One day later, high above the Beiming Sea.
A massive bird soared through the skies, its wings unfurled.
Spanning well over a hundred zhang, those wings blotted out the sky and shrouded the sun.
This was none other than Kun Kun.
Ling Qingxue and the others sat upon Kun Kun’s back, while Luo Yin stood atop its head, gazing down at the Beiming Sea below.
Yesterday, Luo Yin and Ling Qingxue had returned to Taiyi Holy Land. There, Ling Qingxue had reverted to her form as Venerable Lingxiao, made a brief appearance at Heavenly Secrets Peak, and informed the Holy Lord that she would be traveling with Luo Yin for some time.
The Holy Lord had not pressed for details, merely reminding them to stay safe.
Luo Yin, for his part, had handed the Holy Lord a brocade pouch with instructions to deliver it to Liu Qingchan once she emerged from the Ancestral Land.
He feared that some trouble on this journey might prevent his swift return.
With those minor matters settled, Luo Yin had set off astride Kun Kun, bringing Ling Qingxue and Ling’er with him. They stopped at Fuyao Holy Land to pick up Luo Qianqiu before heading to the Western Profound Realm.
As for Mi Qiling, Luo Qianqiu had already smoothed things over on that front.
Qiu Yuanqing’s reaction to the news had been remarkably subdued; he showed no burning desire to seek revenge against Luo Yin.
Luo Yin, naturally, couldn’t be bothered to deal with him.
Unless Qiu Yuanqing exposed himself first, Luo Yin had no intention of lifting a finger against the man.
…
At this moment, Kun Kun had expanded to its maximum size.
The two-day-old Kunpeng was still far from the legendary proportions: “Its back, unknowable miles across; in fury, its wings droop like clouds from the heavens.”
Even so, bearing Luo Yin and his companions posed no challenge.
As Luo Yin peered down at the Beiming Sea, he sensed ripples of emotion stirring in Kun Kun’s heart.
It seemed to detect the faint aura of its kin.
Barely perceptible, yet undeniably present below.
“Squawk!! Squawk!!”
Kun Kun grew agitated and let out a pair of piercing cries.
The calls shot toward the clouds, laced with melancholy.
Luo Yin sat down cross-legged and gently stroked its head. “Don’t grieve too deeply. If you want to uncover the truth of your kin’s disappearance, then live on—and grow stronger with everything you’ve got!”
Kun Kun offered no reply, but Luo Yin could feel the sorrow in its heart ease somewhat.
The three women watched Luo Yin, suddenly struck by how forlorn his silhouette appeared in that moment.
An enigmatic figure.
Luo Yin gazed into the distance and let out a quiet sigh in his heart.
Kun Kun had lost its kin, but was he not in the same boat?
This world teemed with humans, yet truthfully speaking, they were not the same as him—the gulf between them was vast…
He shook his head, shoving those thoughts aside, and turned to the three women.
“Once we reach the Western Profound Realm, don’t let slip that my name is Luo Yin.”
“Why?”
All three looked puzzled.
They weren’t undertaking some clandestine mission, so why the need for aliases?
Luo Yin offered no explanation. “Just don’t ask. I’m Lu Ying now, young master of a noble house. You two will be my personal maids. As for you…”
He glanced at Luo Qianqiu. “Do whatever suits you. If you’d rather not hide your identity, we can say my father and yours are old friends. We just happened to cross paths here in the Western Profound Realm and decided to travel together.”
Luo Qianqiu nodded. “I can’t conceal who I am—plenty of people in the Daluo Ancient Dynasty know me.”
“Right, then that’s settled.”
Luo Yin nodded and returned to his perch atop Kun Kun’s head.
The alias was a precaution against Blood Nether.
The Profound Heaven Tower incident might not have reached the Western Profound Realm yet, but any Blood Nether operatives aware of the seal within would be keeping tabs.
If they discovered that Luo Yin was the one who had obliterated the tower, they would hound him relentlessly—and even the Daoist Nun’s jade pendant might not suffice.
…
Half a day later.
Western Profound Realm, Daluo Ancient Dynasty, Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
A man in flowing white robes, a folded fan in hand, appeared on the tower’s high platform with effortless grace.
“Mr. Lin’s here!”
“Mr. Lin’s finally arrived! He announced three days ago that he’d unveil his new tale today—one penned by his own hand! I’ve barely slept these past nights, tossing and turning in anticipation!”
“Right? The last book dragged a bit, but this one’s sure to be a hit! Remember that teaser from three days back?”
“Forget? Impossible! ‘A speck of dust fills the seas, a blade of grass cleaves sun, moon, and stars; a snap of the fingers overturns the heavens!’ Talk about domineering! I swear I picked up cultivation insights just from those words!”
“Yeah, right—with your talent? Better stick to slopping the hogs at home! Still, that Tales of the Great Wilderness hook has me reeled in.”
…
Lin Fan stood smiling on the platform, surveying the eager crowd in Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
His recent storytelling sessions had revealed how underdeveloped literature was in this world.
Even rote tales of overpowered heroes drew massive audiences.
His curated Tales of the Great Wilderness, armed with just those bold opening lines, had already seized their hearts.
The story’s twists and turns would bind them even tighter.
Bang!
Lin Fan rapped the wake-up block on the table, and the room fell silent.
“Very well! Today, we begin with the first installment of Tales of the Great Wilderness: The Prodigy Youth!”
“In the Chaos Ancient Era, amid the End of the Dharma Age, within the Desolate Domain of the lower world’s eight domains, stood an ancient kingdom known as Stone Country.”
“From this land arose one born to cultivate the Dao, destined to weather the tribulations, slaying foes until none dared claim dominion over the world.”
…
This was the sequence Lin Fan had devised.
Storytelling differed from reading.
Launching straight into Stone Village tales would likely bore the audience.
Better to hook them first, stoke their anticipation.
He went on to describe the birth of Shi Yi, bearer of innate Heavy Pupils, and the emergence of Shi Hao, gifted with divine strength from infancy.
Curiosity about these enigmatic youths ignited among the listeners.
Then came Shi Yi’s pupil arts surging, revealing the Supreme Bone nestled within Shi Hao.
Shi Yi confided in his mother, who reeled in shock.
The crowd erupted, marveling at twin prodigies from one family.
Yet just as fervor peaked, Lin Fan halted.
“No… that’s it?”
The audience blinked in confusion, caught mid-thrill.
Lin Fan offered a faint smile. “That’s it.”
“What do you mean?! What next?! What became of Shi Hao?! Did they nurture him specially?”
“Yeah! Why stop cold like that? It was heating up!”
“This is maddening! Curse you, cliffhanger fiend—may you rot!”
“War crime!! I paid good money—refund!”
…
Lin Fan had them fully in his grasp now; his Storytelling Points climbed steadily. He brushed off their colorful invective with a chuckle.
They weren’t truly furious, of course. In three days, they’d flock back eagerly.
“Settle down, everyone! Tune in next time to hear what follows! Three days hence, the second installment of Tales of the Great Wilderness!”
With those words, Lin Fan turned and departed.
Frustrated groans filled the hall.
At one nearby table.
“This Tales of the Great Wilderness has real merit—thrilling plot, heart-pounding suspense. Nothing like the old tales. Lin Fan’s got talent.”
The speaker was a woman in a veil that failed to hide her breathtaking beauty.
Beside her sat one man and two women.
The other two, also veiled, nodded vigorously in agreement.
The man next to her, however, let out a cold snort. He said nothing, merely narrowing his eyes toward the direction Lin Fan had vanished.
Hmph!
Some Tales of the Great Wilderness!
Some storyteller!
Some Lin Fan!
I’d only just been musing on the lack of kin, and now fate delivers him right to me!
Pity, though…
