Immortal Gene: I'll Outlive Every Last One of You!

[Option Two: Refuse to follow Zichuan Mingri to see Zichuan Shengxing. Face all enemies in your own way, while unlocking the main quest to uncover the truth of the ancient world. Completing it will grant corresponding premium rewards.]

[Rewards: Light Ripple Art at mastery, 20 years of internal power, Immortal Gene.]

[Option Two System Comment: Your confidence and courage have earned this system's approval. From this moment on, you will possess limitless possibilities.]

The Light Ripple Art was renowned far and wide. It contained all kinds of cultivation methods, including saber arts, sword arts, movement techniques, concealed weapons, and internal cultivation.

The Empire's number one expert, his own imperial father, cultivated this Lin family heirloom art that safeguarded the nation. Later on, Zichuan Xiu had also relied on this very art to become famous across the continent.

The second reward directly made up for the shortcomings of the first. With twenty years of internal power and mastery of the Light Ripple Art, even if he was not the Empire's number one expert, his martial prowess would not be far behind. It was more than enough to protect himself and stay alive.

The third reward was even more heaven-defying—it could actually grant immortality.

[Immortal Gene: Possesses abnormally rapid and efficient cellular regeneration. You will live forever and never age, capable of rapidly healing almost any injury. Though heaven and earth decay, I shall not perish; though the sun and moon are extinguished, I shall not be destroyed. Your name shall endure eternally in the river of time!]

Seeing such an incredible effect, Lin Junyu sucked in a cold breath and decisively chose Option Two.

The moment he made his choice, the system directly poured a vast amount of memories of mastering the Light Ripple Art into him. All manner of weapon techniques, moves, and methods of circulating and cultivating internal power felt as though he had practiced them for decades, deeply engraved into his memory.

Only an instant had passed, yet Lin Junyu felt as if a very long time had gone by. Blinking, he sensed the powerful internal energy within his body and the vigorous vitality coursing through him. He lacked nothing now.

"Big Brother, what's wrong?"

Zichuan Mingri was thoroughly confused. In that brief instant just now, he had felt that his big brother had changed completely, but he could not tell exactly how.

"Oh, nothing. Mingri, I appreciate what you said to Big Brother. You truly meant well."

Although the Zichuan family was at odds with him, this not-too-bright little brother of his was innocent.

"Big Brother, do you still want to see my father?"

Zichuan Mingri asked with a face full of sincerity.

"Since your father has already chosen his path, why should I force the matter? Big Brother will bear his own burdens. Besides, if what I do affects the bond between us or the relationship between you and your father, that would not be what Big Brother wishes."

What he was actually thinking was, See him, my ass. Seeing him means death. If your father didn't think I still had a little potential, and didn't want to bear the charge of harming an imperial prince, he probably would have secretly tied me up and delivered me to my big brother long ago. There's no way I can tell dim-witted Zichuan Mingri that.

Lin Junyu dismounted, tightly grasped Zichuan Mingri's hands, and looked at him with burning sincerity in his eyes.

Zichuan Mingri gazed tenderly back at his good big brother. His big brother's words had struck him right in the heart. Not only was he not angry that Mingri could not help much, he was even worried about him and warmly comforted him.

No, Big Brother treats me so well. I have to do everything I can to help him! Big Brother really wants to see Father, so I must make sure he gets to see him!

Lin Junyu had no idea that his words had instead strengthened Zichuan Mingri's resolve to help him. He was currently thinking that since the Zichuan family had already pledged allegiance to his big brother, Jiashan Fortress was no longer safe either. After all, the Zichuan family had fifty thousand troops stationed here, while he only had eight hundred cavalrymen by his side.

No, I need to find a place to lie low. Now that I have the Immortal Gene, I can outlive every last one of you. Then we'll see who ends up as dry bones in a tomb.

Moreover, the system had given him the main quest of uncovering the truth of the ancient world. He could develop in secret and make a stunning appearance in the end.

He was already immortal. There was no need to stubbornly fight powerful opponents to the death.

He would quietly build up his strength. Once his opponents grew old, weak, sick, and crippled, he would strike with an iron fist and wipe them out in one blow. That was the safest course.

Having figured out his path forward, Lin Junyu finally expelled the pent-up frustration that had clogged his heart for eighteen years. He had spent eighteen years in this world living in fear and anxiety, and he had finally endured until the light at the end of the tunnel. All he lacked now was an opportunity to escape everyone's sight and retreat behind the scenes.

"Report!"

At that moment, a group of riders came galloping up from below the slope. Judging by their attire, they were members of the Zichuan family.

"Young Patriarch, the master orders you to return at once! According to reports from the scouts at the front, a demon army numbering as many as one hundred thousand is rapidly sweeping across the southeastern plains and charging toward the Badan Highlands. Their target may be Jiashan Fortress, which is still under construction. The master is gathering the troops and preparing to march. You are also to head to the front lines for this campaign!"

"What? How could this be? Is it really that urgent?"

When military matters were involved, Zichuan Mingri was nothing like he was around Lin Junyu. He turned to look at Lin Junyu.

Seeing him look over, Lin Junyu immediately understood what he meant.

"Someone, bring the map over!"

Before long, a map was laid out before the two of them.

Staring at the map, Zichuan Mingri sank into thought.

"Jiashan Fortress is the Empire's main base for its eastern campaign. If it is destroyed or occupied, the eastern campaign may fail. It could even become a bridgehead for the demon race to launch a counteroffensive against the Empire."

Looking at the map, Lin Junyu instantly saw through the reason the demon race had sent such a massive army. They wanted to snatch the fruits of another's labor. As for how they knew when construction was nearing completion, there had to be spies inside the fortress.

"Judging from the map, the Badan Highlands are Jiashan Fortress's final line of defense. Once the Badan Highlands are breached, we will have no defensible terrain left. The fortress has not even been completed and has no defensive capability at all. Therefore, we must stop the demon army outside the Badan Highlands!"

"Yes. As long as we hold them at the highlands and wait for Imperial reinforcements to arrive from all sides, we can surround this hundred-thousand-strong demon army and then annihilate it!"

After discussing it, the two of them had roughly deduced the situation of the coming battle.

The messenger standing nearby was left dumbfounded. Wasn't the situation extremely dire right now? How had these two started thinking about annihilating the enemy instead?

"Young Patriarch, you should hurry back! If we wait any longer, the master will have finished mustering the army and set off!"

The messenger did not forget his mission and hastily urged his young patriarch to return.

"Big Brother, I'm leaving! Leave the frontal battlefield to me. You go contact the reinforcements. With me and my father holding the front, rest assured—not a single demon soldier will cross the highlands!"

Watching Zichuan Mingri grow excited at the prospect of entering the battlefield, Lin Junyu could not help worrying as well. Blades had no eyes on the battlefield. In the end, all his countless words became a single sentence.

"Take care of yourself. Big Brother will get there soon. Stay alive!"

"Mm. I'm going, Big Brother!"

Zichuan Mingri turned, vaulted onto the messenger's horse, and galloped down the slope without looking back.

Watching the foolish boy's figure gradually recede and disappear from sight, Lin Junyu remained lost in thought for a long time!

Lin Junyu's heart ached with sorrow and guilt, because he was about to do something that might break Zichuan Mingri's heart. Yet he had no choice; this opportunity was too rare. I hope you can forgive your big brother, foolish boy.

He swung himself onto his horse, raised the sword in his hand, and looked at the eight hundred soldiers he had painstakingly trained over the past two years.

"Feather Forest Army!"

"Wings of the nation, flourishing as a forest—though we die nine times, we shall never regret it!"

"Move out!"

"Yes!"

Let this great battle spread the name of the Feather Forest Army across this otherworldly continent!