Chapter 48: Awakening, I Became the Spirit Clan's Ancestor?

In another space, Yun Zhi Yi's heart was also filled with mixed feelings.

"It turns out there is still another life."

"It turns out that before meeting me, A Chuan already had his beloved; I am merely the one who came after?"

Yun Zhi Yi did not want to contend, but the feelings in her memory would not allow her to give up here.

"If it were me with only a wisp of remnant soul left, A Chuan would surely do the same; this is A Chuan's deep‑seated sense of responsibility, not his fault."

"Why?"

"Why must A Chuan meet different people in reincarnation? If it had always been me from beginning to end, how wonderful that would be."

What has happened is inevitable.

Judging by actions, not by intentions.

At least in that lifetime in Qingyu Fu Di, A Chuan deeply loved me, steadfast and unchanging.

Yun Zhi Yi's expression grew dazed as she recalled the final battle in Qingyu Fu Di.

If back then I had helped A Chuan succeed, what would the outcome have been?

Yun Zhi Yi's inner resolve quickly solidified.

"If after that battle A Chuan had survived, he would surely come seeking my reincarnated self, just as I protected him."

"That's not right either."

"I won't be like A Chuan; I only need him alone!"

"I would remember him at first sight, even by his scent; I wouldn't be as foolish as he is, forgetting me."

……

In the wilderness, Lin Chuan and Yu Xiao Rao had already departed under the cover of night.

Before leaving, they did not forget to create traces of battle and pursuit nearby.

Not long later, the dazed Yu Hui Lan, still unconscious, blinked her eyes open, then shuddered and suddenly sat up.

"Oh no!"

She looked around; there was no trace of Yu Xiao Rao and Lin Chuan left.

"Could Daoist Friend Lin have been captured by the Spirit Clan?"

That thought was quickly dismissed by Yu Hui Lan: "If Lin Daoyou had been captured, I wouldn't be alive; judging by the traces, he must have pursued them."

"Yu Xiao Rao must have expended considerable effort to use that move."

"Lin Daoyou is a Sword Cultivator; even fighting above his rank, he should have a chance to defeat a Spirit Clan combatant whose frontline strength is not strong."

Yu Hui Lan prayed in her heart, then promptly took out the 'Piercing Cloud Arrow' from her waist and ignited it.

Bang!

A Piercing Cloud Arrow— the Exorcists came to meet.

After leaving the signal, Yu Hui Lan followed the traces and pursued.

This was originally the duty of the Exorcism Office; as an Exorcist, she could not simply give up and let a young talent take the risk in her place.

……

Meanwhile, Lin Chuan and Yu Xiao Rao had already arrived at the Spirit Clan's garrison in the Great Yan Dynasty.

The garrison lay deep within a mountain, shielded by a natural formation, and the Spirit Clan's experts had additionally set up a spell formation, making it hard to detect.

Even ordinary Spirit Clan members could not freely come and go.

Just as they reached the formation, they were blocked by a tiger‑shaped half‑demon bearing the character "king" on its forehead.

"Yu Xiao Rao, how did you bring a human back?"

"Tiger Big Head, do not be rude."

Yu Xiao Rao placed her hands on her hips and shouted: "This is a venerable friend of my Spirit Clan's ancestors, a senior of high virtue and prestige; make way."

To avoid trouble, Lin Chuan manifested a wisp of Tu Shan Jiao Jiao's soul power.

The spell formation set up here flickered in response.

The tiger‑shaped half‑demon trembled, then immediately prostrated itself: "Little Tiger pays respects to the senior."

"No need for excessive courtesy."

Lin Chuan waved his hand.

Yu Xiao Rao let out a soft huff, proudly leading Lin Chuan onward, and they finally arrived before a great hall.

Above the hall's plaque were three large characters: Ling Ying Dian.

Lin Chuan's mind stirred with faint memories.

In the Tianyuan Continent, the Spirit Clan, blessed by heavenly and earthly qi, established the organization known as the Ling Shen Dian once it reached a certain scale.

Each officeholder of the Ling Shen Dian held power equal to that of the Spirit Clan's Clan Chief.

The first officeholder of the Ling Shen Dian was his son, Tu Shan Yue Ming.

Thinking of this, Lin Chuan's mouth twitched.

If Tu Shan Yue Ming were still alive, wouldn't I have gained a three‑thousand‑year‑old son? Isn't that too absurd?

Given the Spirit Clan's trajectory, this possibility is not impossible.

For a large clan, a three‑thousand‑year‑old ancestor is still considered young.

"That's wrong, what am I nervous about?" Lin Chuan consoled himself, "Who sees a father nervous about his son? It should be the son who's nervous."

"Great Commander, are you there?"

Yu Xiao Rao's voice pulled Lin Chuan's thoughts back.

There was no answering sound from within the Ling Ying Dian.

"It seems the Great Commander is not here."

Yu Xiao Rao smiled and said: "Senior, please go in and sit for a while; I'm sure once you enter the hall, the Great Commander will surely sense it."

Okay.

Lin Chuan walked slowly into the Ling Ying Dian.

The so-called Ling Ying Dian should be a subordinate force of the Ling Shen Dian.

Upon entering, the scene inside the hall came into view.

At the front of the main hall stood two lifelike statues as tall as a person, enshrined before numerous paintings.

"Isn't this... me and Jiao Jiao?"

At a glance, Lin Chuan recognized them; the statues enshrined before the Spirit Clan's main hall were exactly him and Tu Shan Jiao Jiao.

He remembered that during the dream's reincarnation, the Spirit Clan had made similar statues for him and Jiao Jiao, only more majestic and splendid.

Being turned into a statue and made an ancestor while still alive—there's nobody else like that.

Lin Chuan laughed and cried at once, turning his gaze to the paintings hanging on the walls on either side; they were still the familiar figures from the reincarnation.

The first painting on the left was exactly Ye Xue.

In the painting, Ye Xue appeared much colder than his impression, her overall bearing now that of a dragon maiden.

Especially the pair of dragon horns on her head, which bore a distinguished air.

The first painting on the right was Tu Shan Yue Ming.

In comparison, the painting of Tu Shan Yue Ming appeared more approachable, with a faint smile at the corner of her mouth.

"Looks like they've all grown up."

Lin Chuan couldn't help but feel moved; viewing the people and things from the dream in another way and from another angle felt completely different from the dream itself.

The seas have turned to mulberry fields—too much has changed.

Further down the paintings, Lin Chuan no longer recognized them.

I suppose they are the successive clan chiefs of the Spirit Clan and the masters of the Ling Shen Dian.

Just then, the doors of the Ling Ying Dian opened again.

Lin Chuan turned his head and saw a man with black wings enter the hall; their gazes met.

"You… you…"

The black-winged man started, his eyes widening: "Old… old ancestor? Are you the old ancestor?!"

Ordinary Spirit Clan members don't know the "Wu You Old Ancestor"; as the Great Commander of the Ling Ying Dian, how could he not know?

"Precisely speaking, it is the reincarnation of Tu Shan Wuyou."

Lin Chuan calmly gave himself a new identity.

"Old ancestor… reincarnation?" The black-winged man bowed, saying, "Spirit Clan junior Yan Wu Jie, greets the old ancestor."

"The Spirit Clan's development to this point makes no difference whether I exist or not." Lin Chuan waved his hand, "I came only for one thing: to meet old acquaintances and settle past debts."

The true situation still unclear, Lin Chuan dared not speak boastfully.

In the past, the Spirit Clan could call themselves kings and hegemons upon reaching the Seventh Realm.

Nowadays, the Spirit Clan has sages everywhere, and supremes are as common as dogs; it's likely not few, and not everyone will submit to this so-called reincarnation of his.

Fortunately, Yan Wu Jie is still respectful, making conversation easy.

"Old ancestor, if you have any orders, just speak them; without you there would be no Spirit Clan, and you will forever be the Spirit Clan's old ancestor."