CHAPTER 82 — A World Apart, A War Approaching
Lin Xuan sat cross-legged beneath the Titan Sapling as the others cultivated nearby.
The newborn world glowed with life—lush grass swaying in a gentle breeze, streams whispering through the landscape, spirit beasts beginning to roam naturally.
But something new caught Lin's attention.
A faint… distortion.
His senses expanded outward with his world-sense, stretching until he reached the veil that separated his inner Earth from the outside realm.
His pupils narrowed.
Time… flows differently?
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1. The Time Dilation of a Growing World
Aurora drifted to his side, her wings shimmering faintly but still showing strain from her earlier sacrifice.
"You've noticed it," she whispered.
Lin nodded.
"How fast?"
Aurora tilted her head as if listening to the heartbeat of the realm.
"In its infancy? About five-to-one.
Five days here… only one passes outside."
Lin inhaled sharply.
"That's—"
"—only the beginning," Aurora continued.
"As the world stabilizes, the difference may grow.
Or shrink.
It depends on how you cultivate it… and yourself."
Mu, who had overheard, nearly dropped her alchemy notebook.
"T-time flows faster here?! Then we can cultivate five times more than anyone outside! That's… monstrous."
Bai chuckled.
"Lin, you've basically created the ultimate cheat."
Sheng bowed deeply.
"This… is a miracle."
Lin didn't smile.
It also means danger.
If a single day passed outside and enemies closed in… they could hide and cultivate for weeks.
But also—
If the world grew too fast, it might attract things far beyond their current strength.
He exhaled.
"We'll use it carefully."
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2. Pills for a Saint Reborn
Saint Shengyuan approached, his new mortal body radiating the soft aura of early Qi Gathering. He bowed respectfully.
"World Master. You wished to see me?"
Lin gestured for him to sit.
"Senior… you need strength. And fast."
The saint nodded with a weary smile.
"Indeed. I feel like a grandmaster trapped in a youth's body."
Lin summoned his cauldron.
Its golden patterns spiraled like constellations.
Mu watched breathlessly.
"You're refining pills… again?"
"Not for us," Lin replied, placing rare herbs into the cauldron.
"For him."
Aurora raised an eyebrow.
"You intend to use the saint as a trump card."
Lin didn't deny it.
"If Cloudsky Sect collapses… if the demonic sect sends a Nascent Soul Grand Elder… or worse…
I'll need someone who can stand beside me."
Shengyuan sighed softly.
"Even at my peak I was only a step from Demigod… I failed my tribulation. I am no longer that man."
Lin pressed a hand to the saint's shoulder.
"But you can be again.
This world favors you.
And I… will refine your path."
One by one, celestial-grade Qi Nourishment pills emerged from the cauldron like glowing stars.
Shengyuan swallowed the first—
and his cultivation shot through the Qi stages like lightning tearing through clouds.
Early Qi Gathering → Mid → Late → Peak
Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment.
Then Level Two.
Three.
Four.
Mu gasped.
"This… is cheating. Beyond cheating!"
Wen muttered, "Just watching this feels illegal."
Saint Shengyuan's aura stabilized in Level 5 Foundation Establishment.
He bowed again, deeply moved.
"Lin Xuan… you have granted me a second life.
I swear on my soul, I will stand with you whenever your enemy rises."
Lin nodded.
One trump card secured.
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3. Preparing to Leave the Inner World
Sheng, Mu, Bai, and Wen finished their cultivation cycles.
Each one emerged visibly stronger.
Sheng's sword domain sharpened.
Mu's alchemy sense had doubled.
Wen displayed stronger qi flow.
Bai cracked his knuckles—lightning flickering.
"The demonic sect won't see us coming," Bai grinned.
Lin, however, felt a looming pressure.
Outside, the world was at war.
He could feel it through faint ripples that reached the inner Earth—echoes of conflict, bloodshed, and powerful auras clashing.
The region is in chaos. Cloudsky Sect cannot stand alone forever.
He stood and addressed the group.
"We have all the ingredients.
We're strong enough to move.
It's time to return to Cloudsky Sect."
Sheng nodded somberly.
"I fear the situation outside… may be far worse than when we left."
Aurora agreed.
"I sense large movements of demonic qi.
Demonic sects are hunting anyone tied to Cloudsky.
They want to kill the sect master before your return."
Mu tightened her grip on her cauldron.
"Then we rush."
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4. Re-emerging Into a World on Fire
Lin opened a gate.
White light flooded the clearing—
and the group stepped back into the outside world.
But they didn't find forests or mountains.
They found smoke.
Villages burned in the distance.
Fields lay scorched.
Caravans had been torn apart.
Wen took in a sharp breath.
"We've only been gone… maybe a day outside?"
Aurora hovered beside Lin's shoulder.
"One day for the world—five for you. Much has changed."
Sheng clenched his sword.
"This is a purge.
The demonic sect is targeting Cloudsky's allies."
Bai growled.
"Then we carve a path through them."
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5. The First Ambush on the Road Back
They didn't need to seek enemies.
Enemies found them.
A wave of killing intent swept across the forest path.
"Cloudsky disciples?" a voice hissed.
"Kill them."
A group of demonic cultivators—over thirty—surrounded them.
Some bore banners from Bloodfiend Sect.
Others carried the bone tattoos of Ghostshade Temple.
A peak Foundation Establishment elder stepped forward.
"You must be Lin Xuan."
Lin lowered his stance.
"I am."
"Good.
Your head will earn me a Nascent Soul cultivation manual."
Shengyuan stepped forward—
but Lin lifted a hand, stopping him.
"No.
Let me see how strong I've become."
Lightning burst from his body.
BOOOOOOM—!!!
The first wave was vaporized instantly.
The Foundation Establishment elder barely had time to widen his eyes before Lin's spear pierced his chest.
Sheng exhaled.
"I see… your power… is already beyond the norm for Golden Core."
Mu whispered:
"He's fighting like a Nascent Soul."
Wen murmured:
"No… stronger."
But more demonic cultivators were approaching.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Lin glared toward the horizon.
"They're trying to delay us from reaching Cloudsky Sect."
Bai stepped beside him, spear spinning.
"Then let's stop wasting time."
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6. When It Gets Too Dangerous… Retreat Into the World
They fought as they ran.
Sheng's sword domain tore through assassins hunting from the trees.
Mu hurled alchemical bombs.
Wen distorted shadows to misdirect attacks.
Bai clashed with demonic beasts head-on.
But eventually—
Aura signatures stronger than anything earlier appeared.
A Nascent Soul elder.
Then a second.
Then… two more.
Mu paled.
"We can't fight all of them together!"
Shengyuan drew his sword—but Lin grabbed his arm.
"Save your strength, senior.
We're not using our trump card yet."
He opened the gate.
"Everyone—inside!"
They vanished into the inner Earth just as four Nascent Soul elders tore apart the clearing where they once stood.
Inside the world, Saint Shengyuan frowned.
"You're drawing attention from the strongest demonic factions. If this continues—"
Lin nodded grimly.
"I know.
We have to reach Cloudsky Sect before the demonic alliance crushes it."
Aurora floated beside him.
"Your world can hide you.
But it won't stop the war."
Lin's voice hardened.
"Then we'll end the war."
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7. Toward Cloudsky Sect — And the Coming Storm
After resting and cultivating three days inside (less than a day outside), Lin and his group emerged again—further up the path, closer to Cloudsky territory.
The world had only grown worse.
Small clans had been exterminated.
Corpses lined the roads.
The demonic influence was everywhere.
Sheng's eyes darkened.
"We need to hurry.
If Cloudsky falls before we arrive…"
Lin clenched his spear.
"It won't."
He turned toward the distant mountains—toward home.
"We'll reach the sect—and the demonic alliance will regret everything they've done."
He stepped forward, lightning cracking around him.
His inner world pulsed in response.
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