C15 Inheritance Seal

After a day had passed, the old Taoist's energy gradually stabilized. During this time, he ingested several different pills to stave off an impending deadly calamity.

With a long sigh, he withdrew his consciousness back into his body and looked up at Lin Yu, whose face was etched with concern. A resolute expression crossed his pallid features; he had reached a critical juncture and could wait no longer. Gesturing for Lin Yu to sit before him, he said softly, "I am entrusting the seal to you. From now on, its protection is in your hands..."

Lin Yu's eyes brimmed with tears as he gazed at the pale yet serene Taoist. Clenching his fists, he spoke in a low, raspy voice, "I'll take it, Master. I promise to give it my all!"

"Hehe, very well. I have faith that one day you will stand tall above the sea of immortals and unlock this seal," the old Taoist said with a chuckle, patting Lin Yu on the shoulder.

"Now, we're short on time. I'm about to transfer the seal into you. You may feel a slight disruption in your blood flow, but there's no need for concern. Simply focus on guarding your elixir field," he advised gently.

"Yes, Master!"

The old Taoist offered a small smile and fell silent. His hands moved swiftly, channeling the five elements before forcefully striking the ground to activate the Soul Snare!

With a thud, his palm hit the earth, and the five-colored elements swirled outwards in a circle from the point of impact, leaving fleeting runes in their wake.

Had Lin Yu been more advanced in his cultivation, he would have seen himself enclosed within a circle composed of the five elements, with the surrounding spiritual energy unable to penetrate.

As Lin Yu watched in wonder, the old Taoist retracted his hand and retrieved two blue pills from his bag of holding, popping them into his mouth without chewing. His eyes shut tightly, his fingers wove through intricate gestures, and strands of spiritual energy began to emanate, enveloping him.

"Open!"

The old Taoist's body shook violently as he continued to manipulate his fingers. Suddenly, his pale face grew taut, and complex runes surfaced on his skin, radiating an ancient presence as they meandered across his flesh.

The old Taoist swiftly grasped Lin Yu's left hand. With a swift motion and a flash of light, he drew a line across both their palms, connecting them palm to palm. Fresh blood oozed from the crevices of their hands, winding around their clasped hands and emitting a soft glow.

As their hands joined, runes began to move slowly toward their palms. In just the blink of an eye, they had traveled to the center of their palms and then into Lin Yu's body.

The runes wound their way up his arm, encircling his neck before spreading throughout his entire body. The blood in his veins seemed to follow the runes' path, not causing any discomfort but instead filling him with a sensation of warmth that spread throughout his body, leaving him feeling completely at ease.

Lin Yu's expression shifted abruptly, and he let out a stifled grunt, then clenched his teeth to bear the sensation.

While basking in this newfound comfort, Lin Yu felt an icy chill penetrate his palm and seep into his body, causing his smooth-flowing blood to congeal and a surge of malicious thoughts to invade his mind.

In that moment, the old Taoist retracted his hand and swiftly formed a hand seal, pressing his palm against Lin Yu's heart as strands of spiritual energy enveloped it.

With the influx of spiritual energy, the runes that had spread across his body began to pulsate, emitting a faint blue light. Lin Yu could sense his lifeblood being drawn into the runes, pulsating at varying speeds.

"Seal!"

At the old Taoist's gentle command, the runes blazed with light. Lin Yu felt as if his rune-covered skin was being pricked by countless needles simultaneously.

Then, in a mere instant, peace was restored. The runes vanished from sight and merged into Lin Yu's body. The old Taoist pulled back his hand, breathing heavily, the pill previously in his mouth now nowhere to be seen.

The tumultuous evil thoughts dissipated from Lin Yu's mind. He shook his head, clearing it, and despite the briefness of the overwhelming emotions and despair, they had caused him to break out in a cold sweat.

"Master, are you okay?" Lin Yu asked with concern, noting the old Taoist's weary stance.

"Hehe... It's nothing serious. I've left a gift inside you. When you reach a certain level, you'll naturally discover what it is. I'm sure you'll be quite pleased with it."

Before Lin Yu could inquire further, the old Taoist produced the bag of holding, caressed it gently, and handed it to Lin Yu, saying, "This bag of holding was a gift from your grandmaster when I reached the Qi Activation Stage. Now, I'm entrusting it to you. It contains talismans that can save your life in dire situations. Although you can't yet activate them with spiritual energy, your lifeblood has been infused with power from the pill. To use them, simply drop your blood onto a talisman and throw it. The other items inside are the result of my years of collection, and I'm giving them to you as well. I hope they will be of assistance to you in the future."

"Master!" Lin Yu's eyes brimmed with tears as he knelt on the ground, bowing deeply before the old Taoist with a heavy kowtow.

The old Taoist looked upon the young man with a sigh of contentment and a nod of approval, his smile warm. Magically, two wine pots appeared in his hands, which he set down on the ground before helping Lin Yu to his feet. "Would you join me for one more drink?" he asked.

Tears streamed down Lin Yu's face as he struggled to steady his trembling hands, lifting the wine pot from the ground and forcing the wine down in one gulp.

The drink brought a spicy sensation followed by an unexpected coolness that filled his stomach, a chilling wave that spread through his body, lacking the usual fiery aftertaste.

The wine pot clattered to the ground as a numbness crept from his fingertips. Soon, Lin Yu found himself devoid of all sensation. Looking up at the old Taoist, whose face was still graced with a smile, Lin Yu was filled with confusion. He tried to speak but found his voice frozen, as if his throat had turned to ice, his body shivering uncontrollably.

The old Taoist picked up the wine pot, took a sip, and with a smile said, "As your master, it's my duty to improve your constitution and protect you this one last time. From here on out, you'll have to confront the world on your own."

Silence fell over the cave, and a serene stillness enveloped the space. A cold aura emanated from Lin Yu, his hair adorned with strands of glistening ice, while the mist that had formed in the air hovered and then gently dispersed into the void.

Observing the frost that slowly encased the young man, the old Taoist retrieved a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve. He uncorked it, releasing a surge of fiery energy that hissed as it encountered the cold air.

With a deliberate motion, the old Taoist lifted his hand, paused for a split second, and then snapped his fingers, propelling a drop of fiery red liquid from the bottle straight into Lin Yu's mouth.

The liquid's entrance brought a wave of intense heat that radiated through Lin Yu's body, tempering the deep cold. His once deathly pale complexion now took on a healthier glow.

Inside Lin Yu's body, streams of red energy flowed gently, melting into the cold air within him and creating a faint white mist. This mist twined around his meridians and flesh, encouraging them to merge and regenerate at a frightening pace, rapidly transforming him.

Meanwhile, Lin Yu sat cross-legged, his eyes tightly shut, his entire body encased in a thick layer of ice, resembling a flame that burned slowly within a crystal of ice.

"Little guy, I've done all I can for you," the old Taoist said, gazing at Lin Yu encased in the ice. He took a swig of wine, set the bottle down on the ground, and glanced around. With a gentle touch on the ice crystal and a soft chuckle, he strode out of the cave.

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