"Demigods."
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged on the bed.
In this world, seventh-rank powerhouses are also known as demigods.
In the main world, seventh-rank evolvers must open their internal world to advance to the eighth rank.
In this world, seventh-rank powerhouses must elevate their divine kingdom to become gods.
The latter requires the power of massive faith, which is why these demigods risk being discovered by the main gods to secretly spread their faith in the Plateau of Nations.
Without sufficient faith, they cannot become immortal gods, and their bodies and souls will quickly decay.
Of course, many seventh-rank demigods also submit to a main god, becoming their subordinate gods.
However, most demigods are too proud to accept this. Becoming a subordinate god means giving up everything to the main god, including their own consciousness.
Many demigods have cultivated from weakness to strength and are unwilling to pay such a price.
"What should I do now?"
Lin Yuan calmly analyzed the situation.
Being targeted by a church founded by a demigod is a troublesome matter.
Reporting directly to the empire or the Church of Light might be effective, but it doesn't guarantee the demigod will be killed.
If the demigod survives, they might retaliate, and Longshan Territory cannot withstand a demigod's massacre.
The strongest in Longshan Territory is the first Viscount Longshan, a fifth-rank great knight. Although he can dominate the empire, he is still far from matching a seventh-rank demigod.
"I should return to Longshan Territory."
After some contemplation, Lin Yuan made a decision.
Although Anpu City is prosperous, it is filled with all sorts of people. Without absolute strength, Lin Yuan didn't want to stay in such a place.
Longshan Territory is his family's land, officially granted by the empire. The demigod church, already persecuted in the Plateau of Nations, wouldn't dare to act openly.
"Dashan."
Lin Yuan walked out of the room. The warm sunlight bathed him as he called softly.
"Young master." A burly man over three meters tall strode over.
"What can I do for you, young master?" The burly man, Dashan, spoke in a deep voice, exuding a heavy aura.
"I want to return to Longshan Territory."
Lin Yuan looked at the massive figure before him.
Dashan was Lin Yuan's guard, and even within Longshan Territory, his strength ranked in the top twenty. He had dragon blood in his veins.
Although only at the third level, when fully unleashing his bloodline, he could hold his own against a fourth-level knight for a short time.
The only downside was his lack of intelligence, but as a guard, his strength was sufficient.
"Return to Longshan Territory?"
Dashan was slightly puzzled. The young master usually stayed in Anpu City for three or four months. Why leave after only a month this time?
"Young master, was it that girl last night who didn't serve you well?" Dashan grumbled. "I knew she wasn't any good, so skinny."
"Young master, let me introduce you to some more robust ones next time. They'll definitely make you comfortable..."
Dashan immediately suggested, believing women should be strong, ideally over three meters tall and with a waist over a meter wide.
He thought it was sad that the young master only enjoyed thin women and didn't know the joy of strong women. Dashan felt great sympathy for Lin Yuan.
"Grandfather wants me back."
Lin Yuan gave a random excuse, not mentioning the fox girl much.
Dashan was not smart and would likely blab about everything. If the fox girl was indeed connected to a demigod church, it would alert them.
Lin Yuan just wanted to return quietly to Longshan Territory and cultivate slowly. Time was on his side.
Once he regained his full strength, he would fear no demigod church, nor any god from the Sea of Light or Abyss of Darkness.
"Viscount..." Dashan's expression turned serious.
There were few people he respected, but Viscount Longshan was definitely one of them.
"Let's leave now." Dashan immediately said.
"Alright." Lin Yuan nodded.
Such things had happened before. While Lin Yuan was enjoying himself, he suddenly received orders to return.
Now, using Viscount Longshan's orders as an excuse to leave Anpu City and return to Longshan Territory was perfectly reasonable.
Lin Yuan led his guards out of Anpu City.
The deputy city lord of Anpu City personally came to see him off. "Young Master Longshan, leaving so soon? Was our hospitality lacking?"
The deputy city lord, slightly bald, smiled as he asked Lin Yuan.
"Family matters." Lin Yuan didn't explain much, showing impatience, perfectly fitting the usual behavior of Young Master Longshan.
"If it's family business, then safe travels, Young Master Longshan. We have a gift prepared for your next visit."
The deputy city lord spoke kindly. Despite looking down on Lin Yuan as a playboy, he had to respect the Longshan family's power.
Anpu City, located at the intersection of several viscount territories, needed to stay on good terms with these families.
With a rumbling noise, the deputy city lord watched as Lin Yuan sat in his palanquin, carried quickly by seven or eight guards toward Longshan Territory.
Lin Yuan's departure was watched not only by the deputy city lord.
In a nearby pavilion, the veiled woman also observed Lin Yuan's departure.
"Why did Longshan Yuan leave so suddenly? Our efforts were wasted," the charming fox girl beside her sighed.
According to their plan, she would slowly drain Longshan Yuan's essence over three months, causing his death from overindulgence on the last day.
There would be no trace of foul play, even for the most skilled investigators.
After a month of effort, with only two months left to success, Longshan Yuan suddenly left?
Once back, given his pampered status in the Longshan family, he would surely consume many supplements to replenish his essence.
"No matter. He'll return to Anpu City soon enough," the veiled woman said calmly.
She saw no reason for suspicion. The excuse for leaving was Viscount Longshan's orders, just bad luck for them.
A single instance of bad luck wouldn't persist indefinitely.
The veiled woman believed that when Longshan Yuan returned to Anpu City, their plan would succeed.
Once Longshan Yuan was dead, they would wait for the first and second heirs of Longshan Territory to die naturally.
The entire Longshan Territory would become a nurturing ground for their demigod's faith, potentially extending to other territories.
Longshan Territory.
Longshan City.
Not long after returning, Lin Yuan met the original body's parents.
"Yuan, why did you come back so soon this time?" Longshan Fang, a middle-aged man, glanced at Lin Yuan, slightly curious.
Although he had no high hopes for his son, he was surprised to see him return from Anpu City early.
He hadn't heard of Viscount Longshan ordering Lin Yuan's return.
Could Lin Yuan have come back voluntarily?
"Is there anything wrong with coming back early?" The woman beside Longshan Fang, a young-looking lady, glared at him.
"Son, what do you want to do this time? Longshan City might not be as lively as Anpu City, but it's not bad either. You'll find something interesting."
She looked at her son affectionately.
Lin Yuan glanced at his parents but said nothing.
The inheritance of the viscount title in the Longshan family didn't follow a strict father-to-son pattern.
It depended on the current viscount's decision. For instance, when Lin Yuan was born, Viscount Longshan had just reached the fourth level and, in his joy, saw it as a good omen.
Lin Yuan's birth symbolized the continuous inheritance of the family's fourth-level strength.
Thus, he skipped over Lin Yuan's father and made Lin Yuan the third heir.
No one expected Lin Yuan to become so incompetent, indulging in women and showing no interest in inheriting the family legacy.
"I came back this time to do something," Lin Yuan said seriously to his parents.
"Important thing?" Longshan Fang pondered. "Did you fall for some girl?"
"Son, don't listen to your father. Just tell us what you want to do. I'll always support you," the woman smiled.
"I want to cultivate," Lin Yuan said.
As the third heir of the Longshan family, if Lin Yuan wanted to cultivate, the family's accumulated resources would be at his disposal.
That was why Lin Yuan said it openly.
Cultivating secretly to amaze everyone later was too exhausting. Gathering resources would take too much time.
"Cultivate?"
Lin Yuan's parents exchanged glances.
They had imagined various outrageous requests from Lin Yuan but never expected this.
To them, hearing 'cultivate' from Lin Yuan was more astonishing and unbelievable.
"Why the sudden interest in cultivation?" Longshan Fang stared at Lin Yuan, asking.
"Because I find everything now meaningless. How long can I enjoy life? A hundred years? Two hundred at most."
"And then wait for death?"
"But cultivation is different. Becoming a fifth-level great knight extends one's lifespan and transforms the essence of life. That's what I want to do."
Lin Yuan explained his prepared reasons.
"Alright."
Longshan Fang thought for a moment and nodded. "I'll inform the patriarch about your desire to cultivate. I hope this isn't just a passing interest."
Longshan Fang felt good about this.
Lin Yuan's words boiled down to one thing.
He was bored of playing.
The desire for longevity was universal, but becoming a fifth-level great knight was not easy.
However, it was a positive shift from indulgence to cultivation.
Even if Longshan Fang doubted Lin Yuan's potential, given his weakened state from indulgence, he might not even become a first-level knight.
But overall, it was a healthy pursuit.
"Son, cultivation is hard work," the woman said, concerned.
"It's okay. I want to try," Lin Yuan smiled.
That afternoon.
In the underground training grounds of the Longshan family.
The vast area, spanning hundreds of miles, was where family members trained in seclusion.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged, opposite an elderly man with white hair and beard.
The old man looked frail but had a hidden strength capable of moving mountains.
"Cultivation and becoming a knight are not easy tasks," the old man said calmly.
He was one of the few fourth-level knights in the Longshan family. Since the family's founding by the first Viscount Longshan two thousand years ago, fifth-level great knights were rare.
Typically, the highest power was a fourth-level knight, and the family relied on the initial viscount's legacy to survive.
For a viscount family, a fourth-level knight was usually enough to maintain dominance. A fifth-level great knight was a rarity during peak times.
"I know," Lin Yuan nodded.
"Good." The old man didn't waste words and took out two items.
One was a book, and the other was an orange fruit.
"This is the complete Longshan Cultivation Method, and this is a Longshan Fruit, rich in energy."
"Every descendant of the Longshan family must learn the Longshan Cultivation Method on their own."
The old man said, "You have a month. If you can sense 'qi' within this time, it means you have the potential to continue cultivating."
"How do I know if I've sensed 'qi'?" Lin Yuan asked.
"You will feel the sensation of 'qi'," the old man replied.
He was about to explain the details of sensing 'qi'.
Although every family member had to learn the cultivation method themselves, Lin Yuan, as the third heir, had special treatment.
For instance, the detailed explanation of sensing 'qi'—an opportunity other family members wouldn't have.
Many family members didn't even know the concept of 'qi'. Hearing a detailed explanation was crucial.
However, before the old man could speak, Lin Yuan glanced at the Longshan Cultivation Method and then closed and reopened his eyes.
"I've already sensed 'qi'," Lin Yuan said.
The old man stared at him.
Deep within the Longshan family, the current Viscount Longshan rubbed his temples. As the highest ruler of Longshan Territory, he had many responsibilities.
From negotiating with other viscount territories to addressing the concerns of numerous subjects.
"I wonder how Yuan is doing."
Viscount Longshan recalled being told by Longshan Fang that Yuan wanted to cultivate.
He had sent a fourth-level knight to instruct him. It should be finished by now.
Just then, an elderly man hurried in.
"Patriarch, Patriarch!"
The elderly man, still in shock, hadn't calmed down.
"Oh? I was about to ask about you," Viscount Longshan's eyes brightened, though he felt a slight chill seeing the old man's expression.
Could it be that Yuan lacked any talent for cultivation and angered the instructor?
...
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