The longer he stayed, the easier it would be to expose his former identity and his ties to the Wuji Sect. That was what worried Lin Zheyu most. After witnessing the strange abilities of immortal cultivators, he had become far more cautious. The aura-concealing methods of martial cultivation and ordinary changes of appearance could only fool normal people without spiritual sense.

Immortal cultivators identified a person by far more than appearance. They also relied on each person's unique aura. If he did not use spiritual sense to conceal his aura, any cultivator with spiritual sense could recognize Lin Zheyu's identity, but if he did use spiritual sense to hide his aura, he would immediately reveal that he was no ordinary martial artist.

In this age, when Martial Innate realm experts remained hidden from the world, and immortal cultivators concealed themselves in blessed grotto-heavens, a powerhouse possessing spiritual sense hiding in a mundane martial sect like the Wuji Sect was the strangest thing of all. That was why Lin Zheyu had no choice but to leave.

Before, he had known no immortal cultivators, and no one remembered Lin Zheyu's aura. Back then, he could still use concealment techniques to pass as a mortal and hide within the Wuji Sect. But that was no longer possible. Lin Zheyu now had several cultivator friends, and he had also made quite a few enemies in the demon god barrier. If Tu Yuan and the others discovered that he was a disciple of the Wuji Sect, it would be real trouble.

"So urgent?" Elder Yang frowned slightly, deep concern flashing through his eyes. In his view, Lin Zheyu was hiding the bad news and shouldering everything himself to avoid bringing trouble to the sect.

"It's really nothing. The matter is simply urgent," Lin Zheyu explained, taking several leather pouches from his robe.

"Elder Yang, this one is for you, and this one is for my master. I'll trouble you to pass it on for me. Martial Aunt, this one is for you. These are for Huang Youwei, Senior Sister Wenzi, Senior Brother Chen Ding, and the others. Their names are written on them. I have urgent matters and must leave, so I can only trouble you to help deliver them."

Under the curious gaze of Elder Yang and Wu Xuan, Lin Zheyu handed over the prepared pouches. Names were written on each one. The contents were things he had carefully prepared for them, totaling two mid-grade spirit stones.

"Don't open them yet, or it'll spoil the surprise," Lin Zheyu quickly said when he saw Elder Yang about to open one.

Knowing Elder Yang's temperament, once he saw the precious medicinal pills inside, there was a good chance he would refuse to accept them.

"Heh, you brat, even giving a gift has to be this mysterious. Fine, I won't open them." Elder Yang laughed helplessly, waved a hand, and said gruffly, "If you're in a hurry, then get lost already. Don't waste too much time. However, remember, you can come back if you ever run into trouble. The Wuji Sect will always be your backing!"

After a moment's thought, Wu Xuan handed over the sword she normally used. "You're leaving in such haste, and I had no time to prepare a proper farewell gift. Take this dharma artifact with you as a spare. It's a sword, not the saber you're skilled with, but this is a true dharma artifact. Its power is far beyond that unfinished dharma artifact Jiang Jun gave you back then. With this sword, even if you are not skilled in swordsmanship, you can still unleash power far beyond your own and protect yourself on the road."

Fearing Wu Xuan and Elder Yang might offer him other valuable items as well, Lin Zheyu took a storage pouch from his robe. "Martial Aunt, I can't accept that. I already have a suitable dharma artifact. Look..."

Using spiritual sense to open the restriction, Lin Zheyu reached into it with his hand and pulled out a long saber.

"A storage pouch!"

Elder Yang and Wu Xuan both cried out in shock.

Even the lowest-grade storage pouch was extremely valuable. Moreover, only those with spiritual sense could use one.

Lin Zheyu smiled and said, "Yes. I obtained quite a significant opportunity this time. For now, the techniques and resources I have are more than sufficient."

"Haha, good, that's good. Now get lost already. You're making my eyes sore. I had originally thought that once you matured, I'd have you take over as Pavilion Master of Azure Tide Pavilion." Elder Yang laughed and waved him off impatiently.

In his view, Lin Zheyu must truly have had urgent business. Otherwise, there was no reason for him to leave in such haste. Because of that, Elder Yang did not dare delay him too long, fearing something unexpected might happen.

"Then I'll take my leave. Thank you for the sect's nurturing. Please accept my bow!"

Lin Zheyu gave Elder Yang and Wu Xuan a solemn salute, then stepped away under their reluctant gazes.

Elder Yang looked toward the hall entrance and shook his head helplessly.

"Sigh... I suspected from the start that this boy's background was extraordinary. Now it seems he may be even more extraordinary than I imagined."

Wu Xuan opened a pouch, took one look, and cried out in shock. "Eh! This boy actually gave such precious medicinal pills!"

Hearing her cry out, Elder Yang glanced over and shouted in shock as well. "Divine Intent Pills! Even the Wuji Sect can't bear to exchange for medicinal pills like these. Where did this brat get them from?"

Divine Intent Pills were valuable even in the immortal cultivation world. They could temper the divine soul and strengthen soul force. For martial grandmasters, the greatest threshold to advancing into Innate martial cultivation was that their souls were not strong enough to perceive the existence of the Bridge of Heaven and Earth. Lin Zheyu had bought the Divine Intent Pills precisely to help Huang Baizhong and the others break through to the Martial Innate realm.

Looking at the note left in the pouch, Wu Xuan said in disbelief, "This is too extravagant! He actually wants me to use Divine Intent Pills to break through into Innate martial cultivation!"

She had thought that if she failed to break through to the Martial Innate realm in the future, she would use her accumulated merit to exchange for supporting medicinal pills from the Directorate of Celestial Observation, but she had never dared hope to exchange for Divine Intent Pills. Even for Foundation Establishment realm cultivators, without a powerful background, few would be willing to buy medicinal pills of this kind.

Elder Yang opened his pouch and said with a complicated expression, "Mine has Divine Intent Pills as well. Hm... this boy really put thought into it. There's even a medicinal pill to help me recover from my old injuries."

He had just specifically reminded Lin Zheyu that the Wuji Sect would always be his backing, and that if he met danger or trouble, he only needed to return.

But now, well...

"Martial nephew's opportunity this time is truly something extraordinary," Wu Xuan said in a complicated tone.

"Yes. But that may be a good thing. This time, he may be leaving to join one of those powerful immortal cultivation forces, and likely as a genius recruit at that."

Elder Yang shook his head and chuckled softly. Only that could explain how Lin Zheyu had been able to produce so many powerful medicinal pills.

***

After bidding farewell to Elder Yang and the others, Lin Zheyu left the sect. His Perception Domain spread outward, taking in every reaction from Elder Yang and Martial Aunt Wu Xuan. If he had stayed there to explain, he would have had to tell lie after lie, then waste his strength trying to get Elder Yang and the others to accept them. It would have been far too troublesome. It was better to leave directly and let them accept things as they were.

Lin Zheyu glanced at the gates of Azure Tide Pavilion and murmured softly, "We'll meet again. If there's a chance in the future, I'll come back..."

He let out a long breath, expelling the tangled emotions of reluctance in his heart. Lin Zheyu turned and strode away. After confirming no one was watching, his appearance slowly changed, returning to the face of Xiao Yu from before. Although immortal cultivators primarily identified people through aura, Lin Zheyu's original appearance was fairly well known.

As the Wuji Sect's rising genius, the foremost of the younger generation, and a Hidden Dragon List talent, his portrait had likely already reached the tables of all major factions. If he used his original appearance, it would be easy to expose his past cultivation ties to the Wuji Sect. Then the trouble would be immense.

If others discovered that Lin Zheyu had not even been a Marrow Refining realm martial artist two years ago, yet in just over two years had grown into a powerhouse comparable to the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, how could that be ignored? They would likely be unable to resist capturing him and dissecting him for study, just to see what heaven-defying opportunity he had obtained and what great secrets he carried.

***

A gentle breeze blew, and light shimmered across the river. Lin Zheyu stood by the riverbank, his mood utterly calm as he gradually emerged from the emotions of parting. On the way back, he had specifically hired people to clean up the courtyard, and the whole place looked much more pleasant now.

A spring breeze drifted through. It had rained last night, and today the wind carried a slight chill.

After standing in the cool wind for a while, Lin Zheyu returned to the courtyard and began closed-door cultivation. Ji Ziyang and the others needed to return and enter seclusion to consolidate after comprehending the rule fragments, but he did not. He had expended 10 units of Origin Force to comprehend the rule fragments and had already nearly fully digested the rules he had gained insight into.

Lin Zheyu entered seclusion for two reasons. First, to accumulate Origin Force, and second, to devote himself to studying demonic patterns and totem knowledge. Only through systematically learning demonic patterns and totem knowledge could the Primordial Golden Body technique grow further.