Chapter 83: Meeting Lu Jin

“Five Thunder Talisman!”

Zhang Lingyu shouted loudly and launched the first attack.

The Five Thunder Talisman hovering before him instantly blazed with lightning, releasing countless blue-white bolts racing toward Lin Yu.

Lin Yu glanced at the lightning and said calmly, “Zhen character—Thunder!”

In an instant, identical blue-white lightning materialized out of thin air, splitting into a dense network of branching bolts that collided head-on with Zhang Lingyu’s Five Thunder Talisman.

“It’s Qimen technique!”

Zhang Chulan widened his eyes, thinking inwardly: “Is Lin Brother also a sorcerer?”

“Crackling—”

Accompanied by the sound of arcing electricity, the expected clash never came.

Because at the moment the two lightning bolts met, Zhang Lingyu’s Five Thunder Talisman instantly shattered, while Lin Yu’s lightning surged brighter, smashing through the electric light and engulfing Zhang Lingyu.

“What?!”

Zhang Lingyu’s pupils shrank sharply; he gritted his teeth and rapidly drew more Five Thunder Talismans, trying to resist Lin Yu.

At the same moment, Lu Lin, whose skin had turned pale, charged forward and drove a top elbow straight into Lin Yu’s chest.

“Dong—”

A long, resonant hum echoed through the mountain forest.

Lin Yu stood motionless, his body covered in thick amber-gold light.

“Eight Divine Powers—He Liu!”

Lin Yu spoke calmly, then swept his gaze toward Lu Lin beyond the golden light.

Bolts of lightning materialized instantly along his line of sight, striking from all directions.

Lu Lin’s heart leapt; he leaped backward in haste, desperately dodging the omnipresent lightning.

“Boom! Boom! Boom!”

Countless blue-white flashes darted wildly across the field, relentlessly chasing Lu Lin and Zhang Lingyu.

In essence, Lin Yu merely stood still the entire time, using only these two Qimen techniques—Thunder and He Liu—to force Zhang Lingyu and Lu Lin, two young prodigies, into frantic, chaotic flight.

—He hadn’t even taken his hands out of his pockets!

Seeing this, the onlooker Zhang Chulan couldn’t help but shake his head.

Just as Lin Yu had said, this wasn’t even a battle—it was just playing with them!

In truth, to better observe their abilities, Lin Yu had deliberately held back, adjusting the lightning’s power to barely match what Zhang Lingyu and Lu Lin could handle.

Under his pressure, the two were forced to give their all.

Thus, Lin Yu gained deeper insight into the Tongtian Lu and Nisheng San Chong.

First, the Tongtian Lu.

During Zhang Lingyu’s talisman-drawing, Lin Yu realized that the essence of the Tongtian Lu was not the lu itself, but the “Tongtian.”

In other words, it was a method of using Qi to commune with heaven and earth.

It manifested as talismans because its founder, Zheng Zibu, came from the Shangqing Sect and excelled in talisman arts.

After Zheng Zibu’s death, the only inheritor of the Tongtian Lu was Lu Jin, an outsider to the sect.

He practiced the Tongtian Lu mainly out of guilt toward his close friend Zheng Zibu, unwilling to let the technique vanish.

For this reason, Lu Jin’s understanding of the Tongtian Lu was extremely shallow.

But Zhang Lingyu was different—he came from the Celestial Master’s Mansion and was no stranger to talismans, so he grasped the Tongtian Lu’s power more readily.

During the “battle,” Lin Yu had seen multiple times that before Zhang Lingyu finished drawing the Five Thunder Talisman, lightning would already manifest spontaneously.

This showed he was gradually grasping the Tongtian Lu’s essence, no longer bound to the talismans themselves.

If he trained further, a single thought could commune with heaven and earth, words becoming law, even commanding heaven and earth to act on their own…

Having understood the technique’s principle, Lin Yu no longer intended to ask Lu Jin for the Tongtian Lu.

The reason was simple: during Zhang Lingyu’s use of the Tongtian Lu, Lin Yu had naturally learned it himself!

Of course, learning the Tongtian Lu didn’t erase his reason to meet Lu Jin.

On the contrary, he grew increasingly interested in the Nisheng San Chong that Lu Lin had demonstrated.

It was a Daoist cultivation method designed to reverse one’s cultivation back to the Primordial Qi.

It had three stages: the first was the fullness of True Qi, transforming Qi into skin and flesh—after cultivation, every gesture carried the strength of dragons and tigers.

The second stage transformed Qi into tendons, bones, and internal organs; combined with the first stage’s flesh transformation, it forged an indestructible body. When injured, regeneration wasn’t ordinary healing—it repaired through Qi flow, achieving true limb regeneration.

Lu Lin—or, historically, the vast majority of San Yi Sect disciples—resided at this stage.

Yet even within the second stage, practitioners varied greatly in mastery; Lu Lin’s level clearly paled beside that of his great-grandfather, Lu Jin.

The final, third stage transformed the entire body into Primordial Qi, achieving the ultimate goal of reversing back to the primordial state.

So far, apart from the sect’s founder, only Lu Jin’s master—the Grand Profound Immortal Zuo Ruotong—had definitively reached the third stage.

Theoretically, one who reached the third stage could ascend to immortality, yet Zuo Ruotong in the original text clearly had not become an immortal.

Wu Gensheng, who had helped Zuo Ruotong break through the third stage, believed the path to heaven had no end.

Yet Nisheng San Chong, named “three stages,” was fundamentally a path with an end.

A path with an end could never reach heaven, let alone achieve immortality!

Zuo Ruotong privately agreed with Wu Gensheng’s view.

Lin Yu had once thought the same—but now, he held a different idea…

“That’s enough.”

Lin Yu spoke softly; the Qimen lightning vanished instantly.

The two exhausted figures froze, halted their flight, exhaled deeply, and bowed humbly to Lin Yu.

“Thank you, Elder, for your mercy!”

Lin Yu paid no mind; he turned to Lu Linglong and said, “Do you have other business? If not, take me to see Lu Jin.”

The Lu siblings exchanged glances, paused briefly, then said solemnly, “If the company has no objections, we’re willing to introduce you to our great-grandfather.”

“Then it’s settled!”

Lin Yu nodded, then turned to Zhang Chulan and said, “I’m taking these two with me. If the company asks, say it was my decision.”

Zhang Chulan nodded. “Understood.”

Lin Yu turned to the Lu siblings. “Stand beside me.”

They hesitated, then stepped forward.

Passing Zhang Chulan, Lu Linglong paused and whispered, “Take care of Xiao Xiao and the others. After the Elder meets Great-Grandfather, we’ll cooperate with the company for questioning. And…”

Here, Lu Linglong’s voice faltered.

Lu Lin patted her shoulder and shook his head. “We’ll talk about it next time.”

Lu Linglong nodded and resumed walking, joining Lin Yu’s side.

Lin Yu smiled, waved to Zhang Chulan and the others, then vanished in a flash, taking the Lu siblings with him.

He truly vanished into thin air…

Zhang Chulan’s expression turned grave. Such an absurd ability—no matter how many times he saw it, it sent shivers down his spine!

…

…

Not long after, in the ancient, elegant parlor of the prestigious Lu family.

Lu Jin sat in a high-backed chair, frowning at the three before him.

“...You’re the master from Baiyu Jing?”

“You could say so.”

“I heard the company has been eager to contact you. You ignored the company and came straight to my Lu family compound…”

Lu Jin glanced at Lin Yu, expressionless. “I assume you didn’t come here for nothing?”

“You’re straightforward!”

Lin Yu smiled. “Then I won’t beat around the bush. But before we discuss matters, shouldn’t these two youngsters step out?”

“No need,” Lu Jin said calmly. “There is nothing in this Lu family compound that cannot be heard. Our conversation is no exception.”

“Is that so?”

Lin Yu’s smile faded. “Even if what I’m about to say concerns the San Yi Sect and Zuo Ruotong?”

At these words, all three—including Lu Jin—pupils shrank sharply.

After a moment of silence, Lu Jin turned to the two youths.

“Leave.”

“Great-grandfather!”

Lu Linglong cried out. “I know you don’t want us dragged into this, but you’re our great-grandfather—your burdens are ours to share!”

Lu Lin nodded solemnly. “Great-grandfather, Linglong is right. Since I inherited Nisheng San Chong, I am the last surviving member of the San Yi Sect. I have the right to know about Master’s affairs.”

“You know nothing!”

Lu Jin glared at them coldly. “Enough. This has nothing to do with you two. Leave!”

“But Great-grandfather—”

“Leave!”

Lu Jin glared fiercely; the siblings exchanged glances, then slumped and left the parlor.

“The Lu family’s young ones all have this stubborn streak.”

Lu Jin’s tone softened slightly as he gazed at Lin Yu and said calmly, “I apologize for my rudeness…”

“Apologize?” Lin Yu shook his head. “You’re the one who’s being modest. With a disciple like you, the Lu family’s spirit will endure for another hundred years.”

At these words, Lu Jin smiled for the first time.

“Let’s cut to the chase, Mr. Lin. What is it you truly want?”

“Simple,” Lin Yu said bluntly. “I’m interested in the Threefold Reverse Life technique of the San Yi Sect. I’d like to make a deal with you.”

A deal?

Lu Jin’s smile vanished. His brow furrowed tightly as he replied coolly, “I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed—the Threefold Reverse Life was passed down by my master. It is not for sale.”

Lin Yu smiled. “Don’t rush. Hear me out first.”

Lu Jin shook his head. “You came here knowing my reputation. No matter your terms, I will never trade the Threefold Reverse Life.”

“Of course, the Threefold Reverse Life isn’t so precious. If you truly wish to learn it and possess the aptitude, I can take you on as my master’s disciple and teach you for free—but as for a deal… let’s not speak of it again.”

“Become your disciple?” Lin Yu shook his head. “The Great Fulfillment Immortal is indeed extraordinary—but he is not worthy to be my master.”

Hearing Lin Yu belittle his master, Lu Jin narrowed his eyes, his anger now genuine.

But just as he was about to order Lin Yu out, a pair of eyes—like the starry heavens—appeared before him—

In an instant, the world around him receded at blinding speed; the walls, the furniture, all vanished, leaving only the endless black expanse of stars above.

Everything else shrank infinitely, while Lin Yu remained unchanged in size.

Lu Jin leapt to his feet, standing alone in the empty, dark void, staring in awe at the colossal figure of Lin Yu before him—as if for the first time he truly perceived the vastness of heaven and earth, and his own insignificance…

No, more than that—Lin Yu’s mountain-like form radiated an inexplicable allure.

In Lu Jin’s eyes, it was none other than the ultimate pursuit of all Qi cultivators: the Immortal.

(End of Chapter)