"Master Lin, the heads of the Lin and Yu families have instructed that no one is allowed to enter. Therefore, Master Lin, please return and do not make things difficult for us," a guard replied.
Lin Hao frowned: "I am a disciple of the main branch, and I can freely enter and exit all sub-branches. You have no right to stop me."
With that, Lin Hao ignored the black-armored guards and tried to force his way in.
This was not because Lin Hao was unreasonable. As a disciple of the main branch, he could freely enter and exit any sub-branch.
Moreover, Lin Hao could feel the rapid depletion of his internal strength. He feared that before long, he would become a complete cripple. If that happened, even a true deity would be powerless to help.
The main branch steward had brought him to the sub-branch, implying that they would find a way to save Lin Hao.
However, after three days since arriving in Fenglin Town, the sub-branch head, Lin Zhan, and the two elders had not shown up, which made Lin Hao very anxious.
"Lin Hao! Don't push your luck! If you make things difficult for us, it won't be good for you either!" The two black-armored guards glared at him, ready to attack at any moment.
At this moment, Lin Hao had a foreboding feeling. Why were the two black-armored guards from the Yu family treating him like this?
"The Yu family sub-branch was saved by my father ten years ago. Otherwise, not just the sub-branch, but even the main branch of the Yu family would have been wiped out. You are old guards; have you forgotten?" Lin Hao suppressed his anger, trying to remain calm.
Upon hearing this, the two black-armored guards were stunned.
Ten years ago, the Yu family was almost wiped out by an external force. It was only thanks to Lin Hao's father that the crisis was averted.
"This..." One of the black-armored guards hesitated.
But after a moment, he said firmly, "Why bring up the past? It was your father who saved the Yu family, not the Yu family who asked for it. It was just meddling in others' affairs! Leave quickly, don't make things difficult for us!"
Lin Hao was furious at this response.
"Let Hao enter." Before Lin Hao could respond, a middle-aged man's voice came from inside the hall.
"Yes." The black-armored guards quickly moved aside to let him pass.
Since someone from above had spoken, they would not deliberately make things difficult for Lin Hao.
Inside the hall.
The sub-branch head of the Lin family, Lin Zhan, and the sub-branch head of the Yu family, Yu Huang, sat at the top, with several elders from both families beside them.
"Brother Lin Hao, how are your injuries?" In front of Yu Huang sat a beautiful young woman.
The woman's name was Yu Xin, the second daughter of the Yu family and the beloved daughter of Yu Huang.
"I came here today to see Head Lin and ask about this matter," Lin Hao said, nodding at Yu Xin.
"Hao, don't be anxious. If you can hold on for two more days, we will have a way to restore your spirit root," the sub-branch head of the Lin family said.
"Lin Hao, since the main branch steward brought you here, there must be a reason. Just wait for news, and don't barge into the inner hall so recklessly next time," a young man with a cold expression said from beside the sub-branch head.
This young man was named Lin Tong, the top martial talent in the sub-branch, who had successfully opened the first Earth Gate and found a 'Golden Body.' He was also the son of the sub-branch head.
"Lin Tong, as a disciple of the main branch, I can go to any sub-branch, not just Fenglin Town," Lin Hao said, his expression unchanged.
"Main branch... hahaha..." The young man smirked, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery.
"Lin Hao, let's not bring up the past. Leave quickly; we have matters to discuss with the Yu family," Lin Tong said, waving his hand dismissively.
The two sub-branch heads did not say much.
Seeing this, Lin Hao nodded, his face cold, and turned to leave.
...
"Two more days at most. If there's no way to restore my spirit root by then, I will return to find my father..." Lin Hao's gaze was resolute, and he clenched his teeth.
Thinking of his father, Lin Hao clenched his fists, his eyes filled with sorrow.
He was originally not surnamed Lin but Bai, his real name being Bai Hao. The Bai surname was the royal surname of the 'Heavenly Domain.'
His father, Bai Yan, was a powerful king-level figure whose actions could shake the heavens. However, due to some unforeseen circumstances, he had fallen to this state.
"My father doesn't know that my spirit root is broken. If he finds out, he will be enraged and will lead people to attack the Holy Heaven Sect, regardless of the consequences, even if it means exposing his identity and hidden strength..." Thinking of his father, Bai Yan, Lin Hao felt as if his heart was being torn apart.
His mother was still trapped in the Bai Kingdom, and his grandfather and maternal grandfather were missing. This was already a huge blow to his father. If he learned that Lin Hao's spirit root was shattered...
Lin Hao was lost in thought and, without realizing it, left the sub-branch residence and came to a bamboo grove on the outskirts. He held a bottle of wine and drank it desperately.
After a while, the bottle was empty, and Lin Hao was seven-tenths drunk.
He swung his fists at a large tree, venting his frustration and helplessness.
Rumble!
Suddenly, the earth seemed to shake.
A colorful light, as if piercing through the ages, split the sky and landed in front of Lin Hao.
Lin Hao was entranced, as if in a dream, not in the real world.
"Fourteen years, I finally found you. If not for your broken spirit root and the leakage of your spiritual energy, who knows when I would have found you," the colorful light transformed into a human-like figure, its deep gaze seemingly able to see through the soul.
"Who... who are you?!" Lin Hao, half-sober, looked at the god-like figure, his pupils dilating.
"I am Gu Changfeng..." The man did not speak, but his voice echoed in Lin Hao's ears.
"Gu Changfeng... the Nine Heavens Emperor Gu Changfeng?!" Lin Hao was finally fully awake. The name of the Nine Heavens Emperor Gu Changfeng was known throughout the Heavenly Domain.
One of the nine great emperors, he had opened the ninth Heavenly Gate in the 'Ten Directions Heavenly Realm,' making him a supreme powerhouse!
The legend of the Nine Heavens Emperor was passed down in every Heavenly Palace City in the Heavenly Gates.
However, twenty years ago, Gu Changfeng was ambushed and killed by an enemy using a soul-destroying needle in the Heavenly Palace City while attempting to open the final Heavenly Gate. Since he was already dead, why was he appearing before him now?
"Are you human or ghost? Why are you here?!" Lin Hao's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. Though he did not believe in the supernatural, he instinctively felt fear, whether from the Nine Heavens Emperor's reputation or the fear of evil spirits.
"No need to be alarmed. We are one. Fourteen years ago, when I fell in the Heavenly Palace City, I separated my main soul and cast it into the mortal world. You are my main soul," Gu Changfeng said, his expression calm.
"I am your main soul? Don't joke with me." Lin Hao did not believe Gu Changfeng's words. It sounded like a story made up by a storyteller.
"Whether you believe it or not, it is the truth. I have been searching for you for fourteen years, and today I have finally found you. One day, I, Gu Changfeng, will slaughter those bastards!" With that, the figure transformed back into colorful light and rushed into Lin Hao's body.
At the same time, Lin Hao felt as if he had been struck by lightning, his body convulsing uncontrollably.
Soon, he fell to the ground like a pile of mud, unconscious.
...
After an unknown amount of time, which felt like an entire century or just a moment, Lin Hao finally woke up.
Birds chirped in the bamboo grove, and a gentle breeze blew. It was the beginning of another day.
Lin Hao opened his eyes, his head feeling as if it would explode with pain.
After a long while, he stood up.
His eyes, once calm, now seemed to pierce through the ages, striking fear into the hearts of those who looked at them.
"So, this is it... I am the main soul... the Nine Heavens Emperor, a title both familiar and strange." At this moment, Lin Hao finally understood. The memories of his past life flooded his mind.
Lin Hao integrated all of Gu Changfeng's memories, and his soul became ten times stronger than before.
With the fusion of the two souls, Lin Hao's soul became unprecedentedly powerful, and his thoughts were crystal clear.
As the Nine Heavens Emperor had said, fourteen years ago, he finally reached the tenth Heavenly Gate. Upon entering the Heavenly Palace City, he was ambushed by powerful enemies and fell. Before his death, the Nine Heavens Emperor separated his main soul and cast it into the mortal world.
And this main soul was Lin Hao!
In other words, Lin Hao himself was the true Nine Heavens Emperor.
As for the Gu Changfeng he had just seen, he was just a secondary soul.
With the two souls united, the once world-shaking Nine Heavens Emperor was reborn!
"Fourteen years ago... who was it that caused my downfall? Why can't I remember?" Lin Hao shook his head, trying to recall what happened in the Heavenly Palace City fourteen years ago, but he could not.
It seemed that the fusion had caused some changes, erasing this memory.
"Never mind, I'll figure it out later." Lin Hao felt a headache and decided not to force it.
...
From Gu Changfeng's memories, Lin Hao learned that even with a broken spirit root, there were many ways to repair it.
"Using the Rejuvenation Pill, three taels of Spirit Grain, and two taels of Blood Green, I can create the Spirit Root Reformation Pill. I don't need to trouble the Lin family," Lin Hao, having received all of Gu Changfeng's memories, knew that the Nine Heavens Emperor was a top alchemist. He could easily find dozens of precious pill recipes.
Then, Lin Hao lightly stepped, and the earth seemed to shake. A lingering afterimage remained where he stood, and he disappeared.
A gentle breeze blew, and the Lin family's training ground was bustling with activity. Lin Feng and Lin Yue, along with other junior disciples, were practicing on various training platforms.
Around the training platforms stood some unfamiliar men and women, including two Yu family stewards.
The Lin and Yu sub-branches were about to form an alliance through marriage. The Yu family had come to assess the strength of the Lin family's junior disciples, especially Lin Feng.
Beside the Yu family steward stood a woman.
She wore simple clothing, her ink-black hair reaching her waist, her skin fair, and her eyes filled with a misty, captivating glow.
However, she wore a veil, hiding her face.
This woman was Yu Yao.
The Yu family believed that since she was already engaged to Lin Feng, they should spend more time together, so they brought her to the Lin family.
However, at that moment, Lin Feng and Lin Yue were on a training platform, and Lin Feng glanced at Yu Yao, a proud smile on his face.