Chapter 85: Three Choices

When he reappeared, the surroundings had become a brightly lit bedroom.

This was the home of Wol Stone, the governor of Spine Peak City; Fulamei and Captain Dai Meng, along with his family, stood beside the bed, gazing at the old man on it with varied expressions.

“Cough! Cough!”

Old Wol coughed twice, turned his head, and reassured his worried wife and children: “Enough, don’t worry—Fulamei is still here, and besides, there’s the Lord himself!”

Before he could finish, Old Wol spotted Lin Yu and immediately gasped, struggling to sit up and bow to him.

But before he could raise himself, a gentle force pressed him back down.

“No need for formalities.”

Lin Yu waved his hand and stepped toward the bed.

Dai Meng and his mother quickly stepped aside, not daring to delay.

Lin Yu reached the bedside and looked at Old Wol, who was stunned; his spiritual sense swept over the old man and found his body still robust, yet his internal organs severely aged and diseased.

Realizing this, Lin Yu confirmed his suspicion.

Still, for thoroughness, he turned to Fulamei beside him.

“What’s going on?”

“...”

Fulamei sighed softly, then switched to Mandarin no one else understood: “It’s not a curse, not an illness—in your world’s terms, Old Wol’s lifespan is nearly exhausted.”

It was indeed a lifespan issue!

Lin Yu nodded inwardly, but outwardly frowned as if troubled.

Fulamei whispered: “I know you’ve been tending to Old Wol’s body, but it’s useless. Human lifespan is short not merely because of magical radiation...”

Lin Yu was surprised: “You’ve studied magical radiation too?”

Fulamei nodded, self-deprecating: “I’m human too. No human escapes fear of death.”

“During my ten-year journey north, I’ve witnessed many deaths—young warriors dying prematurely, ordinary elders passing peacefully.”

“The former were prepared; I had nothing to say. But the latter moved me deeply.”

“Fortunately, I’m still a mage seeking truth. Unlike ordinary people who can’t resist death, I can at least struggle a little.”

“The relationship between lifespan and magical radiation was the subject I first studied when I first felt fear of death...”

Lin Yu pressed: “And the conclusion?”

Fulamei shook her head: “Regrettably, they’re merely positively correlated, not proportional.”

Lin Yu nodded, unsurprised.

Fulamei continued softly: “The positive correlation means even if we solved magical radiation, we could only slightly extend lifespan—not achieve immortality like elves or dwarves.”

“Perhaps each race’s lifespan is part of the world’s fundamental rules—unchangeable...”

Lin Yu said nothing, glancing at her: “Could you have missed something?”

Missed something?

Fulamei froze.

Lin Yu smiled: “Either way, if there’s a way to achieve immortality, you wouldn’t refuse, right?”

Of course not!

Who would turn down the lure of immortality?

Fulamei wanted to say so, but knowing Lin Yu, she frowned suspiciously: “Why do I feel you’re setting a trap for me?”

Lin Yu didn’t hide it: “Even if it’s a trap, the bait is immortality—so, will you bite?”

Fulamei hesitated, then nodded: “If you’ve truly found a way to extend human lifespan, I’ll be your test subject—but I reserve the right to withdraw at any time.”

“Then it’s settled!”

Lin Yu smiled, then turned to Old Wol, who looked bewildered: “Come with me.”

Old Wol snapped out of it, barely managing to roll off the bed, bowing respectfully: “Yes, my Lord!”

Lin Yu turned to Dai Meng, whose face was filled with worry: “From now on, your father will disappear with me for a while. I’m entrusting all affairs of Spine Peak City to you. Any problem?”

“This... I obey!”

“Good.”

Lin Yu nodded, waved his right hand, and vanished with Old Wol from the bedroom.

Rolling mountains, layered peaks towering high.

Dense magical energy, filtered by barriers, condensed into pure energy mists like veils swirling around the mountain slopes, drowning everything in white clouds.

From time to time, visible blue mountain winds swept across the peaks.

These winds stirred the magical mists, slowly dispersing them to reveal towering trees and grand temples below.

Crystal-clear waterfalls cascaded like jade ribbons, stirring magical vortices shimmering with rainbow light.

Around these radiant vortices lay a pool glowing with seven colors.

The three-colored lotus brought back from the Tang Gui world rested at the pool’s center, absorbing energy from the water while slowly unfolding its petals, now tinged a fourth color.

Gazing upward along the waterfall, one saw a dazzling ocean of light.

Countless pure magical energies swirled, coalesced, and dispersed, radiating thick white light that illuminated the entire world as if it were daytime.

Standing beside the seven-colored lotus pool, listening to the waterfall’s roar, Old Wol’s eyes widened in awe and stunned silence as he stared at everything around him.

Soon, he regained his composure, forcing down his excitement and shock:

“My Lord, this... this place...”

“This is my world.”

Lin Yu turned, calm, facing Old Wol beside the pool.

Hearing this, Old Wol’s eyes widened, his whole body trembling with excitement.

“You... you mean this is a world you created?”

Strictly speaking, not quite—but close enough.

Lin Yu didn’t correct him, only said calmly: “So far, you’re the first human to come here—and the only sentient being besides me.”

“What?!”

He was the first person ever to come here?

What an unparalleled honor!

Old Wol’s voice trembled with excitement.

Yet strangely, though he was awestruck and honored, though he was stunned by this world, he showed no shock at Lin Yu’s transformed identity.

Because in Old Wol’s heart, he had long regarded Lin Yu as a god!

“Regarded” wasn’t quite right—he had, over the past decade, gradually pieced together clues revealing his Lord’s secret.

The clearest evidence was the extraordinary holy scripture in Lin Yu’s hands.

As the first citizen to meet Lin Yu, Old Wol was the only one who had ever seen that scripture.

At the time, he hadn’t reacted strongly.

Later, as governor, he received a bishop from the Church.

From the bishop’s words, he finally understood the meaning of the Goddess’s holy scripture—and realized how utterly bizarre a scripture differing from the Goddess’s doctrine truly was...

Since then, Lin Yu had periodically received faith energy emanating from Old Wol.

This proved Old Wol had long discovered his true identity—and his faith and loyalty.

Thus, Lin Yu had no qualms revealing even this world, never before stepped into by another.

“Earlier, before Dai Meng and Fulamei, I couldn’t say much.”

Lin Yu looked at Old Wol softly: “But now, I won’t hide it—your body isn’t seriously ill; your primordial qi is nearly depleted, and your lifespan is ending...”

Lifespan ending?

Old Wol felt as if doused in cold water, calming from his excitement, staring blankly at Lin Yu.

“You mean... I’m going to die?”

“Yes.”

“...”

Old Wol snapped back, his face alight with fervor: “When I die, can I stay in your divine realm?”

Lin Yu: “...”

You really aren’t afraid!

“I see! I see!”

Old Wol continued excitedly: “No wonder you brought me here—it’s because...”

Lin Yu shook his head: “This is my world, not my divine realm.”

What’s the difference?

Old Wol looked confused.

Lin Yu spoke plainly: “Since you can’t grasp the point, I’ll be direct.”

“First, primordial qi is an abstract energy accompanying human birth—you can roughly equate it to lifespan. When it’s exhausted, even a healthy body dies instantly.”

“In ordinary people, primordial qi is obscured by acquired qi; in this world, magical radiation makes it far worse.”

“Magical radiation prevents you from sensing primordial qi, let alone replenishing it...”

Here, Lin Yu paused, studying him: “You were a warrior in your youth—surely you’ve been wounded often, haven’t you?”

Physical injuries can heal, but the primordial qi consumed cannot be restored—that is why many powerful warriors do not live long lives.

Take the hero Simeon from later ages: even he, so formidable, lived no more than eighty-odd years.

Hearing this, Old Wol finally understood Lin Yu’s meaning and exclaimed in stunned awe:

“You wish to extend my lifespan?”

“I—I—I am unworthy of such a favor!”

Lin Yu shook his head. “If I brought you here, it means you are worthy.”

“To cut to the chase: based on my years of research, I offer you three choices. If you still wish to live, pick one of these three paths to immortality.”

As he spoke, Lin Yu raised three fingers. “First: implant a spiritual root and follow the magic cultivation path.”

“Second: enter my Bai Ze Ten Thousand Spirits Map; your body becomes demonic, your soul bound to the Sacred Scripture, forever unable to transcend.”

“Third: become my retainer…”

(End of Chapter)