Chapter 158: The Timed Thought-Division Technique

"To think I have waited here for so many years, only to find that the one who arrives is not a descendant of the Lin family," Lin Lang said with a sigh.

"So many years? Can Your Senior's conscious projection persist for such a long time?" Yang Xiao asked tentatively.

"My conscious projection cannot last for very long. The reason it has manifested now is because I employed the Timed Thought-Division Technique, which allowed it to appear when you attempted to claim the magical artifact here," Lin Lang explained.

"So that is how it is." Yang Xiao finally understood. No sooner had he tried to take the invisible armor than Lin Lang's conscious projection appeared. It turned out that this projection used a timed activation method; the moment someone triggered the artifact, the projection would automatically manifest. Obviously, such a projection could not exist indefinitely, for once the true body had perished, how could consciousness endure for long?

Nevertheless, even though this projection should not last long, it was still an overwhelmingly powerful entity to Yang Xiao. Therefore, he had to tread carefully and avoid provoking this person as much as possible.

"You certainly have a good eye, young man, to have set your sights on this treasured armor. I poured a great deal of effort into refining this masterpiece, and I usually wore it upon my own person. Even without being activated, its defensive power is astonishing. Furthermore, it can freely alter its shape, transforming into ordinary garments so that it may be worn daily without waiting for an emergency to don it," Lin Lang praised as Yang Xiao chose the invisible armor right from the start.

"I merely felt that this precious armor was extraordinary, and I had no idea it possessed so many wondrous properties. Senior's artifact-refining skills are truly sublime," Yang Xiao flattered. Of course, Lin Lang's artifact-refining techniques were indeed impressive, but more importantly, those materials must have been extremely difficult to procure. Even if Yang Xiao had the ability to forge such a treasure, gathering all the necessary components would evidently be a considerable challenge.

"I have merely dedicated more research to artifact refinement. Since you have taken a fancy to this treasured armor, I shall present it to you. In addition, you may select another treasure from the other chambers. That is to say, you may leave the Spirit-Gathering Array with two treasures. This was a decision I made before my mortal demise, and now that my conscious projection will not endure much longer, there is no need to alter this decree," Lin Lang said.

"Many thanks for Senior's boundless generosity," Yang Xiao hastily expressed his gratitude. This meant he could take the Seven-Star Interlocking Arrows with him as well. Originally, he had assumed that if he could only take one treasure from the Spirit-Gathering Array, he would have to abandon the Seven-Star Interlocking Arrows and take only the invisible armor. Now that Lin Lang had made such a promise, he could take both.

"No matter what your motives may be for aiding the Lin family, I wish to express my gratitude for it, so bestowing a mere two treasures is well within my means," Lin Lang said, before sighing with emotion. "It is just that this conscious projection of mine will dissipate shortly, meaning I shall vanish from this world forever. By then, whether the Lin family rises or falls is something I can no longer control. I have done all that I could; as for the rest, the Lin family must rely on their own good fortune hereafter."

"I understand Senior's painstaking efforts. By gathering so many treasures and constructing the Spirit-Gathering Array to house them, Senior wished to temper later generations of disciples in the hope that brilliantly talented figures would emerge among them," Yang Xiao said, nodding.

"To think this young friend is a kindred spirit of mine. Bestowing these treasures upon you is indeed a fitting destination. I perceive that young friend possesses an extraordinary state of mind and will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future. Reaching my realm should not be difficult, and surpassing me is entirely possible. I can only hope that young friend continues to advance toward even higher realms of cultivation; if my treasures accompany you, it will be as though you are completing the aspirations I could not fulfill," Lin Lang said.

The path of immortality is long and arduous. Countless are those who fall by the wayside, and only a select few reach the summit. Naturally, the predecessors and ancestors hoped that their legacy-bearers would surpass them and forge ahead into higher realms of immortal cultivation.

Though these words carried a profound sense of vicissitudes, they were undoubtedly spoken from the bottom of Lin Lang's heart.

"With Senior looking out for future generations like this, I believe the Lin family will surely be blessed and sheltered in the future. Even should minor calamities arise, they are bound to turn into auspicious blessings," Yang Xiao said. His words were both a comfort to Lin Lang and an expression of his own hopes.

"Let us hope so. Yet descendants have their own destinies; all that I could do has been done, and what the future holds depends entirely upon themselves. For so many years, I kept waiting for a clan member or disciple to reach the peak of Qi Condensation, or attain the Golden Core realm like myself, hoping they would enter this place to see me. That wait has now come to a complete end. Yet this has also helped me see reason—why should I arrange so much for the affairs of later generations? Let them face everything on their own," Lin Lang said.

Seeing that the other party harbored no intention of blaming him, Yang Xiao realized that Lin Lang had truly achieved enlightenment. While this allowed Yang Xiao to breathe a sigh of relief, it also filled him with a deeper sense of respect.

Just as Lin Lang and Yang Xiao were conversing, a roar echoed from afar. The roar traveled from a distance, sounding quite distinct and carrying an eager, emotional excitement.

"Little Jin, it turns out to be you. Your lifespan cannot be short by now. You are truly a primordial remnant beast; had you been in a realm with richer spiritual Qi, your cultivation would likely not have stopped at this level. It is a pity that my cultivation could no longer advance, and thus I could not take you along to ascend to the Spirit Realm. In a way, this has been a burden to you; I hope you do not hold it against me," Lin Lang said as he waved a hand, causing a mirror formed of true Qi to materialize before him. The mirror then displayed a spiritual beast resembling a golden-furred lion. At this moment, the beast was roaring incessantly at Lin Lang, though its roars clearly sounded obedient and ingratiating, akin to a pet trying to please its master.

"So this is that advanced spiritual beast in the Sea of Beasts, comparable to a cultivator in the revolving realm!" Yang Xiao had actually recognized the golden-furred lion by its voice alone. Back in the Sea of Beasts, the mere sound of its roar had terrified him to the extreme, and he had lived in constant fear that the beast would pursue and kill him. Fortunately, he had fled all the way out of the Sea of Beasts, and miraculously, the golden-furred lion had not chased after him.

"It appears this golden-furred lion is the spiritual beast raised by Lin Lang. This explains why the lion merely issued warnings to the human cultivators within Lin Lang's blessed land and showed no intent to harm them," Yang Xiao thought, completely understanding the truth of the matter now that he witnessed this scene.