hsntnovel Chapter 78 Drinkwater
Chapter 78 Drinkwater
The private room gradually quieted down.
Yale lay slumped on the table, his face buried in his arms, snoring evenly. Reno sprawled on the sofa, one leg on the armrest and the other dangling off the floor, his posture so bizarre it was almost comical. George leaned back in a corner chair, his glasses askew, his breathing steady and long.
Beibei was curled up in the corner of the table, her little belly round and plump, her two little paws holding her tail, fast asleep.
Lin Yun carefully moved everyone to the sofa and settled them in, then took out several blankets from his spatial ring to cover them. Only after doing all this did he sit down opposite Lin Lei.
"Finally, it's quiet." Lin Yun breathed a sigh of relief.
Lin Lei smiled, his gaze falling out the window. The streets of Rhine City gradually quieted down in the twilight, and streetlights lit up one by one, casting warm orange shadows on the cobblestones.
"Big brother," Lin Yun said after a moment of silence, "Have you really thought it through regarding Alice?"
Lin Lei turned to look at his younger brother: "What do you mean?"
"It's nothing." Lin Yun shook his head. "I just wanted to say that no matter what happens in the future, you must remember that we brothers will always be by your side."
Lin Lei paused for a moment, then laughed: "Why are you being so sentimental today?"
"Really?" Lin Yun laughed. "Maybe he had a little to drink."
The two exchanged a glance but remained silent. The private room fell quiet, save for the occasional distant sound of horses' hooves and the faint murmur of the tavern outside.
Just then, a phantom white figure floated out from the dragon ring on Lin Lei's chest.
Delin Corvort hovered in front of the two, his long, silvery-white hair swaying gently in the invisible wind, his aged face bearing a complex expression. His gaze remained fixed on Lin Yun for a long time.
"Grandpa Delin." Lin Yun bowed slightly.
Delin did not respond. He stared at Lin Yun for a long time, his shock growing stronger.
"Lin Yun," Delin finally spoke, his voice somewhat hoarse, "just how strong are you now?"
Lin Yun paused for a moment, then truthfully replied, "Peak level nine mage, peak level nine warrior."
There was a moment of silence in the private room.
Delin's eyes widened, his lips trembled slightly, and he seemed to have been struck by lightning, floating motionless in the air.
"Level nine...peak?" Delin's voice was practically squeezed out through clenched teeth. "You're only sixteen!"
"Grandpa Delin, I know it's hard to believe," Lin Yun said, "but I really did achieve it."
Delin remained silent for a long time. He had lived for five thousand years and seen countless geniuses, but he had never seen anything like this. A sixteen-year-old level nine mage and a peak level nine warrior—this boy's growth rate had exceeded his comprehension.
"How did you do that?" Delin asked. "Six months ago, when you left the academy, you were only at level seven. In six months, you went from level seven to level nine. That's impossible."
Lin Yun thought for a moment and decided to tell him the truth. Delin was one of the people he trusted most, and this information would not harm him.
"I had some fortuitous encounters during my training," Lin Yun said. "Some treasures improved my physical fitness and mental strength."
Delin nodded without pressing further. Everyone has their own secrets, and he respected that.
"What about your lightning magic?" Delin asked. "I can sense that your understanding of the laws of lightning far surpasses that of an ordinary level nine mage."
Lin Yun was slightly taken aback. Delin, as expected of a Saint-level Archmage who had lived for five thousand years, possessed remarkably sharp perception.
"I'm practicing a special sword technique," Lin Yun said. "That sword technique is connected to the laws of lightning, and as I practice it, my understanding of the laws of lightning is constantly deepening."
"Swordsmanship?" Delin frowned. "A mage practicing swordsmanship?"
"Grandpa Delin, I'm not following the pure path of a mage," Lin Yun said. "The combination of warrior and mage is the path that suits me best."
Delin was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "You're right. Everyone has their own path, and as long as you reach the end, how you get there doesn't matter."
Lin Yun looked at Delin, and a thought suddenly came to mind.
"Grandpa Delin, there's something I want to tell you," Lin Yun said.
"What is it?"
Lin Yun took a deep breath and slowly said, "I learned from the necromancy inheritance that the soul state can actually be cultivated."
Delin's body jolted violently, and the white phantom flickered intensely. His eyes were fixed on Lin Yun, his voice trembling: "What did you say?"
"The soul state can be cultivated." Lin Yun repeated, "As long as the profound mysteries of the laws reach a certain stage, one can become a lower god, the laws of the universe will descend, and divine power will forge a divine body, allowing one to be reborn."
The private room fell completely silent.
Delin hovered in the air, motionless. Countless emotions flashed in his eyes—shock, doubt, hope, fear… In the end, all the emotions transformed into an almost frantic desire.
"You...you're telling the truth?" Delin's voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible. "A soul state...can one become a god?"
"That's what the necromancy inheritance stele records," Lin Yun said. "There's a path in the rules of death that concerns the cultivation of the soul. As long as the soul is strong enough and the understanding of the laws is deep enough, even without a body, one can invoke the laws of the universe and forge a divine body."
Delin remained silent for a long time. His phantom trembled slightly in the air, like a candle flame flickering in the wind.
"Five thousand years," Delin murmured. "I've been trapped in this ring for five thousand years. I thought I would forever exist in this form, never able to touch this world again..."
His voice choked with emotion.
Linley sat to the side, looking at Delin, a pang of sadness welling up inside him. Delin had been with him for so many years, teaching him magic, teaching him how to be a person, and guiding him during his most confused times. He had always wanted to do something for Delin, but he was powerless to do so.
"Grandpa Delin," Lin Lei spoke up, "Is what Lin Yun said true?"
Delin took a deep breath, calmed himself, and slowly said, "Theoretically... it's possible. I've lived for five thousand years and seen countless powerful beings. I know that becoming a god requires a certain level of understanding of the laws and a physical body as a vessel. But I've never heard of becoming a god in the form of a soul."
His gaze fell on Lin Yun: "But what Lin Yun said is related to the rules of death. I don't know much about the rules of death, but maybe... maybe it really is possible."
"Grandpa Delin, I can tell you about this part of the necromancy inheritance," Lin Yun said. "You can cultivate based on this content. Although you cannot cultivate magic in your soul state, the comprehension of the laws relies on the soul, not the body."
Delin's eyes lit up.
"The comprehension of the laws relies on the soul, not the body." He murmured, repeating Lin Yun's words, a glimmer of understanding flashing in his eyes. "Yes... Although I no longer have a body, my soul remains, my memories remain, and my comprehension of the laws remains. For five thousand years, I have been in slumber, never thinking of actively cultivating..."
He looked up at Lin Yun, his eyes filled with gratitude: "Lin Yun, thank you."
"Grandpa Delin, you don't need to thank me," Lin Yun said. "You've taught us so much, this is the only thing we can do for you."
Delin nodded, and the phantom slowly spun in the air before stopping in front of the two.
"Lin Yun, could you tell me in detail about the part concerning soul cultivation in the necromancy inheritance you received?"
Lin Yun thought for a moment and began to recall the contents of the necromancy inheritance stele. The records on the rules of death on that stele were very profound, but he remembered the part about cultivating the soul state very clearly.
"According to the theory of necromancy, the soul is an existence that exists between the real and the unreal," Lin Yun said slowly. "It has no physical form, but it contains all the information of life—memories, emotions, will, and understanding of the laws. This information does not disappear when the body is lost."
"Therefore, the core of cultivation in the soul state is not accumulating energy, but comprehending the laws. As long as one's comprehension of the laws reaches the standard for becoming a god, the laws of the universe will automatically descend and forge a new body with divine power."
Delin listened attentively, nodding occasionally. As a Saint-level Archmage, his understanding of the laws far surpassed Lin Yun's, but these theories of necromancy were entirely new to him.
"The comprehension of the laws... the standard for becoming a god..." Delin murmured. "In my previous life, I was at the peak of the Saint Realm, and my comprehension of the laws of the earth had reached a very high level, but I was still some distance away from becoming a god. In these five thousand years, although I have been in slumber, my soul has been nurtured in the ring, and my comprehension of the laws... seems to be clearer than in my previous life."
"Grandpa Delin, are you saying that you may have already reached the standard to become a god?" Linley asked in surprise.
Delin shook his head: "Not sure. But I can try."
He hovered in the air, closed his eyes, and began to sense the elements of heaven and earth around him. The earth element flowed slowly around his soul, more active and clearer than when he was alive.
"As expected." Delin opened his eyes, a hint of excitement flashing in them. "My perception in the soul state is much sharper than when I was alive. My understanding of the laws of the earth element is indeed deeper than when I was alive."
"Then can you become a god?" Linley asked eagerly.
Delin was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I don't know. But I'm willing to try."
He turned to Linley and solemnly said, "Linley, from today onwards, I will be going into seclusion to cultivate. Although the world within the ring is small, it is enough for me to calmly comprehend the laws. I want to try and see if a soul state can truly lead to godhood."
"Grandpa Delin, please go into seclusion without worry," Lin Lei said.
Delin nodded, and his ethereal form slowly drifted toward the dragon ring on Linley's chest. Just before disappearing into the ring, he stopped and glanced back at the two of them.
"Lin Lei, Lin Yun," his voice choked with emotion, "thank you."
"Grandpa Delin, please don't say that," Lin Lei said. "You've taught us for so many years; we should be thanking you."
Delin smiled, and his phantom transformed into a beam of white light, disappearing into the Panlong Ring.
The private room fell silent again.
Lin Lei leaned against the window, looking at the night outside, and remained silent for a long time.
"Lin Yun," he finally spoke, "do you think Grandpa Delin can really become a god?"
"I don't know," Lin Yun said truthfully, "but at least he has hope."
Lin Lei nodded: "Yes, there is hope."
The two remained silent for a while.
"Brother," Lin Yun suddenly spoke, "do you believe in fate?"
Lin Lei paused for a moment, then asked, "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
"It's nothing," Lin Yun shook his head. "I just feel that some things seem to have been predetermined."
Alice's appearance made Lin Yun feel the magic of fate. Even though many things had changed, Lin Lei still met her. It was as if a hand was secretly controlling everything, turning the deviated track back to the starting point!
Lin Lei looked at his younger brother and felt that he was acting strangely today, but he didn't ask any further questions.
"Maybe," Lin Lei said, "but I believe even more that one's own path is one that one forges one's own way."
Lin Yun smiled and said, "You're right."
Outside the window, night deepened. The lights of Rhine City twinkled in the darkness, like stars in the sky. In the distance, the clock tower struck ten, its melodious chimes echoing through the night air.
"Brother, are you really not going to tell Father about Alice?" Lin Yun asked.
Lin Lei was silent for a moment, then said, "Let's wait a while. I want to talk to my father when our relationship is more stable."
"Alright." Lin Yun nodded. "But remember, no matter what happens, your brothers will always be by your side."
Lin Lei looked at his younger brother, a warm feeling welling up inside him: "What's wrong with you today? Why are you always talking about these things?"
"It's just something I felt compelled to say." Lin Yun smiled. "Maybe seeing Grandpa Delin made me a little emotional."
Lin Lei nodded without giving it much thought.
Lin Yun took out a plant spirit—a ten-thousand-year-old willow heart—from his spatial ring. The emerald green willow heart exuded a warm and gentle life force.
"What is this?" Lin Lei asked, taking the willow branch with curiosity in his eyes.
"The Spirit of Plants," Lin Yun said. "Taking this will improve your physical attributes. You're a level four warrior now, right? Taking this should get you to level six, or even higher."
Lin Lei's eyes widened: "This...this is amazing?"
"You'll see once you try," Lin Yun said.
Lin Lei hesitated for a moment, then cut open the willow heartwood and poured the liquid inside into his mouth. A warm energy spread from his throat to his limbs and bones. He could feel that energy nourishing his muscles, bones, and blood; every cell was rejoicing.
He closed his eyes, immersing himself in the baptism of that energy.
After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes and found that his eyesight was better, his hearing was more acute, and he was full of strength.
"Peak of Level Six," Lin Yun said. "Even better than I expected."
Lin Lei clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within him, a surge of unbelievable excitement welling up inside him. From level four to the peak of level six, it had only taken less than a quarter of an hour. This speed of improvement was simply unbelievable.
"Lin Yun, you..." Lin Lei looked at his younger brother, not knowing what to say.
"Don't thank me," Lin Yun waved his hand. "We're brothers."
Lin Lei was silent for a moment, then nodded. Between brothers, some things don't need to be said.
"There's one more thing." Lin Yun stood up and took a few steps back. "Big brother, watch carefully."
He took a deep breath and then slowly released his dragon form.
Azure-green scales emerged from beneath his skin, rapidly covering his arms, torso, and legs. Sharp claws grew from his fingertips, dragon horns emerged from the sides of his forehead, and a dragon tail extended from the end of his spine. The entire process took only a few seconds, and a dragon-blooded warrior covered in azure-green scales, with two horns on his head and a spear-like tail stood before Linley.
Linley's wine glass fell to the ground, spilling wine everywhere, but he was completely unaware. His eyes were wide open, his mouth was agape, and he stood motionless as if frozen in place.
"You...you..." Linley's voice trembled violently, "You can transform into a dragon?"
Lin Yun deactivated his dragon form, and his scales, horns, and tail slowly disappeared, turning him back into an ordinary boy.
"I ate a miraculous fruit during my training some time ago, which purified my bloodline," Lin Yun explained simply. "Now I can transform into a dragon. In dragon form, my warrior strength can reach the peak of the Saint Realm."
Lin Lei remained silent for a long time. He looked at Lin Yun, his eyes filled with complex emotions—shock, envy, pride, and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on.
"Okay," Lin Lei finally spoke, his voice a little hoarse, "That's great."
Lin Yun walked back to Lin Lei's side and patted him on the shoulder: "Brother, that kind of magical plant is extremely rare. Once I'm stronger, I'll go and capture a powerful Saint-level dragon and use its essence blood to help you activate the Dragon Warrior bloodline within you."
"The Holy Domain Dragon Clan?" Linley gasped. "They're legendary beings."
"I know." Lin Yun smiled. "But not now. I can beat a peak Saint Realm dragon, but it's a bit difficult to force him to release his dragon blood. Once I get stronger, it should be no problem."
Lin Lei looked at his younger brother, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. Years ago, Lin Yun was just a little kid following behind him. Now, he had grown to a height that Lin Lei could only look up to.
"Okay," Lin Lei said. "I'll be waiting."
The two brothers looked at each other and then laughed at the same time.
Outside the window, the setting sun painted the horizon a golden red. In the distance, the clock tower tolled its evening bells, their melodious chimes echoing through the air.
Lin Yun leaned against the window, looking at the scenery outside, feeling exceptionally calm.