Tianmen Village·Three Years Later.
Morning mist coiled around the mountain ridges. On the drill grounds behind the main hall, shouts shook the heavens. Twenty-plus youths aged eleven or twelve wore coarse training clothes, wielding wooden sabers as they drilled with the instructor. Though still childish, every eye was focused, every stance proper.
At the front of the line, Lin Ying stood out conspicuously. Her ill-fitting short training sleeves were rolled to her forearms. Her ponytail swung with each movement. Sweat slid down her temples, soaking her jawline. At seven years old, baby fat still clung to her cheeks, yet her gaze held unusual determination. She gave every blade swing and horse stance her all, never slacking.
"Lin Ying! Raise your arms half an inch! Plant your lower stance firmly!" The instructor snapped his whip, his tone harsh—but his gaze toward Lin Ying softened slightly. This child was stubborn and hardworking, the most worry-free student in the drill grounds.
"Yes!" Lin Ying bit her lip in response, raising her wooden saber above her head, straightening her knees to deepen her horse stance. She refused to relax despite the burning ache in her calves, her gaze locked on the wooden training post ahead.
On the main hall roof, Lin Che sat cross-legged, spiritual energy swirling around him. He calmly overlooked the village. In three years, Tianmen Village had transformed completely: the "Clear Breeze Inn" at the mountain base had become a vital stop on merchant routes. The village now had a schoolhouse, medical hall, and forge—earning a living by escorting merchant caravans and collecting ten percent toll fees. Reputation grew daily.
[Force Management Simulator Report: Tianmen Village Annual Profit: +12,000 Spirit Stones. New Population: 47 (including caravan settlers and orphans). Reputation Level Raised to "Famous Throughout the Region".]
[System Recommendation: Host should continue behind-the-scenes manipulation mode. Focus on cultivation while supporting Lin Ying's exposure to village affairs. Her probability of succeeding as chief has risen to 67%.]
Lin Che exhaled stale qi, ignoring the system's prompt. He'd been stuck at Foundation Establishment peak for three years—Tianmen Village's spiritual energy was insufficient to support a breakthrough to Golden Core. Only by going to Canglan Realm did he have a chance.
"Brother!" A crisp, childish voice came from below, full of youthful energy.
Lin Ying climbed onto the roof, face flushed red. She held out a bamboo plate with warm pagoda tree flower cakes. "Auntie Wang just steamed them, specially saved for you!"
[Little Sister Feeding Behavior Analysis: 23rd time this month. Host weight gain risk: Moderate. Recommend portion control.]
Softness rippled in Lin Che's eyes. He accepted a cake, the sweet fragrance dispelling cultivation fatigue. "Delicious. Thank Auntie Wang for me."
"No need to thank!" Lin Ying's eyes lit up, voice proud. "Brother, I succeeded in drawing qi into my body! Teacher Wen says I'm already at Body Tempering initial stage. I can protect you from now on!"
Lin Che raised his hand to ruffle her hair, his fingertips touching soft strands. His tone was gentle yet expectant: "Good progress. Keep working hard. Only with solid foundations can you go further."
As Lin Che praised his sister, he failed to notice when she lowered her head—a lotus-shaped golden light flickered across her forehead, vanishing as quickly as firefly light.
[System Detected abnormal fluctuation at Lin Ying's forehead... Unknown divine-tier bloodline residue... Heavenly Dao Law intervention, data shielded. Conclusion: No abnormalities.]
Lin Che noticed nothing, assuming his sister had ordinary talent. Successfully drawing qi into the body at age seven was already remarkable.
"Brother, when will we go to Canglan Realm?" Lin Ying tugged his sleeve, eyes full of longing. "Teacher Wen says there are so many foods I haven't tasted, and immortal mountains. Is it true?"
"When you reach Qi Condensing stage." Lin Che's tone softened. "Canglan Realm is fraught with danger. You need self-protection capability first."
[System Calculation: Lin Ying reaching Qi Condensing requires 7 years. Waiting period too long, unfavorable for crisis response.]
"What if I cultivate desperately and want to go faster?" Lin Ying tilted her head, large eyes fixed on him, full of stubbornness.
"Not allowed." Lin Che refused cleanly and decisively, his tone carrying unshakable firmness. "Tianmen Village is safe and prosperous. No slaughter or danger. You growing up well here is better than suffering in Canglan Realm."
His tone was severe, but it concealed full-hearted care. These years, he'd spared no effort protecting Tianmen Village, all to give his sister a stable environment to grow, making up for her wandering, destitute first six years.
That night, Lin Che sat alone on the mountaintop gazing at stars, his heart unsettled. The Heaven Profound Sect's threat hung like a sword overhead. His cultivation had stagnated—only Canglan Realm could break the deadlock. Plus, he'd promised to show his sister the world's splendor.
[System Detected host's mental conflict. Recommendation: Canglan Realm journey should be sooner rather than later.]
"Shut up." Lin Che rebuked in a low voice. "She's still young. I can't protect her well enough."
[System Refutation: Lin Ying's potential far exceeds ordinary people, no need for overprotection.]
Lin Che fell silent, his gaze at the stars growing deeper. The system's words might hold some truth, but he ultimately couldn't let go of his worries.
What he didn't notice: in the small courtyard below, the sleeping Lin Ying's lotus mark appeared again on her forehead, lingering for three seconds before vanishing. No one knew this secret.
---
Tianmen Village·Seven Years Later.
Seven years passed in the blink of an eye. Thirteen-year-old Lin Ying stood gracefully, already a Qi Condensing mid-stage cultivator. She managed Clear Breeze Inn's accounts. Her abacus skills even earned Teacher Wen's praise, showing remarkable competence.
Evening. Sunset dyed the sky red. Lin Ying climbed the mountain with ledgers in hand, finding Lin Che polishing his rust-covered woodcutter's knife. Though old, the blade was clean, reflecting the evening's faint light.
"Brother, accounts are done." Lin Ying set down the ledgers. "The inn netted 12,000 spirit stones last year. Adding toll fees, the village treasury has 34,000 stones total. Enough for our journey."
Lin Che set down the knife, eyes full of satisfaction: "Yingyinghas grown up, more and more capable."
"Then when will we go to Canglan Realm?" Lin Ying's eyes brimmed with expectation. "I'm already Qi Condensing mid-stage. I can protect myself."
Lin Che was stunned—he hadn't noticed his sister had quietly broken through to Qi Condensing mid-stage. Such cultivation speed far surpassed ordinary cultivators. She clearly possessed self-protection capability.
[System Detected: Lin Ying, Qi Condensing mid-stage, age 13.]
[System Evaluation: Possesses Canglan Realm survival capability, can accompany host.]
Seeing his sister's expectation, Lin Che's worries dissipated. After a moment's silence, he slowly nodded, his tone weighty: "Good. We'll prepare. We'll set out soon."
That night, Lin Che summoned Shi Jin and Teacher Wen to the main hall, announcing his decision to depart for Canglan Realm.
Shi Jin immediately pounded his chest in assurance: "Brother Lin, rest assured! We'll guard Tianmen Village. Once you get established, we'll come join you!"
Teacher Wen handed over a brocade box: "Here's a Canglan Realm map and faction records. Be careful in all matters."
The next morning, Lin Che took Lin Ying to Black Wind Village's ruins. Over seven years, he'd secretly gathered materials and repaired formation patterns. Now the teleportation array was fully charged, enough to support two people traveling to Canglan Realm.
Lin Ying tightly held his hand, full of unwillingness to part and anticipation: "Brother, will we ever come back?"
"We will." Lin Che gripped her hand. "Once we investigate Heaven Profound Sect's affairs, we'll return for everyone."
[Teleportation array energy fully charged, destination: Canglan Realm·Luo Wind City.]
Blue light shot skyward, enveloping the brother and sister. Their figures gradually faded. Light dispersed. The teleportation array returned to peace, leaving only faint cool spiritual qi, witnessing this journey's beginning.