Chapter 60: Endless

Members of the Night Organization halted in their tracks, realizing that the power radiating from Lin Tian had reached a level they could no longer resist. Exchanging glances, they turned and bolted toward the entrance, quickly vanishing into the enveloping darkness.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Lin Tian knew he was temporarily safe. He slowly rose to his feet, picked up his flashlight, and walked toward the basement. He understood that he needed to uncover more clues to unravel the secrets of the Xiao family genealogy and completely sever the threat posed by the Night Organization.

Though a survivor's fortune warmed his chest, Lin Tian did not slow his pace upon the departure of his foes. The mysteries of the basement remained unresolved, and the stolen journal weighed heavily on his mind like a bone stuck in his throat, filling him with burning anxiety.

Returning to the basement, he stood once more before the concealed drawer that had once held the journal. His heart was heavy with regret and frustration; had he detected the danger sooner, perhaps the journal would not have been snatched away without a trace.

Calming himself, Lin Tian began to inspect the perimeter of the drawer meticulously, leaving no single detail unchecked.

Along the bottom edge of the drawer, he discovered an extremely faint scratch. Tracing it with his fingers accidentally triggered a hidden mechanism.

With a creak, the wall behind the drawer slowly parted, revealing a small secret compartment.

Inside lay an archaic jade pendant, carved with symbols similar to those on the genealogy, though far more intricate, their intersecting lines seeming to harbor infinite mysteries.

Picking up the pendant, Lin Tian examined it closely, attempting to find clues relating to the secrets of the journal or the genealogy.

Just as he was wholly engrossed, the jade pendant suddenly emitted a faint glow that gradually intensified, enveloping him entirely.

Lin Tian felt a wave of dizziness wash over him, and when he could see his surroundings clearly once more, he found himself in an unfamiliar realm.

The space was shrouded in billowing clouds, with massive stone pillars towering around him. The pillars were etched with various mystical patterns and symbols, bearing an inextricable connection to the symbols of the Xiao family genealogy.

Just as confusion gripped Lin Tian, an ethereal voice echoed in his ears:

"This is the spiritual sanctuary left behind by the ancestors of the Xiao family, accessible only to those with a pure heart and a bloodline tied to the Xiao name. Since you have arrived here, you shoulder the sacred mission of inheritance and guardianship."

A tremor ran through Lin Tian's heart; he knew he had drawn one step closer to the secrets of the Xiao clan.

Roaming this spiritual realm, Lin Tian pieced together a bygone chapter of the Xiao family history from the patterns and symbols inscribed upon the pillars.

It transpired that the ancestors of the Xiao family had once forged a pact with a mysterious creature, borrowing its power to protect the land.

The power of this mystical entity was controlled and passed down precisely through the symbols found within the genealogy.

Years ago, to prevent this formidable power from falling into malicious hands, the ancestors scattered the secrets across the genealogy, the journal, and various hidden mechanisms.

As he explored deeper into the realm, Lin Tian discovered that it also concealed information regarding the cultivation methods practiced by the Xiao ancestors.

These techniques differed starkly from those commonly known to the outside world; they emphasized fusion with natural forces and the elevation of one's strength through the comprehension of the genealogical symbols.

Feeling as though he had struck gold, Lin Tian eagerly began studying these cultivation methods, hoping to enhance his strength and prepare for the inevitable return of the Night Organization.

Unsure of how much time passed within the spiritual realm, Lin Tian sensed a marked improvement in his abilities and a much deeper comprehension of the genealogical symbols.

At that moment, the light of the jade pendant flickered once more, returning him to the basement of the Xiao family ancestral residence.

Back in reality, Lin Tian realized that very little time had elapsed, yet the atmosphere in the basement had grown noticeably heavier.

He knew the Night Organization would never let the matter rest; they were undoubtedly plotting something in the shadows.

To face the impending crisis, Lin Tian resolved to further consolidate his mastery over the power of the mysterious symbols by applying the cultivation methods he had learned in the spiritual realm.

Finding a quiet corner in the basement, he closed his eyes and began to meditate.

As his practice deepened, he felt a wondrous connection form between himself and the earth beneath his feet, as if all the surrounding natural forces were converging upon him.

His cultivation, however, was interrupted by a flurry of hurried footsteps.

Opening his eyes alertly, he caught sight of a dark figure flashing past the basement entrance.

Lin Tian immediately sprang up and gave chase. In the courtyard of the Xiao family ancestral residence, he laid eyes upon a familiar figure—none other than the Night Organization operative he had confronted earlier.

"Hand over the journal!" Lin Tian shouted, gripping the jade pendant tightly as a formidable aura surged from his body.

The operative sneered. "By your hand alone? You think acquiring this sliver of power makes you a match for us? How naive!"

The operative rapidly formed hand seals with both hands, summoning a billowing cloud of black mist within which menacing beastly shadows faintly stirred.

Undaunted, Lin Tian mobilized the power he had just comprehended, infusing it with the glow of the jade pendant, and charged straight into the black mist.

Instantly, the courtyard overflowed with radiance as the two forces violently collided.

Under the illumination of the pendant's light, the black mist gradually dissipated, and the beastly shadows emitted miserable shrieks.

At this sight, the expression of the Night Organization member altered drastically; he had not expected Lin Tian's strength to escalate so rapidly in such a short span of time.

Just as the two sides reached a stalemate, a sudden roar tore through the sky, and a group of figures clad in black robes descended from above, surrounding Lin Tian in a tight circle.

At their head stood a tall man wearing a golden mask, his gaze filled with boundless majesty. "You must be Lin Tian?" the golden-masked man asked coldly. "Surrender the secrets of the Xiao family, and I shall spare your life."

Lin Tian's heart sank; he knew he had run into serious trouble.

Even so, he declared firmly, "The secrets of the Xiao family will never fall into the hands of villains like you!" With that, he once more summoned his inner strength, preparing to fight this group to the death.

Seeing Lin Tian's refusal to submit, the golden-masked man gave a slight nod, and the surrounding Night Organization members immediately launched their assault.

Tidal waves of dark energy surged toward Lin Tian, who relied upon the power of the jade pendant and the cultivation methods learned in the spiritual realm to mount a desperate defense.

The battle grew exceptionally fierce. The courtyard of the Xiao family ancestral residence was left in utter ruins, its flora and fauna reduced to ash by the shockwaves of energy.

As the fight wore on, Lin Tian noticed that the attacks of the Night Organization members followed a certain pattern; coordinating seamlessly, they formed a formidable battle array.

He realized that unless this array was broken, his strength would eventually be exhausted.

Thus, Lin Tian began to observe the flaws in the formation meticulously, searching for an opening to counterattack.

At that exact moment, Lin Tian felt the jade pendant in his hand vibrate slightly, and a faint beam of light shot forth from it, pointing toward a corner of the battle array.

A thought stirred in Lin Tian's heart, sensing this might be a hint provided by the pendant.

Without hesitation, he gathered his power and launched a full-strength strike toward the direction indicated by the light.

With a deafening crash, a corner of the battle array was successfully shattered by Lin Tian, plunging the entire formation into chaos.

Throwing the Night Organization members off balance, Lin Tian seized the opportunity to unleash an even more ferocious onslaught.

Under his offensive, the operatives fell back one after another, and the expression of the golden-masked man turned exceedingly grim.

"I never imagined you possessed such strength. However, this is far from over!"

With a cold snort, the golden-masked man rapidly formed hand seals, drawing an even more formidable surge of dark energy from within his body. The power gathered in his hands, shaping a colossal black sphere that emanated an aura of destruction.

"Receive this!" the golden-masked man roared, hurling the black sphere directly at Lin Tian.

Terror gripped Lin Tian; he could feel the horrifying destructive power of the sphere. To be struck by it meant certain annihilation.

In the nick of time, Lin Tian recalled an image he had seen in the spiritual realm—a defensive technique that might just withstand this fatal blow.

Swiftly executing the method depicted in the pattern, Lin Tian channeled his inner strength to form a barrier of light before him.

The black sphere crashed heavily into the shield with a deafening explosion.

The immense shockwave blew Lin Tian backward, a trail of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, yet the shield successfully repelled the assault of the black sphere.

A trace of genuine shock flickered across the golden-masked man's visage.

He had not anticipated that Lin Tian could withstand his full-strength blow. Unwilling to leave matters unfinished, he prepared to launch another attack.

Yet, just as he raised his hands to form seals, a melodious chime echoed from the heavens.

Like a cool spring flowing through the hearts of everyone present, the bell's sound instantly calmed their turbulent emotions.

Immediately following, the ethereal figure of an elder clad in white robes descended from the sky, holding an archaic wooden staff, his gaze brimming with gentleness and benevolence.

"Night Organization, you run amok in the ancestral grounds of the Xiao family. Do you harbor no fear of retribution?" The elder's voice was soft yet fraught with majesty.

Upon seeing the elder, the expression of the golden-masked man shifted slightly. "So it is the old ghost of the Xiao family. You are still alive!"

The elder smiled faintly. "If I were not alive, how could petty villains like you run so rampant?"

With a gentle wave of his staff, a formidable wave of energy surged toward the members of the Night Organization.

Though the operatives attempted to block it, the elder's power was simply too overwhelming for them to resist.

Driven steadily backward by the elder's onslaught, the golden-masked man realized victory was out of reach for the day. Casting a resentful glare at the elder and Lin Tian, he waved his hand and commanded, "Retreat!"

At his behest, the Night Organization members vanished swiftly into the night.

Watching their departing figures, the elder sighed softly. Turning his gaze to Lin Tian, a hint of gratification surfaced in his eyes. "Child, you have done well. The secrets of the Xiao family now rest upon your shoulders to protect and pass down."

Stepping forward quickly, Lin Tian bowed deeply to the elder. "Thank you, Senior, for saving my life. May I ask your esteemed name?"

The elder smiled gently. "I am Xiao Yuanshan, the sixteenth head of the Xiao family. For these many years, I have guarded the secrets of the clan from the shadows. Now, the time has come to entrust this heavy burden to you."

A tremor passed through Lin Tian; he had never imagined that the elderly man before him was a former head of the Xiao family.

He hastened to reply, "Senior, rest assured, I shall not fail your expectations. I will guard the secrets of the Xiao family with my life!"

Xiao Yuanshan nodded. "Very well. In the hours to come, I shall impart some of the Xiao family's vital knowledge and cultivation methods to you, hoping you may mature swiftly enough to confront the Night Organization."

Over the next few hours, under Xiao Yuanshan's guidance, Lin Tian cultivated diligently, continually elevating his strength.

He gained a deeper understanding of the Xiao family's secrets, gradually uncovering the astonishing mystery hidden behind the family genealogy.

And as his strength rapidly grew over that brief period, an even more breathtaking confrontation was quietly brewing in the shadows...

"Lad, you are fortunate to have inherited the Heavenly Eye from our ancestors, and now you have received my legacy as well. From this day forward, everything depends on you to deal with them."

With these words, the elder's already illusory form dissolved into the air like burning embers.

"Senior!"

Lin Tian cried out in shock, his outstretched hand pointing forward as he watched powerlessly, doomed to gaze on while unable to do a thing.

Standing motionless for a long while, Lin Tian gazed into the direction where Xiao Yuanshan had faded, a whirl of complex emotions churning in his chest.

That drifting, illusory figure seemed to have carried away the weight of an era, while squarely dumping a thousand-jin burden onto his shoulders.

At present, the courtyard of the Xiao family ancestral residence was eerily silent. A gentle breeze rustled the withered leaves and broken branches of the flora, whispering like secrets untold.

Regaining his composure, Lin Tian carefully tucked the jade pendant close to his body and, dragging his weary frame, returned once more to the basement.

He knew that the legacy and teachings left behind by Xiao Yuanshan demanded that he contemplate and integrate them thoroughly within this familiar yet mysterious space.

The basement carried a damp, decaying scent mixed with a faint earthy odor, growing all the more eerie under the dim beam of the flashlight.

Finding a corner, Lin Tian seated himself, closed his eyes, and cleared his mind, attempting to sort through the chaotic web of information in his head.

What he had seen and heard in the spiritual realm, the cultivation methods imparted by Xiao Yuanshan, and the mystical jade pendant—every element resembled pieces of a puzzle eagerly awaiting assembly.

Just as he immersed himself in meditation, a faint rustling sound broke the deep silence of the basement, as though something were slowly crawling about.

Snap opening his eyes, Lin Tian gripped his flashlight tightly and swept its beam rapidly toward the source of the noise.

Yet, apart from a pile of accumulated debris and spider-webbed walls in the corner, nothing was to be seen.

Rising to his feet, he advanced slowly toward the spot where the sound had originated, treading with utmost caution as the beating of his heart echoed distinctly in the quiet basement.

Reaching the corner, he discovered a stack of old wooden chests covered in a thick layer of dust.

Frowning in deep suspicion, Lin Tian wondered at the sight; the sound had clearly come from this exact spot, yet there was no apparent anomaly before him.