North State, the far north
This is a very big underground cave, even bigger than the previous one. Lin Jiang put a lot of effort into arranging it and now it has a spring-like atmosphere all year round.
Flowers are blooming, plants are flourishing, and thereās even a beehive with bees buzzing busily, working hard to collect honey.
In the middle of the cave, there are five straw huts ā a kitchen, a meditation room, a kitchen, a study, and a living room, everything you need.
"Letās eat the food from two storage bags and then we can talk."
"Tens of thousands of books, including techniques, famous travelogues, novels, and more. Read them all before making a decision."
"Dozens of secret arts, practice them first before saying anything."
"Enough materials for a whole storage bag of fourth-tier spiritual talismans. Finish drawing them before saying anything."
"Oh, a whole lot, I mean, dozens of bottles of elixirs. Finish eating them before saying anything."
Lin Jiang carefully placed each storage bag in the study. He had spent all of his money, including the rare materials he had stored before, just to get these things, apart from the spirit stones he used for cultivation.
Lin Jiang planned to exhaust and use up everything before making a move. If he couldnāt achieve these three things, he wouldnāt leave the house. As for people from the outside, he considered them none of his concern.
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Holy Heavenly Sect in Central Province
Yang Xi and Yang Xiong opened the closed-door of Yang Luoās secluded room, only to find Yang Luo sitting on a cushion, looking withered and dull, unlike her previous elegance.
"Yang Luo"
Yang Xi saw this scene and felt very sad. Yang Luo is someone he has watched grow up, always confident and radiant. How could he have imagined that Yang Luo would have such a day?
"Dad, I donāt understand."
"Yang Luo, if you donāt understand, donāt think about it. Itās all nonsense."
"Itās not nonsense. There really are many cultivation worlds, but I donāt know what a parallel world is. The same world, the same people, but a different understanding of life, why would it be like this?"
"Yang Luo, listen to Dad. Stop thinking about it."
"Dad, you donāt understand. These questions are about the ultimate truth. If you comprehend them, the things you can gain are beyond your imagination."
Yang Luo shook her head. Both Yang Xi and Yang Xiong have seen that jade scroll, but they felt nothing, even thinking it was all nonsense.
But Yang Luo sees it differently because she knows a lot of things. She tries to explain it using her own knowledge, but she canāt make it clear. For the proud Yang Luo, this is unbearable.
So she became more and more eager to figure it out. The more she wanted to figure it out, the more fascinated she became. She had already entered the depths of her thoughts.
"Yang Luo, listen to father, okay?"
"Father, has Yun Qi been found?"
"Yang Luoā¦"
"Senior brother"
"Not found, Yun Qiās younger brother is also missing. Bai Yu confessed everything. This Yun Qi is a friend he met in Shenmu City, who helped him with illegal activities, helped him with fraudulent accounts, took him out to eat, drink, and have fun, and also helped him with many other things. Bai Yu considered him a brother, but I donāt know who he is." š«Ćļ¼®Ć“įĆsĢ©
"I know who he is, he is Li Changsheng."
"Li Changsheng, the person youāve been investigating for many years?"
"Yes, itās him."
Yang Luo nodded. She didnāt have any proof to show that Yun Qi was Li Changsheng, but her intuition told her so. Besides Li Changsheng, she couldnāt think of anyone else who would plot against him and try to harm her heart.
"If itās Li Changsheng, Junior Sister, you should prepare yourself early. These sneaky rats from the sewers may not have any other skills, but they are incredibly good at hiding. You canāt catch him, at least not in a short time."
"Yang Luo, wipe away this memory."
"No, I must have an answer to these questions. Some of them are very important to me."
Yang Luo said, there were hundreds of questions, and not all of them could shake her. But there were some questions that truly troubled her.
For example, the question of the origin of humans. Did the Genesis God really create the world and create humans? Where is this Genesis God, and can humans reach their level?
Another example is the question of the origin of the universe. Why do people say that the universe has only existed for a little over tens of billions of years? How is this calculated? And what kind of powers would allow a cultivator to go back in time or go into the future?
These questions may seem nonsensical, but they align with the great Dao. If Yang Luo can unravel them, she feels that she can comprehend unimaginable powers that would amaze the world. That is the true reason why she is fascinated by these questions.
"Yang Luo, look at yourself now, what have you become?"
Yang Xi directly took out a mirror and placed it in front of Yang Luo.
Yang Luo looked at herself in the mirror and was also shocked. How did she become like this?
"Junior sister, you have been in seclusion for decades. During these decades, your cultivation has not made any progress. You told me that you could break through the Soul Changing stage within twenty years. If you continue to be so obsessed, not only will you not achieve Soul Changing, but your Nascent Soul will also be shattered."
"Iā¦"
"Cut yourself once, junior sister. Please, for me and our fatherās sake. We are really worried about you if you continue like this."
Yang Xiong directly pleaded with Yang Luo. They loved Yang Luo so much, treating her like a real family member. Seeing her in such a state, it pained them deeply.
"Yang Luo, I promise you that we wonāt destroy this jade slip. After erasing your memories, Iāll preserve it for you. However, I will unravel it gradually, revealing the numerous problems inside. They were intentionally set by our enemies to ruin your cultivation, so you mustnāt fall for it."
"Okay."
In the end, Yang Luo agreed. She also realized that if she continued to sit idly, she wouldnāt find any answers. She promised to erase this memory and start anew.
"Great, Yang Luo, you finally agreed."
Yang Xi was about to cry. After decades, he finally agreed. He had suggested this solution long ago, but Yang Luo had always refused, making him very worried.
"Erasing memories is only a temporary solution. Before Tao Achieving, it wonāt affect me. But Tao Achieving requires a complete state of mind, so Li Changsheng has become my Heart Demon, my lifelong enemy. If I donāt deal with him, my life will be ruined."
"Yang Luo, I know what to do. I will mobilize the entire Holy Heavenly Sectās power to find Li Changsheng and bring him to you for punishment."
"Okay, Li Changshengās clues are in Yun State. He may be a descendant of the Lin family. Please help me write an invitation letter to invite Lin Ying, from the Lin family, to Holy Heavenly Sect for a meeting."
Yang Luo nodded. She was destined to achieve Tao, and now the biggest obstacle to Tao Achieving had appeared. She had to resolve this matter.
"Is Lin Ying from Yun State, the daughter of Lin Batian?"
"Yes, thatās her."
"Yang Luo, Lin Batian is a very formidable person. Donāt provoke enemies for no reason."
"I know, Iām just using Lin Ying to find someone. Lin Ying has a level four Aurora falcon by their side, just like Li Changsheng had before. They are a male and a female, and their relationship is extraordinary."
Yang Luo said. I have observed Yun State closely and have seen Lin Batianās strength. We cannot underestimate him with Void Achieving. Holy Heavenly Sect wouldnāt provoke this enemy for no reason.
"Okay, Iāll help you erase your memory first."
"Dad and senior brother will leave first. I will soon come out of seclusion."
Yang Luo nodded. She had already learned the secret technique of erasing memories. She just needed to be determined enough.
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"Lin Ying, my Taoist friend. Lin Yu, my Taoist friend."
Within Holy Heavenly Sect, Yang Luo, who had regained her radiance, greeted Lin Ying and Big Shadiao.
"Yang Luo, my Taoist friend, you said you had news about Li Changsheng. Where is he?"
"Oh no, he ran away again. He used to hide his true name and go by Yun Qi, in the city of Shenmu. That Aurora falcon became his little brother, and I had a hard time finding him. I donāt know how, but he ran away again."
"Is Yang Luoās Taoist friend trying to harm him?"
"No way, me and Li Changshengā¦ never mind, letās not talk about those things. The point is, he betrayed me, and I wonāt let myself be betrayed by him."
Yang Luo shook her head, showing a deep affectionate expression, leaving Lin Ying and Big Shadiao looking at each other in surprise.
"Why did Yang Luoās Taoist friend come looking for me?"
"Before, Lin Ying was busy with matters in Yun State and didnāt have time to search for them. But I have the time, so I wanted to ask Lin Yingās Taoist friend for help. Just a few drops of blood, so I can use the Blood Tracking Secret Technique to find Li Changsheng."
"Itās not right to give away my own blood, Taoist Friend Yang. I canāt agree to this."
Lin Ying declined; her blood is closely tied to herself. If Yang Luo were to use her blood against her, Lin Ying wouldnāt be able to resist. So, she naturally refused.
"Does Lin Ying not trust me?"
"This is the basic quality of a cultivator, and it has nothing to do with trustworthiness. The attacks from Yun State have slowed down in recent years, so I have some time. Iāll go find it myself."
Lin Ying said, previously she indeed had no time. After Yang Luo visited Yun State, Qing State launched an attack on Yun State. Lin Ying was busy defending against Qing Stateās attacks and didnāt have any free time. But now she has time.
"Thatās fine. Can I accompany Lin Ying as a Taoist friend?"
"Yes, you can."
Lin Ying nodded. Yang Luo is still at the Nascent Soul stage. Lin Ying knows she has some tricks up her sleeve, but being Soul Changing, she still has some self-defense ability, so Lin Ying is not afraid of that.
"Thank you, Sister Lin. Sister Lin, please stay at the Holy Heavenly Sect for a few more days. My sister would like to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."
Yang Luo warmly invited Lin Ying to stay, preparing to probe into someoneās past and see if she can extract any useful information.