different now.
More alive.
More ambitious.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong flicked one of her ten tails lazily.
"…So you're leaving tomorrow."
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Honghong glanced toward the mountains far beyond the academy.
"…The place with the herbs."
Lin Huang's gaze followed the distant horizon.
Far beyond those mountains lay the legendary valley known as
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
A place where extraordinary herbs could grow under extreme elemental balance.
For someone studying cultivation systems…
It was too valuable to ignore.
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…You've been quiet for a while."
Lin Huang seemed thoughtful.
"…I was thinking about something strange."
Honghong sighed.
"That sentence never ends well."
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"When I arrived here…"
"…this era is ten thousand years in the past."
Honghong blinked.
"Yes."
"That much we already know."
Lin Huang continued.
"That means many people from our time…"
"…should exist in this era as well."
Honghong paused.
"…Oh."
Now she understood what he meant.
The timeline.
Lin Huang looked toward the distant mountains again.
"…Gu Yuena should exist in this era."
His thoughts continued.
"And Zi Ji."
"And Bi Ji."
Honghong's ears twitched.
"…Wait."
Lin Huang suddenly tilted his head slightly.
"…Does that mean something?"
Honghong narrowed her eyes.
"…What?"
Lin Huang spoke with perfect seriousness.
"…Does that mean there are two Gu Yuenas?"
Honghong stared at him.
Lin Huang continued.
"…Two Zi Jis."
"…Two Bi Jis."
Honghong's eyes slowly widened.
Lin Huang finished the thought calmly.
"…Would that mean I have twice as many wives?"
Silence.
For exactly three seconds.
Then Honghong slowly turned her head.
"…You're unbelievable."
Lin Huang looked mildly amused.
"It's a reasonable question."
Honghong crossed her arms.
"…You're thinking about expanding your harem across timelines now?"
Lin Huang shrugged.
"…It would be efficient."
Honghong stared at him.
"…Your wives are absolutely going to kill you."
Lin Huang chuckled quietly.
"…Probably."
Honghong sighed deeply.
"…I almost feel bad for them."
Far Away — Present Timeline
At that exact moment…
Somewhere ten thousand years in the future.
In a quiet chamber deep beneath the lake where the Silver Dragon King cultivated—
Gu Yuena suddenly paused.
"…Ah—"
She sneezed softly.
Her expression immediately turned slightly strange.
"…Why do I suddenly feel irritated?"
Not far away, another powerful aura stirred.
Zi Ji opened her eyes suddenly.
"…Strange."
A moment later—
Bi Ji also frowned slightly.
"…Why do I suddenly feel like hitting someone?"
The three of them fell silent.
None of them understood why the sudden feeling appeared.
But all three shared the same strange instinct.
Somewhere…
Someone had just said something extremely irritating.
Back in the Past
Honghong shook her head slowly.
"…You really are hopeless."
Lin Huang simply smiled faintly.
The night wind moved gently across the lake.
And far beyond the mountains…
The path toward the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes awaited him.
The courtyard of Tianshui Academy was still lively even as the sun began setting.
Most students had already returned to their dormitories, but the members of the tournament team remained near the training field.
After six days of intense training, their movements had become noticeably sharper.
Several of them were still wearing the suppression bracelets Lin Huang had created earlier.
At the center of the field, Lin Huang was explaining a few final adjustments to their breathing method.
"…If the rhythm is stable, the Rasengan becomes easier to control."
Nearby, Shui Yue'er leaned slightly against one of the training pillars.
Her expression carried a mischievous smile.
She studied Lin Huang carefully for a moment.
Then suddenly asked:
"Teacher Lin… are you secretly some kind of prince?"
The question caught several of the girls off guard.
Yu Hairou nearly choked.
"…Yue'er!"
But Shui Yue'er ignored the warning.
She tilted her head playfully.
"You appear out of nowhere… build half the academy… teach ridiculous techniques… and cook like a royal chef."
She crossed her arms.
"That sounds suspicious."
Several of the girls nearby tried very hard not to laugh.
Lin Huang looked at her calmly.
Then answered without hesitation.
"Maybe."
The reaction was immediate.
Shui Yue'er blinked.
"…Wait, what?"
Lin Huang tilted his head slightly.
"Do you want to be one of my princesses?"
For a moment the entire courtyard froze.
Then chaos erupted.
Yu Hairou turned bright red.
Xue Wu covered her mouth trying not to laugh.
Even the normally composedShui Bing'erlooked completely caught off guard.
"…T-Teacher Lin!"
Her voice actually stuttered.
Shui Yue'er stared at him in disbelief.
"…You actually answered that?!"
Lin Huang looked at the rest of the group.
Then casually added:
"If the rest of you want to join, I wouldn't refuse."
He shrugged slightly.
"After all… a prince without a proper harem is not a very good prince."
The effect was devastating.
Half the girls turned crimson.
A few looked away immediately.
Others tried to act calm but failed miserably.
Shui Bing'er attempted to regain her composure.
Her face was still faintly red.
Yu Hairou muttered under her breath:
"…This man has no shame."
Shui Yue'er stared for several seconds.
Then burst into laughter.
"…You're unbelievable!"
Perched on Lin Huang's shoulder,Tushan Honghongslowly covered her face with one paw.
"…You really cannot control yourself."
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"She started it."
Honghong sighed deeply.
"Your wives are absolutely going to kill you."
Several of the girls looked confused at that comment.
But before anyone could question it, Lin Huang simply turned toward the mountains beyond the academy.
Tomorrow…
He would be leaving.
And none of them yet realized that the strange man who had appeared in their academy for only six days…
Was someone who would eventually change the entire continent.
The night air above Tianshui Academy had grown quiet.
The training grounds were nearly empty now.
Only the sound of the lake's gentle waves could be heard beneath the moonlight.
Lin Huang stood at the edge of the courtyard, looking toward the distant mountains.
Beyond those mountains lay a place he had been curious about since arriving in this era.
The legendary valley known as the
Ice and Fire Yin Yang Eyes.
Perched on his shoulder, Tushan Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"…So we're leaving."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Honghong glanced back toward the academy.
"…Those girls are going to be disappointed."
Lin Huang looked mildly amused.
"They'll be fine."
Honghong snorted softly.
"…You're terrible."
Lin Huang simply smiled faintly.
Then he stepped forward.
A ripple of spatial energy formed beneath his feet.
The night wind shifted slightly.
And the figure of Lin Huang disappeared into the darkness beyond the mountains.
Behind Him — Tianshui Academy
The courtyard remained quiet for several moments after his departure.
Then soft footsteps approached the pavilion.
A small group of figures appeared beneath the moonlight.
Among them stood Shui Bing'er.
Shui Yue'er was beside her.
"…He really left."
Yu Hairou crossed her arms.
"…Without saying goodbye."
Shui Yue'er sighed dramatically.
"Teacher Lin is cruel."
But Bing'er said nothing.
Her gaze lingered on the empty courtyard.
The place where he had stood only moments earlier.
Something about the past six days felt strangely unreal.
The strange techniques.
The training rooms.
The knowledge he had shared.
And that ridiculous conversation earlier.
Her face warmed slightly at the memory.
"Do you want to be one of my princesses?"
Shui Bing'er quickly pushed the thought away.
"…Ridiculous."
Yet for some reason…
The calm rhythm of his breathing method still echoed faintly in her mind.
She exhaled slowly.
The moisture in the air responded gently.
Tiny threads of frost formed briefly around her fingers before fading again.
Shui Yue'er noticed immediately.
"…See?"
She nudged Bing'er playfully.
"Training with Teacher Lin already made you stronger."
Bing'er turned away.
"…Stop talking."
But the faint redness on her cheeks did not go unnoticed.
Ten Thousand Years Later
Far beyond the quiet academy.
Far beyond the mountains.
Far beyond even the flow of time.
The future continued moving forward.
Inside the territory of the Lin Clan, deep within the great halls of Yuelan City, a gathering had already formed.
At the center of the chamber floated a projection of soul power.
A message.
Lin Huang's message.
The recording repeated quietly.
"Spatial anomaly detected.I'm following it.Yuena will be able to find me."
The projection faded.
Silence followed.
Several members of the Lin Clan exchanged uneasy looks.
One elder spoke carefully.
"…Young Master entered the anomaly himself."
Another frowned.
"…The distortion collapsed afterward."
Which meant Lin Huang had vanished.
But panic had not taken hold.
Because there was still one connection.
The dragon scale.
Inside another chamber, three women stood quietly.
At the center was Gu Yuena.
Her silver hair glowed faintly as she focused on the resonance of the dragon scale.
Behind her stood two other powerful figures.
Zi Ji andBi Ji.
Gu Yuena's eyes slowly opened.
"…I can still feel him."
Zi Ji stepped forward immediately.
"Where is he?"
Gu Yuena frowned slightly.
"…Far."
Very far.
But the connection remained stable.
"…He is not injured."
Bi Ji sighed softly with relief.
"That's good."
Zi Ji crossed her arms.
"So where exactly is he?"
Gu Yuena hesitated for a moment.
Then answered calmly.
"…In the past."
Zi Ji blinked.
"…What?"
Gu Yuena continued.
"Approximately ten thousand years."
Silence filled the chamber.
Zi Ji slowly rubbed her forehead.
"…Of course he is."
Bi Ji covered her mouth lightly.
"…Only Lin Huang could cause something like that."
Gu Yuena looked toward the distant horizon beyond the chamber walls.
"…He will return eventually."
Zi Ji nodded.
"He'd better."
But at that exact moment—
All three of them suddenly paused.
A strange feeling appeared simultaneously.
An inexplicable irritation.
As if somewhere…
Someone had said something extremely annoying.
Zi Ji frowned.
"…Why do I suddenly feel like punching someone?"
Bi Ji blinked.
"…Me too."
Gu Yuena narrowed her eyes slightly.
For a brief moment…
A certain fox-faced troublemaker appeared in her thoughts.
Then she shook her head.
"…Strange."
Far away.
Ten thousand years in the past.
Somewhere in the mountains beyond Tianshui Academy—
Lin Huang sneezed.