The enormous guardian bird remained hovering in the air for a moment.
Its sharp golden eyes fell upon Lin Sheng.
Instead of leaving immediately, it slowly lowered its head before gently blowing a stream of warm air onto Lin Sheng's face.
The wind ruffled his robes and hair but carried no hostility.
It almost felt...
Like the beast was greeting him.
With a soft cry, the Rank Four yao beast spread its enormous wings.
Whoosh!
Its figure soared into the sky before disappearing into the upper reaches of the cave abode.
Old Liang smiled.
"It seems it quite likes you."
Lin Sheng merely smiled awkwardly.
Being acknowledged by a Rank Four yao beast wasn't something he had expected.
Old Liang turned around.
"This way."
The two continued walking deeper into the cave abode.
The further they advanced...
The denser the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi became.
Several cultivation chambers were carved into the mountain walls.
Ancient formations silently operated beneath the ground, gathering spiritual energy from every direction.
Lin Sheng quietly observed everything.
Suddenly...
His footsteps paused ever so slightly.
A familiar aura...
His brows furrowed.
"Impossible..."
"Why would he be here?"
For a brief moment, Lin Sheng thought his senses had deceived him.
Yet as they approached the deepest part of the cave...
That familiar aura became increasingly distinct.
---
The passage finally opened into a spacious cultivation chamber.
The room was simple.
A meditation cushion sat at its center.
Above it...
A young man sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
Heat continuously radiated from his body.
The surrounding spiritual qi flowed toward him like rivers entering the sea.
A faint Yang aura lingered around him.
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
Lin Shou.
He hadn't expected to see him here.
Just as Lin Sheng was wondering why—
A calm voice sounded from behind him.
"So..."
"You're the one Little Liang brought."
The sudden voice startled Lin Sheng.
He had sensed nothing.
No footsteps.
No aura.
Nothing at all.
He immediately turned around.
Standing several steps behind him was a familiar figure.
The man was over a head taller than Lin Sheng.
His broad frame resembled an ancient pine standing proudly atop a mountain.
Although dressed plainly...
His very existence seemed to blend perfectly with the surrounding Heaven and Earth.
It was as though he had always been standing there.
The Grand Elder.
His deep eyes quietly observed Lin Sheng.
Not with hostility.
Nor curiosity.
Instead...
It felt as though he was carefully examining him.
Lin Sheng's heart became solemn.
Even Crystal had failed to detect his arrival.
The gap between them was simply too great.
Without hesitation, Lin Sheng cupped his fists respectfully.
"This junior greets Grand Elder."
The Grand Elder continued looking directly into Lin Sheng's eyes.
Several breaths passed.
Only then did Old Liang cough lightly.
"Master..."
"I think you've teased him enough."
The Grand Elder finally smiled.
"Oh?"
"So our Little Liang has learned to protect his disciple?"
Old Liang scratched the back of his head helplessly.
"Master..."
The Grand Elder chuckled.
"You brought back someone interesting."
Old Liang immediately nodded.
"He's my disciple."
"I hoped you could offer him some guidance."
As he spoke, he glanced toward the cross-legged figure cultivating nearby.
"...Though it seems you're occupied."
The Grand Elder followed his gaze toward Lin Shou.
"Indeed."
"Who would've thought..."
"That after coming out of seclusion..."
"I would encounter such an outstanding martial disciple from our Lin Family."
His gaze then returned to Lin Sheng.
A faint smile appeared on his weathered face.
"It would seem..."
"The Lin Family possesses more talented youngsters than even I had imagined."
Old Liang stepped forward and cupped his fists.
"Master."
"I brought him here because I believe he's already reached the point where my guidance has become limited."
The Grand Elder raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Old Liang nodded.
"He has already comprehended Martial Intent."
"And just today..."
"...he stepped into the Stage of Realisation."
The Grand Elder's calm expression finally showed a hint of surprise.
His eyes became noticeably brighter.
He looked at Lin Sheng once more, this time with genuine interest.
"The Stage of Realisation?"
"At your age?"
He slowly nodded.
"Interesting."
He looked directly at Lin Sheng.
"Release your Martial Intent."
"And attack me."
Lin Sheng blinked.
Those familiar words instantly reminded him of the first time Old Liang had trained him.
"Attack me."
He couldn't help but inwardly smile.
Like master...
Like disciple.
Without hesitation, he took a deep breath.
His expression became serious.
Boom!
Gang Qi surged through his meridians.
His Martial Intent spread outward.
Wind and lightning quietly intertwined around him.
The surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi responded almost immediately.
Old Liang's eyes narrowed slightly.
Even after witnessing it once before...
Seeing Lin Sheng's Martial Intent still left him amazed.
Lin Sheng lowered his center of gravity.
His figure suddenly vanished.
Boom!
The ground beneath his feet cracked apart.
His body crossed dozens of meters almost instantly.
The Third Form of the Zen Heaven Technique erupted.
Wind and lightning merged perfectly.
The surrounding spiritual qi churned violently as the strike descended.
BOOM!!
A deafening explosion echoed throughout the cave.
The violent shockwave sent dust flying everywhere.
Yet...
Lin Sheng's expression changed.
His fist had indeed landed.
However...
It felt as though he had struck an immovable mountain.
No...
It was even more solid than a mountain.
Not a single inch had moved.
His destructive force simply disappeared upon contact.
As though everything had been swallowed.
Lin Sheng immediately prepared to launch another attack.
Before he could move—
The Grand Elder slowly raised one hand.
"Enough."
"I've seen enough."
Lin Sheng immediately withdrew his Martial Intent and stepped back respectfully.
The Grand Elder nodded faintly before glancing toward Old Liang.
"Little Liang."
"Your disciple..."
"...is already far stronger than you were at his age."
Old Liang's eyelids twitched.
He couldn't help but let out a bitter smile.
He knew his master wasn't mocking him.
Rather...
This was his way of acknowledging Lin Sheng's talent.
Receiving such praise from the Grand Elder was something almost unheard of.
The Grand Elder turned back toward Lin Sheng.
"I can guide you."
"But only to a certain extent."
"Our Martial Intents follow completely different paths."
"My guidance can broaden your horizons..."
"But your own path..."
"...must ultimately be walked by yourself."
Lin Sheng respectfully cupped his fists.
"This junior understands."
The Grand Elder nodded.
Without another word...
He took a single step forward.
The next instant—
Boom!
The entire cultivation chamber changed.
An endless sea of crimson flames erupted around them.
The earth cracked.
The sky burned.
Boundless heat surged from every direction.
Even the air itself seemed to melt.
Lin Sheng instinctively felt death approaching.
It was as though a single thought from the Grand Elder could reduce everything before him to ashes.
Just as suddenly—
Everything disappeared.
The cave returned to normal.
There were no flames.
No cracked earth.
No burning sky.
Yet...
Lin Sheng's heartbeat remained rapid.
His instincts told him...
What he had just experienced had not been an illusion.
The Grand Elder calmly spoke.
"That..."
"...is Martial Will."
He slowly raised his right hand.
"When a martial artist's will completely fuses with every movement..."
"...every strike..."
"...every breath..."
"It is no longer merely Martial Intent."
"It becomes Martial Will."
His gaze fell upon Lin Sheng.
"Imagine..."
"That every attack you launch is directed not only at your opponent's body..."
"...but also at their spirit."
"The moment Martial Will manifests..."
"It exists simultaneously within the physical world..."
"...and the spiritual world."
"It is no longer invisible."
"It becomes something real."
The Grand Elder clenched his fist.
"A single punch."
"A single palm."
"A single glance."
"All may carry your will."
He paused before continuing,
"Because of this..."
"Most martial artists who reach this realm are capable of matching..."
"...or even surpassing..."
"...ordinary Purple Palace cultivators in direct combat."
The cave fell silent once more.
Lin Sheng's eyes shone with unprecedented brightness.
For the first time...
He had truly glimpsed the road lying beyond Martial Intent.