Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3766: He Jian Arrives

The answer shocked Lin Mu.

The Saintess might currently be limited by the Immortal Realm, but she was still a Celestial. Her senses vastly exceeded those of ordinary immortals. Yet even she could not perceive his cultivation.

The effectiveness of the Abyssal Horizon Veil Seal exceeded even Lin Mu’s expectations.

”Amazing.” he muttered.

”It is.” the Saintess agreed.

Then her tone became more serious.

”There is something else you should know.”

Lin Mu listened carefully.

”If you enter the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect’s world, I will not be able to help you much.”

His expression changed.

”Why?”

”That world is different.”

The Saintess paused.

”A few Celestials have ascended from there throughout history.”

Lin Mu immediately understood.

Such worlds often carried traces left behind by powerful beings.

”Their inheritances?” he guessed.

”More than that.” The Saintess continued. ”Every Celestial leaves behind certain protections for their home world.”

Her voice became softer.

”I have heard of some of the Celestials that originated from the Heavenly Stream Guardian Sect.”

Lin Mu grew serious.

”There is a chance they left methods capable of detecting Celestial presences.”

That was troublesome... Very troublesome. If the Saintess entered openly and was detected, it could create complications that neither of them wanted.

”I’ll remain outside.” she said. ”If you require help, inform the twins.”

Lin Mu nodded slowly. The implication was clear.

Calling the Saintess would become his final trump card. Something to be used only if everything else failed.

Hopefully that moment would never come.

”I understand.”

The Saintess seemed satisfied. Then she added one final sentence.

”The elder is close.”

Her presence vanished immediately afterward and silence returned to the cave.

Lin Mu took a slow breath.

Everything had been prepared and all that remained was the performance itself. Ashy’s voice sounded one final time.

”Master, he’s almost there.”

Lin Mu nodded. ”Return.”

A moment later Ashy darted through the endless shadows of the ravine and reached Lin Mu before she disappeared into the Sleepscape.

Now, he was truly alone.

Lin Mu walked toward the back of the cave and carefully lay down upon the stone floor. He adjusted his breathing, slowed his heartbeat and relaxed his muscles. The image he presented was that of an exhausted young man who had survived impossible hardships.

Minutes passed before footsteps echoed from outside. They were faint and almost imperceptible, yet Lin Mu heard them clearly.

The sounds grew closer and closer, until finally a shadow appeared at the entrance of the cave.

Elder He Jian had arrived!

The old immortal descended into the cave and stood at its entrance for a few moments before taking another step inside. His sleeves swayed lightly as his immortal sense spread through every corner of the cave.

The entire area was instantly mapped within his perception. The rocky walls, the dust, the traces of old injuries left behind from countless falls and finally the young man lying against the wall.

He Jian’s eyes narrowed.

”Alive?” he muttered.

The old man immediately moved closer. Within a breath he arrived beside Lin Mu and carefully inspected him. His immortal sense flowed through the young man’s body several times.

After confirming that there was indeed life within him, the elder visibly relaxed.

A breath escaped his lips.

”Looks like I was lucky,” He Jian said softly.

When the villagers had described the situation, he had not held much hope.

A month was a long time. Especially for a mortal trapped at the bottom of a ravine forty kilometers deep. Finding bones would have already been considered fortunate but finding a living person was another matter entirely.

Yet somehow the young man had endured.

He Jian looked at the injuries covering the body. There were cuts, bruises, and many scars. Some were old and some recent but the state of the young man was miserable. Even He Jian found it difficult to imagine how much suffering had been endured down here.

The elder crouched down and gently placed a hand on the young man’s shoulder.

”Young man...” he called.

Lin Mu shifted slightly and his brows furrowed. The expression looked exactly like someone being disturbed from sleep.

”Little Bull, wake up.”

A grunt escaped Lin Mu’s mouth as his body shifted again. Then after several seconds he slowly opened his eyes. He deliberately squinted and the darkness of the cave helped. Lin Mu made his gaze appear unfocused as if he could barely see anything.

”Who’s there?” he asked warily. His voice sounded rough and uncertain.

In response He Jian immediately took out a talisman. The paper ignited and a sphere of soft light floated into the air as the cave became illuminated. Lin Mu blinked several times while shielding his eyes.

The act was simple, yet every detail mattered. A villager trapped underground for weeks would naturally react this way.

Once his eyes adjusted, he finally looked toward the elder.

The old man stood before him with white hair, long eyebrows and robes that seemed almost ethereal under the light.

For a brief moment Lin Mu pretended to stare blankly.

Then his eyes widened.

”God?” he asked. He Jian froze.

Lin Mu continued. ”Are you a god?”

The old man blinked.

Then before he could reply, Lin Mu asked another question.

”Am I dead?”

The words were spoken with complete sincerity. There was no trace of deception. No acting that appeared exaggerated. Just pure confusion.

The kind that a frightened village youth might genuinely display.

He Jian’s expression softened instantly.

The old man sighed as a trace of pity appeared in his eyes. Looking at the injuries covering the young man’s body, it was easy to imagine what had happened. The poor boy had probably spent weeks trapped down here.

He had likely fallen countless times, struggled, starved, endured despair and eventually passed out. To wake up and find an immortal standing before him would naturally lead to such conclusions.

”No.” He Jian replied gently. ”I am not a god.”

Lin Mu tilted his head. ”You aren’t?”

”No.”

The young man looked disappointed.

”Then am I dead?”

”No.” He Jian said patiently. ”You are alive.”

Lin Mu stared blankly, then he looked around the cave, then at himself and finally back at He Jian.

”Oh.”

A few seconds passed.

”That’s good.”

The elder almost laughed. There was something strangely straightforward about the answer.