The Decaying World

"Alright." Lin Hui glanced at the Fountain Robe relic. It was the first time he had seen a relic with such an effect.

Seeing the sincerity in Guo Shengyu’s words, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of admiration.

Seeing that he agreed, the smile on Guo Shengyu’s face widened. He immediately organized his thoughts and, as a lead-in, posed a question regarding his own doubts about Martial Arts focused on swift victory.

He started with relatively simple questions to probe Lin Hui’s approximate level of mastery.

If the other party’s level was low and his reputation was unearned, Guo Shengyu would stop there and not press further, lest they part on bad terms.

If he answered with ease, then Guo Shengyu would continue with deeper questions.

During this process, if the other party also raised a practical question that could stump him, he would answer it sincerely, even providing a demonstration.

This was why, despite his many exchanges along his journey, his reputation had only grown more illustrious, leading to him being unanimously recognized by many experts as the "Martial Saint."

Although his method of exchange often came from a place of superiority, in practice, the guidance and benefits he gave his counterparts far outweighed what they gave him in return.

This was the fundamental reason why all the Martial Dao experts he met along his path came to respect him wholeheartedly.

Otherwise, had it been someone else using a different approach, he would not be respectfully called the Martial Saint, but more likely the Martial Devil.

At this moment, just as before, he began by testing his opponent with simple questions.

Soon, Lin Hui answered without hesitation, which gave Guo Shengyu a baseline understanding.

Then, he started to pose deeper questions.

Lin Hui still answered them with ease.

Guo Shengyu continued to increase the difficulty, but still, he could not stump Lin Hui.

Gradually, the surprise and joy in Guo Shengyu’s heart grew stronger, and he began to delve into some of the fundamental questions of the Martial Dao.

But no matter what he asked, Lin Hui could provide answers he had never even considered before.

Time slowly passed. As he continued his stream of questions, the sky gradually darkened.

Suddenly, Guo Shengyu snapped out of his trance. He was shocked to realize that from the moment he had entered until now, he had been the only one asking questions. The other party hadn’t posed a single query.

"Daoist Master, is there nothing you wish to ask?" he couldn’t help but inquire.

"You and I are different," Lin Hui said with a smile. "I am just a mediocre person. What I seek is not comprehensiveness, as you do, but longevity."

"To use a blade of extreme speed to protect a long-lasting peace... I understand the Daoist Master’s intent..." Guo Shengyu had a revelation. "But I don’t understand. We come into this world for one reason: to experience. If one is cooped up in one place, with one’s Longsword bound, can one truly experience peace?"

"The path of experience is nothing more than sacrificing the small for the great. Be it the sword or the law, they are all just means to an end. As long as you are clear about what you truly need to experience, you can distinguish what is important from what is not," Lin Hui replied.

"What the Daoist Master says is reasonable..." Guo Shengyu nodded. He now understood Lin Hui’s meaning.

Many people practice Martial Arts to become stronger for an initial purpose. Lin Hui’s purpose was peace. Growing stronger was merely the means to achieve that goal.

But he was different. He practiced Martial Arts for the sake of Martial Arts itself.

Thus, every moment he was immersed in it, he felt an unprecedented, heartfelt joy.

After the two conversed for a while longer, Guo Shengyu took the initiative to teach Lin Hui a swift sword Dharma Gate he had developed himself—the Innate Primordial Energy Sword.

He knew Lin Hui’s Swordsmanship was extremely strong and that he had formed his own school, so he specifically chose this Sword technique—one completely different from ordinary swift sword styles—as a gift.

Finally, as he got up to leave, he asked one more question.

"Daoist Master Lin, I have been traveling far and wide, seeking powerful individuals to exchange pointers with, but people with true substance like yourself are few and far between. I have traveled throughout the Federation and the Hongyin Empire."

He paused.

"I wonder if Daoist Master Lin could recommend one or two truly powerful Martial Dao experts? To satisfy my heart’s desire for martial pursuit."

"Within my Clearwind Dao, most are now old and frail. For the truly strongest, you can seek out Xia Si for a duel," Lin Hui replied.

"What a coincidence." Unexpectedly, as soon as the name was mentioned, Guo Shengyu burst into laughter.

"Not long ago on my travels, I came across a woman punishing some pirates. I went forward to exchange a few pointers. Her strength was indeed extraordinary, but she could draw upon the Power of Ashes, which was quite tricky to deal with. Her Body Technique and speed were also very strong. The name she gave was Xia Si of Clearwind Dao."

"It was because of her that I carefully gathered information about your Clearwind Dao, Brother Lin, which is why I came here for this exchange."

"That is a coincidence," Lin Hui laughed as well. "So, what was the outcome of your match?"

"Miss Xia’s strength is outstanding. Among all the people I have met, she can be ranked third," Guo Shengyu said with a faint smile.

He didn’t state it outright, but this was an indirect answer to the question of who won.

Guo Shengyu had never been defeated, and Xia Si ranked third among the people he had met. The answer was self-evident.

"Worthy of the name Martial Saint," Lin Hui couldn’t help but praise with genuine sincerity.

How many years had it been since Guo Shengyu’s rise? To have reached such heights, his talent and aptitude were without a doubt the greatest of this generation.

"Ah, Brother Lin, don’t just praise me. From what I can tell, the depth of your strength is no less than mine. Although you haven’t made a move, I can already imagine your stunning Swordsmanship in your youth," Guo Shengyu said with a laugh.

"Brother Guo, your talent is the greatest I have ever seen," Lin Hui sighed. "It is a pity... that I did not meet you at a more suitable time."

To be able to defeat the current Xia Si without injury, Guo Shengyu’s strength was undoubtedly the greatest in the entire Clearwind Dao.

"Brother Lin, you flatter me," Guo Shengyu smiled. "It’s getting late, and I should be catching my sea vessel."

"Where are you headed next?" Lin Hui asked.

"I’ll travel a bit further. Once I’m certain there are no stronger experts, I plan to return to the Royal City." A fiery glint flashed in Guo Shengyu’s eyes. "Brother Lin, you may not know this, but there is a place in this world where the truly strongest are hidden. A certain place beneath the Royal City!"

The smile on Lin Hui’s face slowly faded.

"Is it... the Deep Core?"

"Precisely." Guo Shengyu nodded. "Many years ago, I sensed a mysterious and tyrannical aura hidden there. After investigating the two ’Limitations’ of the past, I made a vow to shatter everything and reshape it all."

The Deep Core and the Limitation were hurdles that no one could avoid.

Lin Hui looked at Guo Shengyu’s solemn and confident expression, wanting to say something, but he didn’t know how to dissuade him.

"Don’t worry. If I really decide to go there, I will definitely come and notify you in advance, Brother Lin."

Guo Shengyu smiled and clasped his fist in a salute. He turned and walked out of the small courtyard, brushing past Liu Xiao who was just returning, and soon disappeared into the vast crowd.

"Hey, who was that bald guy just now?" Liu Xiao asked Lin Hui, who was under the tree, after she entered the courtyard.

"A friend I made recently," Lin Hui answered with a smile.

"A friend?" Liu Xiao blinked. This Old Lin spent all day cultivating; where would he find the time to make friends?

Lin Hui didn’t explain further.

As life went on, the peace that had been disturbed by Guo Shengyu’s visit gradually returned.

Lin Hui also gradually put the matter to the back of his mind and continued to immerse himself in cultivating the fourth layer.

「Three more years passed in the blink of an eye...」

News of the Martial Saint Guo Shengyu challenging experts everywhere constantly reached Black Cloud. As a major trading city secretly overseen by the Clearwind Dao, Black Cloud’s business now spanned far and wide, even extending into the Hongyin Empire.

Its speed of information flow was the fastest among all the major urban centers.

By this time, Liu Xiao’s health had deteriorated significantly. Lin Hui stayed by her side every day, regulating her vitality and ready to reverse her condition at any moment with the Tai Chi Divine Sword.

And at this time, his mother, Yao Shan, finally could not hold on any longer...

Having lived past ninety, her life forcefully extended beyond its natural limit by Lin Hui’s Tai Chi Divine Sword, she had reached the very limit of her soul.

The Core Disciples of the Clearwind Dao returned to attend the funeral.

On the third day after the funeral, Lin Hui received a letter handwritten by the Martial Saint, Guo Shengyu.

He had broken through to a new Realm again, his strength had skyrocketed, and he was now about to enter the Deep Core to seek out the one behind the Limitation for a decisive battle.

At this point, not even Lin Hui knew what Realm Guo Shengyu had reached.

This man was truly an anomaly in this era; breaking through Realms was as easy for him as eating and drinking.

It would be one thing if he were at a low or middle Realm, but for him to still be breaking through so quickly at such a high level... it showed just how terrifying his talent and comprehension were.

「Within the old site of the Zhenlong Divine Palace.」

Lin Hui put away the letter and looked at the weary-faced White Deer, Fan Yuntian.

"You didn’t specifically ask me to meet you here just to give me this letter, did you?"

The Martial Saint’s letter had been delivered by the White Deer, Fan Yuntian. The hidden meaning behind this was self-evident.

"It has been many years, Daoist Master. Your presence is even more impressive than before. As for Guo Shengyu, it’s true that he has our support... there’s no need to hide that. But in reality, our support was only useful at the very beginning. Later on, it was all him," the White Deer sighed.

"’Our’?" Lin Hui had long felt that the White Deer was secretive and must have something hidden. Now that he was laying his cards on the table, it was clear he was after something.

"We... are all old inhabitants of the mortal world from before the first Limitation. To escape the Limitation, we have long since hidden ourselves away in a secret layer, greatly isolated from reality." The White Deer gave a bitter smile. "Our influence on reality is actually extremely limited. We can only act a fixed number of times within a certain period. Most of the time, we are only able to observe."

"Then what do you mean by seeking me out now?" Lin Hui said. "Are you asking me to intervene?"

"How could we?" The White Deer shook his head. "As long as things on your end remain stable and without issue, it would be the greatest blessing. We would never dare to interfere rashly!"

"Then why?" Lin Hui asked.

"Guo Shengyu is the hope we have placed our faith in. If he wins this time, all will be well. But if he loses... I wonder, Daoist Master, if you would be willing to take in his daughter, Guo Xiyan. Because, at that time, if the one in the Deep Core comes for a reckoning... in this world, the only person we can find who can protect her is you..." the White Deer sighed.

Lin Hui fell silent.

After a long silence, he finally spoke again.

"Why don’t you try to persuade me to act alongside Guo Shengyu?"

"Because that is an outcome we dare not gamble on, regardless of victory or defeat... In a sense, you living your life quietly like this is the best possible state of affairs."

As these Old Inhabitants investigated deeper over the years, the more they found, the more frightened they became. By now, they had only one wish regarding Lin Hui: as long as he lived his life well, stayed put, and didn’t cause trouble, everything else would be fine.

This Clearwind Dao of Lin Hui’s, on the surface, appeared unremarkable—a growth story of a peerless genius similar to Guo Shengyu. But in reality, it was a super-sized powder keg.

Heaven knows how much power these Old Inhabitants had expended over the years patching things up for the Clearwind Dao.

That terrifying consciousness from the Wind Calamity... if not for their timely and repeated help in camouflaging and covering for him, it would have likely sought out Lin Hui again long ago, attempting to break through the cracks in the world to descend and bring about annihilation.

And despite all that, the troublemakers over in the Deep Core still occasionally planned to go and provoke this powder keg.

So, these Old Inhabitants could only exert themselves on both fronts, desperately coordinating and using every trick in the book.

Only through this had they managed to guarantee several decades of peace and tranquility for Lin Hui and the Lin Family.

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