Ultimate Path to Heaven

Chapter 26 Heavenly Spiritual Energy

As Xiao Jin felt a slight stinging sensation in his body, the 'fluorescent light' that entered his body seemed to gather into a thin line of ice, subtle yet not to be ignored, as if carrying a clarity that pierced through the chaos, and fell straight down.

It was as if it had crashed into a river flowing through one's meridians; it no longer sted or felt cold, but instead transformed into a warm yet powerful current, surging forth irresistibly.

The feeling inside... is like spring water overflowing a dried-up, cracked riverbed.

It felt as if all the meridians in my body were being opened up and widened, bringing a slightly swollen, tingling sensation, as if corners that had been dormant for thousands of years were being awakened one by one.

In a single instant, Xiao Jin felt his five senses become sharper than ever before.

Its eyes can see dust, its ears can hear the wind, the sound of its blood flowing is like the babbling of a stream, its bones are strong and tough, and even its skin seems to have a precious light flowing beneath it.

A wondrous rhythm, synchronized with the breath of heaven and earth, arises from within, as if one has become part of this vast universe, brimming with boundless energy and vitality.

However, all of this, all the strange sensations... eventually subsided with the arrival of midnight, as if nothing had ever happened.

"strangeness......"

Regardless of what the 'fluorescence' entering the body is, the sensation is as if it spreads throughout the body and tries to gather in one place, but is hindered by some kind of 'obstacle' and fails to succeed, and eventually leaves the body.

"Could this be what they call spiritual energy?"

Once everything calmed down, Xiao Jin's mind returned to normal, and he looked around... it seemed that everything had returned to normal.

Instinctively looking at his hands, Xiao Jin vaguely remembered that a strange change seemed to have occurred at a certain moment, but there was nothing unusual at the moment.

Is it just my imagination?

Recalling the fragments of the original owner's memories, Xiao Jin's head was buzzing, so he simply stopped thinking about it and went to bed.

Before we knew it, it was already the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).

Wang Suiyue and Ye Bufan, who were outside, both breathed a sigh of relief at this moment.

In the past, no matter what the young master did during the full moon, he would quiet down around the hour of Chou (1-3 AM). Although the young master appeared unusual this time, the fluctuations in spiritual energy were not beyond their comprehension.

After confirming everything was alright, the two sat cross-legged outside. The spiritual energy within the Full Moon Canyon was far more concentrated than at any time when it was shrouded in mist.

As early as midnight, almost everyone in the canyon, including the Blood Guards, was using their cultivation techniques to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth...

But Lin Yan is different.

Before the window of the wooden house, a jade chessboard lay across the table, its 361 moves forming a dense, intricate network.

Lin Yan sat alone by the secluded window, his black robes flowing like clouds, his fingertips holding a black jade chess piece, which he did not put down for a long time.

As expected, Xiao Muyu, after years of forbearance, still had his own agenda...

As if frozen in time, Lin Yan suddenly tapped down with a black piece, a clear sound breaking the silence—abandoning three paths, allowing the white pieces to advance unimpeded.

"I wonder what that kid's state of mind is..."

Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating the black and white pieces on the chessboard, a battle of yin and yang, much like the subtle division of the world's destiny at Lin Yan's fingertips.

Huizhou City.

City Lord's Mansion.

On the sandalwood desk lay piles of yellowed silk scrolls and jade slips containing cultivation techniques. A night breeze blew through the window, causing the pages to flutter and cover half a cup of cold tea.

The Eighth Prince, Chu Xiong, pressed his fingertips against his brow, gazing at the numerous martial arts manuals on the table. The faint aura of 'blood' emanating from him grew even stronger.

"Damn it! All my cultivation techniques are useless. Just what kind of beings exist above the ninth rank?"

The Eighth Prince, Chu Xiong, also tried to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth by taking advantage of the richness of the full moon, but all his techniques were useless, and he could not sense the existence of the so-called spiritual energy at all.

I don't know how much time passed after I placed my finger between my eyebrows.

"Use me to kill... in exchange for extended life?"

"Your wicked cultivation methods are exactly what I wanted!"

As he muttered to himself, the Eighth Prince Chu Xiong simply stopped looking at those ridiculous martial arts techniques and stared straight ahead... as if frozen in time.

After a moment of withdrawing his gaze, a cold glint suddenly appeared in Chu Xiong's eyes, like a blood-quenched ice blade breaking its sheath, exuding intense killing intent!

"Since that's the case, then I, the Eighth Prince, will use killing as my path, and through killing I will seek to surpass... and incidentally, let you, the old emperor, witness your son's path of slaughter!"

.........

Before dawn, the canyon was already stirring like a hibernating beast awakening.

Smoke, like iron-gray pythons, emerged from the mud stoves and coiled around the surrounding wooden corridors. Piles of freshly chopped firewood lay beside each stove, the dull thud of axes striking wooden anvils startling birds.

Rough linen, stretched taut by grains and the like, was piled high. Torn brocade haphazardly covered several baskets of dried meat strips, and strings of shriveled wild rabbits hung from iron hooks on beams.

Busy activity was underway everywhere, with people bustling about.

Pushing open the door, the crisp scent of grass and dew filled his lungs. Stretching comfortably, Xiao Jin slept very soundly, waking up at least half an hour later than others.

By this time, Wang Suiyue and the other man were nowhere to be seen outside.

Looking around, he saw neither the Blood Guards nor his mother, Xiao Muyu, nor even a single familiar face.

Xiao Jin didn't care. He felt very relaxed and comfortable in the canyon, and his mind was clear and free of any other thoughts.

As he descended the wooden steps, no one came to greet him, so Xiao Jin simply walked on.

Smoke from numerous chimneys and meat hanging from roof beams were everywhere... a stark contrast to Qingxi Village.

"This...food?"

Looking at a pile of grain, Xiao Jin couldn't help but frown.

"If that's the case, why go and rob the poor people of their food?"

Although there are hundreds or even thousands of people in the valley, Xiao Jin could only see so much food and meat that even if he ate his fill every meal, it would probably take him a month or two to finish it all.

Plenty of food and clothing, a peaceful and harmonious world... bandits?

Throughout the canyon, Xiao Jin not only failed to sense any banditry, but also felt a strange sense of familiarity—he couldn't understand why these people would use the name of bandits to wreak havoc on the people.

"An old friend?"

Mother's insistence on coming here seemed to indicate that she was an old friend of Lin Yan and had some purpose. However, Xiao Jin did not pay attention to this at first and was also troubled by not having a clear direction.

Looking back now...

"No, I need to know more!"

Frustrated by the fact that there were very few fragments of the original owner's memories, Xiao Jin decided to try to extend his knowledge through his mother, Xiao Muyu, since she was the person he cared about most in this other world.

With no desire to wander around any longer, Xiao Jin turned back to look for the wooden house where his mother, Xiao Muyu, was, only to see a Blood Guard carrying food walking towards him from his right.

The Blood Guard was originally stationed outside Xiao Jin's room. Seeing that the young master had not yet woken up, he went away to find some food. Little did he know that in just a short while...

As soon as Xiao Jin came into view, the Blood Guard hurriedly stepped forward, carrying food and clasping his hands in greeting: "Young Master!"

Xiao Jin dismissed this, asking, "Where are Mother and the two commanders?"

After relaxing, the Blood Guard replied, "Young Master, someone summoned Miss and the two commanders when it was just getting light."

"Hmm?" Xiao Jin felt something was off. "Has something happened?"

"I don't know the specifics, but judging from the situation, that should be it."

Do you know where they were summoned?

"This humble servant will now lead the way for you!"