Chapter 732

Twenty years—neither long nor short.

In these two decades, after taking over Blackwind Fort, Lin Yuan focused on just two things.

First: cultivation, raising his own strength as much as possible.

Second: training his subordinates, building a power centered around Blackwind Fort.

In this cyclical world, even the strongest Dao Masters remain flesh and blood, able to match, at most, a thousand soldiers.

Higher-level powers simply cannot exist here—not even for Lin Yuan.

Therefore, fostering a force, cultivating capable subordinates, was absolutely necessary.

Especially when the enemy was the Emperor of the Grand Feng Dynasty.

The dynasty ruled the world, able to command Dao Mages and even Dao Masters.

If Lin Yuan continued to fight alone—not to say he couldn’t kill the emperor, but the difficulty would be much higher.

But if he could build a faction powerful enough to contend with Grand Feng, and have that faction obey his every word.

It would give him far more initiative in the trial to slay the emperor.

And cultivating his own strength didn’t conflict with building a force.

There was no need to choose one over the other—he could do both.

This time loop, which had trapped countless 12th-rank perfect cultivators, was a test set by the Supreme Dao itself.

It targeted every 12th-rank peak.

Perhaps only the Gate of Myriad Realms could escape its surveillance.

As for Lin Yuan’s other methods—like his Rune Dao techniques—those were likely all within the Supreme Dao’s expectations.

And even so, the trial was still to “slay the Grand Feng Emperor.”

Which made it clear: there were critical truths Lin Yuan had yet to uncover.

With that in mind, he would take the most stable, cautious path, leveraging every bit of strength available to him.

As for the Boundary-breaking source energy from the Gate of Myriad Realms?

That was a last resort—Lin Yuan wouldn’t use it unless absolutely necessary.

At Blackwind Fort’s training grounds, young disciples sat cross-legged beneath the blazing sun.

All of them had been carefully selected from the Black Mountain region, possessing talent to become Dao Seekers.

Compared to the Grand Feng Dynasty’s wide-net approach to cultivating Dao Seekers.

Lin Yuan used the Rune Dao to peer into countless possible timelines, precisely identifying which mortals had the potential.

Though the future held endless variables, and becoming a Dao Seeker was influenced by many factors, under Lin Yuan’s guidance, each chosen youth had a sixty percent chance of succeeding. ṜάΝОBЕs

“Chief, what brings you here?”

As Lin Yuan entered the training field, a thin man immediately approached with respect.

His name was Ruan Yin, a trusted subordinate of Lin Yuan, now possessing the strength of a Dao Mage.

Ruan Yin had been abandoned as a baby in a village near Black Mountain, raised on handouts. One winter, desperate for supplies, he ventured into the mountain and was hunted by wolves.

Had Lin Yuan not intervened, he would’ve surely died.

This orphan’s Dao potential was extremely rare—unseen in a century, even by Grand Feng standards. In just ten years, he had advanced to Dao Mage level.

Now, he was already a powerful figure among Dao Mages.

He had a chance to reach the Dao Master realm within fifty years.

“Just came to have a look.”

Lin Yuan said casually. “How are the disciples progressing?”

“Thanks to your guidance, very well.”

Ruan Yin answered respectfully.

As a Dao Mage, he could shake the land with a single stomp—anywhere else.

Only Grand Feng could make Dao Mages tread carefully.

But in front of Lin Yuan? Ruan Yin didn’t dare show the slightest disrespect.

First, Lin Yuan had saved his life.

Without him, he’d have died in the jaws of wolves—becoming a Dao Mage would’ve been out of the question.

Second, Lin Yuan’s strength… every time Ruan Yin tried to sense him, it felt like sensing the vastness of the heavens themselves.

“That’s good.”

Lin Yuan nodded.

In twenty years—

He had trained over a thousand Dao Seekers.

More than twenty Dao Mages.

These Dao Seekers were now scattered across the ninety-nine provinces of the land.

Each one a piece in Lin Yuan’s future war against the Grand Feng Dynasty.

After observing for a bit, Lin Yuan returned to his secluded cultivation chamber.

“By now, Third Uncle should be almost back, right?”

A thought stirred, and runes appeared before him, revealing timelines related to his uncle.

[At age thirty-eight, you send Third Uncle to Manzhou to open trade routes. He successfully establishes ties with local powers. On his return, he is intercepted by the Dao sect Jinlong Sect.]

[A month later, Third Uncle is killed by Jinlong Sect.]

“Hm?”

Lin Yuan frowned slightly.

Before sending him to Manzhou, he had already examined dozens of future timelines to ensure there was no danger.

But the future held infinite possibilities—dozens of timelines could not guarantee absolute safety.

It only meant the risk was low.

“Jinlong Sect?”

Lin Yuan stroked his chin.

Jinlong Sect was a native Dao faction in Manzhou, one of the top three powers there, backed by a Dao Master.

He wasn’t surprised they’d target his uncle.

It boiled down to one word:

Profit.

Lin Yuan’s growing faction and mass cultivation of Dao Seekers demanded vast resources and wealth.

So he’d opened trade routes to generate the funds needed to support his force.

But wealth was finite. Every trade route Lin Yuan established impacted local powers.

Previously, when opening routes elsewhere, he had planted many contingencies. While local factions were upset, they didn’t dare act rashly.

Lin Yuan had been careful not to monopolize everything—he’d always shared just enough of the profits.

That created a delicate balance.

But now—

Jinlong Sect had still made a move, despite the consequences.

Clearly, some unexpected variable had arisen.

Lin Yuan delved deeper into future timelines through Rune Dao, trying to understand the root cause.

“The Dao Master of Jinlong Sect is nearing death. With their greatest support about to disappear, they’ve grown extremely wary. Third Uncle’s arrival made them think an outside force was invading?”

Lin Yuan quickly saw the full picture.

“Forget it.”

“I’ll handle this myself.”

After scanning hundreds more timelines, he made up his mind.

Jinlong Sect was, after all, a Master-level power.

If they attacked Third Uncle, no one but Lin Yuan could guarantee his safety.

Besides, Lin Yuan had his own plans for Manzhou.

With Jinlong Sect on the verge of collapse, it was a perfect opportunity to absorb them into his force.

And in the timelines he’d observed, acting now wouldn’t cause any major disruption.

On the border of Manzhou, deep within a dense forest—

The hunchbacked Third Uncle was fleeing for his life.

Over the past twenty years, under Lin Yuan’s guidance, he had also become a Dao Seeker.

Though limited by talent, he had yet to reach Dao Mage level.

But with the strength of an ordinary Dao Seeker combined with his martial arts skills, he was already very close to a true Dao Mage in combat.

Boom!

Sensing something, Third Uncle suddenly stopped running.

He stared ahead.

Four men in golden robes stepped out slowly.

“Old man, why’d you stop running?”

The man on the far left sneered at him.

“Gentlemen of Jinlong Sect, I have no intention toward Manzhou. I merely came to open trade routes.”

Third Uncle sighed and clasped his fists.

If possible, he really didn’t want to clash with Jinlong Sect.

As the top local power in Manzhou, backed by a Dao Master—

To truly offend them meant the end of business in the region.

He knew well how much Lin Yuan valued Manzhou—otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent him personally.

“Intentions mean nothing. Come with us.”

The man in the center said coldly.

With their patriarch about to pass, Jinlong Sect was on high alert toward any Dao Seeker entering Manzhou.

They feared someone would strike while they were weakest.

“You didn’t even ask my identity before detaining me. Is Jinlong Sect always this domineering?”

Third Uncle’s expression darkened.

He wasn’t about to surrender willingly.

It wasn’t just a matter of pride—

He feared exposing Lin Yuan and their greater force.

“Then tell us—who are you?”

A golden-robed man taunted.

“I’m…”

Third Uncle frowned.

“Doesn’t matter who you are. In Manzhou—aside from the Grand Feng Dynasty—this land belongs to us.”

The center man said coldly.

This hunchbacked old man was merely a basic Dao Seeker.

And given how he fled at the sight of them, he clearly wasn’t with the dynasty.

An official court Dao Seeker wouldn’t act like that.

High above, on a tree branch.

Lin Yuan appeared silently, gazing at the four golden-robed men blocking his uncle.

Before acting, his eyes lit up with countless runes as he scanned multiple timelines, calculating the impact of every possible move.

“I have no interest in Manzhou.”

“I ask Jinlong Sect to let this go—I'll offer one hundred thousand taels of gold in thanks.”

Third Uncle steadied himself and spoke softly.

“One hundred thousand taels?”

“Quite generous.”

The golden-robed man eyed him.

That was a massive sum.

Enough to cover Jinlong Sect’s entire annual expenses.

“Come with us.”

The man in the center remained cold.

“Will you come quietly, or do we drag you back?”

Another man stepped forward, eyes gleaming with amusement.

He was a Dao Mage, confident he could suppress Third Uncle completely.

“Jinlong Sect... I’ll remember this.”

Third Uncle’s gaze turned cold, murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

Realizing that reasoning wouldn’t work, he gave up the act.

His aura surged, spiritual power rising rapidly.

Under Lin Yuan’s tutelage, he had learned many Dao secret techniques.

Including ones that could temporarily amplify his power. Though such methods had dangerous side effects.

“Hm?”

Just as he was about to strike.

A pale, slender hand gently rested on his shoulder.

“Young Master?”

Third Uncle turned to see a young man standing behind him, stunned.

Wasn’t the Young Master in Black Mountain? When had he come here?

“Young Master, Jinlong Sect—”

He hurried to explain the situation.

“I know everything.”

Lin Yuan nodded and looked at the four golden-robed men.

“I’ve long heard of Jinlong Sect’s name. Today, I’ve come to learn from you firsthand.”

“You?”

The golden-robed man sneered.

He sensed faint Dao Seeker energy on Third Uncle—but from Lin Yuan?

Nothing. No Dao aura at all.

To his senses, Lin Yuan seemed like an ordinary mortal.

“Wait.”

Just as the golden-robed man was about to attack and finish them both.

The man in the center, who had remained still, raised his hand to stop him.

Golden light shimmered in his eyes as he stared at Lin Yuan.

His gaze was growing more and more serious.

...

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