"Is it time to travel through?"
Lin Yuan felt a glimmer of joy in his heart.
The ability of the Gate of Myriad Realms to travel through worlds isn't without limits.
It requires time to accumulate energy, manifesting gradually as it 'lights up.' The first time Lin Yuan returned from a journey, he received related information from the Gate of Myriad Realms.
It detailed the levels of illumination: the outermost region, the inner region, and the core region.
When the outer region is lit, it's possible to travel, but the method involves consciousness transfer.
If the inner region lights up, bodily travel becomes possible.
As for the core region lighting up, that is tied to some form of transformation of the Gate of Myriad Realms.
The information Lin Yuan received only briefly mentioned this.
The three lighting levels vary in the time they require.
The outer region takes about eight months to a year to light up.
The inner region takes years to decades.
As for the core region, Lin Yuan speculated it might require decades or even centuries.
"I'll directly choose consciousness travel."
Lin Yuan wasn't particularly interested in bodily travel.
Firstly, gathering enough energy for bodily travel takes too long.
Secondly, the margin for error is too low - if you die, it's permanent.
Compared to this, the consciousness travel offers a much better value.
"Still, it's best to prepare before traveling."
Lin Yuan calmed himself and began his preparations.
He mainly needed to inform his parents that he might 'disappear' for a while.
Although the passage of time differs between higher and lower worlds, Lin Yuan didn't know the level of the world he'd visit this time.
If the time flow rate weren't too different, and he spent decades there while only a few years passed in his main world, it could pose problems.
After settling everything, Lin Yuan left his underground training area and came to a room door.
"After this trip, I should be able to advance my Martial Evolution Path to the second stage."
Lin Yuan thought to himself.
"Then, when I continue to upload it to the Goddess of Wisdom, the achievement points I receive should be enough to upgrade my citizen rank to level three."
Half a year ago, Lin Yuan had already uploaded the improved 'Mythology Chapter' and 'Carefree Chapter' of the martial scriptures, earning 3,000 achievement points as a reward.
Additionally, the ranking of the Martial Evolution Path on the Azure Wave Evolution Ranking rose from ninety-third to seventy-eighth.
The one hundred evolutionary paths on the Azure Wave Evolution Ranking are ranked by the Goddess of Wisdom based on its vast computational power, considering potential, popularity, difficulty of cultivation, and other factors.
When the martial scriptures only had the Grandmaster and Supreme Grandmaster stages, they were ranked ninety-third.
Adding the Mythology and Carefree chapters increased the overall potential, naturally reflecting in a higher ranking.
Predictably, when the Martial Evolution Path formally breaks through to the second stage, the ranking will likely rise again.
After all, the leap from the first to the second stage marks a significant realm transformation, recognized as a substantial advance by the Universal Human Civilization.
In total, uploading the Martial Evolution Path has provided Lin Yuan with 5,000 achievement points.
Advancing to a second-class citizen cost 1,000 points, leaving him with 4,000 points.
To upgrade from a second-class to a third-class citizen requires 5,000 achievement points.
"Let's begin."
Lin Yuan opened the door and walked to a two-meter-long nutrient pod.
During his first journey, Lin Yuan had no choice, with conscription looming over him, forcing him to travel hastily.
Fortunately, his luck was good; he spent twenty years in the martial world while only ten minutes passed in the main world.
However, Lin Yuan now couldn't leave things to chance.
The nutrient pod was military-grade, purchased through President Liao's connections.
Once activated, it could sustain him for two hundred years unless he chose to wake up.
This assurance made Lin Yuan feel very safe; at least he wouldn't return to a skeleton of a body.
Recalling the nutrient pod's usage, Lin Yuan opened the hatch and lay inside.
"Travel," Lin Yuan commanded, merging his consciousness with the Gate of Myriad Realms in his mind.
Instantly, an invisible force pulled him, and he felt his awareness rapidly falling.
Zhang Family Fortress was brightly decorated with lanterns, celebrating joyously.
Everyone knew Lady Zhang had given birth to a boy.
Previously, she'd had eight daughters in a row, sparking endless gossip.
"You've worked hard, my lady," said Zhang Kun, gently placing the swaddled baby down, concern evident as he looked at the frail woman in bed.
"It wasn't hard, my husband. This is our child," Lady Zhang replied, her face pale, yet she mustered the strength to sit up and cradle the infant, her gaze tender.
After a moment of closeness, Lady Zhang addressed a serious matter.
"Husband, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect has been restless lately, moving closer to us. Have you informed the Daoist at Dragon Tiger Mountain?"
"Don't worry, my lady," Zhang Kun replied confidently.
"I've already sent a message to Daoist Changqing; he should be arriving soon. What's more, why fear the Ten Thousand Demons Sect? I, your husband, am a top martial expert; why would I fear those fiendish disciples?"
Unbeknownst to Zhang Kun and his wife, as they spoke, the infant in swaddling clothes opened his eyes, revealing a depth far beyond his years.
The baby, of course, was Lin Yuan.
From their brief conversation, Lin Yuan deduced that in this life, his father seemed to hold a decent social standing.
Just from the birth alone, they'd hired more than five midwives and had over ten maids serving them — a luxury no ordinary person could afford in any world.
With these thoughts, Lin Yuan felt sleepy.
When he opened his eyes again, there was chaos.
Though the door was shut, the sounds of battle outside were loud.
His mother looked extremely anxious.
"What happened?" Lin Yuan wondered, eyes wide.
Everything was fine just a moment ago, so why has it changed so suddenly? Upon seeing Lin Yuan awake, his mother hurried over, tears in her eyes, saying, "Child, the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's eight Helmsmen have attacked. Your father and the experts in the fortress are fighting them off. They can beat back the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, surely they can," she said, hugging Lin Yuan.
It was less about comforting him and more about comforting herself.
After a while, the door swung open.
Lin Yuan's father, Zhang Kun, entered, bloodied.
"My husband, how's the situation outside?" Su Yun, Lin Yuan's mother, immediately asked.
"We can't hold them off," Zhang Kun replied, despair etched on his face.
"The Ten Thousand Demons Sect didn't just send eight Helmsmen; there's also a Protector hiding in the shadows. The Zhang Family Fortress... It's over."
Zhang Kun despaired to think the sect would send a Protector against his fortress.
To be a Protector of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, one had to surpass the top martial experts.
"What do we do now?" Su Yun asked after a period of silence.
"You need to go," Zhang Kun said, moving behind the bed before revealing a tunnel by tapping a spot.
"This passage leads ten miles away. Take the child and go far away; never come back," Zhang Kun said after opening the tunnel, nearly collapsing from exhaustion.
"My husband, let's go together, leave here together," Su Yun urged after briefly inspecting the passage.
"I can't," Zhang Kun shook his head.
"I've taken a hit from the Ten Thousand Demons Sect's Protector, my vital meridian is broken, and I don't have long."
Looking at Lin Yuan, Zhang Kun's voice softened.
"I even thought of your name; you'll be called Shanfeng, the mountain peak of our Zhang Family Fortress. Sadly, there's no future for that."
After speaking, Zhang Kun took out a jade pendant, tucking it into the swaddling clothes.
The pendant bore the characters 'Shanfeng.' Having done all this, Zhang Kun faced his wife, Su Yun.
"When the child grows up, don't tell him about his past. It's better to live an ordinary life, don't think of revenge for me."
With that, Zhang Kun pushed Su Yun into the passage.
(The End of Chapter)