C1 Kun

In Celestial Azure City, the capital of the Celestial Azure Dynasty, a pivotal conversation unfolds within the General Mansion of the Lin family.

"Father, I am no longer the right person for the job. Please find someone else," implored the young man.

In the grand hall, Lin Changqing, the nation's esteemed Great General, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his demeanor grave as he firmly responded, "I disagree!"

Elder Moo, observing the Great General's stern countenance and then turning his gaze to the young man nearby, rose to his feet and spoke gently, "Lin Xi, since the age of sixteen, you've been at the forefront of our dynasty's military, deep within the borders. Your tenure has been marked by extraordinary victories, and it's fair to say that the peace along our borders is a result of your efforts."

"Now you wish to resign as Young General, but consider how this will appear to the millions within our dynasty. They would be disheartened, and our conduct would be no better than that of beasts! We would be condemned by history as villains!"

Elder Moo's speech was fervent, his expression earnest.

The young man below, Lin Xi, maintained a serious tone, "Elder Moo, now that I've lost my cultivation, it would be a disservice to our people to remain in this position."

Lin Changqing sighed deeply and took his seat before speaking, "Xi'er, let's not discuss your role as Young General any further. We will find a solution for your cultivation issue. You may return home now."

Lin Xi left the hall, a silent figure wrestling with his own sense of helplessness.

As Lin Xi departed, Lin Changqing watched his retreating figure with a look of concern that went beyond the young man's lost cultivation. In his hands, he held a golden scroll—a secret missive from the royal family.

The scroll bore the personal summons of the current Empress of the Celestial Azure Dynasty, Ye Qinyi. The dynasty was unique, with the royal family consisting predominantly of women, making up ninety percent of its members. To ensure the continuity of the royal lineage, the first Empress decreed that each generation's Young General from the General Mansion would be chosen to enter the palace and contribute to the royal bloodline.

While ostensibly serving the royal family and holding the esteemed position of a prince consort, the true intent of the first Empress was to keep a close eye on the formidable Lin family of the General Mansion. She harbored fears that their growing power might one day threaten the royal house, and so she craftily stifled the Lin family's development.

In this generation, quite unexpectedly, the imperial edict arrived in the hands of Great General Lin Changqing before the Young General had even come of age.

It was likely due to Lin Xi's formidable reputation prior to losing his cultivation, which had caught the royal family's attention.

Yet, now Lin Xi's cultivation was completely gone...

As this thought crossed his mind, Lin Changqing had a sudden flash of insight. At that moment, Elder Moo, the military advisor, approached him with a measured pace and spoke with a slight squint in his eyes,

"General, although the Young General's cultivation has been lost, perhaps the royal family has a way to help..."

After leaving the General Mansion, Lin Xi didn't get far before he encountered two men.

Both were dressed in the standard black training attire of the household. Upon seeing Lin Xi, they immediately halted and bowed in respect,

"Greetings, Young General."

Lin Xi regarded them both and playfully slapped one of the young men on the shoulder, saying with a grin,

"Hey, Lin Zhengyi, your cultivation is coming along nicely. You're on the verge of a breakthrough."

Lin Zhengyi blushed slightly at Lin Xi's comment.

Without warning, Lin Xi shifted the conversation, "How about you take on the role of Young General?"

Startled by the suggestion, Lin Zhengyi hastily backed away, shaking his hands in front of him, "No, no, no, that won't do. Mr. Lin Xi, such jokes are not to be made."

Lin Xi maintained a serious tone, "Both you and Lin Yizhi have reached the peak of the late Qi Gathering Stage, and the Mortal Exuviating Stage is within your grasp. You have the strength to contend for it."

Still shaking his head adamantly, Lin Zhengyi watched as Lin Xi walked away without further comment.

Once Lin Xi was out of sight, the man beside Lin Zhengyi spoke up, "Zhengyi, truthfully, Mr. Lin Xi's words aren't without merit. You could genuinely vie for the position of Young General."

Lin Zhengyi, still watching the retreating figure of Lin Xi, remained unconvinced, "I don't believe Mr. Lin Xi's story ends here. At such a critical time, we shouldn't be undermining him. Just wait and see, Mr. Lin Xi is bound to reclaim his former glory."

After Lin Xi returned to the courtyard, she entered her room and sat down cross-legged, closing her eyes to concentrate. Shortly thereafter, a blue Spirit Pattern illuminated her neck.

As if in a trance, a powerful Spiritual Force Magic Array materialized beneath her. With a "puff," a peculiar creature appeared on Lin Xi's chest.

It resembled a fish, yet it wasn't one—it was a Kun.

There were tales of a fish so vast it couldn't be stewed in a single pot. The creature before Lin Xi was indeed the legendary Spirit Beast, the Kun, albeit still in its juvenile stage.

It looked like a miniature whale with disproportionately long and large fins, its body a shimmering blue and its eyes aglow with a golden radiance.

Lin Xi then retrieved several high-grade Spirit Stones from her Storage Bag, activating them with her Spiritual Force.

In an instant, Spiritual Qi surged toward her chest like a tidal wave.

The little one blinked its large eyes and opened its mouth wide, drawing in the energy voraciously.

Soon, all the Spiritual Qi had been absorbed into the little fellow's belly, and the high-grade Spirit Stones were completely consumed.

Moments later, Lin Xi opened her eyes and gazed down at the Kun Beast floating in the air. "Ms. Loong Yuv, have you had enough?" she inquired.

The Kun Beast fluttered its tail fins as a youthful voice responded, "Quite satisfying, I've had plenty today."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xi eagerly asked, "Does that mean I can regain my strength now?"

Lin Xi's own cultivation had been devoured by the small creature, which also continually siphoned Spiritual Qi from within her.

However, Loong Yuv had indicated that feeding her well would yield greater benefits for Lin Xi once Loong Yuv fully awakened.

Lin Xi's desire to relinquish her title as Young General was driven by her wish to focus on her growth.

While Lin Xi's thoughts drifted, the Kun Beast on her chest suddenly burst into a brilliant blue light, and she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.

In the next moment, she found herself in an expanse of nothingness, with the vista alternating between a star-filled sky and a clear day, before shifting to a sprawling desert.

Lin Xi was bewildered.

Then, as if a mirror had shattered, the entire scene fragmented into countless pieces.

After the fragments scattered, several pitch-black flying swords burst forth from the darkness, and the entire space was inching towards destruction.

Lin Xi's face went pale at the sight.

Damn it, I just want to grow stronger, not die!

Just then, Lin Xi spotted a woman emerging from the broken space!

As the woman appeared, it was as if time stood still; everything came to a halt.

With her long hair draped over her shoulders and clad in a plain dress, she stood tall and poised, her gaze as detached as the surface of a tranquil lake, dismissing everything before her as if all beings were mere insects.

The woman fixed her eyes on Lin Xi and declared, "From this moment on, I am your Dao Protector. Any objections?"

With those words, a long sword came to rest at Lin Xi's brow.

Lin Xi's expression solidified. "No..."

"The Great Dao I impart to you is both the origin and the culmination of all Great Daos."

"To break free from causality, to transcend the cycle of rebirth."

Lin Xi blinked. "Isn't that a bit too defiant of the heavens?"

The woman replied calmly, "In our cultivation, defying the heavens is precisely what we do!"