Karmic Cycle: In the End, No One Could Escape Fate

Lin Che looked at Lin Yi, the Tongtian Tower envoy before him, and nodded. "Fellow Daoist Lin Yi, it has been a hundred years. I never expected you to still be at the early Soul Transformation Stage."

"It really is you!"

Lin Yi's face was filled with shock. "Didn't you die in the Extraterrestrial Battlefield? How did you return? And your cultivation has even broken through to the Nascent Soul Transformation stage. How is that possible...?"

"Just luck."

Lin Che sat calmly on the ground. With a sweep of his sleeve, the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators kneeling on the ground all rose to their feet, their hearts even more terrified by the power of a Nascent Soul Transformation Expert.

It was terrifying beyond belief, utterly shocking.

Lin Yi teleported before Lin Che. After confirming that he had not been possessed, he finally understood why Lin Che had been hailed as Vermillion Bird Star's greatest prodigy in millions of years.

He had reached the Nascent Soul Transformation stage at such a young age. Given enough time, wouldn't breaking through to the Ascendant stage be effortless for him?

"I originally intended to use mortals' spiritual roots to create a god for Zhao Kingdom. Now, it seems there is no need. Lin Che... Senior, would you be willing to guard this place for a hundred years? By then, our Zhao Kingdom will certainly rise to a Four-Grade Cultivation Nation."

Lin Yi had exhausted every possible means to strengthen the nation. He was not originally from Zhao Kingdom, and his duty was to guard the Tongtian Tower here, so he had no way to raise Zhao Kingdom into a Four-Grade Cultivation Nation.

Now that Lin Che had returned, with his Nascent Soul Transformation stage cultivation, Zhao Kingdom could directly rise to a Fifth-Grade Cultivation Nation. The resources they would gain would be countless.

Lin Che stood with one hand behind his back and answered calmly, "We can discuss that later. I cannot remain in Zhao Kingdom for a hundred years. However, I have already left my divine sense throughout Zhao Kingdom. It can withstand attacks from any nation below a Fifth-Grade Cultivation Nation."

Hearing this, Lin Yi frowned, but he could not say anything further. Whether Lin Che stayed or left was not for him to decide.

If he guarded this place for a hundred years, Zhao Kingdom would directly rise to a Fifth-Grade Cultivation Nation, gaining countless opportunities in the future.

Lin Yi stroked his pale beard and only then remembered his task. He glanced at the other Nascent Soul Stage experts.

Once he confirmed that every Nascent Soul Stage cultivator from Zhao Kingdom had arrived, the clouds in the sky grew even denser. Lin Yi slowly floated into the air, and with a wave of his fingers, shot a beam of golden light into the heavens.

The clouds immediately began to churn. A red beam descended from the sky and landed on the vast plaza before the Tongtian Tower, forming a barrier that completely enveloped the plaza.

"Lin Yi, inspector of the Third-Grade Cultivation Nation, respectfully welcomes the Alliance envoy."

As the clouds dispersed, a giant from the Giant Demon Race appeared out of thin air. Surging energy spread outward in waves like a raging sea.

All the Nascent Soul Stage experts of Zhao Kingdom, including Pu Nanzi and the other two, felt their hearts tremble beneath the giant's single glance.

Their Nascent Souls nearly collapsed. They had no doubt that if he stared for even a moment longer, their Nascent Souls would be unable to bear that immense pressure and would explode on their own.

Lin Che stood with his hands behind his back. Naturally, the other man's aura could not make him feel the slightest discomfort. On the contrary, this Giant Demon Race cultivator was merely at the late Soul Transformation Stage and was not capable of disturbing his aura.

"The spiritual energy in this dump is thin as hell. It's not even enough for one breath."

The Giant Demon Race expert snorted disdainfully, then looked toward Lin Che in the crowd. Upon sensing that Lin Che was at the Nascent Soul Transformation stage, his previously arrogant tone noticeably became more restrained.

"Listen carefully! In three months, the passage to the Extraterrestrial Battlefield will open. If any of you finds a bead like this within the Extraterrestrial Battlefield, hand it over immediately!"

"Anyone who turns it in will receive a Nascent Soul Transformation-grade magic treasure. But if anyone dares keep the bead for himself, I will slaughter every cultivator in your cultivation nation... and sect!"

His thunderous voice rang through the crowd, as though he might slaughter every living being here at any moment.

The Giant Demon Race expert glanced at Lin Che. He had originally wanted to say he would slaughter all of Zhao Kingdom, but considering that this man was a Nascent Soul Transformation Expert, offending him was not a wise choice. Thus, he changed his words.

"This Seven-Colored Treasure Lotus is mine. I'll await your good news!"

As his voice fell, the Spirit Severing Stage magic treasure above the Tongtian Tower was instantly taken by the Giant Demon Race expert. The mist-shrouded sky also cleared away.

Lin Yi's mouth twitched. He clenched his fists through gritted teeth and angrily flicked his sleeve, yet he did not dare say anything.

After all, before a late Soul Transformation Stage expert, an early Soul Transformation Stage cultivator like him had no power to stop him. Moreover, the man was an Alliance envoy. If he offended him, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Since that is the case, go back and make your preparations. Jue Ming Valley will open in three days. Take these tokens and arrange for your disciples to enter."

Lin Yi was furious beyond measure. He could only toss out several tokens, nod toward Lin Che, and return to the tower.

Just as everyone was about to leave, Teng Huayuan immediately called out to Gao Qiming, the Piao Miao Sect Master. "Fellow Daoist Gao Qiming, please wait."

Gao Qiming, who was also at the early Nascent Soul Stage, stopped and looked at Teng Huayuan in confusion. "Fellow Daoist Teng, what business do you have with me?"

Teng Huayuan clenched his fists. "Not long ago, a guest disciple of my Teng Family was slain. To avenge him, someone offered a Nascent Soul Stage magic treasure and asked my great-grandson for help. I never expected him to be killed instead..."

"That person carries a strand of my divine sense, but I do not know which expert helped him. I searched bitterly for days without finding anything. Therefore, I ask Fellow Daoist Qiming to help me find his closest relatives."

Lin Che turned around and frowned slightly. By the normal course of events, Teng Li should already have died. Why was Wang Lin still being hunted by Teng Huayuan?

In the original story, Wang Lin killed Old Man Ji Mo's disciple, prompting Old Man Ji Mo to offer a Nascent Soul Stage magic treasure and ask Teng Li to avenge his disciple. Could it be that Teng Huayuan had arranged for another disciple instead?

Teng Huayuan continued, "After Li'er perished, I, Teng Huayuan, raised an even more exceptionally talented disciple. He reached the Late Foundation Establishment Stage at only eighteen years old, and his future achievements would have been limitless. Yet I never expected him to have his soul extracted by a mere Qi Condensation brat. Even if I must search heaven and hell, I will make his soul scatter and vanish!"

"So that's how it is."

Lin Che took the wine gourd from his waist and took a sip. He said meaningfully, "The karmic cycle turns. In the end, one still cannot escape the price of slaughter. Teng Huayuan, Teng Huayuan, take care of yourself."

Teng Huayuan turned toward the empty ground. For some reason, he seemed to have just heard Senior Lin Che's voice. Could it have been an illusion?

"Fellow Daoist Qiming, as long as you help me find that man's closest relatives, I, Teng Huayuan, will give you this Soul Transformation-grade magic treasure, the Dragon Turtle Armor!"

PS: I can't reply to chapter comments. Sorry.

I can see everything you say.