Chapter 86: The Great Will

“Spirit Root… Vassal?”

Old Wol stared blankly as he repeated these unfamiliar syllables.

Clearly, he had not understood the meanings of the other two options, only the second one.

It was no surprise—he had never encountered beings like Vassals or Vassal Clans in Fllien’s world, so the Common Tongue had no word for them.

Lin Yu had simply borrowed the Chinese characters outright; if he understood them, that would be the real problem!

“It’s simple.”

Lin Yu explained calmly: “A Spirit Root is an artifact that filters out magical radiation. Those who implant a Spirit Root are unaffected by magical radiation, and their lifespan extends continuously with cultivation.”

“So far, this path has been verified on many individuals.”

“But their cases were special—they had never been exposed to magical radiation, so their bodies were highly compatible with Spirit Roots.”

“You are different. You’ve lived your entire life immersed in magical radiation; parts of your body have already begun crystallizing. Once a Spirit Root is implanted, violent reactions are inevitable.”

“In the terms of another world, this is called ‘stripping the marrow and washing the sinews, shedding the old body and being reborn anew.’”

“But shedding the old body and being reborn inevitably brings suffering and risk. As the Spirit Root purifies the radiation, it also reshapes your body—a process extremely perilous. One misstep, and your body will collapse, killing you instantly…”

The older Wol’s expression grew increasingly grave as he listened.

After a moment’s thought, he suddenly dropped to one knee and declared firmly: “My Lord, your will is my will!”

“If you command it, I will accept even the greatest risk!”

Lin Yu: “...”

Did this old man misunderstand something?

He was merely explaining the pros and cons of the Spirit Root—he wasn’t forcing anyone to choose this path.

Lin Yu shook his head: “Don’t rush to decide yet—I haven’t finished.”

“The second option needs no elaboration—you’ve met Longlongyan and Guangzhi Guangmou. If you join the Bai Ze Ten Thousand Spirits Map, you’ll become the same kind of being as them.”

Lord Longlongyan?!

Old Wol’s eyes widened, instantly casting the first option aside.

Though the first option sounded freer—offering the chance to continue seeking truth—Old Wol was no mage. As a descendant of a fallen knightly family, his lifelong aspiration had always been to pledge loyalty to someone!

Now, to serve Lin Yu as Lord Longlongyan did, perhaps even grace the cover of the Sacred Scripture—

What need had he for a bicycle?

—This was the choice!

Old Wol quickly raised his head, but before he could speak, Lin Yu continued:

“As for the third option, it’s something I’ve only recently developed: to become my Vassal is to become an extension of my will—your body and soul shall be devoted to the world beneath your feet.”

“From this moment on, if I command you to live, no one can harm you; if I command you to die, no one can obstruct my will…”

Lin Yu stared directly at the kneeling Old Wol, speaking without concealment: “This is a Vassal—my exclusive subordinate.”

“Now… make your choice!”

Old Wol’s gaze blazed as he lowered his head without hesitation: “My Lord, I choose the third!”

Lin Yu remained calm: “Are you certain?”

Old Wol nodded firmly, his resolve unshaken—only a faint sense of relief lingered.

Thank goodness… thank goodness he hadn’t impulsively bound himself to the Sacred Scripture. What could compare to binding oneself to My Lord?

Though he still didn’t fully grasp the definition of a Vassal, one phrase had struck him clearly—

To become a Vassal is to become an extension of My Lord’s will…

What’s the difference between this and a divine emissary?!

As for dedicating everything to the Divine Realm, to Old Wol this wasn’t a cost—it was divine favor, supreme honor!

Thinking of this, Old Wol’s gaze grew even more fervent.

Lin Yu wasn’t surprised—he’d known this would be the outcome.

Though he sincerely hoped Old Wol would choose the first path, he couldn’t force someone whose ambitions lay elsewhere.

Lin Yu didn’t want to turn this fervent believer into an experimental subject, so he’d explained everything so clearly…

“Then…”

“Devote everything to me!”

Lin Yu gazed calmly at Old Wol. Without any visible motion, the world around them gradually slowed.

Until, in one instant, all noise vanished—the roaring waterfall ceased flowing, the splashing water droplets froze midair, and the seven-colored ripples on the pond’s surface locked in place.

It seemed as if the entire world had halted beneath some supreme will.

Old Wol stared, stunned, at the frozen world before him.

When he came to his senses, Lin Yu beside the seven-colored pool had vanished.

Old Wol’s eyes widened, about to shout—when suddenly, his soul detached from his body, ascending in a way beyond words, breaking free from the very bonds of the world.

The next instant, his consciousness drifted into a universe resembling hell.

A dazzling sea of light boiled within the cosmos, colliding and annihilating like a film sped up a thousandfold.

Old Wol gazed, awestruck, at the scene before him.

Suddenly, his perspective involuntarily ‘rose,’ in a manner he could not comprehend, gazing beyond the heavens into the boundless, majestic void.

There, a vast, profound consciousness—oceanic in scale, abyssal in depth—stared silently at him.

Like an eye pressed against the outside of a glass sphere, gazing down at the miniature world within, treating the entire universe as a spinning glass ball in its palm…

In that instant, an indescribable shock and trembling surged from the depths of Old Wol’s soul.

His vision trembled as if shaken by an earthquake; his consciousness began to blur…

…

…

The next morning, over ten hours had passed since Old Wol’s disappearance.

His wife showed no reaction to the event.

To this couple, My Lord was an omnipotent god; as long as My Lord was present, Old Wol could never come to harm.

In contrast, Old Wol’s son Dai Meng was visibly worried.

He had returned to his homeland and joined Spine Peak Domain only months ago; his impression of Lin Yu was merely that of a powerful yet benevolent lord—he lacked such absolute faith.

After much hesitation, Dai Meng went to the castle, seeking an audience with My Lord.

But Lin Yu was not in the castle; he was met instead by Fu Lamei, who was temporarily staying there.

Seeing the worry on her old comrade’s face, Fu Lamei smiled reassuringly: “Don’t worry—your father won’t come to harm.”

At worst, she estimated, he’d become a monster like Longlongyan…

Yes, as the one who had triggered the emergence of the Demon God’s Sacred Scripture, Fu Lamei naturally knew of the Bai Ze Ten Thousand Spirits Map.

That was also why she suspected Lin Yu might be setting a trap for her.

After all, Lin Yu appeared mild and accommodating on the surface, but in truth, he was fiercely independent.

Once he made a decision, no one could change it—not even Fu Lamei.

Knowing Lin Yu as she did, if he ever reached the end of his lifespan without finding another way to extend it, he would unhesitatingly bind her to the Bai Ze Ten Thousand Spirits Map…

Fu Lamei harbored some resistance to this prospect.

Dai Meng was even worse—he had spent his entire life hunting monsters, his hatred for them deeper still.

So Fu Lamei did not tell Dai Meng about the Bai Ze Ten Thousand Spirits Map; she only smiled and said: “Your lord is the strongest man I have ever seen. If even he cannot save your father, then no one in this world can.”

She said this to comfort Dai Meng—but to her surprise, he became even more worried!

—If My Lord truly can’t save him, then isn’t that a death sentence for his father?

“Fu Lamei…”

Lin Yu’s voice suddenly came from behind them, dryly: “If you can speak, then say more!”

“My Lord!”

Dai Meng immediately dropped to one knee, then raised his head anxiously: “My father…”

Lin Yu smiled: “Your father has already returned to Spine Peak City. He’s now eating breakfast made by your mother.”

Returned already?

Dai Meng froze, then asked hesitantly: “Then… his illness?”

“Cured.”

Lin Yu waved his hand: “Judging by your worried face, you won’t be able to focus on duty today. I’ll grant you half a day off—go see your father.”

Dai Meng was overjoyed, bowing deeply: “Thank you, My Lord!”

He rose, bowed respectfully, then turned and hurried away.

Fu Lamei glanced skeptically at Lin Yu, then whispered: “You really fixed it?”

Lin Yu glanced at her: “Don’t believe me? Then go see for yourself—I’m not stopping you.”

Fu Lamei nodded: “Then I’m going.”

Without hesitation, she set off, following Dai Meng to Old Wol’s home.

Soon after, she returned in haste, face filled with disbelief.

“It’s really fixed…”

“Lin, what did you discover?”

“Was it… the thing you mentioned yesterday—the one I missed?”

Fu Lamei stared intently at Lin Yu.

Lin Yu no longer concealed it, smiling: “That thing is called Primordial Qi—the ‘holding onto one’s breath’ in Huaxia culture refers to this very thing!”

(End of Chapter)