Chapter 11: The Ancient Lin Family

Ling Siyuan felt that this matter was already beyond his ability to handle. After all, his duty here was merely to report any unusual occurrences in the Mirage Desert. Now, it was best to inform the clan leader and let the elders make the decisions.

Little did he know that such a message would stir considerable unrest among the family’s upper echelons, and even less did he anticipate that, due to mutual suspicion among the leaders, the best opportunity to notify the clan’s patriarch would be missed, setting off a chain reaction that brought endless trouble.

The Ling family of Beian City was not as it appeared—merely the governing house of a small city in the Northern Wastelands—but was actually a venerable aristocratic lineage, one of the few ancient families in the Yicang Realm. Beian City was merely one of their branch estates. Many years ago, when the spiritual energy of the Northern Wastelands was still abundant, the main family of the Lings were the original inhabitants of this land.

Yet as the spiritual energy of the Northern Wastelands waned, the main family, in order to preserve their heritage and continue their legacy, had no choice but to relocate to the Central Continent, where the energy was rich. Still, due to the family’s inherited mission, they could not abandon Beian City altogether, so a branch remained behind to guard the city and fulfill the family’s task: to watch over the Mirage Desert and report any anomalies to the main house.

Beian City had always been guarded in rotation by the Ling family’s branches, and it was never the turn of a direct descendant like Ling Siyuan, especially one from such a promising line. Yet, in every great family, there were always sordid intrigues, even worse than those among sects, and Ling Siyuan grew weary of daily scheming. Moreover, his wife had just conceived.

So, concealing his wife's pregnancy, he volunteered to the clan leader, proposing to bring his wife here for a period of quiet, carefree living.

Although Ling Siyuan’s cultivation had already reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, just a step away from Spirit Transformation, he willingly spent time here, hoping to enjoy some peaceful days with his wife and child, at least until his daughter Ling Ru entered the sect.

For this reason, Ling Siyuan did not report Ling Ru’s birth or her spiritual root to the family, hoping to grant his daughter a freer path. He was certain that if the family learned of her talent, they would never allow Ling Ru to join a sect.

At that time, Beian City was still tranquil and harmonious, little knowing that, as time turned, it would gradually be swept into turmoil, its fate uncertain.

Ji Yao, who gained her knowledge of cultivation at the market with Ling Ru, had no inkling that her connection with the Mirage Desert began right here in Beian City.

And the great figures of the Yicang Realm were always faster at digging holes than filling them.

If Situ Jing were present, she would surely share Ling Siyuan’s suspicions. But Situ Jing knew even more; that Mirage Beast might not have merely awakened—the news she could share would only bring greater terror.

One must understand, that Mirage Beast had been sealed here by a mighty power from the Upper Realm, using arrays and vast magic after the world first formed.

Its purpose was to stabilize the mountains and rivers, which is why, whenever the earth quaked in the Yicang Realm, the beast would appear, yet never leave the desert’s bounds.

Because the desert itself was the site of the seal, and because the sea beast needed water, the place of sealing thus became a desert.

Now, with the spiritual light appearing outside the desert, the seal likely had a flaw, and the Mirage Beast might be on the verge of escaping.

The Ling family was one of the clans tasked with guarding such seals. Their duty was to replenish the seal whenever it weakened. Of course, the specifics of this mission were known only to the current clan leader, elders, and a select few.

“So, what would you like to buy? Just tell me, and I’ll make sure you get the best price!” Ling Ru patted Ji Yao’s slender shoulder, putting on airs of generosity.

Ji Yao rolled her eyes in secret, baring her teeth. Couldn’t this girl use a gentler touch?

“I thought you’d say you’d give it to me for free!”

“That’s not possible. These shops aren’t owned by my family—I can’t make them lose money.”

The remark caught Ji Yao off guard. Ling Ru showed none of the airs one would expect from a scion of a great house.

Ever since discovering Ling Ru’s identity, Ji Yao had paid attention. Such a Ling Ru made her feel completely at ease. Ji Yao herself disliked relationships based on profit, though most of the world operated that way.

Thus, finding a friend so genuine felt especially precious. As they say, parents who love their child make plans for their future—one could see just how cherished Ling Ru was by her parents.

“Not generous at all! Hey, wouldn’t it work if you bought something and gave it to me?”

At these words, Ling Ru’s first reaction was to unconsciously squeeze the storage bracelet on her wrist and bite her lip.

The gesture reminded Ji Yao of her previous life, of her embarrassment on her first payday when colleagues demanded she treat them.

Instantly, Ji Yao felt as if she were bullying someone, an inexplicable sense of awkwardness.

Just as she was about to explain that she was only joking, Ling Ru seemed to make up her mind, nodded, and said earnestly, “Alright then! This young lady will give you something you fancy—choose whatever you like!”

“But… could you pick something not too expensive? My father withheld quite a few spirit stones, afraid I’d run off again.”

And with that, her composure faltered. Ji Yao clutched her aching belly, unable to speak for laughter.

The key was Ling Ru’s last words, spoken with pleading eyes that belonged to a girl of twelve or thirteen. Truly, where did such an adorable creature come from?

Ji Yao felt genuine admiration for Ling Ru’s parents, whose wisdom had raised such a treasure of a daughter.

From her initial helplessness to now barely containing her laughter, Ji Yao felt Ling Ru always brought her something new. This friend, as if descended from the heavens, soothed the deepest fears and confusion hidden in Ji Yao’s heart.

Even she had not realized—when she appeared suddenly in a desolate place, learned this was a world of cultivation riddled with mysteries, and after leaving the cave, went months without seeing another living soul—the fear built up inside her.

She kept urging herself not to give up, yet wondered where her path should lead.

Thankfully—thankfully! That spark of curiosity in her heart at just the right moment meant she didn’t miss her chance. Such is fate!

“Hey! Why are you grinning like that? Is it really that funny?” Ling Ru couldn’t understand Ji Yao’s feelings, only found it odd, but it didn’t stop her from noticing the tears of laughter in Ji Yao’s eyes.

“Enough, hurry up and choose! Once you’ve picked something, I’ll take you to some delicious food—guaranteed to lift your spirits!” Ling Ru finished with a playful wink.

Ji Yao understood the comfort her friend offered, wiped away her tears as if by accident, and pointed to a small stall ahead.

Ling Ru followed Ji Yao’s finger. It was a stall run by an elderly cultivator at the fourth level of Qi Refining, set up on a shabby piece of beast hide.

The hide was piled with miscellaneous, low-level materials, but in one corner sat a large, pitch-black stone the size of a head.

And what Ji Yao pointed to was that unsightly stone.

Ling Ru looked at Ji Yao with an expression hard to describe, and asked uncertainly, “Are you sure that’s what you want?”