29: Chapter 29 A Glimmer of Light in the Deadly Realm, a Lamp for Those Who See Me

Darkness was no longer pure nothingness; it now carried weight, humidity, and shape.

The narrow tunnel pressed against Lin Yuan's senses. Every breath inhaled cold air heavy with the scent of damp earth and stale dust, irritating his injured lungs and triggering a suppressed cough, which he forced back down his throat, only to have blood foam at the corners of his mouth.

He moved sideways, struggling through a crevice that could barely accommodate one person.

His back and shoulders scraped against the rough, damp rock walls, sending waves of burning pain that, mixed with the agony of his previously reopened wounds, nearly made him pass out.

His legs felt like they were filled with lead; every step, lifted and planted, felt like completing a test of life and death.

The only source of light was the faint glimmer of the Void God Spark deep within his soul. It not only provided illumination (however weak) but also, with his newly acquired "Leyline Affinity" trait, helped him perceive the structure of the surrounding rock strata and the faint flow of leyline energy.

This tunnel was clearly not constructed conventionally; it looked more like a natural fissure formed by tectonic movement or groundwater erosion, perhaps simply smoothed over later.

The rock walls were uneven, and loose gravel shifted under his feet from time to time.

In the glimmer of the Spark, he could see occasional extremely ancient, long-faded markings on the rock walls. They looked like runes, or perhaps simple directional markers, vastly different in style from the blue brick runes of the shrine—more primitive and rugged.

He followed the faint but continuous flow of energy coming from deeper within (or perhaps closer to the surface).

It was not wind, but the sensation of an extremely faint flow of "Qi" brought about by a more active region of leyline energy.

This aura gave him an inexplicable sense of familiarity. It seemed to have a subtle similarity to the leylines in Yongxin Cultural and Creative Park after they were adjusted, and to the "Optimization" energy in the containment field within his divinity—a state tending towards "peaceful," "orderly," and "channelable."

Could this tunnel actually lead to another place related to leyline adjustment or the concept of "Optimization"?

He had no time to ponder; the instinct for survival drove him forward.

Behind him, the pale blue scanning beams and footsteps from the main hall of the shrine were no longer audible, but the cold sensation of being watched by precision instruments had not completely vanished; the search net of Lingxiao Capital might be expanding on the surface.

He didn't know how long he had been crawling—perhaps only a few dozen meters—but it felt as if he had exhausted his entire life force.

Just as Lin Yuan felt his will about to be swallowed by pain and darkness, the tunnel ahead seemed to widen slightly. Moreover, the flowing aura became much more distinct, even carrying a hint of... an extremely faint, fresh scent of vegetation?

How could there be the scent of vegetation underground? Unless... he was approaching the surface, or leading to a special place?

His spirits lifted, and he gritted his teeth to speed up.

After advancing another dozen meters or so and turning a corner, an extremely dim, unnatural light suddenly appeared ahead!

It was not sunlight, nor the pale blue cold light of Lingxiao Capital, but a dim, flickering, yellowish glow, like candlelight or oil lamps—and more than just one!

At the same time, a clearer scent, mixed with incense, medicinal herbs, and a faint aroma of joss sticks, drifted over with the flowing air.

Someone! And not someone from Lingxiao Capital!

Lin Yuan stopped immediately, pressing his body into the shadows of the rock wall, holding his breath, concealing all his presence, and suppressing even the glimmer of the Spark to the minimum.

He carefully poked his head out to look towards the light source ahead.

The end of the tunnel connected to a slightly more spacious underground stone chamber.

The stone chamber was not large, rectangular, and clearly showed traces of manual excavation and decoration.

A few old oil lamps hung on the stone walls, their flames dim and yellow.

In the center of the chamber was a simple stone altar. On the altar, instead of a statue, sat a broken, dull-colored pottery urn. In front of the urn were a few fresh fruits and a small dish of rice grains, and three sticks of incense were burning quietly, with wisps of smoke curling upwards.

Beside the altar sat a person cross-legged.

An old man wearing a faded gray old Taoist robe, with graying hair simply tied up with a wooden hairpin.

The old man had a gaunt face and his eyes were closed, as if he were in deep meditation.

There were no strong energy fluctuations on him; instead, he gave off a feeling of returning to simplicity, his aura faintly harmonizing with the surrounding leylines.

What surprised Lin Yuan the most was that he found the old man's face somewhat familiar!

Recalling carefully, his heart gave a violent jolt—this old man was none other than Dr. Li, whom Boss Qian had introduced to him to treat the backlash of evil energy!

That doctor with the gentle demeanor, superb medical skills, who only said he "knew a little about adjustment"!

Why was he here? This secret underground stone chamber, this simple altar, and these offerings that were clearly related to leylines... Dr. Li was definitely not an ordinary doctor!

Just as Lin Yuan was shocked, the seated Dr. Li slowly opened his eyes.

Those were gentle yet deep eyes, their gaze clear, as if they could see through a person's heart.

He did not look towards where Lin Yuan was hiding, but first looked at the incense burning quietly on the altar, then at the broken pottery urn, and sighed softly.

"Since you've come, come out. Sneaking around is not the behavior of a gentleman." Dr. Li's voice was calm but clearly reached the tunnel.

He had been discovered! Lin Yuan's heart tightened.

But the other party's tone was calm and lacked hostility. And given the medical skills and character Dr. Li had previously shown (Boss Qian trusted him), perhaps he was not an enemy.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally decided to reveal himself.

Continuing to hide was meaningless; in his current state, if the other party had malicious intent, he would be powerless to resist.

He leaned against the rock wall and stumbled out of the tunnel, stepping into the halo of light in the stone chamber.

Seeing his blood-covered, disheveled state, a flash of surprise crossed Dr. Li's eyes, but he immediately regained his composure.

He stood up and walked over to Lin Yuan. Without asking questions immediately, he reached out three fingers and gently placed them on the pulse of Lin Yuan's uninjured right wrist.

A trace of gentle, peaceful warm current probed into Lin Yuan's body along his wrist, quickly circulating a round.

Dr. Li frowned slightly: "Soul damaged, essence and blood depleted, meridians ruptured in many places, internal organs shaken and bleeding, and also... evil energy erosion and a Curse Soul Seal? Your injuries are truly 'dazzling'."

Lin Yuan gave a bitter smile. He wanted to speak, but it aggravated his injuries, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

"Don't speak yet." Dr. Li gestured for him to sit down, then turned and took several porcelain bottles and a roll of clean cloth from an inconspicuous wooden box in the corner of the stone chamber.

"Consider yourself lucky to have stumbled upon me here. Anywhere else, even if you could save your life, your foundation would be mostly ruined."

As Dr. Li spoke, he skillfully began to treat the most fatal wounds on Lin Yuan's body.

The ointment he used had a strange, fresh fragrance. After being applied to the wounds, it brought a cooling, pain-relieving sensation, and at the same time seemed to actively absorb and neutralize the residual evil energy.

His technique was even more exquisite; bone-setting, stopping the bleeding, and applying medicine were all done in one go, clearly showing extremely rich experience.

"Dr... Dr. Li, how come you..." Lin Yuan caught his breath and couldn't help but ask.

"I am a doctor, and this is my... um, 'medicine hut,' or rather, a place for quiet cultivation."

Dr. Li's hands did not stop, his tone remaining calm, "I discovered it many years ago. The earth energy is peaceful, suitable for treating some special 'injuries and illnesses'."

"As for why I recognize you... Boss Qian brought you to see me for injuries, remember?"

"That scent of 'Optimization' on you, and that faint 'Void' intent in your divinity—I'm not so old that I can't remember them."

As expected! Dr. Li had long since seen through his identity!

"You... are not an ordinary person," Lin Yuan stated.

"How could an ordinary person treat the injuries of a 'person' like you?"

Dr. Li smiled, bandaged the last wound, and handed Lin Yuan a black pill the size of a longan, "Swallow it. It will consolidate your foundation, nourish your primordial energy, and stabilize your soul."

"As for that Curse Soul Seal of yours, I have no way to deal with it for now. I can only help you suppress it with medicinal power so it acts more slowly."

Lin Yuan obeyed and took the pill.

The pill entered his stomach and turned into a warm, thick, yet powerful heat flow that quickly spread to his limbs and bones. It not only replenished his nearly exhausted primordial energy but also, like a tough thin film, temporarily wrapped and isolated the vicious black mark on the periphery of his soul, significantly weakening the cold sensation and attraction it emitted.

"Many thanks to Dr. Li for saving my life." Lin Yuan felt much better; at least speaking was no longer so strenuous.

"It is just the duty of a healer." Dr. Li waved his hand, signaling that he need not be overly polite, then looked at the broken pottery urn, "For you to be able to find this place, through that abandoned leyline fissure, and even trigger the faint response of the 'Old Ru' ruins over there... It seems you have walked this path deeper than I thought."

Old Ru ruins? Did he mean that shrine ruin? Dr. Li knew about that place too?

"You know that place? And 'Void'..." Lin Yuan couldn't help but ask further.

"I know a thing or two." Dr. Li walked to the altar, looking at the pottery urn, his gaze distant, "That was the final resting place of a predecessor who walked the path of 'inclusion, bearing, and transformation' a long time ago."

"Before he fell, he used his own body as a sacrifice to stabilize a leyline node, preventing it from completely collapsing during the turmoil."

"Inside this pottery urn is a remnant of his sustenance, and also a small 'Qi eye' for the leylines nearby."

"I built a hut here, firstly to use the essence of the earth energy here to study medicine, and secondly, I was entrusted by someone to look after this place and not let evil spirits disturb the peace of this predecessor."

"Entrusted by someone?"

"An old friend, also on the 'Void' path, though his way is a bit different from yours. He went wandering and entrusted me to look after it."

Dr. Li did not elaborate, turning to look at Lin Yuan, "But you, young as you are, your divinity... um, seems to be carrying quite a 'debt,' and you actually embarked on the 'Void' path and even tinkered with a novel thing called 'Optimization'."

"The trouble you caused this time is not small, right? Those spies from 'Tianji Pavilion' outside, and the origin of that Curse Soul Seal on you, are not simple."

Tianji Pavilion? Did he mean "Lingxiao Capital"? It seems that in the eyes of beings like Dr. Li, "Lingxiao" had another name.

"It is 'Lingxiao Capital' and an evil cultivator called Mr. Mo."

Lin Yuan briefly recounted the Yongxin incident, the kindergarten workshop, and the pursuit by the Black-robed Man, omitting specific details like the containment field, but pointed out Mr. Mo's attempt to refine the "ten thousand infant banner."

After listening, Dr. Li was silent for a moment, then sighed: " 'ten thousand infant banner'... Old Ghost Mo really hasn't given up."

"Back then he wanted to refine this thing but was thwarted by the joint efforts of several parties. He was silent for many years; I didn't expect him to pop up again and even set his sights on the inheritor of the 'Void' and the leyline node."

He looked at Lin Yuan, his eyes becoming serious: "Kid, the trouble you've gotten into this time is the real deal."

"Old Ghost Mo is vindictive and uses vicious methods. He has set his sights on your 'Optimization' ability and your 'Void' divinity; he will never let it go."

"As for 'Tianji Pavilion,' you destroyed their 'risk model' and demonstrated the value of a 'variable' that they cannot control; they won't easily let you go either."

"I know," Lin Yuan nodded, "I just want to know now how to survive, how to recover as quickly as possible, and then... return the 'trouble' they gave me, bit by bit."

His tone was calm, but a cold, sharp light flashed in his eyes.

Dr. Li looked at him and suddenly smiled: "Interesting. Injured like this, debts piled high, surrounded by strong enemies, and you are not thinking about how to escape with your life, but how to 'pay it back'."

"Truly worthy of one who walks the 'Optimization' path; even revenge emphasizes 'efficiency' and 'reciprocity'."

He pondered for a moment and said: "I can help you stabilize your injuries, but to fully recover, especially to repair your soul and clear the soul seal, it will take time and special opportunities."

"I have some medicinal herbs and adjustment methods here that can help you speed up, but the premise is that you must be able to stay here safely for a period of time."

He pointed to the other side of the stone chamber, where there was a smaller opening that seemed to lead to another room.

"There is a quiet room inside with more peaceful earth energy, suitable for recuperating. I can temporarily use a formation to mask the aura here and interfere with the detection from outside."

"But the technology of 'Tianji Pavilion' and the evil arts of Old Ghost Mo are not to be underestimated. I am not entirely sure how long I can hide it."

"To have even a moment of peace is something I am extremely grateful for," Lin Yuan said sincerely.

He knew that for Dr. Li to be willing to take him in, he had already taken a huge risk.

"Don't rush to thank me yet," Dr. Li waved his hand, "I am helping you, firstly because of the benevolence of a healer, and secondly out of respect for that 'Old Ru' predecessor and the connection you have with the 'Void' path."

"Thirdly..." He paused, "I am also very curious to see how far this 'Optimization' path of yours can go. Perhaps you can find a new way to deal with 'trouble' that even we hadn't thought of."

A glimmer of expectation and inquiry flashed in his eyes.

Lin Yuan understood. Dr. Li, or rather the "friends" behind Dr. Li, might also be watching, wanting to see what kind of storm this variable, himself, could stir up.

This was fair. What he needed now was precisely such a window for respite and observation.

"I will recover as soon as possible," Lin Yuan promised solemnly.

"Hmm. Follow me first, clean the blood off your body, and change into clean clothes. Then go to the quiet room to regulate your breath. I will send the medicine to you on time." Dr. Li turned to lead the way.

Lin Yuan followed behind. After walking a few steps, he turned back to glance at the broken pottery urn on the altar and the curling blue smoke.

The legacy of the God of Ruins, the passing of the torch.

He seemed to have inadvertently stepped into a more ancient and hidden network of inheritance.

And the road ahead, after a brief rest, would surely be more dangerous, but also... broader.

In the dim halo of the oil lamps in the stone chamber, Dr. Li's gentle voice sounded:

"By the way, that 'Optimization' business of yours... if there is an opportunity in the future, I have a 'patient' whose situation is a bit complicated; perhaps I can introduce them to you. Of course, the consultation fee is negotiable."

Lin Yuan's steps paused, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly.

It seems this mysterious doctor might also become a... special client for his future "Optimization" business.

The stone door of the quiet room slowly closed behind him, temporarily isolating him from the disturbances of the outside world.

On the system interface, the countdown remained: 22 days, 18 hours, 47 minutes.

But this time, below the countdown, there was a new, green status prompt:

[Received high-level medical treatment, severe injury status alleviated, recovery speed +300%.]

[Special medicine took effect, 'Curse Soul Seal' activity temporarily suppressed by 80%.]

[Located in 'Secret Leyline Node' area, environmental safety: medium-high.]

The crisis was not resolved, but at least he had gained a precious intermission.

And rest was for the next, more precise, and more powerful strike.