Ten Years

Having left the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate, Lin Heng began traveling the world.

He had no particular destination; he simply went wherever his heart took him.

Sometimes, like an ordinary traveler, he journeyed on foot, sensing the pulse of Heaven and Earth Mountains and Rivers.

Sometimes, he unfurled his Movement Art, becoming like a wisp of breeze as he danced with the myriad beasts and chased the birds in the sky.

Sometimes, he entered cities, sat in taverns and teahouses, and listened to passersby's joys, sorrows, meetings, and partings.

He had gone to the easternmost edge of the East Sea Dynasty to see the boundless ocean, to the northernmost Thunder Roar Mountain Range of the Northpeak Dynasty to witness the wondrous sight of ten thousand bolts of lightning striking the mountains, and to the Ice and Snow Mountain Range where Ice Frost City stood, where he saw ice that had not melted for ages untold.

He had watched flowers, grasses, and trees wither and flourish, and had also witnessed a whale fall, giving life to all things.

Lin Heng's mind merged into Heaven and Earth Nature. Like the lofty Heavenly Dao, he looked coldly upon the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth and the countless faces of the mortal world.

One year, then another.

He could clearly feel the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth and the countless faces of the mortal world turning into Shackles that surfaced in his heart.

The more he saw, the more he felt how vast heaven and earth were, how wonderful the mortal world was, and how lonely and bitter cultivation could be.

He was already the Number One Expert Under Heaven. He had already achieved fame and success and possessed everything—power, wealth, health, and Lifespan. Lin Heng lacked none of these things, so why not abandon the dull and tedious path of cultivation and embrace this dazzling world instead?

Endless delicacies, beauties with their own charms, and Silk Bamboo Orchestra that could never be fully heard.

Even if he relaxed for a while now, he still had ample time to pursue a better future.

Distractions sprang up wildly in Lin Heng's heart, shaking his will.

"Why does becoming stronger need a reason?"

"Becoming stronger is itself a joyful thing."

"Becoming stronger is not about doing whatever one wishes, but about having the right to say no when faced with a choice."

Lin Heng's heart was as cold as ice. His powerful sword intent ground every distraction to dust.

The Shackles were shattered, and an even sharper edge emerged from the tempering.

Great Grandmaster Sixteenth Level, Eighteenth Level, Twentieth Level.

Lin Heng could feel his cultivation steadily rising with the passage of time.

Under the tempering of his sword intent, his Internal Breath underwent Transformation after Transformation, condensing from a dense mist into something almost tangible. Every thread and wisp contained incomparably powerful and terrifying strength.

His body, too, was constantly Breaking the Limit. The flesh, skin, bones, organs, and brain throughout his body were evolving to become stronger and more perfect, accumulating foundations for an ultimate Transformation.

His Spiritual Power was even more terrifyingly powerful. Without the reinforcement of Heaven and Earth Origin Energy or Internal Breath, he could shake heaven and move earth In a Single Thought.

Over ten years, Lin Heng traveled through every corner of Lan Continent.

Throughout that process, his cultivation gradually rose to a Peak.

In the West Sea, Lin Heng practiced swordsmanship while facing the ocean.

He stood several hundred meters from the shore, yet all the seawater before him was forced back by a single man and a single sword, unable to surge back no matter what.

Only after a long while did Lin Heng split the waves with one stroke and return to the shore, where he put on his clothes.

"Great Grandmaster Thirty-Sixth Heaven—this is the Peak of the Great Grandmaster Realm. Next, I can break through to the Heaven-Human Realm."

Watching the surging tides not far away, Lin Heng silently assessed his current state.

Ten years of cultivation: he had tempered his sword intent with the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth and the countless faces of the mortal world. His Essence, Qi, and Spirit had continuously Broken the Limit and sublimated, his cultivation rising one heaven after another. At this moment, he had finally reached a Peak and was about to undergo an ultimate Transformation.

Next, Lin Heng needed to accumulate enough strength for this great Transformation.

Turning around, Lin Heng headed back toward the Cloud Sword Palace Mountain Gate.

Before Lin Heng even reached the mountain gate, he saw that it had been decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments. Law Enforcement Elder Li Yan had gathered many Elders and Direct Disciples at the gate to welcome Lin Heng.

At the entrance to the Cloud Sword Palace's main hall, Lin Heng saw his master, Xiao Rang, waiting for him.

"My disciple has returned. We have not seen each other for so long, yet you have become even more steady and composed."

Xiao Rang spoke with a smile, his eyes filled with excitement.

Lin Heng had descended the mountain at sixteen and been gone for ten years, sending only one letter each year to report that he was safe.

Twenty-six-year-old Lin Heng had not changed much in appearance or build. Yet his temperament had lost some of the high-spirited vigor of Youth, as well as the otherworldly air of a Banished Immortal Descending to the Mortal World. What remained was only the gentle warmth of Returning to Simplicity.

He was like the most Ordinary young man next door. Aside from being somewhat better-looking, there was nothing remarkable about him.

"Greetings, Master."

Lin Heng bowed.

"No need for such formality."

Xiao Rang helped Lin Heng up, speaking excitedly.

Ten years was not particularly long for a Great Grandmaster Martial Artist's Lifespan. Yet Xiao Rang and this disciple of his had spent only a little over ten years together in total, and now they had already been separated for ten years. How could he not be excited?

At times, Xiao Rang had wanted to personally visit Lin Heng while he was traveling abroad, or call him back.

But Xiao Rang knew he could not delay his cultivation, so he forcibly suppressed that urge.

"Will you be leaving again after returning this time?"

Xiao Rang led Lin Heng into the Cloud Sword Palace's main hall, seated him in the place of honor for the welcoming banquet, and watched with great satisfaction as he ate heartily.

Being able to eat was a blessing. As an elder, he loved seeing his junior eat with such relish.

During a pause in the meal, Xiao Rang asked whether Lin Heng would be going out again.

"Now that my cultivation has reached the Great Grandmaster Thirty-Sixth Heaven, I must next break through to the Heaven-Human Realm. I will not be going out again for a long time."

Lin Heng answered.

The moment those words were spoken, excitement appeared on the faces of everyone present, including Xiao Rang.

What had they heard?

Heaven-Human!

A Realm unprecedented, existing only in legend.

And now, the genius their Sect had nurtured was about to reach that legendary Realm.

Everyone felt as though they shared in the glory.

"Young Sect Master, can the Realm beyond Great Grandmaster increase one's Lifespan as the earlier Realms do?"

Law Enforcement Elder Li Yan asked.

He was already one hundred and forty-seven years old. Under normal circumstances, he would have been about to Die of Old Age in a few more years. But ten years ago, he had obtained the "Boundless Sea Divine Art" created by Lin Heng. Over those ten years, his cultivation had risen by one level, successfully renewing his Lifespan.

If he could keep increasing his cultivation at such a rapid pace, then death would be completely unable to catch up with him.

Under such circumstances, whether raising his cultivation further could increase his Lifespan was an extremely important matter.

It was not only Li Yan. The other Elders attending this welcoming banquet also looked eagerly at Lin Heng, wanting to know the answer.

"It can. Every increase of one heaven in cultivation grants ten additional years of life."

"My Lifespan is already quite long. I can live to be four hundred and eighty years old. Breaking through to the Heaven-Human Realm will bring a great Transformation, and perhaps I may enjoy a Lifespan of more than a thousand years."

Lin Heng said with a smile.