Morning light spread slowly across Yuelan City.
The city had grown.
Not only in size—but in influence.
Caravans arrived daily from neighboring territories. Cultivators, merchants, scholars, and craftsmen all moved through the streets, drawn by the same reason.
Opportunity.
Above the city, formations hummed quietly in the sky, maintaining climate stability and regulating spiritual energy density. The streets below were alive with activity.
Soul engineers discussed blueprints.
Alchemists argued over pill ratios.
Formation masters carried stacks of engraved plates.
And now—
a new group of people had begun gathering inside one of the large halls of the Continental Institute of Fundamental Arts.
Today was the first official presentation of a new profession.
Inside the central lecture hall, dozens of experts had already taken their seats.
Some wore the robes of alchemists.
Others carried the insignia of formation masters.
Several soul engineers stood near the walls, whispering quietly while examining the objects placed on the demonstration platform.
On the stage stood a simple table.
And on that table were several items.
A sword.
A few metal plates.
A small set of pills.
And several blank jade slips.
Ju Zi stood near the side of the platform, calmly organizing the materials.
Su Mei leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed, watching the room fill with mild curiosity.
"This many people for one announcement…"
She shook her head slightly.
"They're all expecting something big."
Ju Zi replied calmly.
"They should."
The murmuring in the hall slowly faded as a familiar figure walked onto the stage.
Lin Huang.
Honghong sat lazily on his shoulder in her small fox form, her cerulean tails swaying slowly behind her.
The moment he appeared, the room fell completely silent.
Most of the people present already knew his reputation.
The founder of the Institute.
The creator of multiple cultivation systems.
The man responsible for several technological and cultural revolutions across the continent.
Lin Huang looked around the hall calmly.
Then spoke.
"Today we're introducing a new profession."
His voice wasn't loud.
But every word carried clearly through the hall.
He picked up one of the metal plates from the table.
Thin.
Silver.
Covered in delicate engraved lines.
"This," he said simply,
"is an inscription."
Several people leaned forward immediately.
The plate in his hand began to glow faintly as his soul power flowed into it.
The engraved lines lit up.
Energy circulated across the surface in a smooth pattern.
Then Lin Huang placed the plate against the sword lying on the table.
The sword vibrated softly.
A ripple of energy spread along its blade.
Several soul engineers immediately widened their eyes.
One of them whispered.
"…Energy amplification."
Another muttered.
"No."
"…Energy stabilization."
Lin Huang simply nodded.
"Inscriptions allow additional functions to be added to existing objects."
He tapped the blade lightly.
"Instead of reforging a weapon…"
"…you enhance it."
The sword was lifted.
He swung it once.
The blade sliced through the air with a quiet humming sound.
A formation master in the audience frowned slightly.
"So it works like a rune?"
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Runes and formations require complete structures."
He placed the sword back on the table.
"Inscriptions are smaller."
"More flexible."
He picked up one of the pills.
"This applies to more than weapons."
Several alchemists in the audience leaned forward.
Lin Huang allowed a thread of spiritual power to flow into the pill.
The faint inscription carved along its surface activated.
Energy stabilized around it.
"This pill now contains a stabilizing inscription."
He looked toward the alchemists.
"It will reduce meridian instability during breakthroughs."
Several of the older alchemists immediately began whispering to each other.
One of them muttered quietly.
"…That could solve half the failures during breakthrough pills."
Lin Huang placed the pill down calmly.
"There are three primary branches of inscriptions."
He raised one finger.
"Tool inscriptions."
"Applied to weapons, armor, and equipment."
A second finger.
"Body inscriptions."
"Temporary inscriptions applied to the body to improve energy flow or absorption."
A third finger.
"Medicinal inscriptions."
"Integrated directly into pills during the refining process."
The room had become completely silent now.
Several experts were already calculating possibilities in their minds.
Integration with soul tools.
Integration with formations.
Integration with pills.
One soul engineer finally spoke.
"If this system spreads…"
He paused.
"…it will change the entire equipment cultivation system."
Lin Huang nodded.
"That's the idea."
Ju Zi stepped forward slightly.
"The Institute will officially establish a new department."
She looked across the hall.
"The Inscription Department."
Quiet excitement spread through the room.
Another branch of knowledge had just been born.
Another path of cultivation had opened.
Lin Huang looked at the gathered researchers calmly.
"Anyone interested in studying the system can apply for certification."
He turned slightly toward the table.
"Inscriptions require precise control."
"Understanding of energy flow."
"And deep comprehension of structure."
Honghong flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…And patience."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
The scholars below were already discussing possibilities.
The Institute was expanding again.
New knowledge.
New professions.
New paths.
But far away from the busy lecture hall…
In a quiet cultivation chamber inside the Lin Clan territory—
Lin Huang would soon begin exploring something far more fundamental.
Not a new profession.
Not a new system.
But the very nature of his own power.
And the path…
toward the laws of heaven.
The announcement of the Inscription Department quickly spread throughout the Institute.
Scholars and cultivators filled the research halls.
Soul engineers began experimenting with ways to embed inscriptions directly into soul tools.
Alchemists debated how to stabilize medicinal inscriptions during pill refinement.
Formation masters were already discussing the possibility of integrating inscriptions into formation plates to reduce energy consumption.
The entire Institute had entered a new wave of research.
But its creator had already returned to something far quieter.
Deep within the Lin Clan cultivation grounds, a secluded chamber remained silent.
Lin Huang sat cross-legged in meditation.
The room was simple.
No unnecessary decorations.
Only a few spirit gathering formations carved into the floor.
Soft streams of spiritual energy flowed through the air.
Honghong sat nearby, her small fox form lazily curled on a stone platform, her nine cerulean tails swaying slowly.
For a long time, neither of them spoke.
Lin Huang's breathing remained steady.
Calm.
Controlled.
But inside his body—
something subtle was changing.
His consciousness moved through the vast network of meridians within him.
Examining.
Observing.
Calculating.
The structure of his cultivation had already become extremely complex.
Multiple soul cores.
Qi and Blood Rings.
Psychic Rings.
Divine energy flowing through every meridian.
But now his attention focused on something deeper.
His spiritual power.
Since his tribulation and transformation, the nature of his energy had already begun shifting.
Divine energy had entered his system.
Fragments of heavenly law resonated inside his consciousness.
And the more he studied the Heavenly Law, the clearer something became.
Ordinary spiritual power had limits.
It was simply refined energy of heaven and earth.
But what flowed inside his body now—
was no longer ordinary.
Lin Huang opened his eyes slightly.
"…So that's the difference."
Honghong glanced toward him.
"What did you realize?"
Lin Huang closed his eyes again.
"The nature of spiritual power."
He paused briefly.
"It can evolve."
Honghong tilted her head.
"…Explain."
Lin Huang raised a hand slowly.
A thread of spiritual power gathered above his palm.
Normally it would appear translucent.
Pure.
Neutral.
But this time—
something different happened.
The energy condensed.
It shimmered faintly with a pale golden glow.
A subtle pressure spread through the room.
Honghong's ears twitched.
"…That's different."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"I'm refining it."
His voice remained calm.
"Spiritual power mixed with divine energy."
"And guided by Heavenly Law."
The energy above his hand slowly stabilized.
Its quality had changed.
It felt heavier.
Denser.
More stable.
Almost as if the energy itself had become closer to the fundamental laws of the world.
Honghong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Celestial."
Lin Huang gave a small nod.
"Celestial Spiritual Power."
The moment the name left his mouth, the energy stabilized completely.
The room itself seemed to respond slightly.
The surrounding spiritual energy flowed more smoothly toward him.
As if recognizing something familiar.
Lin Huang slowly allowed the energy to disperse.
Then his consciousness turned inward again.
Now that his spiritual power had evolved—
his entire cultivation system had to adapt.
Inside his body, the existing Soul Cores rotated slowly.
Each one stabilizing the immense energy circulating through his meridians.
But now—
there was space for another.
His consciousness scanned his body carefully.
Meridian pathways.
Energy flows.
Balance points.
Finally—
his focus settled on a location deep within his body.
The kidneys.
A central point of vital essence.
In ancient cultivation theory, they governed:
Essence.
Vitality.
Balance between yin and yang.
Lin Huang considered it carefully.
Then nodded slightly.
"…That will work."
Honghong watched him with interest.
"You're planning to add another one."
Lin Huang replied simply.
"Yes."
"The new spiritual power needs stabilization."
"And the kidneys regulate essence."
"They're the best location."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"…You're turning your body into a cultivation formation."
Lin Huang gave a faint smile.
"That was always the plan."
He slowly began circulating energy through his meridians.
The newly refined Celestial Spiritual Power flowed smoothly through his body.
Divine energy followed behind it.
The two forces began converging toward the chosen point.
Deep within the kidneys.
At first the energy was unstable.
The divine energy resisted slightly.
But Lin Huang's control was absolute.
Slowly.
Carefully.
He compressed the energy.
A vortex began to form.
At first it was small.
Barely noticeable.
But gradually—
the pressure increased.
Honghong sat up now, watching more carefully.
The spiritual energy inside the chamber began flowing toward Lin Huang more rapidly.
Outside the cultivation room, the formation array hummed softly.
Inside his body—
the vortex grew denser.
Celestial Spiritual Power.
Divine energy.
Fragments of Heavenly Law.
All compressing together.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
Finally—
something clicked.
The unstable vortex collapsed inward.
Condensing.
Crystallizing.
A new core of power formed.
The Fifth Soul Core.
Location:
Kidneys.
Nature:
Celestial Spiritual Power.
Divine energy.
Heavenly Law.
The moment it stabilized—
the entire energy circulation within Lin Huang's body became smoother.
More balanced.
More stable.
His aura deepened.
Not stronger in a violent way.
But heavier.
More profound.
Honghong exhaled slowly.
"…You actually did it."
Lin Huang opened his eyes.
A faint golden glow lingered in them for a moment before fading.
He exhaled quietly.
"The system is more stable now."
Honghong studied him for a moment.
"…You keep rebuilding your cultivation."
Lin Huang shrugged lightly.
"If the foundation isn't perfect, rebuild it."
Honghong chuckled softly.
"…Crazy human."
But deep inside—
she knew something important had just happened.
Lin Huang's cultivation had taken another step forward.
Not just in power.
But in quality.
And somewhere far away—
in the invisible layers of space surrounding the world—
something shifted slightly.
A faint distortion in the laws of space.
Small.
Almost imperceptible.
But for someone who had just deepened his understanding of the laws—
Lin Huang felt it.
He frowned slightly.
"…Strange."
The sensation vanished just as quickly as it appeared.
Lin Huang closed his eyes again.
"…Probably nothing."
For now—
he ignored it.
But that tiny distortion in space…
had already begun forming a path
leading ten thousand years into the past.
The stabilization of the Fifth Soul Core did not bring explosive changes.
Instead—
it brought balance.
Inside Lin Huang's body, the circulation of energy had become smoother than ever before.
Celestial Spiritual Power flowed through his meridians like a quiet river.
Divine energy no longer clashed with the natural spiritual power of heaven and earth. Instead, it blended into the circulation naturally, guided by the faint resonance of the Heavenly Law he had begun to comprehend.
For a long moment, Lin Huang remained still.
Eyes closed.
Observing the new structure of his cultivation.
The five soul cores rotated slowly in different parts of his body, each one stabilizing a different aspect of his power.
Honghong stretched lazily on the nearby platform.
"…Well?"
Lin Huang exhaled slowly.
"Stable."
He opened his eyes.
"The circulation is smoother now."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"…You said that about the last one too."
Lin Huang gave a small shrug.
"Then it must be true."
Honghong rolled her eyes.
But before she could say anything else—
the space inside the cultivation chamber shifted slightly.
Not violently.
Not even strongly.
But subtly.
The faint distortion was enough for someone with Lin Huang's perception to notice immediately.
And someone else had already noticed it.
A ripple of silver light appeared near the edge of the room.
The air folded.
Then unfolded again.
A familiar figure stepped through the distortion.
Gu Yuena.
Her long silver hair flowed behind her like moonlight, and the faint pressure of draconic authority filled the room the moment she appeared.
Honghong immediately lifted her head.
"…You're early."
Gu Yuena ignored the comment.
Her gaze fell directly on Lin Huang.
For a moment, she said nothing.
Then she spoke.
"You succeeded."
It was not a question.
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"The fifth core stabilized."
Gu Yuena stepped forward.
Her eyes briefly glowed faintly as she observed the energy circulation inside his body.
She could see it clearly.
The transformation of his spiritual power.
The emergence of Celestial Spiritual Power.
The five soul cores forming a balanced system.
For someone who understood the laws of the world as deeply as she did—
the significance was obvious.
"You refined your spiritual power."
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"It was necessary."
Gu Yuena remained silent for a moment.
Then she said something unexpected.
"That path will bring you closer to the Heavenly Dao."
Honghong glanced between them.
"…So you approve?"
Gu Yuena ignored her again.
Instead, she raised her hand slowly.
A faint silver light appeared around her fingers.
Then—
she pulled something from her own body.
A single silver dragon scale.
It was small.
No larger than a coin.
But the moment it appeared, the energy inside the room changed.
The scale contained a fragment of something immense.
Draconic essence.
Authority over space.
Ancient power.
Gu Yuena stepped forward and held it out to him.
"Take it."
Lin Huang looked at the scale.
"…Why?"
Her answer was simple.
"It will help stabilize your circulation."
She paused slightly.
"And your connection to space."
Lin Huang studied the scale for a moment.
Then accepted it.
The moment it touched his hand, he felt the energy inside it.
Ancient.
Deep.
And strangely compatible with the structure of his cultivation.
He absorbed it slowly.
The scale dissolved into silver light and merged with his meridians.
Immediately—
the Celestial Spiritual Power inside his body became even more stable.
The faint resonance with the laws of space grew slightly clearer.
Honghong blinked.
"…You're giving him dragon parts now?"
Gu Yuena answered calmly.
"It was unnecessary for me."
Then she looked at Lin Huang again.
For a moment, her expression softened slightly.
"I will enter seclusion soon."
Lin Huang understood immediately.
"You're breaking through."
Gu Yuena nodded once.
"The Divine King Realm."
The words were spoken without arrogance.
Without excitement.
Simply a statement of fact.
Honghong whistled softly.
"…That fast?"
Gu Yuena ignored her again.
Before turning to leave, she spoke one final time.
"Your comprehension field."
Lin Huang looked at her.
She continued.
"It expanded."
He had noticed it too.
Since the formation of the fifth core, something subtle had changed.
The natural field around him—the one that enhanced comprehension of the laws—had grown stronger.
Those near him could feel it.
Understand things more clearly.
Perceive energy flows more easily.
And now—
with his spiritual power transformed—
the effect had become even stronger.
Gu Yuena added one final sentence before stepping back toward the spatial distortion.
"Use it well."
Then the space folded again.
And she disappeared.
The cultivation chamber fell silent.
Honghong looked at Lin Huang.
"…You two have a weird relationship."
Lin Huang shrugged lightly.
"It works."
Honghong snorted.
Then she suddenly tilted her head slightly.
"…Something else changed."
Lin Huang had noticed it too.
The Psychic Rings around his spiritual sea had begun resonating with the new Celestial Spiritual Power.
Their abilities had become sharper.
Clearer.
His perception expanded slightly.
The laws around him felt… easier to read.
Like a text that had suddenly become clearer.
Lin Huang closed his eyes briefly.
Testing the sensation.
Then nodded once.
"…Better."
Honghong lay down again.
"…You're getting ridiculous."
Lin Huang didn't argue.
Instead, he glanced briefly toward the distant horizon beyond the cultivation chamber.
For just a moment—
he thought he felt something strange again.
A faint irregularity in the laws of space.
Like a small knot hidden inside the fabric of reality.
But the sensation vanished almost immediately.
Lin Huang frowned slightly.
Then shook his head.
"…Probably nothing."
For now—
he ignored it.
Unaware that somewhere within the deeper layers of space…
that tiny distortion was quietly growing.
Waiting for the moment
when the Fox would finally step
ten thousand years into the past.
The changes brought by Lin Huang's breakthrough did not remain confined within the quiet walls of the cultivation chamber.
Energy moved.
Laws resonated.
And something subtle began spreading outward.
Not violently.
Not like the eruption of power from a tribulation.
Instead—
it was quiet.
Gentle.
Almost natural.
Outside the cultivation chamber, several members of the Lin Clan were already cultivating in nearby courtyards.
The spiritual energy density in the area had always been high thanks to the formations installed across the territory.
But today—
something felt different.
A young cultivator slowly opened his eyes.
"…Why does the energy feel clearer?"
Nearby, another disciple frowned slightly.
"…I was just thinking the same thing."
They could not explain it.
But circulating their spiritual power felt easier.
Their perception of elemental energy seemed sharper.
Even techniques they had practiced for months suddenly felt… smoother.
Inside the main cultivation hall not far away, several of the girls had gathered.
They had already sensed the change the moment Lin Huang's Fifth Soul Core stabilized.
Zhang Lexuan slowly exhaled as a soft moonlight aura faded around her.
Her eyes opened.
"…His field changed."
Ning Tian nodded.
"I can feel it too."
Her Ten Treasure Glazed Pagoda spirit floated quietly beside her, the jewel-like towers shimmering faintly.
The resonance between her martial spirit and the surrounding energy had become stronger.
Almost as if the world itself had become easier to influence.
Wu Feng stretched her shoulders slightly.
"…It's easier to control energy."
Across the hall, Jiang Nannan slowly withdrew the lightning threads she had been practicing with.
Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"…Not just energy."
"…The laws feel clearer."
That observation immediately caught everyone's attention.
Ling Luochen spoke quietly.
"…You're right."
Even the subtle laws of ice she had been studying felt easier to understand.
As if something nearby was amplifying their perception.
Ning Tian looked toward the direction of Lin Huang's cultivation chamber.
"…It's him."
No one questioned it.
They had already experienced something similar before.
Lin Huang possessed a natural field of comprehension.
Anyone cultivating near him could experience increased clarity toward:
energy flow
elemental laws
cultivation structure
But now—
the effect had clearly strengthened.
The reason was simple.
His spiritual power had evolved.
The transformation into Celestial Spiritual Power had deepened his connection to the Heavenly Dao.
And that connection naturally influenced the environment around him.
Not far away, Su Mei had already noticed the change as well.
She stood inside the spiritual kitchen courtyard, stirring a pot filled with glowing ingredients.
Then she suddenly paused.
"…Huh."
The energy circulation inside the pot had become smoother.
The ingredients were stabilizing faster than usual.
She looked toward Lin Huang's cultivation area and laughed softly.
"…That guy did something again."
Nearby, Ju Zi was standing beside a formation console, analyzing several data projections from the Lin Clan systems.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she examined the readings.
Energy flow across the territory had changed.
Not drastically.
But noticeably.
"…Interesting."
She quickly adjusted several formation parameters.
The formations reacted immediately.
Energy distribution stabilized.
Ju Zi leaned back slightly in her chair.
"…So that's the effect of Celestial Spiritual Power."
Back inside the cultivation chamber—
Lin Huang slowly opened his eyes.
He could feel it.
The subtle influence his presence now had on the surrounding environment.
The laws felt closer.
More responsive.
Not under his control.
But more willing to respond.
Honghong lay stretched across the stone platform, watching him lazily.
"…Your comprehension field got stronger."
Lin Huang nodded.
"I noticed."
The transformation of his spiritual power had changed more than just his internal cultivation.
It had changed how the world responded to him.
Or perhaps—
how clearly he could respond to the world.
Honghong tilted her head slightly.
"…Your Psychic Rings are reacting too."
Lin Huang glanced inward.
She was right.
Inside his spiritual sea, the Psychic Rings rotated slowly.
But now they resonated more strongly with the surrounding laws.
Their abilities had sharpened.
Perception.
Mental control.
Law comprehension.
Everything had become clearer.
Lin Huang exhaled slowly.
"…Good."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"…You're getting closer."
Lin Huang looked at her.
"To what?"
Honghong smiled slightly.
"The Heavenly Dao."
Lin Huang didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he closed his eyes again.
Feeling the flow of energy.
Feeling the resonance of the laws.
And somewhere deep within that perception—
he felt it again.
That faint irregularity in space.
A subtle knot hidden in the fabric of reality.
He frowned slightly.
Then the sensation vanished again.
Lin Huang shook his head lightly.
"…Probably just a spatial fluctuation."
For now—
he ignored it.
Completely unaware.
The effects of Lin Huang's breakthrough did not fade quickly.
Instead, they settled quietly into the environment around him.
His Celestial Spiritual Power had stabilized the internal circulation of his cultivation system, but the change had also strengthened something else.
His natural resonance with the laws of the world.
Inside the cultivation chamber, Lin Huang slowly stood.
The transformation inside his body had fully stabilized now.
Five Soul Cores rotated in balanced harmony.
The circulation of energy had become incredibly smooth.
Celestial Spiritual Power flowed through his meridians like a steady current, guided by the faint resonance of the Heavenly Law he had begun to comprehend.
He flexed his fingers slightly.
A thin thread of energy appeared between them.
Golden.
Clear.
Stable.
Honghong watched from the platform, her tail swaying lazily.
"…Feels different."
Lin Huang nodded.
"It is."
He closed his hand and allowed the energy to disperse.
"The control is better now."
Honghong studied him for a moment.
"…Your body changed too."
Lin Huang glanced inward briefly.
She was right.
The stabilization of the Fifth Soul Core had strengthened the balance of his entire system.
His vitality had increased.
Energy circulation had become faster.
Even the integration between:
Soul Power
Body Cultivation
Spiritual Power
had improved.
It was no longer three separate systems loosely connected.
They were gradually becoming one unified structure.
Honghong chuckled quietly.
"…You're building a monster."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"Better than collapsing later."
Honghong didn't argue with that.
Not long after—
the door of the cultivation chamber opened.
Several familiar figures stepped inside.
Zhang Lexuan entered first.
Behind her came Ning Tian, Wu Feng, Jiang Nannan, Ling Luochen, and a few of the others.
The moment they stepped into the room, they could feel it clearly.
The environment inside had changed.
The spiritual energy moved in smoother patterns.
The laws felt closer.
Easier to grasp.
Wu Feng stretched her shoulders slightly.
"…So it really was you."
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"Problem?"
Wu Feng snorted.
"No."
She smirked.
"It made training easier."
Ning Tian's Ten Treasure Glazed Pagoda floated gently beside her.
The crystalline towers shimmered faintly as she studied Lin Huang carefully.
"…Your spiritual power changed."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Upgraded."
Ning Tian's eyes lit up slightly.
"…That explains the resonance."
She could feel it more clearly than the others.
Her martial spirit specialized in amplification.
And the moment she stepped near him, the resonance between her spirit and the surrounding energy had grown stronger.
It felt as if the entire environment had become more cooperative.
Su Mei entered last, carrying a small tray of spirit tea.
She placed it casually on a nearby stone table.
"…You caused quite a reaction outside."
Lin Huang glanced at her.
"Good or bad?"
Su Mei shrugged.
"Good."
She handed him a cup.
"The Institute is already excited about the inscription system."
Ju Zi stepped inside behind her.
She spoke calmly.
"The new department has already received over three hundred applications."
Honghong blinked.
"…That fast?"
Ju Zi nodded.
"Researchers, engineers, alchemists."
"They all want to study it."
Lin Huang accepted the tea without surprise.
"That was expected."
The others gathered around casually.
For a moment, the atmosphere became relaxed.
Almost peaceful.
Wu Feng leaned against the wall.
"…So what now?"
Lin Huang took a slow sip of tea.
Then answered simply.
"Training."
Several of the girls immediately groaned.
Ning Tian laughed softly.
"…You just advanced."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"And?"
Honghong snorted.
"…Told you."
Zhang Lexuan smiled faintly.
"You never slow down."
Lin Huang set the empty cup aside.
"The others benefited from the resonance earlier."
His gaze moved across the group.
"Use it."
Jiang Nannan stretched her arms slightly.
"…You mean now?"
Lin Huang nodded.
"Your understanding of the laws improved."
"Take advantage of it before it fades."
Ling Luochen had already closed her eyes again.
A faint aura of ice began forming around her as she resumed cultivation.
Wu Feng sighed.
"…Fine."
She sat down cross-legged nearby.
The others followed soon after.
The chamber gradually returned to silence.
Several cultivators meditating.
Energy flowing quietly through the room.
Honghong lay back down again.
"…You really turn everything into training."
Lin Huang replied calmly.
"That's how progress works."
Outside the chamber, the Lin Clan territory continued moving as usual.
The Institute buzzed with new research.
The city expanded.
New cultivation paths continued appearing.
And somewhere within the subtle layers of the world's laws—
change continued quietly.
Unnoticed.
Unrushed.
Just like the steady progress of those who were walking their own paths forward.
Time passed quietly inside the cultivation chamber.
Hours.
The atmosphere remained calm, filled only with the steady circulation of spiritual energy.
One by one, the girls continued cultivating, taking advantage of the clearer resonance of the surrounding laws.
Lin Huang's presence alone seemed to stabilize the environment.
Energy flowed more smoothly.
The perception of elemental laws felt clearer.
For cultivators at their level, even a slight increase in clarity could bring valuable insights.
Ling Luochen's ice aura slowly condensed and then faded as she completed a circulation cycle.
Jiang Nannan opened her eyes next, the faint crackle of lightning dispersing around her fingers.
Wu Feng exhaled slowly as the aura of draconic fire surrounding her body faded.
Not long after—
Ning Tian's Ten Treasure Glazed Pagoda slowly returned to her body.
She opened her eyes as well.
The chamber gradually returned to silence.
Several of them exchanged glances.
Zhang Lexuan spoke first.
"…That helped."
Ling Luochen nodded.
"The laws felt clearer."
Wu Feng stretched her shoulders.
"…Yeah."
She glanced at Lin Huang.
"…Your field got stronger again."
Lin Huang simply shrugged.
"It should."
He stood up slowly.
The movement immediately drew everyone's attention.
Su Mei tilted her head slightly.
"…Done training us?"
Lin Huang looked at them calmly.
"For now."
Before anyone could react—
he suddenly stepped forward.
Then, without warning—
he bent down and lifted Ning Tian directly off the ground.
She let out a small surprised sound.
"Ah—!"
The others froze for a moment.
Wu Feng blinked.
"…What are you doing?"
Ning Tian herself looked slightly flustered as Lin Huang held her effortlessly in his arms.
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Now I'm helping my wives."
Honghong, who had been resting nearby, immediately grinned.
"…Here we go."
Lin Huang looked around at the group.
His tone remained completely casual.
"The resonance field helped with basic comprehension."
"But if you want to understand the laws more deeply…"
He paused briefly.
"…there's a faster method."
Wu Feng narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"…And that is?"
Lin Huang answered without hesitation.
"Dual cultivation."
Silence.
For about two seconds.
Then—
Wu Feng's face turned red.
"You shameless bastard!"
Su Mei burst into laughter.
"I was wondering how long it would take you to say that."
Ning Tian covered part of her face, though the faint blush on her cheeks was obvious.
Zhang Lexuan sighed softly, though a small smile appeared on her lips.
"…You could have phrased that differently."
Lin Huang looked at them calmly.
"Why?"
Jiang Nannan rubbed her forehead slightly.
"…Because you said it like you were announcing a training exercise."
Honghong rolled onto her back laughing.
"He actually thinks it is."
Lin Huang ignored the comment.
Instead he looked around the room again.
"The connection between spiritual power, body cultivation, and law comprehension is stronger during dual cultivation."
His tone remained completely serious.
"It's less exhausting."
"And the efficiency is higher."
Wu Feng crossed her arms, still glaring at him.
"…You're unbelievable."
Lin Huang simply shrugged.
"I'm efficient."
Su Mei laughed again.
"Well…"
She stretched her arms slightly.
"…if it helps cultivation."
Several of the others exchanged glances.
Even Ling Luochen looked mildly amused.
Ning Tian finally lowered her hand from her face and sighed softly.
"…You could at least put me down first."
Lin Huang glanced at her.
"…Right."
He gently set her back on the ground.
Honghong flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…Smooth recovery."
Lin Huang ignored her again.
Instead he spoke calmly.
"Take a short rest."
"Then we continue."
Wu Feng groaned.
"…You're impossible."
But despite the complaints—
no one actually refused.
Because everyone present understood one thing clearly.
When it came to cultivation—
Lin Huang's methods
were rarely wrong.
The training session did not end immediately.
Despite the earlier complaints, none of the girls actually left the chamber.
Instead, the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
Some of them continued circulating their energy.
Others simply rested while adjusting to the clearer resonance of the surrounding laws.
The influence of Lin Huang's Celestial Spiritual Power still lingered faintly in the room.
It made cultivation feel smoother.
Less forced.
Almost natural.
Wu Feng leaned back against a nearby pillar, crossing her arms as she looked toward Lin Huang.
"…You're really serious about this."
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"About cultivation?"
Wu Feng snorted.
"…About everything."
Nearby, Su Mei poured herself another cup of spirit tea.
"You act like we didn't expect this."
She glanced at Wu Feng with a smirk.
"You know him."
Wu Feng rolled her eyes but didn't argue.
Everyone present knew the truth.
Lin Huang treated cultivation seriously.
But he also knew how to take advantage of every possible method to accelerate progress.
Ning Tian sat quietly nearby, adjusting the flow of her spiritual power.
Her Ten Treasure Glazed Pagoda shimmered faintly as she stabilized her energy circulation.
The effects of the earlier resonance had not fully faded yet.
Her understanding of several subtle energy interactions had improved slightly.
She looked toward Lin Huang.
"…Your spiritual power really changed."
Lin Huang nodded.
"It evolved."
Zhang Lexuan spoke calmly from across the chamber.
"That's not something most cultivators can do."
Lin Huang shrugged lightly.
"Most cultivators don't mix divine energy into their system."
Honghong laughed quietly from her place on the stone platform.
"…Most cultivators also don't rebuild their entire cultivation structure every few years."
Lin Huang didn't deny it.
Across the chamber, Jiang Nannan stretched her arms slightly.
"…Still."
She looked thoughtful.
"If your field keeps improving like this…"
She paused.
"…cultivating near you might become a shortcut."
Lin Huang gave a faint smile.
"That's already happening."
Wu Feng groaned.
"…Great."
"Now people are going to fight over who gets to train near you."
Su Mei laughed.
"That already happens."
The room relaxed again.
For a while, the conversation shifted naturally between cultivation insights and casual discussion.
The atmosphere felt unusually calm.
But beneath that calm—
progress continued quietly.
Each of the girls had benefited slightly from the earlier resonance.
Their understanding of the laws had deepened.
Energy circulation had improved.
And more importantly—
their cultivation foundations had grown more stable.
Even the Qi Rings, Blood Rings, and Psychic Rings they had been developing continued stabilizing gradually.
Honghong eventually stretched again.
"…So."
She looked at Lin Huang.
"When do we start the next 'training session'?"
Lin Huang glanced at the group.
Several of them immediately looked away.
Wu Feng muttered under her breath.
"…Shameless."
Su Mei simply smiled.
Ning Tian sighed softly but didn't object.
Lin Huang nodded once.
"Soon."
He stood up again slowly.
The movement immediately drew everyone's attention.
His tone remained calm.
"Take a short break."
Then he added casually.
"We'll continue with the deeper training after."
Honghong flicked her tails in amusement.
"…You really don't waste time."
Lin Huang looked at her.
"Progress doesn't wait."
Outside the chamber, the evening sun slowly descended behind the mountains surrounding Yuelan City.
The world continued moving forward.
The Institute expanded.
New cultivation paths appeared.
And within the Lin Clan territory—
a group of cultivators continued advancing quietly.
Step by step.
Toward greater strength.
And deeper understanding of the laws that governed the world.
The training chamber gradually quieted.
The earlier resonance had already helped everyone stabilize their energy circulation, and the atmosphere inside the room slowly returned to normal.
A few of the girls were still adjusting their spiritual power.
Others had simply relaxed where they were sitting.
For a moment, the room felt unusually peaceful.
Lin Huang stood near the center of the chamber, observing everyone quietly.
The changes from his breakthrough had settled completely now.
Five Soul Cores rotated steadily within his body.
Celestial Spiritual Power flowed smoothly through his meridians.
Everything had become more stable.
More balanced.
Honghong stretched lazily on the stone platform.
"…So."
She glanced at him sideways.
"…Are you going to stand there all night?"
Lin Huang raised an eyebrow.
"Why would I?"
Wu Feng leaned against the wall nearby, arms crossed.
"…Because you like watching people train?"
Lin Huang shook his head slightly.
"No."
Then he casually walked forward.
Before Ning Tian could react—
he simply lifted her into his arms again.
Ning Tian blinked in surprise.
"W-wait—!"
The others froze for half a second.
Then Su Mei burst out laughing.
"Ah."
"So we've reached that stage."
Wu Feng's face instantly turned red again.
"You shameless bastard!"
Honghong rolled onto her back, laughing.
"I told you."
Lin Huang ignored the reactions completely.
He looked around the room calmly.
"Training is over."
Ning Tian looked up at him, still slightly flustered.
"…And now?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"Now I'm helping my wives."
The room went quiet again.
Zhang Lexuan covered her mouth slightly, clearly amused.
Jiang Nannan rubbed her forehead.
"…You really don't have any shame."
Lin Huang tilted his head slightly.
"Why would I?"
He continued calmly.
"Understanding laws is difficult."
"But there are easier ways to guide perception."
Su Mei laughed again.
"…You really say that like it's a lecture."
Lin Huang shrugged.
"It works."
Honghong flicked one of her tails lazily.
"…He's not wrong."
Wu Feng looked like she wanted to argue.
But after a moment she only sighed.
"…You're unbelievable."
Lin Huang turned toward the door of the chamber.
Still carrying Ning Tian effortlessly.
"Come."
He spoke casually.
"The dual cultivation room is quieter."
Su Mei stretched her arms as she stood.
"Well."
"…If our dear husband is being so diligent."
Zhang Lexuan followed calmly behind.
"Let's not waste the opportunity."
Ling Luochen silently stood as well.
Jiang Nannan shook her head slightly, but there was a faint smile on her face.
Wu Feng groaned quietly.
"…Unbelievable."
But she still followed.
Honghong hopped down from the platform and landed lightly on Lin Huang's shoulder again.
"…Humans are ridiculous."
Lin Huang simply walked toward the corridor leading deeper into the Lin Clan residence.
Behind him—
his wives followed.
The quiet night of Yuelan City continued outside.
While inside the Lin Clan territory—
a different kind of cultivation
was about to begin.