Toutian looked thoroughly dejected.
For the past twenty years, he had spent every waking moment restoring his origin and studying the Heaven-Peering Compass.
At long last, heaven rewarded his diligence. Over those twenty years, he had restored a full two-tenths of his origin, and he had nearly finished studying the Heaven-Peering Compass.
He had also completely awakened the Heaven-Peering Compass's spirit. With the spirit's help, the compass's power had soared.
He had left seclusion just half an hour ago, and the moment he did, he'd hurried off to find Ye Lin.
But without an Identity Token, he couldn't get into Ye Lin's residence. He didn't even know what was happening inside.
So he'd assumed Ye Lin was still in seclusion. Like a fool, he had stood outside Ye Lin's residence and shouted for a full half hour, but there hadn't been the slightest response from within.
It left him thoroughly frustrated. Even someone in seclusion could sense the slightest disturbance in the outside world.
After all, going into seclusion wasn't the same as being dead.
"Could Ye Lin have already left seclusion? No, that can't be right. He still needs the Stone Stele, doesn't he? If he's out, why hasn't he come to find me? Does he not want the Stone Stele anymore? Or did he never intend to deal with me in the first place? Strange."
Toutian glanced at Ye Lin's residence, shook his head, and walked away.
Finding a secluded spot, Toutian squatted down and took the Heaven-Peering Compass from his robes.
"Spirit, assist me."
As soon as Toutian spoke, the Heaven-Peering Compass began to operate at full power. Strands of karmic force wound around him.
Any ordinary cultivator who saw such terrifying karmic force would probably be scared straight into their next life.
But Toutian was used