Back at home, Lin Chen gently scooped Na'er into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. He carefully laid her on the soft bed and pulled the blanket over her, moving so gently that he wouldn't wake her.
Lin Chen tiptoed out of the room, closed the door behind him, and headed to the cultivation room.
As he entered, Lin Chen sat cross-legged on the floor. With a low hum, the Thunder Hell Vine emerged from his body, its thick vines swaying faintly in the air as dark-purple lightning wrapped around it, radiating a hint of violent thunderous energy.
Lin Chen looked at the Soul Spirit before him and murmured, "It's time to help you improve your cultivation."
As soon as he finished speaking, the lightning around the Thunder Hell Vine flickered softly. As if responding, its vine tips bobbed gently, sending out a faint, affectionate tremor.
The Thunder Hell Vine was special because it didn't need to go to the Spirit Ascension Platform. It could improve its cultivation simply by absorbing lightning.
He slowly raised his palm, and Extreme Lightning surged from it, transforming into strands of pure electricity that continuously poured into the Thunder Hell Vine's branches and vines.
The lightning around the vine grew brighter and brighter. Its violent power slowly spread through the cultivation room, and Lin Chen could clearly sense its cultivation steadily increasing.
After an unknown amount of time, the Thunder Hell Vine's cultivation finally reached around seven hundred years.
Lin Chen was completely drained. Sweat beaded across his forehead, and he panted heavily, his Soul Power utterly exhausted.
Looking at the Thunder Hell Vine, which was in excellent condition, he said softly, "So, do you like Extreme Lightning? That's enough for today. I haven't got a drop of Soul Power left."
The vine trembled faintly and gave a low, gentle hum before turning into a streak of dark-purple light and returning to Lin Chen's body.
"I'm exhausted. I'm soaked in sweat. I'd better take a shower." Feeling damp all over, Lin Chen got up, opened the cultivation room door, and went to the bathroom.
The warm water washed away his fatigue. Looking at himself in the mirror, Lin Chen couldn't help praising himself. "Man, I'm really handsome."
After washing up and changing into clean white pajamas, he headed straight for the kitchen.
He took the ingredients for a sandwich out of the fridge, humming a strange little tune about cake shops selling cakes and bakeries selling bread.
Soon, a fragrant sandwich was ready. The only thing missing was some Guojiao to soothe his weary body and soul.
At that thought, Lin Chen got up and went back into the kitchen. Drawing on memories from his previous life, he tried to make Guojiao.
First, he steeped a black tea bag in freshly boiled water. Once the tea had darkened, he added some rock sugar and stirred until it had completely dissolved, then set it aside to cool.
He added some ice, and a glass of clear, sweet, refreshing "Guojiao" was ready.
He picked up the glass and took a sip. Lin Chen's satisfied voice echoed through the kitchen. "This is incredible. At room temperature, it tastes like horse piss; chilled, it's Guojiao."
The door opened with a click. Na'er stood in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. Spotting the drink in Lin Chen's hand, she pouted and complained, "Brother Lin Chen, you sneaked a snack without me! I want some too!"
Looking at Na'er, Lin Chen thought, Oh no, I made too much noise and woke the little brat up.
He hurried over to soothe her. "All right, all right. I'll make you a glass."
He handed Na'er a glass of chilled Guojiao. Looking at its color, she asked Lin Chen with a doubtful expression, "Brother Lin Chen, does this taste good?"
She hesitantly took the glass, tilted her head, and blinked her amethyst eyes as she tentatively sipped a little.
The sweet aroma of tea and the chill of the drink flooded her throat. Its sweetness was light, not cloying, and spread slowly across her tongue. Her doubtful expression turned to one of wonder, as if she'd discovered a whole new world.
Na'er's eyes flew wide open, and her violet eyes sparkled as she praised Lin Chen. "It's delicious! It's the finest thing in the world!"
As she spoke, she gulped down the rest in one go.
Lin Chen watched Na'er finish her drink with a satisfied look, then reminded her to go to bed early. After quietly wishing each other good night, Na'er obediently returned to her bedroom.
Lin Chen returned to his room, sat cross-legged, and slowly closed his eyes. He calmed his mind and began to cultivate through meditation as the dormant Soul Power within him gradually began to circulate.
Just as he sank into cultivation, a long sigh, tinged with the weariness of age, rang without warning from the depths of his mind, instantly shattering his focus.
Lin Chen's mind jolted. He slowly opened his eyes, surprise crossing his brow. "Who's there? Stop playing tricks!" He warily scanned his surroundings.
As soon as he spoke, an irresistible wave of dizziness swept over him. The world spun before his eyes, and his consciousness blurred and scattered like a thread being pulled apart.
When he finally managed to open his eyes again, the scene around him had completely changed.
He was no longer in his familiar bedroom. Instead, he was in an endless expanse.
A figure of light stood before him, seemingly imbued with some kind of magic. Before he knew it, Lin Chen was walking toward it.
As he drew closer, the figure gradually took the shape of an old man. A gentle, brilliant golden glow surrounded him, but no matter how intently Lin Chen looked, he couldn't make out the old man's features. Only a hazy silhouette remained.
The old man's warm, ancient voice echoed through the space. "Child, there's no need to be nervous. I was the one who called you here."
Lin Chen felt as if he had seen the old man somewhere before, but he still respectfully asked, "Senior, why did you summon me?"
The golden glow shifted gently as the old man slowly spoke. "The world calls me Elder Jin."
Lin Chen's pupils shrank. "Elder Jin? Then you're the Golden Ancient Tree of Shrek?"
Lin Chen quickly suppressed his shock, bowed respectfully, and saluted. "This junior pays his respects, Elder Jin."
Elder Jin gave a slight nod, and the golden glow gently swept over Lin Chen. His voice was calm, yet carried a hint of gravity. "I noticed you the moment your Martial Soul Awakening took place. I simply haven't had a suitable opportunity to meet with you until now."
Elder Jin paused, and the golden glow around him dimmed slightly. His voice took on a note of urgency and helplessness. "I don't have much time left. It seems I won't be able to explain everything today."
He looked at Lin Chen, his voice solemn. "Once your cultivation reaches level forty, I'll notify your father, Yun Ming, in advance. He'll bring you here to see me. By then, I'll be able to explain everything."
Lin Chen's heart tightened, and he was about to press for answers, but Elder Jin gently raised a hand, cutting him off. "There's no need to ask. The time isn't right, and there's no point in saying more. Just remember to cultivate diligently."
As his words faded, the entire space began to tremble. Elder Jin's figure gradually turned into countless golden flecks of light and slowly disappeared from the mental space.
Another wave of dizziness washed over Lin Chen. He opened his eyes with a start and found himself back in his bedroom.
The night outside was deep, and everything in the room was just as it had been before he meditated. It was as if his meeting with Elder Jin in the mental space had been nothing more than an impossibly vivid dream.
He sat up straight, his brows tightly knit, baffled. "What... exactly was that?"
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