Chapter Forty-Two: Depths of the Undercurrent, a New Chess Match

As night fell, silence returned to the Guest Elder Courtyard.

Lin Xuan sat cross-legged in the room, the Indestructible Body of the Martial God slowly circulating within him. The warmth from Ouyang Ye's "Hundred Herb Vitality-Nurturing Tea" transformed into a gentle current, resonating with the tempering power of the Ancient God Body Refining Technique, gradually repairing the internal injuries left by the day's battle.

Although the fight against Wolf Seven was a shocking victory, the price paid was not small.

Seven torn Meridians, three bone fractures, and tremors in all his internal organs—Ouyang Ye's diagnosis was no exaggeration. If he hadn't broken through to the "Spirit-Martial Unity" Realm at the critical moment, condensing nine hundred and ninety-nine strands of Source Martial Spiritual Energy into a true "Spiritual Power Core," he likely wouldn't have even been able to stand after that punch.

But now, he could feel those torn Meridians slowly healing and his fractured bones regenerating. More importantly, the Spiritual Power Core slowly rotating in his Dantian was more solid and... active than before.

The "Spirit-Martial Unity" Realm had finally completely stabilized.

He opened his eyes and looked at the moonlight outside the window.

The moonlight was like water, spilling over the bamboo forest in the courtyard and casting mottled shadows. Deep within the bamboo forest, all was silent.

But he knew that beneath that silence, undercurrents were surging.

...

Meanwhile, in the VIP Courtyard of Bailian Villa.

Han Mo sat alone in the room, his face as gloomy as water. A Communication Jade Talisman lay before him, emitting Zhao Yuanqing's cold voice:

"...That Lin Xuan actually managed to Breakthrough mid-battle and defeat the Early Stage Golden Core Wolf Seven with a single punch? Is this truly the case?"

Han Mo gritted his teeth and said, "Revered Master, I saw it with my own eyes; there is no falsehood. That kid... is too bizarre. He could fight a Foundation Establishment Perfection while in the Qi Refinement Stage, and after breaking through, he defeated an Early Stage Golden Core with one punch. If such a person isn't eliminated soon, there will be endless trouble!"

There was a moment of silence from the other side of the talisman before Zhao Yuanqing's voice rang out again: "What did Wolf Seven have to say?"

"Wolf Seven has already led his people away overnight," Han Mo said. "Before leaving, he left word that the Sky Wolf Gang no longer has anything to do with this matter. The people from those three Sects have also dispersed. Only Leng Ningshuang... remains at the villa, saying she wants to observe for a few more days."

"Leng Ningshuang?" Zhao Yuanqing sneered. "That girl from Xuanbing Valley likely has other intentions. But no matter, a Late Stage Foundation Establishment can't stir up much trouble. However, that Lin Xuan..."

He paused, his voice becoming even colder: "At the main Sect, Senior Brother Zhao Yuanzhen has already set out. He will arrive at Bailian Villa in twenty days at most. During these twenty days, keep a close eye on Lin Xuan for me; do not leave him for a single step. I want to see just what waves he can make!"

"Yes!" Han Mo replied.

The light of the jade talisman extinguished, and the room returned to darkness.

Han Mo looked up toward the Guest Elder Courtyard, a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.

Twenty days.

Twenty days later will be the day you die.

...

At the same time, in another quiet courtyard.

Leng Ningshuang sat alone by the window, holding a cup of clear tea, her gaze fixed on the bright moon outside. A faint smile actually appeared on her ice-cold face.

"Interesting..." she murmured softly, her voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. "Defeating Yan Lie with one punch, repelling Wolf Seven with one punch... Lin Xuan, just who are you?"

Behind her, an aged voice suddenly sounded: "Young Miss, it is time to rest."

Leng Ningshuang didn't turn around, simply saying calmly, "Uncle Wu, what do you think would happen if our Xuanbing Valley could win this person over?"

The aged voice was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "The trouble surrounding this person is not small. Zhao Yuanzhen of the Yunni Sect is already on his way; he is a Late Stage Golden Core, half-step into Nascent Soul. If we intervene, we fear making an enemy of the Yunni Sect."

"So what if we make an enemy of them?" A cold smile curled on Leng Ningshuang's lips. "The Yunni Sect has been acting overbearingly in the Northern Region these years; do they really think my Xuanbing Valley is afraid of them? Besides..."

She paused, a strange light flashing in her eyes. "A man who can make an Early Stage Golden Core kneel and beg for mercy is worth a gamble."

"Young Miss means..."

Leng Ningshuang stood up, placed her teacup on the table, and said calmly, "Tomorrow, I want to see him again."

...

Guest Elder Courtyard.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes and looked toward the courtyard gate.

There, a faint, almost non-existent aura was quietly approaching.

The aura was very light, so light it was almost undetectable. But since breaking through to the "Spirit-Martial Unity" Realm, Lin Xuan's perception of his surroundings had reached a new level. Within thirty yards, any movement could not escape his senses.

The courtyard gate was gently pushed open.

An aged figure appeared in the moonlight.

It was Old Wu.

He still wore that expressionless face. Walking to Lin Xuan's room, he said hoarsely, "The Old Ancestor asked me to pass a message to you."

Lin Xuan stood up and pushed the door open. "Please, speak."

Old Wu looked at him, a complex light flashing in his cloudy old eyes. "The Old Ancestor says the people from the Yunni Sect will arrive in twenty days. A Late Stage Golden Core, half-step into Nascent Soul. If you want to live, stay in this courtyard for these twenty days and go nowhere."

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment before slowly asking, "And if I must go?"

Old Wu looked at him and suddenly smiled. The smile was faint, yet it carried a hint of... relief?

"The Old Ancestor also said that if your answer after hearing this was 'why' instead of 'yes,' then he would be at ease." Old Wu turned to leave, saying as he walked, "Rest and recover. We will talk about the matters twenty days from now when the time comes."

His figure disappeared into the bamboo forest.

Lin Xuan gazed in the direction he had left, his gaze deep.

Twenty days.

Late Stage Golden Core, half-step into Nascent Soul.

He looked down at his hands.

These hands had just defeated an Early Stage Golden Core with a single punch today.

But between the Early Stage and Late Stage of the Golden Core, there were two whole minor Realms. Not to mention, a half-step into Nascent Soul.

He needed to be even stronger.

He turned, walked back into the room, and sat cross-legged once more.

He took out the Jade Slip Ouyang Ye had given him—the Divine Forging Record.

His Divine Sense probed into it, and the profound characters seemed to come alive, flowing through his mind.

"The Divine Soul is the root of a person. The Physical Body can be destroyed, but the Divine Soul is immortal. The path of Divine Forging begins with Spirit Concentration, is achieved through Soul Refining, and reaches its peak in Void Transformation..."

This was a completely new path.

He closed his eyes and, following the methods of the Divine Forging Record, began attempting to condense that ethereal power of the Divine Soul.

Outside the window, the moonlight was like water.

Inside the room, a faint, flickering aura was quietly being nurtured.

...

The next morning.

Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a strange look flashing within them.

After a night of cultivation, he had gained a basic understanding of the Divine Forging Record. Although he was still far from "Spirit Concentration," he could feel that his perception was sharper than before, and his Sea of Consciousness was clearer.

There was a gentle knock at the courtyard gate.

Wang Mang's loud voice came through: "Brother Lin! Someone is looking for you!"

Lin Xuan stood up and pushed the door open.

A white figure stood at the courtyard entrance.

Leng Ningshuang.

Today, she was still dressed in white, as pure as snow, but her ice-cold face now bore a faint smile. It was subtle, yet it gave her cold and elegant features an indescribable charm.

"Young Master Lin, please forgive my unannounced visit," she said, her voice as clear and cold as a spring.

Lin Xuan looked at her, his gaze calm. "Does Miss Leng have business?"

Leng Ningshuang didn't beat around the bush, saying directly, "I wish to discuss a deal with you."

Lin Xuan raised an eyebrow. "A deal?"

"Indeed." Leng Ningshuang nodded. "My Xuanbing Valley is willing to provide protection for you. The condition is... if you achieve success in the future, you must act once on behalf of our Xuanbing Valley."

Lin Xuan looked at her and suddenly smiled. "Miss Leng, your words are almost identical to what Liu Yanran of the Xuanji Pavilion said."

Leng Ningshuang's expression remained unchanged. "Great minds think alike. Besides, having one more ally is always better than one more enemy. Don't you agree?"

Lin Xuan was silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Can Xuanbing Valley's protection stop Zhao Yuanzhen of the Yunni Sect?"

Leng Ningshuang looked at him and said word by word, "It cannot. But... it can buy you more time."

Lin Xuan's heart stirred. "What do you mean?"

Leng Ningshuang stepped closer and lowered her voice. "Xuanbing Valley has a Grand Elder who is an old acquaintance of Ouyang Ye. If you are willing, we can ask that Elder to step forward and, when Zhao Yuanzhen arrives, use the excuse of 'observing and sparring' to delay the matter for a period of time."

She paused and looked at Lin Xuan. "You need time, do you not?"

Lin Xuan looked at her, his gaze deep.

This woman was much smarter than she appeared on the surface.

She saw exactly what he needed most—not protection, not resources, but time.

"The conditions?" Lin Xuan asked.

"I have already stated them," Leng Ningshuang said. "In the future, act once for my Xuanbing Valley."

Lin Xuan was silent for a long time before slowly nodding. "Fine, I agree."

A faint smile blossomed on Leng Ningshuang's face as she took an ice-blue jade talisman from her sleeve and handed it to Lin Xuan. "This is a token. If you have made up your mind, you can crush this talisman at any time, and I will know."

Lin Xuan took the jade talisman; it was bone-chilling to the touch, yet it had a strange sense of warmth.

Leng Ningshuang turned to leave. At the courtyard gate, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Lin Xuan.

"Young Master, I have also heard about the matter regarding Su Qingyue. If you need it, I can help you look for more information."

Lin Xuan's gaze narrowed slightly. "Miss Leng knows her?"

Leng Ningshuang shook her head. "I do not. But as a fellow woman, I have some... sympathy."

With that, she turned and left, her white figure disappearing into the depths of the bamboo forest.

Lin Xuan watched her leave, lost in thought.

Xuanji Pavilion, Xuanbing Valley, Bailian Villa...

An invisible web was quietly forming around him.

And he was the center of that web.

He looked down at the ice-blue jade talisman in his hand.

Twenty days.

Time was slowly ticking away.

(End of Volume 2, Chapter 42)

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[Next Chapter Preview]: Depths of the Undercurrent, a New Chess Match. Xuanbing Valley's olive branch has bought valuable time for Lin Xuan. But the twenty-day countdown has quietly begun. Zhao Yuanzhen is on his way, Su Qingyue is still at the Yunni Sect, and Lin Xuan must become stronger within the limited time. Can his cultivation of the Divine Forging Record allow him to take another step forward? Can Leng Ningshuang's promise be fulfilled? Next Chapter: The Countdown Begins, Racing Against Time!