Chapter Seventy-six: Sky Beyond

“If you dare say anything else, Lin Han, I’ll tell Dad to dock your allowance for a year, and then you won’t have money to impress those girls!” Lin Huan glared at her younger brother, threatening him.

“Heh, I was just trying to lighten the mood. Sis, don’t be angry, and Brother Yue, don’t take it seriously!” Lin Han pleaded for mercy, winking secretly at Song Yue.

Song Yue smiled, watching this boy who was about his own age. It was his first time on Tianyue Star, and his impression so far was quite good.

Soon, the Lin family piloted a medium-sized starship to transport Song Yue and Lin Huan from the moon colony of Tianyue Star to the Lin family estate on the planet itself.

Little Mo was picked up by her own family; unlike Lin Huan, she had no burden of responsibility. She simply had a good relationship with Lin Huan and followed her on a trip to Earth.

The Lin family resided in a colossal building with thousands of floors on Tianyue Star. From the outside, it appeared to be a grand skyscraper, but inside, it contained a rich ecological system!

There were mountains, lakes, rivers, and vast forest parks. As their starship flew into the Lin family estate, Song Yue even spotted a large golf course within one of the forest parks.

Every few dozen or hundred floors, such an ecosystem existed. There was no need for sunlight; all life-support requirements were met by advanced technology.

This was hardly an ordinary building—it was more like a collection of independent, miniature worlds, saturated with both science and magic.

The legitimate branch of the Lin family did not reside at the top, but rather among verdant waters and green mountains in the lower-middle section.

Lin Huan explained, “Actually, it’s all the same, up or down. There isn’t much difference. Though there are distinctions between legitimate and collateral lines in the Lin family, there’s not much class disparity; ultimately, it depends on ability.”

“Those with good character and outstanding ability, even if they are from collateral branches, can still rise to high positions.”

“But someone like Lin Han, a useless snack despite being legitimate, doesn’t mean much. At most, he’ll end up as a rice worm.”

Still resentful of her brother’s recent nonsense, she spoke without mercy.

Lin Han rolled his eyes, protesting, “You never consider how young I am—just eighteen! Still a kid, okay?”

Lin Huan gave a cold laugh, “Your so-called Brother Yue is also eighteen!”

Lin Han paused, looked at Song Yue, and then said with a serious face, “Brother Yue is accomplished for his age, much better than me!”

Song Yue smiled, “You’re excellent too.”

Having met the likes of Ouping—aloof, ruthless, and cruel—Song Yue found Lin Han’s simple, sunny nature much more agreeable.

Children of great families generally receive a good education; personal cultivation is seldom lacking, so what ultimately matters is character and temperament.

Lin Han found Song Yue increasingly pleasant. He’d never been to Earth, only heard stories about it.

They said its technology was backward, and people lived in primitive ways, but he didn’t see this as a problem.

Being advanced doesn’t mean you don’t eat, drink, or need anything. Even goddesses fart...

In fact, Lin Han somewhat envied that relatively primitive lifestyle, believing that living with one’s feet on the ground was closest to nature.

On the way from the starship dock to the rest area, Lin Han kept chattering, probing Song Yue about life on Earth.

Once he felt more familiar with Song Yue, he even reverted to his true nature and asked if there were many beautiful girls on Earth.

“They’re all natural beauties, without any genetic sorting, right? That’s the best! Unlike us, whose looks are fixed before birth. My sister is pretty, but actually...”

Feeling Lin Huan’s murderous glare, Lin Han finally came to his senses, grinned sheepishly at Song Yue, and whispered, “Next time, I’ll take you to race hovercars. Not all natural, but still full of beauties!”

“Lin Han!” Lin Huan was angry now. “If you keep acting like a noisy bird, I’ll deal with you myself!”

Song Yue hadn’t expected Lin Huan’s threat to be more effective than mentioning their parents; Lin Han instantly wilted, sitting quietly and glumly.

Clearly, he’d been mischievous since childhood, and Lin Huan had often straightened him out.

Soon, the group arrived at the rest area by vehicle.

Here, high technology and nature were almost perfectly integrated, nothing like Lin Han’s exaggerated complaints.

Especially for Song Yue, everything was fresh and novel.

Though housed “inside a building,” there was no sense of oppression whatsoever. Overhead, simulated blue sky, white clouds, and sun.

Waiting for them was a senior steward of the Lin family—not the head or elders.

Though they valued Song Yue, he was still very young, just a peer of Lin Han. Having a senior steward receive him was already giving him great honor.

“Uncle Feng!” Lin Huan greeted the steward with a beaming smile.

“You’re back, Huanhuan, well done!” Lin Feng smiled with a nod, then turned to Song Yue, stepping forward and extending his hand. “You must be Song Yue? I’ve heard much about you—truly accomplished for your age!”

Song Yue shook hands with Lin Feng, replying, “You flatter me.”

They were ushered inside, to a grand banquet hall with stately, thick carpets and walls adorned with landscape paintings in the Chinese style.

The atmosphere was imposing; clearly the work of masters.

In the rest area, many young people were already waiting. When Song Yue entered, many glanced at him, then looked away nonchalantly. A few girls, however, lingered on his handsome face.

Lin Feng introduced, “These are all young people invited by the Lin family to explore the underground palace. The palace is vast and restrictive, so every family has prepared many participants. Get to know each other; once inside, help one another if you can.”

Song Yue nodded. Lin Huan had told him about this before, so he was not surprised.

If the Lin family had only invited him, that would’ve been strange.

Lin Feng led Song Yue, Lin Huan, and Lin Han to the rest area, excused himself to greet others, and left with a smile.

No sooner had the three sat down than a handsome young man, smiling slyly, said to Lin Huan, “I hear you recruited a young expert from Earth this time? Didn’t expect there to be such a young martial master on Earth—your skills must be impressive?”

The rest area was large, with servers carrying trays of drinks weaving among them. Song Yue picked a glass of water and smiled at the server.

Then he heard a slightly grating voice, starting with a “heh,” then saying, “I hear the human civilization on Earth is quite primitive nowadays. Before our elders contacted Earth, the people there were ignorant, even sending fighter jets to attack our ships? It hasn’t been that many years, has it? Thanks to our support, Earth has its current civilization, so what kind of experts could it produce?”

Song Yue looked up to see a black-haired youth about his age, watching him with disdain.

How odd!

He hadn’t provoked him, had he?

Before Song Yue could speak, Lin Han frowned, “Who invited you? Why so rude? Did your elders get attacked by Earthlings?”

The young man, knowing Lin Han’s status, was unfazed. “You’re right, Young Master Lin. My elder piloted a UFO to Earth and was attacked by those ignorant fools. The magnetic field got triggered, the UFO crashed, and my elder lost a priceless body—only the spirit escaped. So I don’t like contemporary Earthlings, hope you’ll understand.”

Another young man nodded, “Indeed, I hear Earth was like this even in the Galactic era—a tiny planet with hundreds of countries, fighting each other with nuclear weapons, heedless of destroying their own civilization—utterly foolish.”

“I don’t like this era of Earth’s civilization.”

“Me neither.”

A chorus of young people voiced their opinions.

Song Yue couldn’t even be bothered to reply, glancing curiously at Lin Huan beside him.

They seemed so hostile—surely not without reason.

Their elders had suffered attacks from Earthlings, but that shouldn’t justify taking it out on him.

Lin Huan glanced at them, then at the Lin family member who’d first spoken, and said coolly, “I stand by my view—Song Yue is stronger than everyone here. Since we’re competing, let’s rely on our abilities when the time comes; no need to attack the person I invited.”

Song Yue understood—the exploration was also a test for Lin family’s internal children!

Lin Huan looked apologetically at Song Yue, whispering, “The elders set up a plan for us to compete by seeing who could recruit the most powerful helper. I didn’t think it needed mentioning.”

Song Yue smiled, “It’s nothing to do with me. In the end, whoever gets the opportunity inside wins; talking here is pointless.”

He also understood Lin Feng’s earlier comment—hoping those entering the underground palace would help each other. Clearly, he knew these people disliked Song Yue.

The others might help each other, but for Song Yue, he’d be lucky if they didn’t sabotage him.

Song Yue never expected help from others anyway; he preferred working alone.

At this moment, another Lin family youth tried to lighten the mood by changing the subject, “Lin Huan, did you know? Recently, another family had some gains from the underground palace!”

“Oh?” Lin Huan was surprised—she hadn’t heard of this, and glared at Lin Han, thinking him useless for failing to report timely.

Lin Han looked aggrieved, thinking, “I’m supposed to be useless, how could I know everything?”

The Lin family member explained, “It was a martial arts manual obtained by someone the Shen family invited. According to their insiders, it corresponds to the Cultivator’s Divine Soul stage!”

Many present looked excited and envious.

A martial arts manual at the Divine Soul level—how powerful must that be?

Song Yue had only heard fragments about cultivation realms from his teacher; he wasn’t fully versed.

Ignoring those who disliked him, he used spiritual transmission to seek guidance from Lin Huan.

Lin Huan, equally uninterested in the others, responded with spiritual transmission, explaining:

Unlike Earth, where cultivation developed slowly, these advanced civilizations had a deeper understanding of ancient cultivation.

After years of exploration and referencing ancient realms, they had summarized a modern system of cultivation stages.

“For cultivators, the foundation is Qi Nurturing.”

“In ancient times it was called Qi Training, but now the mainstream view is that spiritual energy isn’t trained, but nurtured.”

“Through cultivation, you nurture spiritual energy within the organs, flowing in the blood, using refined energy to nourish organs, meridians, flesh, and bones.”

“When Qi Nurturing reaches the ninth stage, and is perfected, you establish a foundation within the body—this is the second major realm, Foundation Establishment. Like a bird building a nest in the dantian, it stores more spiritual energy.”

Song Yue knew this, but listened intently.

“After Foundation Establishment come Penetration, Pellet Formation, Infant Transformation, Divine Soul, Shell Shedding, Perfection, and Tribulation Crossing.”

“Each major realm has distinct signs.”

“For instance, Pellet Formation is compressing the energy in the foundation nest into a dense pellet—the ancient Golden Core stage.”

“A cultivator at Pellet Formation is already a true master; in ancient times, even emperors would honor them.”

“Pellet Formation has three sub-stages: initial formation, power multiplies; great achievement, the body radiates immense light like a sun; perfection, in emergencies, the core can exit the body to deliver a fatal blow!”

“Normally, Pellet Formation masters wouldn’t do this; though powerful, it’s risky—only when forced to the brink.”

Song Yue recalled the white-robed youth who killed Zhao and Sun, whose master said it was a Pellet Formation avatar. He asked, “Does a Pellet Formation avatar have a core? And what kind of cultivator can create such an avatar?”

Lin Huan thought, “A Pellet Formation avatar... it should require a Divine Soul stage cultivator. Given a suitable vessel, they can make one. Such avatars usually only have Pellet Formation strength, without a core inside.”

Song Yue nodded, realizing how far he was from killing that white-robed man’s true self.

“When the Golden Core transforms to an Infant, a strand of divine consciousness attaches to it. In emergencies, the core can break out, carrying the divine consciousness to escape. Even if the body is destroyed, the core survives, and if it finds a new host, it can live on.”

“A perfected Infant Transformation master’s core takes on human form; it can ambush enemies or escape as a rainbow, able to possess and reincarnate. Even without possession, after decay, they can become ‘Ghost Immortals’—spirit energy beings living in the world.”

Song Yue said, “Isn’t that a ghost?”

Lin Huan smiled, “Not quite; it’s got ‘immortal’ attached. Ordinary people become ghosts when they die; their spirits linger briefly. Some powerful ghosts can influence people through dreams or illusions.”

“But Ghost Immortals are different—they have real cultivation. Ordinary people are ants before them.”

“A perfected Infant Transformation master’s core is refined to an incredible degree; even decades or centuries outside the body won’t kill it. With the right resources and opportunities, they can rebuild themselves into a complete person!”

Song Yue was stunned, “Isn’t that undying?”

Lin Huan thought, “Not exactly. Energy eventually decays and depletes. If an Infant Transformation master can’t break through to Divine Soul, they might live thousands of years—the longest recorded is five or six thousand years.”

She smiled, “For humans, that’s godlike, but in the universe, it’s just a shooting star, a fleeting bloom.”

“Continue,” Song Yue said, fascinated.

Once he broke through to Grandmaster, he’d truly enter the martial arts world; maybe he could choose the path of a spell cultivator, so it was good to learn early.

“The Divine Soul stage is truly formidable. By the laws of the world, after Infant Transformation, it’s hard to remain in the human realm—there’s strong repulsion from the world’s laws, or the cultivation world draws you in...”

Lin Huan said, “Whether on Earth, Tianyue, or elsewhere, it’s rare to see anyone beyond Infant Transformation, unless they have great means to deceive the heavens. But such people wouldn’t dare act openly.”

Song Yue looked at her, “So, in the human world, it’s almost impossible to find someone beyond Infant Transformation?”

Lin Huan nodded, “Yes—above Infant Transformation, almost all are in the cultivation world, another realm. To us, it’s the immortal world, past, present, and future.”

“A Divine Soul master can split their divine consciousness in two. At minor achievement, a strand of consciousness can enter the core; in battle, both can fight together—double the power!”

“At great achievement, their divine consciousness is unimaginably strong. The core and the original can do two entirely different things and be far apart!”

“At perfection, they can summon endless spiritual energy with a thought—true immortals on land!”

Lin Huan looked yearningly, “Divine Soul masters, barring accidents, can live tens of thousands of years!”

Song Yue was amazed—tens of thousands of years, enough for a civilization to rise and fall.

Lin Huan said, “But Divine Soul masters still can’t abandon their bodies or cores. If both are captured, only a strand of divine consciousness escapes—power plummets. While the consciousness can live many years, without support, they must possess someone anew and start from scratch.”

Song Yue sighed, “That’s already insane!”

Lin Huan said, “What’s crazier is the Shell Shedding stage. At that level, you’re truly near immortality, able to abandon the body entirely. The divine consciousness is free from all worldly constraints—even if body and core perish, the consciousness escapes and can reshape the body with a thought, using the world’s laws.”

“Those legendary gods and buddhas must at least be at this stage?” Song Yue asked.

“I don’t know, but probably at least this stage,” Lin Huan said. “But even here, facing great tribulations, you need divine medicine and powerful artifacts, or you may die in those tribulations.”

Song Yue felt cultivation was truly a long and arduous path.

Most people started cultivating for longevity, but even stars with a lifespan of hundreds of billions of years fall. How could humans easily achieve immortality?

Even at the supreme Shell Shedding stage, you still face tribulations.

Just as stars eventually die, so must all things.

Lin Huan said, “There are two more realms—Perfection and Tribulation Crossing. Those are more mysterious. For instance, the Kunlun secret realm we visited, its rumored master—the Dao Ancestor Primordial Supreme—should be at those levels.”

“But even ancient texts are vague about these realms. According to news from the cultivation world, the strongest ancient sect leaders are likely at Shell Shedding stage.”

At that moment, a Lin family youth called Lin Huan, “Sister Huan, you two are too absorbed—time to eat!”

Lin Huan and Song Yue realized many people had moved to the dining tables, leaving the rest area half empty.

They had indeed been engrossed, paying little attention to others.

It helped that the Lin family’s internal children, though competitive, maintained civility and didn’t intend to break relations.

But those they had invited looked down on Song Yue due to Lin Huan’s praise, and even openly questioned and mocked him.

There was nothing to discuss with such people.

Instead, Lin Huan’s conversation gave Song Yue great insight.

For the first time, he understood the hierarchy of cultivation realms and their corresponding powers.

Before, he hadn’t known much about Lin Huan, thinking her just a high-tech world foreigner, but now he realized those who pursued extreme technology had never abandoned self-cultivation.

They’d walked this path far longer than Earth’s current civilization.

If not for most secret realms being on Earth, perhaps there would be no cultivators there even now.

Lin Huan led Song Yue and Lin Han to a table, where they sat with familiar Lin family children and their respective young martial artists.

These had not joined in mocking Song Yue, and were relatively friendly.

Relatively.

Young martial arts masters are proud by nature. Until they’ve been beaten, everyone thinks they’re the strongest.

Once everyone was seated, the current head of the Lin family, Lin Tiannan, entered accompanied by two elders.

The young people from Tianyue Star recognized Lin Tiannan, rising to greet him.

“The Lin family head is here!”

“Hello, Mr. Lin!”

Song Yue watched coldly as their pride and bravado vanished, replaced by high emotional intelligence and politeness.

Is this the social ecology of these foreigners?

Not much better than Earth!

Some even unconsciously showed fawning smiles to Lin Tiannan, bowing to the big boss at once.

Earth's martial artists had more backbone, honestly.

Lin Tiannan smiled and greeted the crowd. When his gaze passed over Lin Huan’s table, he nodded gently to her.

Lin Han sent Song Yue a mental transmission, “That’s my uncle, Lin Tiannan.”

Song Yue nodded.

After greeting everyone, Lin Tiannan, accompanied by the elders and stewards, sat at the main table.

Lin Feng, the senior steward who had received Song Yue, acted as host, delivering formal remarks before the feast began.

Song Yue had long wanted to try alien cuisine, but when the exquisite dishes arrived, he was somewhat disappointed.

Eggplant, potatoes, beans, chives, cucumbers, greens—a sea of green, with only a splash of purple and yellow.

Where was the meat?

Where was the meat martial artists needed most?

No meat, not even fish!

Song Yue was greatly let down.

Lin Huan explained via mental transmission, “These vegetables are grown by the Lin family using the most primitive methods, without technological assistance. Only the highest guests get these.”

“Before I went to Earth, elders said this was the taste of home. Later, I found it everywhere on Earth—so you won’t find it novel. See how the others react.”

Song Yue looked at the Tianyue Star martial artists—seeing the green spread, their eyes shone.

Whether they were acting or not, several even looked excited, as if they’d been honored at the highest level and could brag for half a year.

Lin Han secretly transmitted, “These things are rare but not tasty. After the meal, I’ll take you for the local specialties—you’ll never want to leave!”

During the meal, Lin Tiannan toasted everyone, warmly expressing hopes for cooperation and mutual benefit.

“I hope the young talents here have open hearts. Even the best manuals require enough talent to comprehend, and different people interpret them differently.”

“Artifacts, weapons, pills—Lin family promises: whoever finds them keeps them.”

“But we’re not the only ones exploring the palace; many others are. We can’t guarantee others’ intentions, so be careful.”

“Within the Lin family, among you, I don’t want any infighting. If it happens, the guilty party will be permanently banned from Lin family contact.”

“This isn’t a threat, but a genuine hope for unity.”

“Repeated explorations confirm one thing: only fated ones can obtain anything in the underground palace.”

Finishing, Lin Tiannan drained his glass, and everyone began eating.

Song Yue now missed Earth’s meat and fish terribly.

Lin Han also ate little, clearly not fond of the food.

The Tianyue Star martial artists, in contrast, seemed to relish it.

Song Yue didn’t believe martial artists liked these dishes.

No matter how rare, martial artists require something else.

He ate a few bites symbolically—less tasty than Aunt Wang’s garden vegetables, watery and bland; perhaps salt was expensive on Tianyue Star.

Halfway through, Song Yue considered leaving.

Though starships traversed interstellar distances in a flash, he still felt a bit tired from the journey.

But just then, Lin Feng approached him at the main table, smiling, “Brother Song, the family head would like to speak with you.”

Lin Huan glanced over and saw her uncle smiling and nodding, which reassured her. She whispered to Song Yue, “Probably wants to know about Earth. You might as well go.”

Lin Feng’s eyelid twitched; he hadn’t seen Lin Huan like Song Yue, but realized she valued him greatly.

Could it be true—he could crush all of Tianyue Star’s peers in martial arts?

Song Yue replied, “When elders call, one should respond.”

He stood, drawing attention from all around.

Without genetic engineering, Song Yue was naturally handsome, tall, well-proportioned, his eyes shining and features striking.

Standing there, his upright posture was admirable.

Without prejudice, anyone would praise: What a fine young man!

He followed Lin Feng to the main table, where an elder made room and brought new tableware.

Lin Tiannan smiled warmly, “Young man, don’t be nervous. I just wanted to chat with someone from Earth.”

Song Yue smiled, “Thank you.”

Lin Tiannan glanced at the dishes and laughed, “These are everyday fare for ordinary families on Earth, aren’t they?”

Everyone nearby listened intently, eager to hear.

Song Yue nodded, “Earth has developed, but there are few new cities like Tianyue. Most old cities retain their original style; nutrients can be synthesized, but ordinary people still keep traditional farming culture.”

They chatted casually for a while.

Lin Tiannan nodded, finding Song Yue impressive.

Calm, courteous, with good manners.

Lin Huan said he was a disciple of a great Chinese scholar, and it was no exaggeration.

At his age, Lin Tiannan had met countless young people; most could barely speak properly before him.

And he could tell if someone was pretending.

This handsome youth had clear eyes and sincere attitude.

Truly excellent!

Considering Lin Huan’s high regard, Lin Tiannan even thought that recruiting a son-in-law from Earth wouldn’t be bad.

As the head of a great clan on Tianyue Star, the Lin family sometimes arranged marriages for political reasons, but always respected young people and never forced them.

They had no need to.

Thinking of the Ou family’s earlier message, Lin Tiannan was somewhat dismissive.

Such an outstanding young man—if he clashed fiercely with the Ou family, it was likely their fault.

Now that Lin family had invited him from thousands of light-years away, they had to protect his safety.

With that, Lin Tiannan turned to Lin Feng, “During his stay on Tianyue, you’ll accompany Song Yue, before and after the underground palace exploration, and show him Tianyue Star’s culture and geography.”

Lin Feng felt a slight chill—this young man had caught the family head’s eye!

His attitude became more respectful, smiling at Song Yue, “I’ll be your guide.”

Song Yue smiled in thanks.

Many young martial artists at the table were displeased.

Just because he’s from Earth?

He’d lucked into a great opportunity.

Caught the family head’s eye—if he stayed on Tianyue, his future would be limitless.

The smarter ones even considered befriending Song Yue.

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