Chapter 364: Clear Statement

"Vice Hall Master Li Yunyao of the Divine Martial Sect has come to visit."

Xing Ying’s demeanor turned rather cautious after she said that, and she discreetly stole glances at Li Pin, seemingly waiting for his instructions on the matter.

"The Divine Martial Sect’s vice hall master is personally here already?" Li Pin chuckled. "It seems losing her support made her realize the need to strive. If I had been guiding her all along, achieving Aura Cultivation would probably have been as far as she could go."

Xing Ying lowered her head and waited patiently.

She, and nearly everyone at the Celestial Martial God Hall, was worried. They feared that their hall master might abandon the Celestial Martial God Hall and return to Tianyuan, where his true roots lay.

After all, Tianyuan and Taibai were his hometowns. These were where his parents, relatives, and friends lived. That land was where he had truly been born and raised.

"Let her come," Li Pin responded. "As for Zhang Dongwang, he can wait a bit longer."

"Understood." Xing Ying promptly replied, though her unease deepened.

Li Pin's choice to meet Li Yunyao first, rather than the Royal Empire envoy, Zhang Dongwang, who posed a significant threat, clearly indicated his priorities.

At that moment, a wave of excitement erupted at the entrance.

"Hall Master!"

"Hall Master, you've finally returned!"

"Wonderful! I knew that with your might, you could conquer even the world!"

It was Shi Shihu, Xing Hui, Xie Longcheng, and the others.

"

Hmm

," Li Pin acknowledged. "Xing Ying has already briefed me on the matters of the hall. You've all done well over this past month."

They all bowed respectfully at once.

"It's all thanks to your guidance and oversight, Hall Master."

"Now go on. The Celestial Martial God Hall can continue operating under this model," said Li Pin.

At that moment, a thought crossed his mind, and he ordered, "In two hours, have Lin Langya come see me."

"Yes," responded Shi Shihu.

He and the others bowed respectfully before departing.

They had come to report on various matters concerning the Celestial Martial God Hall that had popped up during Li Pin’s absence and to seek his decisions on significant events. However, since Xing Ying had already briefed him on the situation and he didn’t have any orders for them, they knew better than to disturb his training over trivial matters.

Shi Shihu knew Li Pin best. He didn’t fail to recognize that the Celestial Martial God Hall was primarily only a place for Li Pin to secure his training resources. While Li Pin might have secondary objectives—such as preserving his martial arts legacy and transforming this place into a sacred land, or improving local welfare—the core focus remained on supporting his training.

Shi Shihu, Xie Longcheng, and the others wholeheartedly supported this idea. In a world where countless powers converged, Li Pin's strength was essential for the Celestial Martial God Hall to embrace greater opportunities for growth. They were committed to striving toward that goal, doing their utmost not to disturb the hall master.

Of course, they knew that reports on major events and significant expenditures were essential. This wasn't about Li Pin's trust, but rather their own discretion. Only by being perceptive could the Celestial Martial God Hall thrive on this land, allowing the martial artist system to break free from its role as a mere supplement to the Astral Cultivators, serving only as reconnaissance cannon fodder.

***

Shi Shihu and the others quickly took their leave.

𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

Li Pin sat quietly in the courtyard, nestled in a large wicker chair beneath a sunshade, reviewing a report on infrastructure development within a hundred-meter radius of Hualong Mountain.

Soon, Xing Ying entered the courtyard, accompanied by a striking figure.

It was Li Yunyao.

It had only been a little over a year since they had last met, yet the twenty-year-old girl had changed significantly. She now radiated less of her previous youthful exuberance and innocence and instead carried a maturity beyond her years.

However, that mature facade shattered the moment Li Pin greeted her.

"Welcome," he said, smiling as he set the report aside. "Have a seat."

Li Yunyao, who had initially worn a stern expression as if ready to confront him, felt tears well up in her eyes at his words. A hint of mist clouded her gaze, but she quickly remembered something, forcing the moisture back and turning her head away, clearly upset with him.

Li Pin glanced at Xing Ying.

Xing Ying quickly caught the cue. She gave a courteous bow before stepping back.

Soon, Li Pin and Li Yunyao were left alone in the courtyard.

Li Pin stopped paying attention to Li Yunyao's stubborn stance and averted gaze as he began to speak calmly. "Let me tell you a story."

He began, “Once, there was a man whose parents passed away when he was just fifteen. From that day on, he suddenly realized how fragile life could be. He contemplated many ways to change this situation, but he found himself powerless to alter it.

"In the end, he chose to practice martial arts, hoping to transform the frailty of life into strength and discover how far humans could evolve."

Li Yunyao was taken aback.

"But at that time, he had no great teacher to guide him and had never been exposed to martial arts. All he possessed was a passionate heart and an unyielding will.

"He worked ten times harder than everyone else. He trained when others slept. Before heading off to work, he’d hone his skills. Even during midday breaks, he never skimped on training. Even when the night fell, he’d continue to train."

"Day after day, year after year, regardless of the spring rains, the scorching summer heat, the chilly autumn winds, or the heavy winter snow. He sought knowledge, pored over ancient texts, visited martial masters, crossed fields, scaled mountains, waded through rivers, ventured into deep forests, fought off wolves, clawed through tigers and leopards, and hunted bears and wild boars.

"Step by step, he climbed the arduous and steadfast path of martial arts."

Li Pin looked at Li Yunyao.

"Sixteen years passed like a day, until he achieved the Core Force realm."

Initially, Li Yunyao thought this was a tale of a Supreme Martial Saint's growth. However, when she learned that it took a grueling sixteen years to reach just the Core Force realm, she nearly laughed in disbelief.

But Li Pin didn't laugh. He continued to look at her with that calm expression.

Feeling uncomfortable under his gaze, Li Yunyao quickly masked her expression, and she began to ponder.

Sixteen years, day in and day out!

What kind of person could endure such a harsh, almost ascetic lifestyle for sixteen years? If anyone could maintain such discipline, what kind of unwavering goal and willpower must they possess?

"The real world offers no rewards for hard work, nor does it grant extraordinary talents effortlessly. After 16 years of hardship, he bore countless hidden injuries. At only 31, his body had already deteriorated to the brink of death.

“Only by condensing his qi into Core could he slightly restore the primordial qi lost over the years, preventing his life from concluding at the mere age of 31, in the hopes of continuing on the path of evolution."

Li Yunyao fell silent upon hearing this.

Thirty-one. To pursue the evolution of life through martial arts only to find that... his body was ruined at just thirty-one....

What was this? How had he ended up achieving the exact opposite of what he set out to do?

"He..." Li Yunyao trailed off.

Li Pin swiftly provided the answer. "He died."

His tone was calm, as though he was simply narrating a story.

"The moment he reached the Core Formation realm, his hidden ailments erupted, and his qi and blood flow reversed, ending his life."

Li Yunyao gasped in shock.

"If... if he could live again, would he regret his choice? Would he still follow this path that could lead him to the same failures and death?"

Li Pin gazed at Li Yunyao. "Even if in this life, he had a mother, a sister, a younger sister, and friends...?"

Li Yunyao paused, suddenly grasping something. Her face turned pale, and her delicate frame trembled uncontrollably. "You..."

Li Pin said nothing more. Instead, he calmly picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and savored it quietly.

What he tasted was not profound. Tea was simply tea. To him, it was just a drink to quench his thirst. No different from water or other beverages. He drank tea simply because it was convenient, right there on the table.

Trembling, Li Yunyao looked at him—the same Li Pin, though visibly aged and altered in appearance. An indescribable sadness filled her, a sadness so deep she couldn't contain it, and tears spilled down her face. She gazed at him, feeling utterly fragile and helpless.

Li Pin didn't offer comfort or words of consolation; he just waited, letting her process the emotion herself.

No relationship, however close, could avoid the ultimate reality—life and death.

Children watch as their parents pass. Wives see their husbands leave. Friends witness the departure of those dearest to them.

In this world, there is no eternal life. Nothing lasts forever.

When it happens, all one can do is learn to accept it.

Though Li Pin practiced martial arts to resist this inevitability, he had always prepared himself to face and accept it.

A heavy silence filled the room for several minutes.

With tears still streaming, Li Yunyao swayed and collapsed weakly, overcome by grief.

Li Pin stood up and stepped forward, catching her and helping her to her feet.

Li Yunyao looked up at him, at this figure whose face had changed but whose presence was unmistakably familiar. Through tearful eyes, she called out unconsciously, "Brother..."

"

Hmm,

" he responded, gently brushing her hair.

In the next moment, she could no longer restrain her sorrow. Throwing herself into his arms, she burst into sobs. "Brother!!"

"

Sniffle... sniffle...

"

She knew... her brother, Li Pin, was gone.