Chapter 126: Beautiful Painting

What would the outside world look like 20 years later?

Lin Jiufeng had no idea.

But he was looking forward to it.

‘Even if I continue to cultivate here in seclusion, my progress won’t be that great anymore. I’ve signed in so many times and received so many rewards in the Land of Extreme Negative Energy that there’s nothing here for me to sign in for anymore.’

Lin Jiufeng knew that it was time for him to go out and take a look at the world outside.

More than 20 years have passed since he entered seclusion.

It was enough time to foster a new generation of adults.

Even Emperor De was almost 50 years old by now.

Time surely was fast and ruthless to anyone.

“Little cat, let’s go out.” Lin Jiufeng got up and carried the white cat.

He walked out of the Land of Extreme Negative Energy.

The white cat didn’t object.

Although she enjoyed being alone with Lin Jiufeng and taking all of his attention for her own, she still wanted to learn more about the world outside.

And also, as long as she was with Lin Jiufeng—she could go anywhere she wanted.

Meow!

The white cat called out gently. She jumped onto Lin Jiufeng’s shoulder and laid down.

Lin Jiufeng smiled and left the Land of Extreme Negative Energy with the white cat.

Over the years, no other soul had ventured into the Land of Extreme Negative Energy.

From this, it was obvious that his Cold Palace was still undiscovered and safe.

And this also meant that the Imperial Capital was relatively stable today.

Lin Jiufeng walked out of the Land of Extreme Negative Energy and came out of the underground passageway. The light that met his face made Lin Jiufeng and the white cat squint their eyes together.

After living in the Land of Extreme Negative Energy deep underground for more than 20 years, their eyes had gotten used to the darkness.

Now that they were out to receive sunlight, it felt scorching to their eyes.

Lin Jiufeng closed his eyes and waited for a while.

When the exhaustion in their eyes disappeared, only then did Lin Jiufeng and the white cat open their eyes once more.

Everything was covered in dust.

The walls that once existed had collapsed.

The once empty and tidy area was now overgrown with weeds that had become as tall as a human being.

The two cherry trees that Lin Jiufeng planted with his own hands have also been eroded by worms.

The walls naturally collapsed, and the weeds tenaciously took over the ground.

The once beautiful cherry trees that represented Emperor Yuan and Emperor Ming only had their trunks, but the trunks had no life in them.

If someone else were to describe this scene with a sentence—it was a scene of desolation!

The place was even more dilapidated than when Lin Jiufeng first entered the Cold Palace.

Lin Jiufeng watched silently as he lamented in his heart. “Time really is a terrifying existence.”

He brought the white cat into the courtyard that he had cleaned up back then.

The walls of the courtyard had long collapsed, and the stones had naturally weathered.

A parasol tree tenaciously grew from the walls, causing the walls to collapse.

Even the frost jade bed where Lin Jiufeng and the white cat used to sleep together had become a gray stone. It had long lost its power.

Time had also been ruthless to the frost jade bed.

Lin Jiufeng stood in the weeds that were as tall as him.

He raised his hand, wanting to uproot them.

But after a while, his raised hand dropped back down…

‘This place had stayed empty for 20 years. Without upkeep, the courtyards naturally declined. The plants have all grown quite well, so why should I destroy them?’

Lin Jiufeng laughed at himself.

It was because he was no longer around that the weeds and trees had a chance to grow.

Now that he returned, he immediately wanted to eliminate them. Did that mean that he was going to continue staying here in the future?

Lin Jiufeng took a few steps back.

Looking at the wasteland-like grassland around him, he turned around and left.

“You’re not staying here anymore?” The white cat asked.

“No. This is already their home. Let’s not join in the fun,” Lin Jiufeng replied.

“I’ve lived here for 80 years. It’s time for me to take a look at the world outside.” Lin Jiufeng added rather casually.

Back then, he didn’t want to come out because he felt that he wasn’t that powerful yet.

In addition, various powerhouses had also emerged from their slumbers upon the start of the brand-new era. These were the reasons why Lin Jiufeng thought that it was better for him to continue his daily routine in the Cold Palace and slowly improve his strength that way.

But it was different now…

Having exhausted the signed-in attempts in the Cold Palace—it had become useless to him.

From the Cold Palace to the Chasing Corpse Sect, from the Chasing Corpse Sect to the Demon Lord, from the Demon Lord to the demon’s den, then from the Demon Lord to the Land of Extreme Negative Energy.

After 80 years, the Cold Palace could no longer provide him what he desired.

Thus, Lin Jiufeng longed to go out and see the world outside.

“I’ll follow you, anywhere is fine,” the white cat said softly.

She didn’t feel attached to the Cold Palace anymore.

She grew to rely on Lin Jiufeng.

After almost 30 years since he last went out, Lin Jiufeng finally came out of the Cold Palace with the white cat.

Boom!

Walking out of the door of the Cold Palace, without the [Light of the Homes] to it, the spiritual energy of the outside world frantically surged into Lin Jiufeng’s body.

Lin Jiufeng’s terrifying domain started absorbing the spiritual energy in the air.

It had become like a huge vortex in the ocean, devouring boundless amounts of spiritual energy every second.

‘Compared to more than 20 years ago, the amount of spiritual energy in the air has truly become rather phenomenal.’ Lin Jiufeng lamented.

The concentration of spiritual energy had become 100 times higher than when Lin Jiufeng went into seclusion 20 years ago.

It was at least a hundred times more concentrated.

Such copious spiritual energy was present in every corner of the current world.

Lin Jiufeng wouldn’t be surprised if he encountered many powerhouses on his journey this time around the world. With such an abundance of spiritual energy, the birth of a powerhouse was bound to become daily occurrences.

“The curtain of this brand-new era has already been drawn. The countless hidden existences, waiting for this opportunity, are about to start their own ambitions in the world.”

Lin Jiufeng walked out of the Cold Palace with a tinge of emotion on his face.

[Light of the Homes] was still hanging in front of the Cold Palace, its flame flickering ever so slightly.

Lin Jiufeng didn’t remove it.

It served as a seal of the Land of Extreme Energy.

In addition, it could also force future explorers to retreat.

Lin Jiufeng had no use for it at all. It was much more useful for it to be placed in the Cold Palace, so it could continue to hide the location of the Land of Extreme Negative Energy from the outside world.

…

Walking out of the Cold Palace, Lin Jiufeng saw a bustling Imperial Capital.

This was unlike Lin Jiufeng’s expectations.

Not only was the Yuhua God Dynasty not wiped out, but it also developed very well.

The Yuhua God Dynasty had experienced many developmental breakthroughs for the past 20 years. The Imperial Capital itself had expanded its territory a few times. It became bigger and bigger—it even had the Zenith Heaven Path Sect’s mountain in its territory today.

The streets were densely packed with people.

There were stall owners shouting along the streets…

There were also hawkers and ambulant vendors carrying their goods while walking through the streets as they advertised their merchandise, snacks, and souvenirs…

There were young masters and young mistresses with picturesque looks.

There were scholars and martial artists that were in high spirits.

There were Daoist priests and monks arguing with each other as usual.

There were government officials patrolling the streets, ensuring the safety of everyone.

Martial Sages were everywhere.

The young monks were Martial Sages, the young Daoist priests were Martial Sages, the patrolling officials were Martial Sages, and the quiet young ladies were also Martial Sages…

The path of cultivation had become common practice as cabbages in the streets.

Lin Jiufeng walked away from the Cold Palace.

As soon as he laid eyes on this scene, his heart immediately relaxed.

What a beautiful painting of the world…

What a beautiful painting of the mortal realm…

What a magnificent dynasty…

Lin Jiufeng didn’t need to ask anything.

He could tell from the energetic looks on the young scholars’, the young martial artists’, and the young ladies’ faces—

—That this was a prosperous era.

Lin Jiufeng carried the white cat as he walked on the streets.

He saw manservants, carriage drivers, and porters.

Each one of them looked energetic as they went about their day…

“Emperor De managed to turn the Yuhua God Dynasty for the better to this extent?”

Lin Jiufeng was impressed.

He had expected the disappearance of the Yuhua God Dynasty 20 years ago.

He truly did not expect that instead of being wiped out, the recovery of the world’s spiritual energy only served to further bolster the dynasty’s development.

Lin Jiufeng suddenly wanted to know how Emperor De managed the Yuhua God Dynasty all these years.

Moreover, how did he handle his enemies—the sects?