Volume One, Chapter 30: Journey to the Northern Domain

The outline of Qingshi Town gradually blurred behind them.

Lin Xuan sat in a carriage that looked simple on the outside but was spacious and smooth on the inside. Through the gap in the curtain, he gazed at the receding town walls and the rising smoke from the cooking fires. Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a warm golden hue over the ordinary little town, as if the shocking public trial of the previous night were merely a dream.

But Lin Xuan knew it was no dream.

The metal token in his bosom still radiated a faint warmth; the warm current in his body, derived from the Legacy, was still slowly mending his injuries; and the two beside him—Wang Mang, who was fast asleep, and Li Dali, who was staring wide-eyed, vigilantly observing the movement outside through the gap in the curtain—were all real existences.

The carriage was pulled by two jet-black steeds without a single stray hair. They ran smoothly and swiftly, their hoofbeats like dense drumbeats, yet not a single whinny could be heard. The horses pulling the carriage were no ordinary beasts, but "Black Scale Horses" possessing a trace of Yao Beast Bloodline, capable of traveling a thousand miles in a day.

The person driving the carriage was a taciturn old man in grey clothes. Since leaving the station, he had not said a word, focusing solely on driving. Ouyang Ye sat in the deepest part of the carriage, his hunched body leaning against the soft cushion, his eyes slightly closed, appearing as if he were asleep or perhaps just resting his eyes.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was eerily quiet.

Li Dali held back for a long time, finally unable to help himself, and lowered his voice to say to Lin Xuan, "Brother Lin, are we... really just leaving like this? Can that guy surnamed Han and that Elder Zhao just let it go?"

Lin Xuan glanced at him and also said in a low voice, "They won't pursue us for now. With Senior Ouyang stepping in, the Yunni Sect has to give some Face. But in the long run..." He paused, "Han Feiyu suffered such a huge loss, and Zhao Yuanqing lost so much Face, they will never let it go just like that. We have only bought ourselves some time."

"Some time..." Li Dali gave a wry smile, "Then where are we going during this time? Bailian Villa? What kind of place is that?"

"An ancient Body Refining and Artifact Refining power in the Northern Domain." Lin Xuan recalled the sporadic records he had seen in the library pavilion, "It is rumored that its Legacy is long-standing and it has produced many powerhouses. But in the last few hundred years, it has rarely appeared in the cultivation world and is quite mysterious."

"Then this Senior Ouyang..." Li Dali glanced at the hunched figure in the depths of the carriage, his voice dropping even lower, "Why did he save us? Is it really because of some 'lost Body Refining technique'?"

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment, then slowly shook his head, "I don't know. But regardless of the reason, at least for now, we have no better choice."

Just then, a hoarse, aged voice suddenly sounded, "Kid, talking about this old man behind his back isn't very polite."

Li Dali's Face stiffened, and he shut his mouth sheepishly.

Ouyang Ye opened his turbid old eyes, looking at Lin Xuan with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "If you have any questions, just ask directly. Since this old man saved you, I won't hide anything."

Lin Xuan met his gaze, his eyes calm, "Why did Senior save me?"

"Good question." Ouyang Ye shifted his body to sit more comfortably, "First, because of the things you said in the main hall. I heard them and thought you were not bad. That little bastard surnamed Han is truly asking for a beating. Second..." He paused, a glimmer of light flashing in his turbid old eyes, "Because you have something from my Bailian Villa on you."

Lin Xuan's heart jolted, and he subconsciously reached for his bosom.

"Don't be nervous, it's not that piece of metal." Ouyang Ye waved his hand, "That thing is a Legacy token of the ancient Body Cultivators and has little to do with my Bailian Villa. What this old man is talking about is... the Aura of your 'Ancient God Body Refining Technique'."

Lin Xuan's pupils constricted. Ouyang Ye could actually sense the Ancient God Body Refining Technique?

"Don't be surprised." Ouyang Ye sighed, a trace of reminiscence appearing on his aged Face, "The founder of my Bailian Villa was a descendant of the ancient Body Cultivator lineage. Although most of the Legacy was cut off, some sensing methods were passed down. The Aura on your body is extremely similar to the 'Ancient God lineage' recorded in ancient books."

He looked at Lin Xuan, his gaze becoming profound, "Kid, do you know what you actually obtained in the Black Wind Ridge ruins?"

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment and said slowly, "An inner Forbidden Ground called the 'Ancient God Martial Training Grounds', an 'evil-absorbing soul-suppressing stele', and a... guardian battle spirit. I obtained part of the Legacy, but not all of it."

"Part of the Legacy..." Ouyang Ye repeated, a complex light flashing in his eyes, "To be able to come out alive is already a stroke of luck. That battle spirit... did it say anything to you?"

Lin Xuan recalled the last words of the battle spirit before it dissipated and said slowly, "It said, 'Sever the gaze of the enemies of the Dao of Martial Arts', 'The continuation of ancient grievances', 'The earth moves and the mountains shake'... It also said that the Legacy has been opened and hoped I would walk to the end."

Ouyang Ye was silent for a long time, finally sighing heavily, "Sure enough... it is the Legacy left by that era, and also the shackles left by that era."

He looked at Lin Xuan, his gaze carrying more solemnity, "Kid, do you know why the ancient Dao of Martial Arts declined?"

Lin Xuan shook his head.

"Because of a war." Ouyang Ye's voice became low, as if recounting a dusty past, "A war between the Dao of Martial Arts and the Immortal Dao for dominance over the world. You know the outcome of that war—the Immortal Dao won, and the Dao of Martial Arts lost. The victors write history, and the losers have their traces erased. Countless Martial Arts powerhouses fell, countless Legacies were cut off, and those who remained could only hide their names or... be assimilated."

He looked at the scenery flying past outside the carriage window and continued, "My Bailian Villa is the descendant of those 'assimilated ones'. We retained some Body Refining and Artifact Refining arts, but we had to integrate into the Immortal Dao system and survive to this day as 'Artifact Refiners'. The true Dao of Martial Arts Legacy has long since vanished in the long river of time."

"And you..." He withdrew his gaze and let it fall on Lin Xuan again, "What you obtained in that ruin is perhaps one of the core parts of that annihilated Dao of Martial Arts Legacy. You should understand what the battle spirit meant by 'Sever the gaze of the enemies of the Dao of Martial Arts'."

Lin Xuan was silent. Of course he understood—once he truly embarked on this path, those "enemies" who severed the path of the Dao of Martial Arts in the ancient times, or rather their successors and spokespersons, would inevitably notice him and perhaps even... strike to eradicate him.

This was a path filled with thorns.

"Are you afraid?" Ouyang Ye asked.

Lin Xuan shook his head, his gaze as calm as water, "What if I am? The path is chosen, so I will walk it to the end."

Ouyang Ye stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter hoarse and hearty, "Good! What a 'The path is chosen, so I will walk it to the end'! Just for that sentence, saving you this time was worth it!"

He restrained his smile and said sternly, "Kid, this old man saved you for no other reason than to see how far a person who has obtained the true ancient Dao of Martial Arts Legacy can go. If you can truly carve out a path in the future, it can be considered... as fighting for a breath for those of us Martial Arts descendants who are lingering on."

Lin Xuan looked at this aged but burning-eyed old man, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart. He nodded, "Many thanks, Senior."

"Don't thank me yet." Ouyang Ye waved his hand, "I'm taking you to Bailian Villa partly to protect you, and partly because I want you to see those good-for-nothing juniors of my Bailian Villa. If there are any you take a fancy to, giving them some pointers can be considered... fulfilling a wish."

Lin Xuan nodded slightly, "I will do my best where I am able."

Ouyang Ye nodded with satisfaction, leaned back against the soft cushion, closed his eyes, and soon a slight snoring sound could be heard.

Inside the carriage, it fell silent again.

Wang Mang woke up at some point, scratching his head with a bewildered look. Li Dali looked at Lin Xuan thoughtfully, a strange light flashing in his eyes.

Lin Xuan did not say anything more, but also closed his eyes, continuing to silently circulate the Indestructible Body of the Martial God to repair the remaining injuries in his body. He could feel that he was getting closer and closer to the Perfection of the Spiritual Power Like a Tide realm.

The carriage sped along in silence, leaving Qingshi Town far behind.

Meanwhile, in Qingshi Town, at the Yunni Sect station.

In a secluded quiet room, Su Qingyue sat alone by the window, gazing at the setting sun outside. Her cold Face carried a faint bewilderment.

In today's public trial, she had stepped out, testified against Han Feiyu, and offended Zhao Yuanqing. Although the appearance of Ouyang Ye had ended the matter in a dramatic way, her future had completely changed.

She was no longer the obedient and compliant top student she once was. She had chosen what was "right", even if the cost of this "right" might be the cold eyes of her Sect, the alienation of her fellow disciples, or even... bigger trouble.

But she did not regret it.

She remembered Lin Xuan's eyes, as calm as water, remembered his figure standing up time and time again in the Black Wind Ridge ruins, and remembered that night in the West Courtyard, when facing the Soul-searching deacon, his calm words, "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The waste she once regarded as "different worlds from the immortals" and unworthy of her, now, had become an existence she needed to look up to.

"Lin Xuan..." She whispered, her gaze drifting out the window, as if she wanted to pierce through the endless distance to see that carriage driving away.

Suddenly, deep within her body, the "mark" that had existed since she was a child but had never caught her attention trembled violently!

A sharp pain surged from the depths of her Soul, making her Face instantly turn pale, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down from her forehead! She gritted her teeth tightly, not letting herself make a sound, but the trembling of the mark became more and more violent!

Immediately after, blurry scenes, like a bursting dam, flooded into her mind!

It was an endless Void Realm, seven towering figures joining forces to strike out a light that split the heavens and the earth...

It was a vast river of Qi and blood, wailing, breaking, and falling in the light...

It was a young couple holding an infant in swaddling clothes, their eyes full of reluctance and determination...

It was an ancient altar, the infant was gently placed in the center of the altar, and the figures of the couple gradually dissipated, turning into a stream of light that entered the infant's brow...

In that stream of light, a strange mark could be vaguely seen, slowly taking shape...

"Ah—!"

Su Qingyue clutched her head and let out a suppressed cry of pain!

Those images came and went quickly. When everything calmed down, she was soaked in cold sweat, slumped in her chair, panting heavily.

"What... was that?" Her eyes were full of shock and bewilderment.

Those images, those memories, did they belong to her? Who were that couple? And who... was that infant?

She lowered her head, looking at her trembling hands. For the first time, she felt deep doubt about her own "existence".

The mark in her body had returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

But Su Qingyue knew that something had changed completely.

She raised her head and looked out the window again, in the direction Lin Xuan had left. The bewilderment in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented firmness.

"I will find the answer." She whispered to herself, "I will."

Night fell, and the carriage stopped to rest in a mountain hollow.

A bonfire was lit, dispelling the chill of the night. Wang Mang went to a nearby stream to fetch water, while Li Dali was busy preparing dry rations. Lin Xuan sat cross-legged by the fire, eyes closed, adjusting his breathing.

Ouyang Ye sat opposite him, holding a wine gourd that appeared from nowhere, drinking it sip by sip. His turbid old eyes lingered on Lin Xuan for a long time, finally turning into a slight sigh.

"Kid, when you get to Bailian Villa, you might not be very welcome." He suddenly spoke.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, "Why?"

"Because most of those juniors of mine have forgotten the roots of their ancestors." Ouyang Ye gave a wry smile, "They pride themselves on being 'Artifact Refiners', take pride in being on good terms with major Sects, and scoff at the so-called 'Martial Arts Revival'. When you go there, they will only treat you as a Loose Cultivator who got lucky, and might even covet the Legacy on you."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment and said lightly, "It doesn't matter. I am only borrowing the place to heal my injuries, not seeking approval."

Ouyang Ye looked at him and nodded, "It's best if you can think that way. However..." He paused, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes, "If they take the initiative to provoke you, you don't need to be polite. This old man's old bones can still hold out for a few years. As long as you don't kill anyone, you can toss them around as you please."

Lin Xuan was slightly startled, and then a faint arc curved at the corner of his mouth, "Is Senior... letting me be a whetstone?"

"Smart." Ouyang Ye laughed loudly, "Those little brats have been too comfortable for too long and need someone to let them know what it means that 'there are heavens beyond the heavens'. As for you..." He looked at Lin Xuan, "Being able to survive in a place like the Black Wind Ridge ruins and obtaining the Legacy, you are more than enough to be a whetstone."

Lin Xuan did not refuse and nodded slightly, "Good."

The campfire crackled, reflecting two Faces, each with their own thoughts.

In the distance, the sound of Wang Mang humming an unknown tune came, mixed with the murmuring of the stream, adding a bit of vitality to the quiet night.

Three days later, the carriage passed through a series of rolling hills and stopped at the foot of a towering mountain.

The mountain was not high, but exceptionally steep, and the mountain body was reddish-brown, as if it had been scorched by a fierce fire. Above the mountainside, clouds and mist swirled, and clusters of buildings built against the mountain could be vaguely seen, with a magnificent Aura.

"We're here." Ouyang Ye lifted the carriage curtain and pointed to the mountain, "This is Bailian Villa."

Lin Xuan got out of the carriage and looked up. He could feel that beneath this mountain, an extremely dense fire Aura was surging in the Spiritual Vein, which was completely different from the Evil Qi he felt in the Black Wind Ridge ruins, but equally pure and vast.

"Under this place, there is a small geothermal Spiritual Vein." Ouyang Ye explained, "The ancestors of my Bailian Villa built the villa here precisely because they took a fancy to this point. Over the past thousand years, generations of villa masters have continuously reinforced and guided it, resulting in the scale it has today."

He looked at Lin Xuan, a complex light flashing in his eyes, "Kid, from today on, you will live here. What you can learn and what you can obtain all depends on your own fortune."

Lin Xuan nodded and bowed solemnly, "Many thanks, Senior."

Ouyang Ye waved his hand and turned to the grey-clothed old man driving the carriage, "Old Wu, take them to the 'Guest Elder Courtyard' and arrange a quiet courtyard. As for this kid..." He looked at Lin Xuan, "You come with me, this old man will take you to meet those good-for-nothing juniors first."

Lin Xuan said to Wang Mang and Li Dali, "You go and settle down first, I'll come later."

Wang Mang scratched his head, "Brother Lin, be careful."

Li Dali pulled him, "Let's go, let's go, Brother Lin knows what he's doing."

The two left with the grey-clothed old man.

Lin Xuan followed Ouyang Ye along the winding stone steps toward the buildings on the mountainside.

Sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a warm golden hue over this ancient Artifact Refining villa.

A new journey had begun.

(Volume One, Chapter 30 End)

[End of Volume One]

[Next Chapter Preview]: Volume One ends, Lin Xuan leaves Qingshi Town, follows Ouyang Ye to Bailian Villa, and opens a new chapter. Waiting for him is the complex situation inside Bailian Villa, the potential threat from the Yunni Sect, and even further digestion and growth of his own Legacy. The mark in Su Qingyue's body loosens, a dusty memory begins to emerge, and what kind of waves will the mystery of her life background lead to? Volume Two: Northern Domain Contention, Bailian Wind and Clouds!