Chapter 597: Old Bull, Do You Want My Wife?

After spending another month in Greece, Yu Lin only then planned to return.

During that month, he toured every corner of Greece, from the Aegean Sea to the Ionian Sea, from Crete to Corfu.

Heracles and Li Ya would pop up from time to time, taking him to eat the most authentic local grilled fish and to soak in hot springs that only the gods know.

Li Ya even taught Ning Ya a set of water‑type Authority techniques, said to have been learned from Poseidon; Ning Ya practiced so obsessively that they abandoned sleep and food, rising before dawn to wrestle at the seaside, churning the waves into a frenzy that left the fishermen shouting in amazement.

"Almost done—shall we go back?" Yu Lin said one morning.

Ning Ya was meditating on a reef when they heard him, opened their eyes, glanced at the distant horizon, then glanced at Yu Lin.

"Fine, you go back. I'll take my subordinates to the Ruins over there for a look."

"It's been a hard‑won trip; I can't return empty‑handed."

Yu Lin said nothing more, merely nodding.

The two part ways in Athens.

Ning Ya hurried north, saying they were going to fetch the few subordinates still waiting for them in Northern Europe.

Yu Lin rode A Li Ya, strolling leisurely eastward.

A Li Ya moved steadily, hooves clacking on the paved road, drawing curious glances from passersby.

Someone pulled out a phone to take pictures, another muttered softly, and a child tugged at its mother's sleeve shouting, "Mom, look at that person riding a cow!"

Yu Lin paid them no mind.

Finding air travel too troublesome and riding the cow too slow, he simply moved A Li Ya, man and beast together, back to Xia Guo.

……

The Ruins had completely changed their appearance.

The news spread far faster than Ning Ya had imagined.

First, a local Awakener organization from Northern Europe sent people to investigate; then Cultivators from Western Europe, Eastern Europe, and even Xia Guo rushed over at the word.

In less than a month, the phrase "God King Ruins" had circulated throughout the Cultivators' circles.

Nine layers of trials, each layer presenting a different test.

Some were battles, some puzzles, some pure examinations of temperament.

The treasures and elixirs Yu Lin casually tossed in became the objects of everyone's pursuit.

That ginseng‑like spirit was said to be extremely slippery; legend has it someone saw it dash from the first layer to the ninth and back again, a horde of Cultivators in pursuit, yet no one could catch it.

The artifacts dormant throughout the Ruins were discovered one by one.

Someone harvested a millennial lingzhi in that medicinal field and instantly broke through to a great realm!

Someone saw their past and present lives in a bronze mirror, attaining profound enlightenment!

Another person derived a Sword Technique from a rolled Bamboo Slip, said to be astonishingly powerful!

But what later visitors talked about most wasn't the treasures—it was a newly erected statue before the Ruins' gate.

No one knows who first proposed it.

By unanimous response, Cultivators spontaneously erected a stone statue at the Ruins' entrance.

The statue depicts Yu Lin, hands behind his back, head slightly tilted upward, a faint half‑smile at the corner of his mouth.

The carving isn't especially refined, yet its aura bears a hint of divinity.

Worse, no one knows who first spread the rumor—that worshipping the statue brings good luck inside the Ruins, allowing one to obtain more treasures and exit more safely. At first no one believed it, but curiosity got the better of them.

The first person who worshipped it found an ancient Rune Stone inside the Ruins!

The second worshipper harvested a hundred‑year‑old Polygonum from the medicinal field!

The third worshipper was trapped in the maze for three days and three nights, yet emerged without a single hair being harmed!

The rumor grew ever more mysterious.

Some say the more sincere the heart during worship, the better the luck.

Others claim one must worship for three consecutive days for it to work.

Still others say you must bring an offering.

Thus the clearing before the Ruins' gate remained year‑round filled with fresh flowers, fruit trays, and ever‑burning incense.

Some even traveled from thousands of miles away solely to worship the statue and then try their luck inside.

As a result, Yu Lin receives incense offerings every day.

If one follows the incense path, they'll likely become an incense‑immortal soon enough.

But for him now, it's better than nothing.

The Heavenly Court remains as ever.

Yu Lin went straight to the Dou Shuai Gong. The Dan Furnace was still burning, flames licking the base and emitting a faint hissing.

The alchemy chamber was filled with a familiar medicinal fragrance, mingled with an indescribable scent.

But Lao Jun was absent.

Jin Jiao was squatting before the Dan Furnace fanning the fire, Yin Jiao pounded herbs beside him, while Jin Tong and Yu Nv organized the bottles and jars on the shelves.

Seeing Yu Lin enter, the group all looked up together.

"Yu big brother!" Jin Jiao dropped the fan and hopped over, "Why did you come?"

Yu Lin glanced around the chamber. "Where's Lao Jun?"

"He went to Ling Shan," Jin Jiao said. "It seems the Buddha has some matter; they asked the Elder to go discuss, and he'll return tomorrow."

Yu Lin nodded, then asked, "What about the Azure Cow?"

Yin Jiao pointed toward the outside.

"It's over by the Heavenly River; lately it's been going there constantly, saying the scenery's nice. Yu big brother, do you have business with it?"

Yu Lin gave no explanation, simply saying, "I promised it something before, just came to fulfill that."

Several young attendants exchanged glances, curiosity in their eyes, but none dared ask further.

Yu Lin turned and walked out of Dou Shuai Gong; A Li Ya still stood quietly at the doorway, head lowered, as if dozing.

He flipped onto the cow's back and flew toward the Heavenly River.

……

The Heavenly River lies to the north of the Heavenly Court, its surface as wide as a sea.

The water isn't ordinary water; it's silvery, shimmering faintly, flowing slowly without sound.

Both banks are covered with unknown celestial herbs, bearing tiny blossoms that sway gently in the wind.

The Azure Cow lies on the shore, squinting in the sun.

It looks much plumper than before, its hide glossy, demeanor tranquil, as if life has become very nourishing.

Hearing the movement, it lifted its head, saw Yu Lin descending from the sky, still riding a cow beneath him, and was momentarily stunned.

"Moo?"

Yu Lin jumped down from A Li Ya's back, walked to the Azure Cow, and patted its head.

"Old cow, do you want a wife?"

Azure Cow: "What?"

"Brother Yu, you're really here?"