Yin Long rode on Jin Wang's back as they made their way back to the dojo. The lion originally didn't want to let Lan Yun ride on his back if he could help it, but he was left with little choice after Yin Long made a sincere request. Lan Yun's wounds would require a bit of time to heal, but Yin Long managed to finish healing his wounds after a mere five hours thanks to his Netherworld energy. Of course, he didn't forget to ask Jin Wang the main question on his mind the moment he finished healing his wounds.
"So, have you got any idea what sort of beast you are now?"
There was power in blood, that fact was especially true for Demonic beasts. Some beasts would unlock ancient memories and skills as they awakened their bloodline, the stronger the bloodline the more memories and skills they would awaken. Of course, this was mostly only reserved for Divine beasts since they were the apex of the beast-world.
And looking at how intelligent Jin Wang had been even since young, Yin Long was fairly certain that he was no normal Demonic beast. And sure enough, Jin Wang stopped walking and used his claws to carve the answer into the earth, one of Yin Long's eyebrows rising in slight surprise.
"Hoh, your body contains a faint trace of the awakened bloodline from the progenitor of all lions, the Suanni Lion?"
The Suanni Lion was a true Divine beast, it was also known as the Heaven-Swallowing Beast that had a stomach that could fit all creation. As the progenitor of all lion-type Demonic beasts, all lions carried its blood, but the blood was usually so diluted and filthy that it brought them no benefits. But according to Jin Wang, he had mutated slightly and was thus born with a bit of that ancient bloodline purer than normal, giving him his intelligence and swallowing power.
Of course, while he knew that he was special ever since he was born, he only learned the specifics after he finished his most recent growth-period and actually acquired a few memories thanks to his bloodline. It also slightly explained why Jin Wang was such a prideful cat, how could it not have any pride when the blood of such a great being flowed through its veins?
Of course, what he neglected to write down was that his bloodline wasn't his only source of pride, there was also a certain alpha who could be counted as a source of pride. Such sayings were unbecoming of a great lion, they were better off left within him where he could keep them safe. After learning the truth about Jin Wang, Lan Yun leaned forward, pressing her chest against Yin Long's back as she started to comb through Jin Wang's mane. She didn't find what she was looking for and stopped combing through his hair, but rather than pull back she chose to remain leaning against Yin Long, looking at the face that was right next to hers.
"I'm pretty sure the Suanni Lion is said to have three eyes, but Little Wang here still only has two. Do you think he'll get the third one if we help him strengthen and awaken his bloodline further?"
Lan Yun's own thoughts actually lined up surprisingly well with Jin Wang's, how could they be worthy of him if they remained as they were? Lan Yun wanted to grow much much stronger, both physically and mentally, and Jin Wang wanted to awaken his entire bloodline, only if they managed that would they become worthy of standing next to what Yin Long would eventually become. But while they had set their sights on their end-goals, Yin Long spoke up with a faint smile and revealed that his eyes had never once looked at the same goal as them.
"Why stop at three?"
His sight was never focused on a single end-goal, the road stretching out in front of his eyes didn't have a single end in sight. Right now he could only turn small things into his swords, but in the future he would be able to turn entire stretches of land, entire territories, provinces, planets, even an entire universe into his blade.
There was no end, only the endless pursuit for a sharper blade, a stronger sword. An endless journey for the three of them, that was what Yin Long had his sights on. And should they ever reach an end to their journey it would either be at the very peak of all creation or it would be their deaths.
--
With Jin Wang's speed, it didn't take the group long before they left Four-Kings Valley and managed to reach one of the locations where they could use a spatial array to return to Starfall city. The arrays were prepared by the dojo so they arrived right in front of the dojo's entrance, the sudden appearance of a large lion in the middle of the city causing more than just a little noise.
Yin Long gazed upon the dojo in front of him and let out a light breath. They had actually only been in Four-Kings Valley for about two or so days, but the sheer number of events and battles they had gone through was mind-numbing. Going from that stretch of land filled with the stench of blood to this tranquil dojo filled with the faint scent of metal was a rather drastic change.
Jin Wang ignored the slight commotion around him and strode into the dojo in a casual manner, Yin Long and Lan Yun hopping off of his back. Jin Wang's grown form was quite eye-catching, the group of three receiving a great number of stares from the surrounding disciples. Yin Long ruffled Jin Wang's mane for a bit, gesturing towards Lan Yun with his chin.
"Can you follow her, at least until her wounds are fully healed? You owe her that much, no?"
Lan Yun's wounds weren't too terrible, even the shattered bones would heal within a week or two thanks to all the medicine she had ingested. But that was still two weeks where she wouldn't be able to utilize all her strength, and leaving her completely alone during that time was a risk that Yin Long wasn't quite fine with taking.
Jin Wang glanced at Lan Yun for a second before nodding his head, it was hard to resist a sincere request from the alpha. Lan Yun could see through Yin Long's thoughts, a radiant smile blossoming on her face as she looked at him. They might not be lovers, but only she received this concern and care from him, only she was constantly in his thoughts. That was a privilege that no one else could enjoy.
So, with the majestic Jin Wang serving as her escort, Lan Yun returned to her own dorms so that she could quickly finish healing her wounds. After all, it was hard to properly enjoy her time with Yin Long while she was injured like this. As for Yin Long, he returned to his dorm and took a quick shower before he headed over to the pagoda that was the martial library of Swan Queen Hall.
He swept through the first and second floors of the pagoda in a leisure manner, making sure that no other manuals or diaries had been added in the time he was out. After making sure that there was nothing new to read, he headed up to the third floor, a familiar voice greeting him.
"You've returned. And it looks like you haven't wasted your time either, you feel like a completely new person. Gods, you cursed children sure can be scary at times."
Yin Long's gaze landed on the brown-haired and green-eyed Meiyu, who was sitting at a small table and enjoying a cup of wine. His eyes were roaming over Yin Long, checking out the minute movements of his body and energy to determine his growth while he was gone. And what he saw caused his heart to twitch ever so slightly.
Yin Long was just standing there, but the presence he radiated was completely different from before. It had nothing to do with the increase in his cultivation or him sharpening his skills, he had simply shed the aura he previously radiated. All his aura had been drawn into his body, he now resembled a sheathed blade more than he did a child cursed by the blade. But even so, an incredibly faint scent of blood still lingered around him, just barely hinting at the sharpness hidden beneath the surface.
Meiyu retracted his gaze after he finished inspecting Yin Long, more than just pleasantly surprised at his apparent growth. But that was because Meiyu hadn't yet realized what Bai Xiang had realized while training Yin Long, mainly due to the fact that the time they had spent with him was far too different. Yin Long was a warrior, it was in the midst of bloodshed that he would experience his greatest growth, only there could he be properly forged.
Meiyu swiped his interspatial ring, an orange jade slip as thick as two fingers appearing in his grasp. He tossed the item at Yin Long, allowing him to catch it and sweep his mind through it for a moment before he started speaking up.
"I can't train you for much longer, I'm guessing that one week will be my limit. That jade slip doesn't just contain Buddha Dances in the Rain but also the other techniques and skills I've encountered over the years. Once my time has passed, that jade slip will replace me and teach you what I can't. But keep in mind that Buddha Dances in the Rain is still the technique best suited to you, the others should only be used as inspiration."
Yin Long nodded his head and put away the jade slip, Meiyu had already pulled out two blunt metal swords from his interspatial ring so it was clear that he was planning on starting the training right away. Yin Long caught the sword that was tossed to him, resuming his training under Meiyu as if he hadn't just ventured into Four-King's Valley.
Xue Qiuling was recuperating after using the secret technique and Lan Yun was focusing on her own healing, so other than Lan Yun contacting him every evening, Yin Long actually got to train in peace for once. But it was just as Meiyu said, his time was limited since the end of his lifespan was rapidly approaching.
And after 6 days, he reached the final stages of his life. The Qi within his body started to rapidly dissipate, his skin wrinkling as his hair turned white practically overnight. This was how powerful cultivators were supposed to age when they reached the end of their lifespans, the effects hitting them all at once rather than in the slow and steady manner that happened to Yin Long's parents.
With Meiyu in this state, there was no longer any way he could continue training Yin Long, he was forced to retreat to his own quarters to wait out his final week or two. Yin Long planned on accompanying him for a bit, the man had taught him a great deal after all, but Meiyu chased him out. Yin Long was still very young and in the middle of his growth phase, he was only 20 after all.
Every day he wasted on accompanying an old man was a day he didn't improve himself, a horrible waste since he was brimming with potential. As such, Yin Long was forced away, only managing to visit Meiyu about once a day, mainly thanks to his own stubbornness in doing so.
Having lost his teacher once more, and with Xue Qiuling still not back in the dojo, Yin Long would have to train his sword skills in the same manner he had in the past. Luckily, he had a practically endless number of manuals and skills he could go through, partly thanks to the martial library and partly thanks to Meiyu's jade slip.
But he made a slight alteration compared to how he trained his sword skills in the past when he was alone, he decided to take advantage of the thousands of sparring partners he had available. He took out some wood from his interspatial ring and bought some paint, constructing a quick sign as he ventured into the wide-open area located between the various halls of the dojo.
The wide-open area wasn't just home to several training areas covered in arrays, it also housed normal martial fields where people could engage in sparring to test out techniques. And Yin Long went to exactly one such martial field, picking out a three-kilometre wide stone stage and placing his sign in front of it before he stepped onto the stage and sat down. The sign carried a very simple message, calling out to all the disciples of the dojo.
"Accepting all challengers."
I don't think I like Xue Quiling tbh