After leaving the town plagued by the contaminated mine, Lin Qin continued on his journey. He traveled east, crossing the vast territory of the O'Brien Empire. He even ventured to the edge of the Arctic Ice Plains, which bordered the Empire and had an extremely harsh environment, where he spent some time cultivating. The extreme cold further tempered his body and will, and he gained a deeper understanding of the aspects of the Earth Element profound mysteries related to "stability" and "bearing."
Several months later, when he returned to relatively warm regions, he heard some shocking news—Fenlai City had been destroyed.
According to rumors, an unimaginable disaster had befallen that prosperous royal capital, the heart of the Holy Alliance. Details varied widely. Some said there had been a battle of earth-shattering proportions; others claimed that an incomprehensibly terrifying being had descended. In the end, Fenlai City had been reduced to ruins, the Radiant Church had suffered grievous losses, and countless powerful figures had fallen.
Lin Qin immediately thought of Aileen. She was at the Magic Guild in Fenlai City!
For the first time, he felt a trace of urgency. He immediately changed course and headed for the Fenlai Kingdom as fast as he could.
When he reached the site where Fenlai City had once stood, he saw a vast ruin that was horrifying to behold. Broken walls and charred earth stretched as far as the eye could see, and chaotic, terrifying traces of energy still lingered in the air. The once-prosperous royal capital had become a living hell.
He landed at the edge of the ruins and spread out his spiritual power like a tide, carefully searching for signs of life and traces of the Magic Guild. Most of the area was lifeless, but near a relatively intact cluster of buildings far from the former city center, he sensed a concentration of life signs and the familiar aura of a magical barrier—that was a temporary shelter and base established by the Magic Guild.
He hurried over. Mages and warriors guarded the perimeter of the base, their faces marked by the exhaustion and wariness of those who had survived a catastrophe.
"Stop! Who are you?" one of the guards called, blocking his way.
"I'm looking for Aileen, a Water Element mage," Lin Qin said directly.
The guard looked him over, seeming to sense his unusual bearing. "Please wait. I need to report this."
Before long, a familiar figure in blue mage robes, slender in build, hurried out from inside the base. It was Aileen.
She looked a little more mature than before. An enduring weariness and sorrow lingered between her brows, but the moment she saw Lin Qin, her eyes lit up and her face broke into an incredulous, delighted smile.
"Lin Qin! It really is you!" Aileen's voice trembled slightly.
"I'm back." Lin Qin looked at her and spoke calmly, though his gaze had softened. "I'm glad you're safe."
Aileen hurried over and studied him closely, as if she needed to make sure he wasn't an illusion. "I heard you were in the O'Brien Empire... I never expected you to come back so suddenly. The news about Fenlai City must have reached you, right?"
"Yeah, I heard. What happened?" Lin Qin asked.
Aileen's eyes dimmed, and fear still lingered in them. "That day... it was terrifying. It was as if the sky itself had split open, and an unbelievably terrifying being appeared... The shock waves from the battle destroyed the entire city. The guild managed to raise a barrier under the protection of the Guild Leader and several elders, then brought some people here to escape. So many people died..." Her voice grew quieter.
Lin Qin fell silent for a moment. He could imagine how terrifying the disaster must have been. "The important thing is that you survived."
"What about you? These past few months..." Aileen looked up at him with concern.
"I trained in the O'Brien Empire and went to the Arctic Ice Plains," Lin Qin said simply. "I only recently broke through to the Saint Realm."
Aileen's eyes widened in shock once more. The Saint Realm! Though she had been prepared for the possibility, hearing it with her own ears still left her stunned. Looking at Lin Qin, she could feel the profound, boundless aura around him, vast as the earth itself. He was completely different from when he had left.
"Congratulations..." she said sincerely, then added with a hint of dejection, "I've only just reached the threshold of an eighth-level mage. I'm still so far behind you..."
"There's no rush. Go at your own pace," Lin Qin said. "What does the Magic Guild plan to do now?"
Aileen collected herself before answering. "Fenlai City is gone, and the Holy Alliance exists in name only. The guild headquarters is discussing a move to somewhere safer. They might rebuild in the Yulan Empire or the O'Brien Empire. This is only a temporary base."
She glanced around at the ruined surroundings and invited him softly, "It's not very comfortable here. Why don't you come sit where I'm staying? It's very simple, though."
Lin Qin nodded.
Aileen was staying in a small room that had been hastily cleared out inside the base. It had only a bed, a table, and a chair, but it was tidy.
She poured Lin Qin a cup of water and said a little apologetically, "The conditions aren't good. This is all I have."
"It's fine." Lin Qin took the cup.
They sat down, and for a while neither spoke. They had been apart for over a year, each enduring hardships and growing in their own way. Now that they had reunited, their feelings were complicated.
"Lin Qin," Aileen broke the silence, her voice soft. "When Fenlai City was destroyed, I... I was so scared. I was afraid I'd never see you again."
Looking at her reddened eyes, Lin Qin felt his heart stir. He wasn't good at expressing his feelings, so he simply reached out and gently took her hand where it rested on the table. "I'm here."
Those simple words loosened the tension that had kept Aileen on edge, and tears slipped down her cheeks. She clasped Lin Qin's hand in return, feeling the warmth and strength of his palm, as if she had finally found the firmest support she could rely on.
A little while later, Aileen wiped away her tears and gave an embarrassed smile. "I'm all right now. It's just... seeing you made me a little emotional."
She paused, then asked, "What are you planning to do now that you're back? Will you leave again?"
Lin Qin considered this for a moment before answering. "The situation on the continent is growing more chaotic. The Dark Church has been active, and there's probably more to the destruction of Fenlai City than meets the eye. I need to keep getting stronger. I may travel to the Yulan Empire or somewhere even farther away."
He looked at Aileen. "What are you thinking of doing when the Magic Guild relocates? If you want to stay, I can..."
"No." Aileen shook her head, her gaze firming. "I don't want to be separated from you again. Wherever you go, I'll go too. My Water Element magic isn't very strong, but I can still help with healing, support, and everyday tasks. I won't hold you back."
She looked at Lin Qin and spoke earnestly. "I know you have a long, difficult road ahead. I don't expect to catch up with you. I only hope I can keep watching you from behind and be by your side whenever you need me."
Looking at her resolute gaze, Lin Qin felt warmth rise in his heart. He wasn't someone who needed to rely on others, but having someone willing to follow and support him unconditionally didn't feel bad.
"Okay." He nodded, making his promise. "Then we'll go together."
A brilliant smile blossomed across Aileen's face, as if it had swept away all the gloom.
Lin Qin stayed at the Magic Guild's temporary base for a few days. On the one hand, he kept Aileen company and helped her prepare for the move; on the other, he learned more about the destruction of Fenlai City from the guild's surviving records and its members, especially the reports of a terrifying expert who had apparently come from the Plane Prison and appeared during the battle.
The situation on the continent really was more complicated and dangerous than he had imagined.
A few days later, Aileen submitted an application to take a leave of absence from the Magic Guild. The two of them left this place of sorrow together.
Before you continue