In the instant Wang Lin vanished, a myriad of tentacles, born from the Void itself, erupted forth and seized the teleportation array. Consumed by their grasp, the array shattered into oblivion.

Seizing the momentary respite afforded by Lie Yunzi and his companions, Yan Leizi’s eyes gleamed with purpose. His arms coiled before him in a vortex, he intoned in a low voice, “Seal!”

Instantly, countless fragments of the Celestial Realm, colossal beyond measure, echoed with thunderous roars as they descended, converging upon Wang Yue from every direction.

Enraged, Wang Yue bellowed, its gargantuan form lurching forward, its rage igniting its very being. The oppressive aura emanating from Yan Leizi above fueled its fury, driving it to the brink of madness.

Yet, as it charged, Wang Yue shuddered, its movements arrested. Its eyes, wide with primal terror, fixed upon a point directly before it.

There, in the shattered void where the stars had once shone, a figure emerged from the swirling vortex of cosmic winds. Shrouded in obscurity, its features were impossible to discern, save for the undeniable form of a man. With ethereal grace, he strode forth from the nothingness.

At his appearance, Lie Yunzi and his wounded comrades paled. Even Lie Yunzi, renowned for his arrogance, stared at the spectral figure, a tidal wave of shock crashing through his heart. In that instant, a profound respect bloomed in his eyes.

“It is him!”

“Yan Leizi has summoned him!”

The remaining four echoed the sentiment, their expressions shifting to awe and reverence.

A surge of elation coursed through Yan Leizi as the phantom drew near. Wang Yue, vast as it was, trembled before the apparition, as if sensing a power that could crush its very essence.

Slowly, inexorably, Wang Yue retreated.

Meanwhile, millions of leagues distant, a ripple disturbed the fabric of space. Wang Lin emerged from the vortex, his gaze immediately drawn back to the location he had just fled, a thoughtful frown furrowing his brow.

“Wang Yue’s sudden shift… there must be a reason. Could it be that someone is attacking it? Within Wang Yue lies the nascent godling, meant to guide a worthy successor. Alas, my true self remains stranded in the Alliance Star Territory, or I might have attempted it. But is this godling sincere in its offer of inheritance, or does it harbor designs of soul-snatching, like some devious cultivator? I must tread carefully!”

“Regardless, now that I have departed from Wang Yue, I should remain undetected for the foreseeable future!”

With a flash of resolve, Wang Lin turned and streaked through the void like a comet, his passage leaving shimmering trails in its wake. Soon, his form dissolved into the cosmos, vanishing without a trace.

Across the vast expanse of the Northern Domain of Luo Tian, almost at its diametric opposite, lay the tranquil world of Qing Ling Star. Upon this day, a ripple pulsed through the void, and Wang Lin stepped forth, gazing upon the familiar planet with a tinge of wistful longing.

“At last, I have returned!” He declared, taking a stride forward. His form became a brilliant arc, aimed straight for Qing Ling Star. But as he neared, a sudden surge of powerful energies, laced with hostility, erupted from the planet, sweeping toward him like a tidal wave.

Wang Lin’s brow furrowed, but his expression quickly relaxed. As the divine senses honed in on him, recognizing his identity, the animosity evaporated. Almost instantly, a dozen figures, like shooting stars, hurtled towards him as he descended.

Scarcely a moment passed before Wang Lin touched down on Qing Ling Star, and the elders of the Chosen Clan, led by their ancient patriarch, materialized before him. Seeing Wang Lin, the elder’s face lit up with fervent gratitude.

“Our Benefactor!”

Wang Lin surveyed the elder and the assembled members of the Chosen Clan, a faint smile gracing his lips. He nodded slightly and inquired, “Was your journey here a safe one?”

The elder inhaled deeply and replied, “We traveled safely, Benefactor. But along the way, we heard that the Yao family, from the Luo Tian Star Territory, has been hunting you…”

Wang Lin waved his hand dismissively. “That matter is concluded; speak no more of it. Since you have arrived, make yourselves comfortable on Qing Ling Star. I must enter seclusion for several months; ensure my protection.”

The elder bowed his head in agreement.

Without another word, Wang Lin vanished, reappearing atop Heng Yun Peak. The mountain stood as he remembered it, untouched by time, his dwelling still intact.

Entering his cave, Wang Lin immediately activated the surrounding arrays, sealing off the mountain and the tens of thousands of miles around it. He then settled into a meditative posture and began to draw breath.

Hours later, the night had fallen. The stars glittered in the velvet sky, casting their light upon the land. All was tranquil.

Moonlight spilled into the cave, bathing the floor in an ethereal glow.

Wang Lin opened his eyes, exhaling a stream of stale air. Since departing from the Celestial Realm of Thunder, he had been perpetually weary, finding only fleeting respite even within the vast body of Wang Yue.

But here, on his home star, Wang Lin felt the tension finally ebb away. He lifted his gaze to the sky outside the cave, lost in contemplation. After a long while, he lowered his eyes and murmured, “The Yao family’s hunt will not cease. Time is short.”

After contemplating, Wang Lin tapped his storage bag and instantly the great cauldron emerged. The air around it crackled with the aura of ages. Wang Lin’s eyes shone as he spat out an essence of his core spirit, and began to refine the cauldron.

“The longer this cauldron is refined, the greater its power! But for now, I must study it.” With a mere breath, the great cauldron shrank, transforming into a streak of light and entering Wang Lin’s mouth.

Behind him, a shadow flickered and Ta Shan emerged, his form gaunt. He sat nearby, his face was downcast. Ta Shan closed his eyes under Wang Lin’s mental command, and instantly began to heal himself.

He contemplated for a short while, Wang Lin reached into his storage bag. Yao Bingyun, sealed within multiple layers of bindings, appeared before Wang Lin.
Within the cavern, Yao Bingyun lay bound. Coils of the Kun-ki Lash, a relic of ancient binding, encircled her spirit, while the dreaded Soul-Reaver Banner shrouded her form. A tapestry woven from tens of thousands of golden glyphs sealed her fate. Wang Lin, his gaze sharp as glacial ice, fixed upon his captive. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed the arcane seal. One by one, the golden runes detached, rising into the air, transforming the cavern into a shimmering cage of golden light.

Beneath the rune-woven prison lay the Soul-Reaver Banner. Wang Lin, with a gesture of command, drew forth from the depths of the banner a swirling vortex of black mist. As it dissipated, it unveiled Yao Bingyun’s form.

Her silken robes, once emblems of her power, were now tattered and torn, revealing a glimpse of a beauty that, even in despair, could stir the heart. Her eyes were shut, her face ashen, as though the flame of her life threatened to extinguish at any moment.

Yet, within her, a vast reservoir of primordial energy remained, albeit fragmented and untamed, divorced from her spirit.

Wang Lin observed her, his brow furrowed in thought.

“To forge her into a Celestial Guardian is one path,” he mused, “but before that, I shall draw upon her essence!” A chilling determination ignited in his eyes. He raised his right hand, forming his fingers into a sword, and with swift purpose, plunged it into the center of her brow.

The energy within Wang Lin surged, flowing through his hand and into Yao Bingyun. Within her, it coalesced into a vortex, swirling with ravenous hunger. As it spun, it devoured the fragmented energy within her, growing ever larger.

Wang Lin proceeded with utmost caution. As the vortex swelled, threatening to overwhelm his control, he unleashed a sudden, powerful siphon! Yao Bingyun’s body shuddered violently. The remnants of her garments scattered like leaves in a storm. From every pore, from her eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, a torrent of pure, untainted primordial energy erupted, filling the cavern with its potent essence.

Without hesitation, Wang Lin inhaled deeply. The escaping energy, now wisps of shimmering smoke, flowed into his lungs.

As the essence flooded his being, Wang Lin’s eyes burned with a newfound intensity. His complexion flushed with vitality. Guiding the power of his soul, he began the arduous process of assimilation, transmuting Yao Bingyun’s essence into his own.

Time flowed like a river. Beyond the cavern’s entrance, the first rays of dawn kissed the land, banishing the night’s chill and awakening the earth with warmth.

Within the cave, Yao Bingyun lay upon the cold stone. The sunlight streamed upon her, illuminating a vision of breathtaking, almost ethereal beauty. Yet, within that beauty lay a poignant sorrow, a tragic loveliness…

Wang Lin’s spirit, throughout the night, had devoured the acquired energy with insatiable hunger, transforming and merging it into his own.

The wounds upon his spirit began to heal. As the sun’s first light touched the earth, his soul was restored, its strength renewed. Further, by refining Yao Bingyun’s power, his spirit had been tempered, its essence refined! With a final expulsion of stale, tainted breath, which billowed out of the cavern, Wang Lin opened his eyes. Without pause, he raised his right hand once more, forming his fingers into a blade, and plunged it again into Yao Bingyun’s brow.

Once more, his energy flowed into her, forming a vortex, continuing to draw upon the fractured power within her.

“When this woman’s essence is fully drained, my own cultivation will surely soar. With but a whisper of enlightenment, I shall stride into the Second Step, achieving the realm of Insight Nirvana!” Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with strange anticipation as he fixed his gaze upon Yao Bingyun. As the vortex within her reached its critical mass, he unleashed its torrent, claiming it for his own.