Northward, across the celestial tapestry of the Luo Tian Starfield, a streak of vibrant light tore through the void, a whisper of ages clinging to its passage.

“Mei’er,” a voice, weathered by the ceaseless winds of time, echoed from within the radiant trail, “Here lies the realm of my origin, the crucible of your future ascendance. Millennia have spun by since I last beheld these sights. Were it not for the Luo Tian Stone, legacy of my幻 family’s forebears, our journey here would have been fraught with peril.”

Within the luminous path, a maiden stood, her head inclined in gentle acknowledgement. Her gaze swept over the unfamiliar expanse of the starfield, yet found within her heart no echo of belonging.

“Yonder, where starlight weaves a tapestry of glass, lies the world of Qian Huan. One of the Five Great Stars of the Northern Expanse, it cradles the ancestral seat of my family. Know this, Mei’er, within the Luo Tian Starfield, lineage holds dominion. Without the blood of our clan, the pursuit of higher arts becomes an illusion, and the sanctuary of our halls remains forever barred.

“From this moment hence, beyond the bond of master and disciple, you shall become my adopted daughter. Upon our return to Qian Huan, I shall enact the Rite of Blood Transference, infusing your veins with the very essence of the 幻 family. No longer shall you be known as Liu Mei, but as幻 Mei! Do you accept this fate?”

The ancient’s eyes burned with a fierce intensity, his gaze fixed upon the maiden, alight with anticipation. His affection for this disciple knew no bounds, and he would not allow the rigid doctrines of the Luo Tian Starfield to hinder her destiny. Without the sacred blood, Liu Mei would forever remain an outsider.

Thus, he prepared to invoke the near-forgotten Rite of Blood Transference, to personally bestow upon her the gift of his lineage.

The maiden pondered, her mind already acquainted with this proposition, voiced by her master during their long voyage. At length, she nodded, her voice barely a whisper, “I place myself in my master’s hands.”

A hearty laugh boomed forth from the elder, brimming with joy, “Mei’er, I vow to mold you into a cultivator of the Second Step, one who shall eclipse even my own paltry attainment of the Nirvana Scrying stage!”

The streak of light surged onward, leaving only the fading echoes of laughter in its wake, as it plunged toward the resplendent Qian Huan Star.

The maiden, her eyes fixed upon the distant world, murmured to herself, “This journey to Luo Tian marks my rebirth… All that was Wang Lin, all that was Vermilion Bird Star, fades into the mists of the past. With his meager talent, Wang Lin likely has yet to even attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough, and even then, the test will be far from certain.

“The chasm between us has already widened beyond measure, and it will only continue to grow. He is no longer worthy to be called my rival. Alas, the special artifact I crafted for him is now destined to gather dust.” A shadow of anguish flickered across her eyes as she recalled that artifact, but it was swiftly replaced by a chilling indifference.

“He likely still lingers upon Vermilion Bird Star, and exists now on a plane far removed from my own.”

The streak of light pierced the atmosphere of Qian Huan Star and vanished from sight.

Upon the verdant world of Ran Yun, Wang Lin sat encircled by a multitude of Spirit Jades, slowly drawing forth their vital essence. Seven days flew by, and he opened his eyes, electricity dancing within their depths with an unnatural intensity.

He inhaled deeply, consuming the last vestiges of ethereal energy as the Spirit Jades surrounding him crumbled to dust. As the final fragments of the ancient rocks faded, Wang Lin seemed to sense something amiss. He lifted his gaze, his eyes scanning the skies, and rose to his feet before venturing forth into the world outside.

Within a secluded grove to the north, a youth sat cross-legged, his breath rising in a serpentine plume of white mist, coiling around him before dispersing into the air.

He opened his eyes, his gaze drifting to the heavens as he muttered to himself, “Though my talent may falter, my diligence shall compensate. One day, I shall reach the heights of mid-stage Nascent Soul.”

Abruptly, his brow furrowed. A figure was approaching, clad in flowing robes of purple, unadorned by any embellishment.

The stranger, a man of perhaps thirty years, possessed a striking face, etched with an air of sharp menace. As he stood there, he seemed to become one with the very fabric of the grove, indistinguishable from the earth and sky.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he cast his gaze toward the entrance, as if awaiting a destined arrival.

Noticing the youth beneath the stone overhang, the stranger turned his head, a fleeting glance his only acknowledgement.

The youth’s frown deepened. He could not discern the depth of the stranger’s cultivation, yet a primal instinct screamed at him to avoid any contact. A sensation of utter dread emanated from the stranger, striking at the very core of his spirit.

A radiant portal shimmered at the entrance, and Wang Lin stepped through.

The moment his form appeared, the purple-clad stranger’s eyes locked onto him, a gaze that could steal a man’s soul.

A barely contained aura of battle emanated from the stranger, suppressed with an iron will, imperceptible to all save Wang Lin.

The youth beneath the stone felt only a sudden chill in the air, as if winter had descended without warning. He felt a growing sense of unease, and seeing Wang Lin emerge, he swiftly called out, “Return!”

Wang Lin paused, his eyes drawn to the youth beneath the stone.

The youth rose to his feet, his loose robes ill-fitting on his frame, yet his face was now set in a grim mask. He strode swiftly to the entrance of the compound and spoke in urgent tones, “Why do you hesitate? Return at once! That man seeks only to bring you harm, and as warden of this estate, I will ensure your safety!”

As he spoke, he slapped his storage bag, producing a jade slip in his hand.

Wang Lin studied the youth intently, before saying “You are no match for him.”

The youth frowned, clutching the jade slip tightly. “This is not your concern. If you insist on leaving this compound, then I wash my hands of the matter!”

Wang Lin sighed, stepping back beyond the boundary of the formation. The youth instantly moved to stand before Wang Lin, facing the approaching stranger. “Senior,” he declared loudly, “this is the estate of the Yan Bo Family. May I inquire as to your purpose here?”

The stranger paused, his predatory aura instantly vanishing, replaced by a look of genuine curiosity. He scanned the youth from head to toe, before chuckling. “You are quite diligent, admirable! You may stand down. It is the man behind you that I seek.”

The youth’s face fell. “Senior, if he were to leave this estate, I would not interfere. However, as long as he remains here, his safety is my responsibility.”

The stranger’s brow furrowed. He cast a chilling glare at the youth, before his gaze slid past, settling once more upon Wang Lin.
A single glance from Xu Mu sent tremors through Sun Ling’s very being. In that instant, he felt as though he stood not before a fellow cultivator, but a primal, ancient beast. The look was a warning, a promise that if he uttered another word, if he failed to yield, he would be torn asunder by those ancient claws.

Wang Lin remained serene, his gaze untroubled by the man’s apprehensive stare. He merely watched the figure before him, the one whose infant spirit trembled yet stood defiantly. Silence descended like a shroud.

Sun Ling inhaled deeply, gritting his teeth. “Senior, while he remains untainted, I am responsible for his safety… Besides, he is but a mere Core Formation cultivator, Senior…”

The man in violet robes frowned, his displeasure rising like a tide. Accustomed to deference, such contradiction was a bitter draught to swallow.

“Step aside.”

But before the violet-robed man could finish his command, Wang Lin spoke, his voice cutting through the air like a honed blade.

“Enough.” Wang Lin’s face was impassive as he strode forth from the protective array.

The moment he emerged, Sun Ling cried out, “Why did you come out? Return!” He reached for the jade slip in his hand, the means of summoning aid.

Wang Lin turned, a faint smile gracing his lips. “It is of no consequence.” With that, he moved towards the violet-robed man, a swirling mist of verdant energy erupting from thin air, shrouding the space and obscuring Sun Ling’s view.

A mere ten paces separated Wang Lin from his quarry. He advanced with an unhurried grace, his movements radiating an unsettling confidence. The violet-robed man, initially composed, felt a pressure building, emanating from Wang Lin like heat from a forge.

The oppressive force intensified with each step, reaching its peak as Wang Lin closed the distance.

The violet-robed man’s expression tightened, his eyes flashing with an edge of steel. He stood his ground, refusing to yield an inch.

Wang Lin took another step. To the violet-robed man, it was as if a thunderbolt had crashed within his very soul. This was no mere footfall upon the earth, but a hammer blow against his spirit.

Unbidden, the man stumbled backward. One step ceded, more would inevitably follow. Wang Lin advanced relentlessly, taking eight steps in quick succession. Each one resonated with the deafening roar of countless thunderclaps within the violet-robed man’s mind, each impact compounding upon the last, coalescing into a raging tempest within his body.

Retreating further and further, the violet-robed man’s face paled, his eyes wide with dawning shock.

Wang Lin raised his foot for the final step, his gaze unwavering as he regarded the man who now stood several paces behind him. A flicker of cold steel flashed within his eyes, and he brought his foot down with earth-shattering force! Where the previous steps had been a slow crescendo of power, this final stride unleashed a torrent of pent-up energy, igniting a conflagration of accumulated force.

The violet-robed man’s face contorted in utter disbelief. Without hesitation, he took a massive step backward, clasping his hands in a gesture of hurried respect. “Fellow Daoist, I meant no offense.”

Wang Lin shot him a chilling glance, then strode past. The violet-robed man could only manage a wry smile as he followed in his wake.

The green mist dissipated, leaving no trace in Sun Ling’s eyes. He had seen nothing of what had transpired within its veiled embrace. With a sigh, he returned to his meditation beneath the craggy rocks.

“To be taken by that Senior… the odds of survival are slim,” he murmured, closing his eyes once more. He had done his duty.

Beyond the northern gate, Wang Lin walked with confident strides towards the Baohe Pavilion in the city’s east. Beside him, the violet-robed man wore an expression of rueful resignation.

“Friend Xu, I am Sun Xi. The events of just now were truly without malice.” Under normal circumstances, one of his standing would never address a peer in such a deferential manner. But the brief exchange had revealed Xu Mu to be a figure of unfathomable depth, his true cultivation utterly obscured.

And that was not even the heart of the matter. He had sensed an aura of profound confidence and chilling ruthlessness emanating from Wang Lin. Such a presence could only mean one thing: this man had slain other cultivators of similar power, and more than just one! Only such acts could forge such a chilling confidence.

This Sun Xi was none other than one of Ranyun Star’s three Soul Transformation cultivators, the patriarch of the Sun family. He had come directly to Ranyun City after completing his underwater cultivation.