Dusk, the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest.
A convoy was speeding toward the Star Luo Empire.
Old Wang, who was leading the convoy, called out to the people behind him, "Everyone, hurry up. Let's try to get out of the Star Dou Forest today."
The others nodded at Old Wang's words, whipped their horses, and sent them galloping faster with a neigh.
At last, before night fell, the convoy left the Star Dou Forest.
When they were about twenty kilometers from the forest, Old Wang called a halt and told everyone to rest there for the night before setting off again.
Everyone agreed. They had been through a lot that day, and they were all exhausted and eager to rest.
After the convoy stopped in a grove, Old Wang dismounted and walked toward the carriage where Xu Jiujiu and Liu Lin were.
"Miss Xu, we've left the Star Dou Forest. My men are exhausted from today, so we plan to rest here for the night."
"Mm, do as you see fit. You don't need to ask me about these things," Xu Jiujiu replied from inside the carriage.
"Yes. Then I'll take my leave for now. Once the food is ready, I'll bring some to you and Young Master Liu." Old Wang bowed toward the carriage, then went to join his men.
Inside the carriage, after speaking, Xu Jiujiu looked at Liu Lin, who was still lying on her lap, unconscious.
She pinched Liu Lin's cheek and murmured, "Why are you still not awake, Liu Lin? If you don't wake up soon, I'll have my imperial brother break off our engagement."
As Xu Jiujiu said this, fear and sorrow filled her eyes.
Afterward, she drew her hand away from Liu Lin's cheek and silently watched him lying across her lap.
Outside the carriage, Old Wang sent Sun Heng and two others to hunt some game for dinner.
He and the remaining men stayed behind to make a fire and protect Liu Lin and Xu Jiujiu.
About ten minutes later, an elderly man in a gray robe abruptly appeared in front of Old Wang, who was tending the fire.
Old Wang was so startled by Elder Lin's sudden appearance that he nearly dropped the firewood in his hands.
"Elder Lin, you're back."
Elder Lin nodded and asked how things were going. After hearing Old Wang's account, the matter he had been puzzling over on the way finally became clear.
After all, how could a Titled Douluo at level 92 have kept the Scarlet King, one of the Ten Great Ferocious Beasts, occupied for so long?
What still puzzled him, though, was why the Ferocious Beasts hadn't killed Liu Lin and the others, but had merely left them unconscious.
"Never mind. If I can't figure it out, I'll let it go. Stay here and keep watch. I'll go see Liu Lin." Elder Lin shook his head and headed toward the carriage.
"Yes, understood." Old Wang answered respectfully.
Inside the carriage, Xu Jiujiu saw Elder Lin appear and greeted him respectfully. "Elder Lin, you're back."
"Mm." Elder Lin nodded and looked at Liu Lin, who was lying on Xu Jiujiu's lap.
"Help this boy sit up. Let me see what's wrong with him."
At Elder Lin's words, Xu Jiujiu carefully lifted Liu Lin and let him lean against her shoulder.
Elder Lin took Liu Lin's right hand and sent a gentle stream of Soul Power into his body.
A moment later, Elder Lin withdrew his Soul Power. The grim look on his face, which had darkened when he heard about Liu Lin's condition, had eased considerably.
"His body is fine, and he hasn't suffered any mental attack. From what I can tell, this boy has turned misfortune into fortune and entered a state of deep cultivation." Elder Lin explained what he had discovered, along with his own assessment.
"Then when will Liu Lin wake up, Elder Lin?" Hearing his explanation, Xu Jiujiu finally felt the knot of worry in her chest loosen.
"That depends on him. No one outside can interfere, or it might affect him."
"Mm, I understand." To make Liu Lin more comfortable, she laid his head back in her lap.
"Ahem. Young lady, be mindful of appearances. I'm still here," Elder Lin said, unable to resist coughing twice as he saw this.
Xu Jiujiu blushed and lowered her head at Elder Lin's words.
"I'll go heal my injuries and leave you two alone." After saying this, Elder Lin vanished from the carriage.
Xu Jiujiu was also feeling tired because of Liu Lin, and she soon fell asleep.
Inside the Sea of Consciousness, Liu Lin slowly opened his eyes.
"Where am I?" After waking, Liu Lin looked around in confusion.
He got up and took a moment to sense his surroundings. Combining what he remembered from the books he had recently read with the descriptions in novels from his previous life, he confirmed that this was his Sea of Consciousness.
But his Sea of Consciousness was unlike the one described in the books.
They said a newly formed Sea of Consciousness was no more than a small puddle. His, however, had become a golden ocean.
Liu Lin knew that he could enter his Sea of Consciousness only thanks to the power the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had given him.
Just as Liu Lin was about to explore his Sea of Consciousness, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's voice rang out within it.
"Liu Lin, can you hear me?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's voice startled Liu Lin. Confused, he asked, "How can your voice be here?"
"Of course I can. I shared my power of destiny with you, so now I can stay in your Sea of Consciousness."
"But you're too weak right now to bear my arrival, so for now, I can only communicate with you by voice."
Hearing the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's words, Liu Lin froze.
Shared her power of destiny? That was possible? If Di Tian found out, wouldn't he immediately send him off to be reincarnated?
"All right, Liu Lin, I have things to take care of here. Try out the abilities I left you while you're there. I have to go." After the Three-Eyed Golden Lion hurriedly finished speaking, the Sea of Consciousness fell silent again.
Liu Lin could hear the urgency in the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's voice and knew that Di Tian must have discovered something.
At the thought, Liu Lin couldn't help sighing. A deep sense of helplessness washed over him. There was nothing he could do right now.
He shook his head and put those thoughts aside, then wondered what abilities the Three-Eyed Golden Lion had left him.
He circulated his Soul Power and could clearly sense that his eyes had changed. After using his Soul Power to understand what his eyes could do now, he couldn't help praising their power.
The Eye of Destiny could interfere with cause and effect, discern and seize fortune, and even foresee the future.
(Foreseeing the future is limited at this stage. He can only foresee events within the next minute. If he could truly see too far into the future right now, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion would be far too overpowered.)
But none of that was what Liu Lin was concerned about. With his current abilities, at most he could use the power to discern fortune.
Then Liu Lin decided he had slept long enough and left his Sea of Consciousness.