The morning sky remained bright as Lin Shuan and Han Qing Li prepared to leave the ancient mountain.
The traces of battle still lingered everywhere.
Fragments of frost glittered beneath the sunlight.
Broken earth stretched across the battlefield.
The enormous waterfall continued roaring in the distance as though nothing had happened.
As though the mountain itself cared little for life, death, victory, or revenge.
Han Qing Li stood quietly beside Lin Shuan.
For a brief moment neither of them spoke.
The events of the previous battle still lingered in their minds.
Especially the conversation that had followed.
The truth about Lin Shuan's clan.
His hatred.
His loneliness.
His vow.
Han Qing Li unconsciously glanced toward him.
Lin Shuan seemed normal again.
The same relaxed smile.
The same calm expression.
Yet she now understood something.
The smile was only a mask.
Beneath it lived a boy carrying mountains of pain.
Without saying anything, Han Qing Li waved her hand.
Blue light rippled through the air.
Space distorted.
The Storage Realm opened.
A small white tiger rolled out onto the ground.
The tiny beast blinked lazily.
Then it stretched.
One meter.
Two meters.
Three meters.
Its body rapidly expanded.
Frost energy erupted around it.
Within moments—
the Ice Feng White Tiger had returned to its true form.
Its enormous body towered above the surrounding trees.
White fur shimmered beneath the sunlight.
Ancient frost patterns glowed faintly across its body.
Its white-blue eyes carried the pride of a Rank Seven Talismanic Beast.
After being healed by Han Qing Li and fully recovering from the injuries Lin Shuan had once inflicted upon it—
its strength had returned completely.
The tiger lowered its body obediently.
Han Qing Li climbed onto its back.
Lin Shuan followed.
The tiger released a low growl.
Then—
it leapt into the sky.
BOOM!
Wind exploded beneath its paws.
The mountain rapidly shrank below them.
Clouds drifted around them.
The Eastern Ancient Forest stretched endlessly beneath their feet.
For several hours—
the journey remained peaceful.
Neither of them noticed that far away—
on the peak of another mountain—
someone was watching.
A man stood silently atop a black cliff.
Several Black Leopards rested beside him.
Every leopard remained completely still.
Not one dared move.
The man wore black robes.
Upon his chest was the symbol of a Black Leopard.
His eyes remained fixed upon the distant figures of Lin Shuan and Han Qing Li.
Especially Lin Shuan.
His expression was cold.
Calculating.
Thoughtful.
This man was Mo Chen.
One of Yue Sha Empire's hidden commanders.
One of the people responsible for controlling the Black Leopard armies.
He had witnessed everything.
The battle.
The frost.
The destruction.
The impossible power.
Most importantly—
the mysterious mark on Lin Shuan's forehead.
A cold smile slowly appeared.
"Hmph..."
His voice echoed quietly.
"Interesting."
His gaze narrowed.
"That boy with the mark..."
"Quite mysterious."
The memory of the battle replayed inside his mind.
Rank Seven Black Leopards.
Annihilated.
Frozen.
Destroyed.
Without even leaving remains behind.
A power that should not have belonged to a young cultivator.
A power that even he could not understand.
His eyes darkened.
"And his talent..."
"Monstrous."
Then his attention shifted toward Han Qing Li.
"The Princess of Wanling Empire..."
His expression became increasingly thoughtful.
"Why is she outside her empire?"
For months the Wanling Empire had vanished from the eyes of the world.
No news.
No communication.
No merchants.
Nothing.
Numerous forces had already begun investigating.
And now—
its princess appeared alongside a mysterious genius.
The coincidence felt far too convenient.
His instincts warned him.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Either something terrible had already happened.
Or something even worse was approaching.
A cold breeze passed through the mountain.
Mo Chen slowly turned around.
"It seems..."
"A great storm is approaching."
His eyes flashed.
"I should prepare first."
Dark shadows twisted around him.
The Black Leopards vanished.
Mo Chen vanished.
The mountain became empty once again.
Meanwhile—
Lin Shuan and Han Qing Li continued their journey completely unaware that another dangerous enemy had already begun paying attention to them.
Hours later—
the Eastern Ancient Forest finally began disappearing behind them.
The vast territory of Da Cang Empire gradually came into view.
The Ice Feng White Tiger slowed down.
Its golden eyes focused upon the enormous defensive walls visible on the distant horizon.
Han Qing Li noticed something strange.
The skies above the empire were unusually empty.
There were no flying beasts.
No independent cultivators.
No caravans traveling through the air.
Only several large spiritual vessels could occasionally be seen moving above the clouds.
Lin Shuan noticed it as well.
A faint frown appeared.
"Something feels strange."
Han Qing Li nodded.
"It does."
The closer they approached—
the heavier the atmosphere became.
Eventually—
they landed several kilometers away from the northern gate.
Neither of them was foolish enough to ride a Rank Seven Talismanic Beast directly into the empire.
Such an action would almost certainly be treated as hostile.
The Ice Feng White Tiger immediately shrank once again.
Returning to its miniature form.
Han Qing Li picked it up.
The little tiger curled comfortably in her arms.
Together—
they walked toward the gate.
At first everything seemed normal.
Massive walls stretched toward the sky.
Thousands of defensive runes covered the stone.
Numerous soldiers patrolled above.
However—
the moment they approached the entrance—
BANG!
Both of them stopped.
It felt as though they had collided with a solid wall.
Han Qing Li blinked.
"What was that?"
Lin Shuan stretched out his hand.
His palm touched empty air.
Yet resistance remained.
Something invisible blocked their path.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen's voice suddenly sounded.
"Lin Shuan."
"Hm?"
"The entire Da Cang Empire has been covered by a Spiritual Barrier."
Lin Shuan's expression changed.
"A barrier?"
"Could there have been a war?"
"Or is one about to begin?"
Tian Wuchen remained silent.
Because he wasn't certain either.
Lin Shuan immediately activated his Golden Eye.
Golden light flashed.
The invisible world became visible.
And then—
his pupils contracted.
An enormous dome covered the entire empire.
Countless runes flowed across its surface.
Five gigantic defensive seals floated around it.
Each seal continuously supplied spiritual power.
Strengthening the formation.
Maintaining the barrier.
The sight shocked him.
Even a normal Divine Cycle Emperor would be unable to forcefully break through such a defense.
Someone had spent unimaginable resources creating this formation.
Something serious was happening.
Before he could think further—
heavy footsteps echoed nearby.
CLANG.
CLANG.
CLANG.
A heavily armored warrior approached.
His armor was dark silver.
Battle scars covered every plate.
Upon his chest was a unique badge.
A sword embedded within a mountain.
Behind it—
a silver moon.
The symbol of Da Cang Empire's Northern Gate Army.
His hand rested firmly upon the hilt of his weapon.
His posture remained tense.
As though he could enter battle at any moment.
His sharp eyes immediately locked onto Lin Shuan and Han Qing Li.
The atmosphere became heavy.
The commander stopped several meters away.
Then spoke.
"I am Feng Tian."
"Commander of the Northern Gate."
His gaze moved between the two youths.
"If you wish to enter the empire..."
"You must first present proof of your sect, clan, or organization."
"Otherwise you will not be allowed entry."
Silence followed.
Lin Shuan blinked.
Tian Wuchen blinked.
Neither understood what was happening.
This was Da Cang Empire.
His home.
The empire where he lived.
The empire whose future protector he would one day become.
Yet now—
he had to prove his identity before entering.
Han Qing Li quietly stepped behind him.
Her cultivation remained concealed.
But she was already prepared to draw her sword if necessary.
Several seconds passed.
Lin Shuan remained silent while thinking.
Unfortunately—
his hesitation immediately attracted suspicion.
Commander Feng Tian's eyes narrowed.
SCHING!
His sword instantly left its sheath.
The sharp blade pointed directly at Lin Shuan.
The nearby soldiers became alert.
Spiritual energy gathered around them.
Lin Shuan almost jumped.
"Commander!"
Feng Tian remained expressionless.
"Answer immediately."
"Who are you?"
Lin Shuan forced an awkward smile.
"Commander..."
"I belong to Da Cang Empire."
"I don't think I should need identification."
The commander's expression didn't change.
"If you belong to Da Cang Empire..."
"Then you should possess proof related to one of its sects, clans, or organizations."
Lin Shuan froze.
"..."
"..."
"Uh..."
"Yes."
"I have one."
Slowly—
he reached into his storage ring.
A moment later he produced a green jade token.
The token gleamed beneath the sunlight.
Feng Tian examined it carefully.
Then his expression relaxed slightly.
"The Merchant Organization."
His eyes moved toward Lin Shuan.
"So you're a merchant."
The corner of Lin Shuan's mouth twitched.
Merchant?
Him?
The boy who spent most of his time fighting beasts and seeking revenge?
Unfortunately—
he had no better explanation.
With a bitter smile he nodded.
"Yes."
"I am a member of the Merchant Organization."
Feng Tian crossed his arms.
"What city does your company belong to?"
Lin Shuan answered immediately.
"Starlight City."
"I work under the Merchant Organization there."
The commander observed him for several moments.
Finally—
he nodded.
"A member, not an owner."
"Very well."
"You may enter."
Lin Shuan secretly sighed in relief.
Feng Tian formed several hand seals.
The barrier rippled.
A doorway opened.
Lin Shuan quickly stepped through.
Then Han Qing Li attempted to follow.
"Wait."
Feng Tian suddenly raised his hand.
Han Qing Li stopped.
The commander's eyes moved toward her.
For a brief moment—
even he seemed slightly surprised by her beauty.
Her blue eyes.
Her graceful appearance.
Her calm aura.
None of it looked ordinary.
"Girl."
"Do you possess identification?"
Han Qing Li immediately looked toward Lin Shuan.
Lin Shuan scratched his head.
"Commander."
"She's with me."
Silence.
Feng Tian observed both of them.
Then eventually stepped aside.
"Very well."
Han Qing Li entered.
The barrier closed once more.
Now that they were inside—
Lin Shuan immediately asked the question bothering him.
"Commander Feng."
"What exactly happened?"
The commander's expression darkened.
His voice became heavier.
"Approximately three months ago..."
"Merchants discovered that Wanling Empire had fallen into Black Chaos."
Han Qing Li froze.
Although her face remained calm—
sadness quietly appeared inside her eyes.
Feng Tian continued.
"At first nobody believed them."
"We thought it was merely another rumor."
"After all..."
"The Molin Yao Sen Empire disappeared in a similar manner years ago."
"Yet nobody found evidence."
His gaze became serious.
"However..."
"The merchants who returned from Wanling Empire were severely injured."
"They reported that the empire no longer existed."
"The survivors displayed their wounds."
Lin Shuan listened carefully.
Feng Tian's voice lowered.
"The strange thing was..."
"No matter how many medicines they used..."
"The wounds refused to heal."
Han Qing Li became shocked.
Because she knew exactly what kind of injuries those must have been.
Void Chaos injuries.
The same darkness that consumed her homeland.
Feng Tian continued.
"Eventually Empire Protector Yi personally examined them."
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
"What happened afterward?"
The commander took a deep breath.
"She recognized the wounds immediately."
"And then..."
"She healed them."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Lin Shuan froze.
Tian Wuchen froze.
Even Han Qing Li became stunned.
Protector Yi knew?
How?
Inside his heart—
countless questions appeared.
How old was Protector Yi?
What exactly was her background?
How did she recognize Void Chaos?
Why could she heal injuries that even countless medicines could not cure?
Lin Shuan could only mutter inwardly.
"Protector Yi..."
"Just how mysterious are you?"
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen nearly wanted to strangle himself.
The old monster's pride suffered a devastating blow.
"I spent an entire lifetime researching that cursed power..."
"And still failed to fully understand it."
His voice carried frustration.
"Yet that girl already knows how to heal it."
"Lin Shuan..."
"You absolutely must learn something from her."
Meanwhile—
Han Qing Li's thoughts traveled elsewhere.
Protector Yi knew about Void Chaos.
Lin Shuan knew about Void Chaos.
And Lin Shuan had even helped suppress it before.
A realization slowly formed inside her heart.
Perhaps...
Shuan Hao truly possesses a method related to that ancient disaster.
Perhaps...
His mysteries run even deeper than I imagined.
Her gaze unconsciously drifted toward him.
Shuan Hao...
Just how many secrets are you hiding?
Lin Shuan remained completely unaware of her thoughts.
He cupped his fists respectfully.
"Thank you for explaining, Commander."
Feng Tian nodded.
"Stay alert."
"These are dangerous times."
Lin Shuan smiled.
"We'll meet again."
The commander simply nodded.
Afterward—
Lin Shuan and Han Qing Li left the gate area together.
Ahead of them—
the roads of Starlight City stretched into the distance.
Bustling.
Familiar.
Yet somehow different.
As though an invisible storm was already gathering above the empire.
And neither of them realized—
that their peaceful journey toward the capital was about to become far more complicated than expected.