A technologically powerful nation: The national treasure is actually myself.

"You're going to die."

Lin Yang was slightly surprised to hear Yin Hun's words.

The ghost actually spoke to him.

He stared at the ghost and said, "Are you saying that you will successfully control me today?"

The ghost did not answer or speak again, but instead manipulated its cold power to attack him.

This time, Lin Yang did not feel the utterly irresistible despair he had experienced before. Instead, he moved his body, circulated his Dao power, and dispelled some of the chilling aura.

However, that's all there is to it.

No further effect can be achieved.

This also secretly alarmed Lin Yang.

Even though he had achieved perfect enlightenment, he still had little power to resist this vengeful spirit.

Just how powerful is this ghost?
Keep in mind that the spirits are still suppressed by the rules of the realm, yet they are still so strong. If they were not suppressed, how strong would they be?
Lin Yang found it hard to believe.

At this moment, the half-armor on his body once again came into play, blocking the invasion of the cold and evil power.

But the Yin spirit was clearly prepared; its cold power contained something Lin Yang couldn't understand that began to corrode the armor.

It was obvious that after the ghost saw his armor last time, it already had a way to deal with it.

Lin Yang's heart sank. No wonder this ghost said he was going to die today; it had come prepared.

Feeling the armor being increasingly corroded, Lin Yang's eyes flashed, and he took out an item from his spatial ring.

It was that tattered piece of cloth.

After the cloth first drove away the ghosts, it lost all its power, but after hundreds of thousands of years of recovery, it is now reacting again to the power of the ghosts.

The moment the cloth appeared, the cold, sinister power was immediately suppressed.

The ghost stared at the cloth, but unlike the first time it saw it, it didn't react as strongly; it merely let out a soft sigh.
"These damned bastards, even in death they won't stop!"

With the sound, a chilling power surged again, pressing down on the cloth.

The cloth emitted a faint white light to counteract it.

The ghost shifted its gaze from the cloth to Lin Yang: "This thing can save you this time, but next time, we'll see how you escape!"

After saying this, the ghostly figure gradually disappeared.

However, the chilling power had not dissipated and was still fighting against the cloth, clearly depleting its strength.

Lin Yang also saw through the Yin spirit's intentions.

Once the power of the cloth is exhausted, it will take hundreds of thousands of years to recover.

This vengeful spirit clearly intended to exhaust the power of the cloth once again, so that there would be nothing left to save him next time.

The spirit only needs to appear once more before the cloth's power is restored to control him.

Lin Yang watched as the power of the cloth was gradually exhausted and it floated towards the ground.

He reached out and caught the cloth, put it back into his spatial ring, and continued walking along the stream.

The sudden appearance of the ghost was just an interlude and did not interrupt his travels.

Time passes.

Ten thousand years and ten thousand years.

Years passed.

The aura of old age emanating from Lin Yang grew stronger and stronger.

He has witnessed the changing of mountains and rivers, the cycle of flourishing and decay.

However, I always lacked a bit of inspiration and was unable to fully understand it.

On this day, he sat cross-legged on a grassy field, thinking of many old friends.

In particular, I thought of some people who have passed away.

Gradually, he seemed to understand something.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are also part of time."

Lin Yang whispered.

In the days that followed, some silver strands appeared in his hair.

Then my eyebrows also became much whiter.

He looked like an elderly man in his sixties or seventies.

A few years later, even his back began to hunch.

Even his cultivation level seemed to be declining.

He passed through a city and settled down at a hermitage outside the city.

His condition was no longer suitable for continuing the journey.

The people at the hermitage, seeing his condition, seemed to feel pity and compassion, and only made him pay half the normal fee before providing him with a place to stay.

So Lin Yang settled down in this outpost of independent cultivators outside the city, which was called Fengchi City.

He rarely goes out.

However, he would occasionally take out some low-quality magic arrays he had refined in the past to sell in exchange for some daily necessities.

He has fully integrated into his current life, environment, and identity.

The people in the independent cultivators' stronghold gradually learned that an old man who appeared to be suffering from an incurable injury had come to the stronghold.

This has sparked some discussion.

Because Lin Yang's current state looks like he has suffered a severe injury, his vitality is being depleted and constantly fading away, to the point that he can hardly maintain even normal bodily functions.

This is a rather rare occurrence.

Because in most cases, cultivators rarely suffer such severe injuries; once they do, it usually means they have endured an attack that is almost certain to kill them.

It's already quite an achievement to survive an attack of that magnitude.

In the vast majority of cases, they either die on the spot or linger for a few days before dying.

It is quite rare to survive an attack that is certain to kill you and not die quickly.

This has attracted some attention.

To the left of Lin Yang's residence was a young-looking man, while to the right was a rare couple of independent cultivators, both of whom appeared to be middle-aged.

As neighbors, Lin Yang would often run into them, and thus they became relatively familiar with each other.

The young neighbor, Jiao Guang, would sometimes bring him food and wine from Fengchi City when he returned, offering them to him for free.

Jiao Guang is also a guy who enjoys eating and drinking.

Lin Yang initially refused.

He knew very well that ordinary cultivators in the strongholds of independent cultivators did not have an easy life.

Food and wine may not be expensive, but they still cost money.

Jiao Guang was quite interesting. He directly said that he was embarrassed to accept money from an old man who was about to die. He just thought that the old man wouldn't live much longer, so he took pity on him and let him eat a few more delicious bites before he died so that he could die a full man.

These direct words left Lin Yang somewhat speechless, both amused and exasperated.

To tell someone to their face that they're about to die shows a complete lack of emotional intelligence.

Later, Lin Yang stopped refusing; he figured he could just take advantage of something that was offered to him.

The couple, the male cultivator was named Bi Cheng and the female cultivator was named Kong Qing. Sometimes they would give Lin Yang some pills.

Bi Cheng was a mediocre alchemist.

Seeing Lin Yang's pitiful state, they said that although his pills could not cure the disease, they could at least alleviate the pain.

Since it was free, Lin Yang didn't refuse the offer.

Gradually, Lin Yang discovered that everyone in the entire loose cultivator stronghold was taking care of him in a strange way.

Perhaps it was his state that made everyone, who were also practitioners, realize how difficult the path of cultivation was.

Or perhaps it's admiration that he was able to persevere and live under such circumstances.

In short, Lin Yang actually experienced some kindness and warmth from strangers.

In the thirty-fifth year of his stay at the hermitage, the hermitage was attacked by a swarm of savages.

Fortunately, it was a small-scale attack and did not cause too many casualties.

When they were attacked by the swarm of swarms, Jiao Guang and Bi Chengkongqing protected Lin Yang behind them, preventing him from being affected too much and without him having to do anything.

Sixty years later.

Lin Yang's condition was getting worse and worse, and he looked like he could die at any moment.

"Hey old man, have you prepared the money for the coffin? If not, I can lend you some."

On this day, Jiao Guang, carrying a pot of wine, went to Lin Yang's courtyard in a very familiar manner.

Lin Yang coughed twice and said irritably, "You have no manners at all, how can you talk like that?" "Hehe, I'm just telling the truth. Look at you now, you might be gone tomorrow after drinking this pot of wine today. You should prepare a coffin in advance." Jiao Guang poured wine for Lin Yang.

It's quite amazing how the light is focused.

With Lin Yang's health, if he takes good care of himself, he might be able to live a few more years.

But Lin Yang didn't care about any of that; instead, he ate and drank whatever was brought to him.

Jiao Guang initially went there out of sympathy, but later discovered that Lin Yang was never a spoilsport and was a good drinking buddy, so he became more and more fond of visiting Lin Yang.

Because everyone else was busy with their own cultivation, few people could accompany him to eat and drink to his heart's content, which made Jiao Guang, who loved to eat and drink, feel a bit lonely.

Although Lin Yang was very old, he was knowledgeable and never refused food or drink. He never told Jiao Guang to focus on cultivation and reduce his eating, drinking and having fun. Jiao Guang was very satisfied to have such a drinking buddy.

The only pity is that Lin Yang is about to die.

"Sigh, life is so boring." Jiao Guang drank a cup with deep regret.

"But you seem to be living a very comfortable life, eating and drinking all day long. I don't see you bored at all," Lin Yang teased.

"Life is short, so we should enjoy it while we can." Jiao Guang chuckled. "It's just a pity that I finally met such a good drinking buddy like you, but now you're about to die."

"Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death?" Lin Yang slowly raised his wine glass and took a sip.

"That's true, so we should enjoy life while we can, especially someone like me who isn't very talented and won't achieve much in the future. I might die at any time, so I have to enjoy life while I'm alive."

Jiao Guang nodded, then, as if remembering something, his eyes lit up inexplicably, and he looked at Lin Yang with a strange laugh:
"Old man, since you're not going to live much longer anyway, why don't you go crazy before you die and enjoy the last moments of your life? It's my treat."

"What do you mean, 'go crazy'?" Lin Yang asked, still a little confused.

"Hehe, you know what I mean!"

Jiao Guang cast a somewhat lewd glance his way:

"I just don't know if your old bones can still hold up. Don't let yourself get too excited and suddenly die on the spot."

"..." Lin Yang was stunned, then said speechlessly, "You brat, you're so outspoken! Don't say that again, I'm not that kind of person!"

"Tch..." Jiao Guang scoffed, but said nothing more, just continued drinking.

Lin Yang remained silent and continued drinking by himself.

Before long, the wine jug was empty.

Jiao Guang stood up: "Ah, old man, I will miss you when you die."

"Just because I drink with you and never say much?" Lin Yang said with a smile.

"I suppose so." Jiao Guang turned and left.

Not long after Jiao Guang left, Bi Cheng and his wife also came to Lin Yang's courtyard.

The couple brought a pot of good tea and some pastries.

The three sat down around the stone table. Bi Cheng poured Lin Yang a cup of tea and said, "Brother Lin, did that kid Jiao Guang come to ask you to drink again? You'd better drink less; your health isn't suitable for alcohol."

Lin Yang waved his hand: "It doesn't matter. We're all going to die sooner or later anyway. Jiao Guang is right. We should enjoy life while we can."

Bi Cheng stopped bringing up the topic and started chatting casually.

The couple was much more composed than Jiao Guang. Although they didn't get along very well with Jiao Guang, they could chat with Lin Yang.

No matter what the topic is, Lin Yang can always join in the conversation.

Therefore, the couple also enjoyed chatting with Lin Yang.

Days passed by like this.

Thirty years later, Lin Yang's body looked like it was on its last legs.

On this day, Jiao Guang and Bi Cheng were both in Lin Yang's room.

Lin Yang lay on the bed, on the verge of dying.

They came to see Lin Yang off.

"Old man, if there's a next life, remember to come find us again."

Jiao Guang, still with that somewhat unreliable demeanor, said:
"Don't worry, I've found you a very auspicious place."

Bi Cheng then said, "Brother Lin, have a safe journey."

Lin Yang nodded to each of them, his breath growing weaker and weaker until he finally vanished.

"Sigh, that old man..."

Jiao Guang sighed, and together with Bi Cheng and his wife, they placed Lin Yang in the coffin that had been prepared in advance, and then took him to a place that had been chosen beforehand for burial.

In the days that followed, Jiao Guang and his wife Bi Cheng would occasionally come here to pay their respects.

However, as time went by, this kind of worship gradually decreased.

The wind blows across the grave mound, and the newly grown grass on the grave mound sways in the wind.

It is unknown how much time passed.

A sigh came from the depths of the tomb.

"Birth, aging, sickness, and death—it truly is a complete cycle of life."

As the sound rang out, a figure gradually materialized above the tomb.

It was Lin Yang.

At this moment, Lin Yang no longer looked old, but had regained his original youthful appearance, with a tall and straight figure, a handsome face, and a dashing appearance.

He looked at his own grave, his eyes gleaming.

The way of time is indeed mysterious.

After years of travel and the final years of life, aging, sickness, and death, he came to understand some of the mysteries of the power of time.

The living can die.

The dead can be brought back to life.

Life and death are both within the cycle of time.

"The cycle of time continues."

Lin Yang murmured, his finger tracing a wild grass on the grave mound.

Time seemed to flow backward; the weeds began to turn back into seedlings, but then quickly grew into lush vegetation, eventually withering and dying.

In the blink of an eye, this wild grass has lived its entire life.

Lin Yang stopped what he was doing and said in a low voice, "Simply accelerating or reversing time can only make a single change in the same instant. However, the cycle of time can allow an object to experience a lifetime of changes. This is an ability that combines the acceleration and reversal of time, or rather, a more advanced application of these two abilities."

"But I always feel that the cycle of time should have even more advanced abilities, it's just that we haven't discovered them yet."

The cycle of time is a new and advanced way of applying the power of time that he has come to understand.

His understanding of time reached a new level as he mastered the cycle of years.

"Perhaps it's time to start trying to reach the Eternal Realm. On the path of cultivation, only by reaching the Eternal Realm can life be considered truly eternal and immortal, no longer limited by the natural lifespan."

Lin Yang looked up into the distance.

A cultivator's lifespan increases with the advancement of their cultivation level, and the further they progress, the greater the increase in lifespan with each advancement in their cultivation level.

Although the lifespan of someone in the Dao Without Leaks realm is essentially negligible compared to the ordinary concept of lifespan, it is not infinite.

Only by reaching the Eternal Realm can one completely break free from the concept of lifespan.

As long as they are not killed, they will not slowly die over time.

Whether it's billions of years or even longer.

"Wouldn't it be a bit too fast to make a breakthrough now? After all, I haven't been at the Dao Without Leaks state for very long."

Lin Yang continued.

His rate of improvement was astonishing, even to himself.

He was a little worried that the foundation would be unstable.

However, Lin Yang soon decided to attempt to break through to the Eternal Realm.

Only by reaching the state of constancy can one be considered to have completely transcended life and death in the ordinary sense.

With his current foundation in both space and time, even if his foundation is slightly unstable, he can make up for it.

"If you want to break through to the Eternal Realm, it's better to go back to Xiwu City and go to the Cave Heaven Secret Realm. There, the 'realm' will also give back power to you, although it's less, it's better than nothing."

Lin Yang prepared to return to Xiwu City.

Just then, Qingyuan suddenly sent him a message: "Fellow Daoist Lin Yang, come to the Human Ancestor Hall immediately, it's urgent!"

Lin Yang looked at the message and immediately replied, "Fellow Daoist Qingyuan, what's the matter that's so urgent? Can you wait a moment?"

He wanted to go back to Xiwu City for a period of seclusion first.

"This is bad, something's happened at the border, come quickly!" Qingyuan's tone was very serious.

Lin Yang didn't ask any more questions and activated the token to teleport to the Ancestral Hall of Humanity. (End of Chapter)