Volume One, Chapter Six: The Solar Emperor Scripture—Lin Yan's Escape!

No wonder he is the Child of Destiny. The cost of this investment is indeed extraordinarily high. A rare spiritual flame ranked thirty-sixth on the Spirit Fire List barely managed to push the investment progress to 30%! Such a treasure is scarcely found even in Wang Mu’s possession.

From this perspective, even for Wang Mu, fully advancing Lin Yan’s investment progress will not be an easy task. Wang Mu exhaled quietly, encouraging himself. Regardless, at least this was a good start.

Wang Mu waved his hand with a smile. “Brother Lin, you are truly the favored of heaven and deserve this treasure!” After a pause, he proposed, “Now that your Dao heart is revived, it is time for you to cultivate in peace. There’s no need to continue farming herbs. Why not come back with me to Everlasting Island? The spiritual energy there is abundant, and the resources are sufficient for you to fully display your talents!”

Hearing this, a flicker of temptation flashed in Lin Yan’s eyes but quickly vanished. “The Son of the Sage is too generous, and I am indeed eager to accept. However, I have been on this island for three years. Even if I am to leave, I should at least bid farewell to my friends!”

“How about this: you return first, and once I have made preparations and settled the trivial matters here, I will come for you. It’s not too late to leave then,” Lin Yan said.

Wang Mu immediately recognized this as an excuse. Clearly, Lin Yan did not yet fully trust him. But he did not expose it. Since he was playing the role of a good man, he must not let that image collapse, or the investment would be wasted.

“That’s fine,” Wang Mu nodded. “I will give the orders. When Brother Lin is ready, someone will come to escort you.”

Having said that, Wang Mu did not linger. Mounting his golden-winged Roc, he turned and left.

Lin Yan watched the figure and the great bird fade into the distance, silently thinking, “Teacher, can this man be trusted?”

“It’s hard to say! This young man’s behavior is strange and unpredictable. Even I can’t see through his intentions,” Dan Xuan shook his head.

Lin Yan asked, “Then should I accept his invitation?”

Dan Xuan pondered for a moment. “As the saying goes, when things are out of the ordinary, there must be some trick. His display today seems friendly, but one must never drop their guard. Here on the outskirts of the sea region, you still have the chance to escape. But if you go to the core area, it will be a dead end. In my opinion, it’s best we leave the Northern Sea as soon as possible. This is Wang family territory. If he harbors any ill intent, you won’t be able to get away.”

Lin Yan nodded. “True. The immediate priority is to improve my cultivation, refine the Sea Spirit Flame, successfully establish my foundation, and only then consider leaving the Northern Sea.”

Dan Xuan said, “Before you refine it, I will examine it to ensure that young Wang has not tampered with it.”

Lin Yan was moved. “Thank you, Master.”

...

Back in the core area of Everlasting Island, Wang Mu was soaking in a hot spring, attended by several beautiful maidservants, eyes closed in relaxation. His heart was relieved.

“No matter what, Lin Yan has been pacified for now!” he thought. “If I keep sending him rare materials from time to time, I don’t believe he won’t be moved by me. Even if he’s an iceberg, I’ll melt him!”

With a firm resolve, Wang Mu slipped into sleep unnoticed.

After an unknown length of time, a system notification suddenly sounded in his ear.

[Congratulations! You have received the cultivation result returns from Lin Yan!]

[Obtained Residual Sea Spirit Flame x1!]

[Obtained Fragment of the Solar Emperor Scripture!]

A surge of energy suddenly erupted from him, splashing water everywhere, startling the maidservants.

Wang Mu opened his eyes. “I’ve broken through to the eighth level of Qi Refining!”

Not only that, he sensed within his dantian a calm, blue flame suspended—the very same as the Sea Spirit Flame he had sent out earlier, though noticeably smaller.

He raised his head, gazing toward Biyun Island. “It seems Lin Yan has refined the Sea Spirit Flame and successfully established his foundation.”

Truly, the Child of Destiny was extraordinary. He had only received the Sea Spirit Flame this afternoon, and now, in such a short time, he had devoured, refined, and succeeded in foundation building—bringing feedback returns to Wang Mu!

At the same time, an exquisitely profound cultivation method appeared in Wang Mu’s mind—the Solar Emperor Scripture! Presumably the technique Dan Xuan had taught Lin Yan, it allowed one to continuously advance by devouring powerful flames, growing ever stronger.

It was an ancient supreme method capable of reaching the realm of the Great Emperor.

Its potential was immeasurable.

“Such a pity it is incomplete,” Wang Mu sighed. Otherwise, even if he himself did not cultivate, he could have copied it and used it to invest in other prodigies, making an excellent asset.

But there was no way. His investment progress in Lin Yan had only reached 30%. Thus, whether the Sea Spirit Flame or the Solar Emperor Scripture, only partial feedback was received, and synchronization with Lin Yan was impossible.

Still, lying back and growing stronger felt incredibly comfortable.

...

After soaking a while longer, Wang Mu rose from the hot spring. With the maidservants’ help, he dressed and prepared to return to sleep.

Suddenly, an anxious voice pierced the night: “Your Highness, I have been negligent in my duties. Please punish me!”

Wang Mu frowned and followed the sound.

There on Biyun Island, the stout steward knelt in terror, repeatedly slapping his own face—each smack sounding sharp—his face full of fear and dread.

Wang Mu approached, frowning. “What happened?”

The steward, looking mournful, said, “Your Highness… Lin Yan has escaped!”

“???” Wang Mu raised an eyebrow. “When did this happen?”

“Just now! I sensed disturbances in the outer barrier of Biyun Island and went to investigate, but… it was too late!” The steward then prostrated himself, forehead pressed tightly to the ground, trembling with cold sweat.

Failing to capture the one your Highness desires was a grave offense. Everyone in the Northern Abyss Sacred Land knew your Highness's methods. He had already written his will before coming here, hoping only that your anger would not extend to his family.

What surprised him was that the prince did not erupt in fury nor sentence him to death as expected.

“As I thought, this Child of Destiny is not so easily deceived!” Wang Mu stared into the night, sighing inwardly.

Plainly put, his former playboy persona had been too vivid, accumulating too much enmity. Lack of trust was only natural.

Now that the most promising investment—the Child of Destiny—had fled, what was he to do?

“Your Highness, I beg to redeem myself through merit. Even if it costs my life, I will bring Lin Yan back to you!” the steward said fiercely, trying to seize the chance for atonement.

Wang Mu glanced at him and waved his hand. “Forget it. Since he has gone, let him go.”

Chasing after him? What a joke. Someone blessed with great fortune is not so easily hunted down and killed. It would likely backfire, leaving them stronger and more fortunate.

Moreover, he had already sent out the Sea Spirit Flame, gaining some goodwill. If he sent assassins, Lin Yan would only suspect darker intentions and become even more wary—a lose-lose situation.