After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

It's located a little further from the lake, in a valley.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged on a black rock.

His eyes were closed, his aura surged, and wisps of faint black energy seeped out from his robes.

A dark figure stood beside him, its face obscured.

"Lin Yuan, how long are you going to keep lying to yourself?"

The dark figure laughed, its voice hoarse.

"You are the eldest son of the Lin family."

"In terms of seniority, cultivation, and intellect, in what way are you inferior to Lin Chu?"

"But now, you can only follow behind others."

Lin Yuan frowned almost imperceptibly.

"You two brothers were born to Ji Muwan's maids."

"Lin Chu was born to the eldest princess of the Ji family, the most direct descendant of the direct line."

Lin Yuan didn't speak, but simply moved his fingers slightly.

The shadowy figure seemed to sense something and a smile appeared on its lips.

"Even as an outsider, I feel sorry for you."

"The future of the Lin family has never belonged to you."

"It didn't belong to me before, and it doesn't belong to me now."

"From now on, it will never belong to you."

"Once he truly catches up in terms of skill, you might not even be able to keep your current position."

Lin Yuan's expression gradually turned cold.

"Shut up."

The shadowy figure slowly moved in front of him, almost whispering.

"If you don't believe me."

"Look around you, who's left by your side?"

Even Lin Che, who used to follow you around since you were little, has joined your brother's side.

After saying that, the dark figure took a step back.

Lin Yuan finally raised his eyes, his breathing momentarily disordered.

Although it was very subtle, it could not escape the shadow's perception.

Its smile grew even more satisfied.

So he raised his hand and grabbed.

A small, jet-black fox spirit appeared in its palm.

The black fox was curled up, its nine tails hanging limply, its body shrouded in an aura so thick it was almost impossible to dissolve.

"All you need to do is inject this into Lin Chu's body."

"Just a little bit."

The rest is none of your business.

"Someone will take the blame for everything, and everyone will think that it was done by my Soul Devouring Clan."

"By then, you can be completely rid of me, which will be entirely beneficial for you, won't it?"

Lin Yuan looked at the black fox, his eyes filled with an inscrutable expression.

After a long silence, he let out a cold laugh.

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

The shadowy figure shook its head.

I've never thought you were stupid.

He leaned forward and held the black fox even closer.

His tone was so frank that it bordered on sincerity.

"Just say it."

"You should be able to sense that this is a fragment of my soul."

"When you infuse my divided soul into Lin Chu's body, I will naturally follow you."

"To put it bluntly, his talent far surpasses yours."

"I can't give him up and choose you instead."

Lin Yuan remained silent.

The shadowy figure raised the black fox and watched him silently.

for a long time.

Lin Yuan raised his hand.

They took the black fox.

The shadowy figure chuckled.

"You'll thank me."

After saying that, his entire figure turned into a wisp of black smoke, disappeared into Lin Yuan's body, and vanished.

Lin Yuan stood still, looking at the black fox in his palm.

Black strands of air silently climbed up his wrist.

……

Inside the imperial carriage.

Qinglian suddenly opened her eyes.

"Azure..."

The sound was stuck in my throat.

The first thing you see is a fine cloud-patterned soft curtain, with gilded walls and a shimmering, ethereal glow.

A flicker of disbelief crossed her eyes.

Where am I?

"Don't worry."

A gentle female voice came from the side.

Fuyao, who was sitting not far away, saw that she was awake and began to explain.

"It was our young master who saved you."

Qinglian paused for a moment, then slowly loosened her grip on the corner of the blanket.

"Thank you so much."

Despite saying that, the anxiety on her face was no less.

Fuyao didn't ask any further questions.

Fireflies peeked in from the outside, smiling as they looked at Qinglian.

"Girl, you're awake."

"I'll take you to see the young master."

Qinglian did not hesitate. She straightened her clothes slightly and followed Liuying out of the inner room.

It was bright outside.

The moment he stepped onto the grass outside the carriage, his body stiffened.

She looked up and gazed toward the distant valley.

There, a very faint layer of black mist was permeating the air.

A hint of joy flashed across Qinglian's face, but it quickly froze.

"wrong……"

"It wasn't him."

Those bright eyes dimmed instantly, replaced by a deeper sense of bewilderment.

Liu Ying noticed her unusual behavior but didn't urge her; she simply waited quietly by her side.

After a moment, Qinglian withdrew her gaze and followed Liuying toward the lake.

Lin Chuzheng and Jian Li were joking around.

Qinglian followed Liuying over, and before she could even stand still, her eyes met Lin Chu's.

Lin Chu got straight to the point.

"Miss, what's your name?"

Qinglian took a deep breath, suppressed the myriad thoughts in her mind, and bowed respectfully.

My name is Qinglian.

"Thank you so much, Young Master Lin, for saving my life."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

Lin Chu asked curiously, "You know me?"

Qinglian nodded.

Lin Chu took out the jade pendant and opened her palm.

"Where did this come from?"

The moment she saw the magatama, Qinglian's expression changed slightly.

He instinctively took a half step back, his eyes filled with vigilance, and remained silent.

Seeing this, Lin Chu felt even more certain.

"This has my sister's scent on it."

"Her name is Ji Ning."

Have you seen her?

Qinglian froze, a look of confusion flashing across her face.

"younger sister?"

She glanced at Lin Chu, then at the jade pendant, her wariness slowly turning into doubt.

"This magatama is a keepsake from my young lady."

Lin Chu frowned.

"What's your young lady's name?"

Qinglian did not answer.

He simply stared silently at the magatama, his lips pressed tightly together.

Clearly, she wouldn't say this name lightly.

Lin Chu didn't press the matter, and instead asked a question.

"Are you a Spirit Race member?"

Qinglian tensed up.

After hesitating for a while, he slowly nodded.

Lin Chu smiled.

really.

"Can you find your young lady?"

Lin Chu was too lazy to beat around the bush.

Qinglian remained silent.

This reaction was exactly what Lin Chu had expected.

He rubbed his temples and changed the subject.

"By the way, where's Cang Li? Weren't you with him before? Why are you alone in the ruins?"

Qinglian's expression changed, and she became nervous.

"Young Master Lin, do you have a grudge against him?"

Lin Chu paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"no."

A look of joy immediately welled up in Qinglian's eyes.

Then he fell silent for a long time, as if he was organizing his thoughts.

After a long pause, she looked at Lin Chu seriously and spoke.

"I'm looking for Cang Li."

"Since Young Master Lin knows about the Spirit Clan, he should also know about the Devouring Clan."

Lin Chu's expression darkened.

"I know, what happened?"

Qinglian clenched her fists, her voice trembling.

"Cang Li... has been targeted by the Devouring Clan and has been deified."

"A divine intervention?"

Lin Chu, Ao Tianxin, and Jian Li exchanged glances, all seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

"Divine Descent is a secret technique of the Devouring Clan."

"They can forcibly occupy beings two major realms lower than themselves with a part of their own divine soul."

"Cang Li... has been targeted by a Celestial Lord-level Devourer."

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

Immortal Lord.

If a Celestial Lord truly appears on the Emperor's Road, then these people are simply out of luck.

Seeing their reaction, Qinglian quickly explained.

"The Imperial Path is suppressed by laws. Even if a Celestial Lord or God descends, he can only exert the strength of a Golden Immortal at most."

Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Golden Immortals are terrifying, they are not so terrifying as to lead one to despair.

Qinglian stepped forward and said earnestly.

"Young Master Lin, may I go up with you?"

"If you take me with you, I can... take you to see my young lady."

Lin Chu and Ao Tianxin exchanged a glance.

They both guessed what the other was thinking.

Ji Ning is very likely the "Miss" that Qinglian mentioned.

Lin Chu was about to speak.

Qinglian's expression suddenly changed.

She seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly turned her head to look back at the valley she had been looking at before.

Her entire face turned deathly pale instantly.

"wrong!"

"A god has descended!"

"The aura emanating from the nearby valley is also divinely inspired!"

Lin Chu's pupils suddenly contracted.

In the valley next door.

Only the eldest brother, Lin Yuan, was present.