68: The young master has become a god, and the Shen family's decree is the "Heavenly Decree"!

“Young Lord, this old servant knows you have suffered these past years!”

“This old servant deserves ten thousand deaths!”

“This old servant was foolish!”

“But Young Lord, these were all your orders! This old servant had no choice but to obey your commands. If I hadn't, this old servant would have suffered a Divine Soul backlash from the Heavenly Dao. You can't blame this old servant entirely...”

“Please don't ignore this old servant...”

A frail old man, whom the wind could seemingly blow over, knelt before Shen Nian, lowering his head with a look of grievance.

At this moment, Lin Yuan had changed out of the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect's attire and put on a simple gray robe. If one looked closely, they could see ancient characters engraved on the cuff of the gray robe: “Shen”.

Across from him, Shen Nian sat on a chair, his gaze sweeping over Lin Yuan before he fell silent.

Indeed.

It was his command that Lin Yuan Sealed both his memory and his own, and Shen Nian felt the reason for all this was utterly idiotic.

It was merely because Shen Nian wanted to prove to the Shen Family members, and to his fiancée—who was hailed as the hope for the rise of the Human Race and topped the profound dragon ranking at fifteen—that even if his talent wasn't the strongest, he could still rise on his own!

As the Young Clan Leader of a Transcendental Power, and one of the future Peak figures of the Human Race, even if his talent wasn't the strongest in his tier, it wasn't bad, okay?!

As long as he waited until his Coming-of-Age Ceremony at sixteen and began Cultivating the Shen Family's Emperor Scripture, his talent would improve even further, and his future days would be endlessly comfortable.

But people just can't get too comfortable; once they are comfortable, they become idle.

Once idle, he started overthinking things. So, at the age of thirteen, due to his own arrogance, he thought long and hard and made a decision: he forcefully ordered his servant Lin Yuan to take him through a World-Breaking Array, leave Eastern Profound, and run to the territory of the Great Xia, the last Dynasty of the Human Race.

It was like a super rich second generation trying to start from scratch on his own. Shen Nian hadn't expected this kind of melodramatic plot in a Xuanhuan world!

And it just had to happen to him!

As for why he chose Great Xia?

Because this place was very special. Neither the Heavenly Demon Realm nor the Transcendental Powers of Eastern Profound would send Void Return stage cultivators here, let alone those in the Dao Integration stage. The reasons were complex, and Shen Nian didn't know them, but this much was enough.

Heh!

I was quite clever, knowing to find a place where the Shen Family couldn't save me and die. Isn't that impressive?

“Idiot!” Shen Nian couldn't help but curse out loud.

What the hell did I need to prove?

Did you know I was almost killed by three Nascent Soul Yao Beasts!

If news of this got back, it would truly become a massive joke!

“Young Lord...” Lin Yuan looked up, thinking Shen Nian was scolding him, his expression somewhat resentful.

...

Shen Nian withdrew his gaze and said calmly.

“Alright, get up.”

Actually, he wasn't blaming Lin Yuan for carrying out his orders, but rather for how this idiot dared to bring a thirteen-year-old Young Clan Leader out—did he forget how to transmit sound, or was his Divine Sense taken away?

Couldn't he notify the family?

Just bringing him out to be reckless like this?

He's also a blockhead whose brain is full of mush!

Hearing this, Lin Yuan showed surprise and delight, stood up, and excitedly said: “Thank you, Young Lord!!”

For a moment, the atmosphere was silent.

Lin Yuan habitually prepared to flatter Shen Nian, and said respectfully, “Young Lord, don't worry. Starting today, with this old servant protecting you, we can walk sideways across the entire Great Xia!”

He spoke with full confidence.

Shen Nian, however, merely glanced at him casually and said, “Do I still need your protection now?”

Hearing this, Lin Yuan was slightly stunned. He immediately discerned Shen Nian's cultivation level and couldn't help but say in shock.

“The Young Lord is truly a Prodigy! That damned Old Man Tianji once calculated that the Young Lord's talent was top-tier, but his fate was troubled, showing signs of premature death, and that he wouldn't live past nineteen. I say that's utter dogshit!”

“What a Prodigy my Young Lord is! A Soul Transformation Stage cultivator at nineteen—how many people in Eastern Profound can compare?”

“(⊙o⊙)...!!” Lin Yuan's eyes suddenly widened.

Wait!

Something seems wrong!

The aura of Soul Transformation?

Is this still his Young Lord?

“Young Lord, you reached Soul Transformation???” Lin Yuan focused his gaze on the peerlessly handsome and indifferent young man before him, nearly jumping up in shock.

What year is it now?

Six years ago, the Young Lord was only in Qi Condensation!!

Wait!

Just a while ago, the Young Lord was at the Peak of Foundation Establishment, and only a few days have passed since then!

Damn it!

“It's over!” Lin Yuan's expression turned cold, runes covered his eyes, and the flow of Dao Rhythms circulated within them, his demeanor instantly changing drastically.

“How dare you!”

“Daring to Possess the Young Clan Leader of my Ancient Desolate Shen Family! No matter who you were in your past life, you are destined to die! Return my Young Lord's life!!!”

“Even if I, Lin Yuan, die, I will perish together with you!!”

Shen Nian glanced at him plainly, and helplessly exposed him, “Enough. I don't need you to show loyalty again. Stop pretending.”

If he had been Possessed, his Divine Soul would be different, Shen Nian wouldn't be Shen Nian, and Lin Yuan would have died long ago.

“Hehe...” Lin Yuan gave an awkward smile, scratched his head, and sighed inwardly.

The Young Lord has become smarter!

Since he grew up, he's harder to fool.

But internally, he also fell into deep thought.

What exactly happened? Could the Young Lord have encountered some Heaven-Defying Opportunity?

Moreover, his personality seems to have changed. Although his arrogance remains, the confidence he involuntarily emits was absent in previous years... How could the Young Lord suddenly reach Soul Transformation!

This speed of Cultivation is unheard of. But if it's too fast, will it affect his Foundation? How will he ascend to White Jade Capital?

If this news got back, the Shen Family would certainly be shaken. He wondered if the Shen Family had discovered anything over the years... Thinking of this, Lin Yuan shivered, filled with unspeakable bitterness.

He probably wouldn't be able to return to the Shen Family in this lifetime. Just for daring to run away with the Young Clan Leader, no one could protect him!

“Right, where is the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect?”

Shen Nian's voice suddenly rang out. Thinking of this question, he took a sip of tea and asked.

When Shen Nian saw that piece of information in the great xia secret records just now, he guessed that Lin Yuan had attacked Xuan Guang Cave. As for why he was mistaken for the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect, it wasn't hard for Shen Nian to figure out.

Given Lin Yuan's nature, even with his memory Sealed, he wouldn't dare stray too far from him. A Divine Soul slave would still react upon hearing or seeing his master encounter danger.

Then it was impossible for the Heavenly Sword Sect to suddenly have an extra old man appear out of nowhere.

He must have found a way to acquire an identity. Other Peak Masters are often out killing demons; would it be appropriate for an elderly man over a thousand years old to appear among the Disciples?

Therefore, among the entire Heavenly Sword Sect, only the position of Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect could be filled by Lin Yuan.

As for how he managed to deceive everyone over the years, it was far too simple for a Great Cultivator in the fourth layer of Void Return.

“Hmm?” Lin Yuan was slightly stunned, showing a thoughtful expression.

“The Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect...”

The next second, Lin Yuan's expression changed slightly. He forced a smile and cupped his hands, saying, “Young Lord, this old servant is afraid I must return to the Heavenly Sword Sect first...”

Hopefully, that old woman isn't dead.

Seeing his appearance, Shen Nian knew the matter wasn't simple. He immediately felt weary and sighed helplessly, “If we offended her, apologize properly. Strictly speaking, it was our fault...”

After interacting with them for the past few years, he had developed a good impression of the Heavenly Sword Sect, even forming some emotional attachment.

He absolutely couldn't use power to oppress others; he didn't like doing things that way.

“Yes, this old servant will sincerely apologize. Even if she demands this old servant kneel and admit fault, it doesn't matter!!” Lin Yuan replied very seriously.

Just as he was about to tear open space and leave, Shen Nian's voice rang out again.

“Wait, do you know the Soul Searching Method?”

Shen Nian suddenly remembered that he was just dismantling Yue Qingguang's Storage Pouch. Since his Primordial Spirit was still unconscious, the sooner he learned the Soul Searching Method, the sooner he could search.

He was certain that Xuan Guang Cave was problematic, but without understanding the specific situation, even with Lin Yuan present, he wouldn't act rashly.

Being cautious is always good.

Hearing this, Lin Yuan turned back and said righteously, “Young Lord, how could this old servant learn such Evil Demonic Methods?”

The next second.

Lin Yuan bowed and whispered respectfully into Shen Nian's ear, “Young Lord, we are an Ancient Desolate Family. Keep things like this quiet.”

“Soul Searching Method, Ten Thousand Soul Banner, Soul Locking Chain, Great Flesh and Blood Dismemberment Technique—from Nascent Soul to Void Return, which one do you need?”

“...” Shen Nian looked at Lin Yuan with a hint of surprise.

This old man, who would have thought? He was quite evil when he was young.

Immediately after, Shen Nian chose a Soul Searching Divine Ability suitable for the Soul Transformation Stage, then waved his hand dismissively.

“Right, this item, this old servant really must return it to you. I truly dare not keep it even a little longer!” Lin Yuan showed an expression of great suffering.

Honestly, it was fine when his memory wasn't recovered, but now that it is, holding this item is more painful than killing him!

“Young Lord, you forced this onto me before you Sealed your memory. Now I return it to you...” Lin Yuan displayed an extremely solemn expression, knelt on one knee, and presented a white jade token with both hands. The token was blank, only emitting an ancient aura from its surroundings. Even viewing it from the perspective of the Spirit Transformation Realm, one could not see the Great Daos circulating on the token.

Shen Nian was not unfamiliar with this item. It was given to him personally by the Old Ancestor when he was nine years old to wear, serving as the Shen Family Patriarch's token, named:

“cangtian token!”