In the bamboo-fenced courtyard, various small flowers and grasses were planted, clustered and grouped in pale yellow, light pink, and sapphire blue hues, colorful and accompanied by a faint fragrance permeating the courtyard.

Inside the courtyard was a stone table flanked by two stone stools.

On the stone table sat a set of tea utensils and a chessboard.

Sitting on the stone stool was a young man dressed in a simple robe, with a delicate face, holding a black chess piece in his slender, white right hand, as if his ten fingers had never been sullied by the mundane.

"If I place this black piece here, I win. But I'm playing the white stones too, so wouldn't that mean I lose?"

The young man held the black piece between his index and middle fingers, hesitating to make a move.

"My lord, you seem to be in a leisurely mood."

Suddenly, a voice rang out abruptly from beyond the fence. On the small path outside the fence, a man was slowly approaching. Although he seemed to walk leisurely, each step covered dozens of meters. Thus, within moments, he stood before the young man.

The approaching man appeared to be in his early twenties, wearing casual attire, with a resolute face marked by a slender scar under his right eye.

"Mr. Luo, please have a seat."

The young man holding the chess piece smiled gently, his face warm and amiable.

The visitor was none other than Luo Danhua, the leading disciple of Liang Yuan from the Green Dragon Martial Arts School.

Luo Danhua directly sat down on the stone stool opposite the young man and said, "Lin Mo is back."

Upon hearing this, the black chess piece clamped between the young man's fingers suddenly shattered with a crisp sound, turning into powder and sprinkling down.

"Finally, he has returned."

The young man spoke, his eyes shining like stars, "I have been waiting for him in Lan Country for three whole years."

"The opportunity to kill him has arisen; the Golden Secret Realm Trial is prepared, ready for the best opportunity to eliminate him. Unfortunately, I cannot act personally." Luo Danhua clenched his hands, bones cracking audibly.

The young man shook his head and said, "Three years ago, he stole our Yin Yang Shishen Sect's spirit vein. To hunt him down, I came from Sang Country and have been waiting for three years. Finally... it will end."

"My lord, here is the latest information on him. It seems his strength hasn't progressed much; he's still at the late Innate stage, weaker in martial arts realm than I am, yet remains a Seven-star Martial Artist." At this point, Luo Danhua sneered coldly.

During these three years, Luo Danhua had worked hard to surpass Lin Mo. With his outstanding talent, he successfully stepped into the Moon Wheel Realm.

"Don't underestimate him. He has caused so much trouble; his trump cards are beyond your imagination." The young man furrowed his brows, shaking his head lightly.

Luo Danhua clenched his fist and said, "No matter what, this Golden Secret Realm will be his death."

"Alright, take your things and leave." The young man raised his hand and tossed, letting Luo Danhua catch two streaks of flowing light.

"Two Mystic-grade first-class Qi Gathering Pills." Luo Danhua's face lit up with joy.

"For the next while, don't come to me. Wait until the Golden Secret Realm Trial begins—that will be his death date."

The young man said indifferently.

"My lord, I shall take my leave." Luo Danhua carefully secured the Qi Gathering Pills, before transforming into a streak of light and swiftly disappearing into the sky.

After Luo Danhua left, the young man on the stone stool slowly stood up.

"Lin Mo, three years ago when I was forming my Golden Core, you disrupted it. Over these three years, I have been honing my heart realm constantly. If not for the desire to kill you, why would I suppress my cultivation?" The young man murmured to himself, his voice vanishing into the wind.

...

For half a month, Lin Mo stayed at the Sword Heart Martial Arts Hall, daily revising martial arts techniques, mental methods, and documenting insights and experiences on cultivation to leave for the disciples of the Sword Heart Martial Arts Hall. These were sure to benefit their future cultivation greatly. However, upon viewing some martial arts texts left behind by the school, Lin Mo noticed there was no mention of forming an eighth star after the seventh star of the Star Wheel Mirror, generally gathering seven stars in the Dantian, and then connecting with Heaven and Earth Essence to officially enter the Moon Wheel Realm.

"In the universe, there are countless cultivation planets. I probably only know a tiny fraction, and such profound martial arts skills might be known by strong individuals on other planets."

Lin Mo contemplated silently, aware that the Star Wheel Universe Map was an exceptionally inverse martial arts mental method. If discovered, it might attract the covetous desires of other big shots. Without powerful strength, it was essential to conceal and bide his time.

"Master."

While Lin Mo was reflecting on his martial path, a voice as clear as a silver bell sounded from outside the door.

"Come in."

It was Yingzi who entered; besides her, no one in the Sword Heart Martial Arts Hall dared disturb Lin Mo.

"What's the matter, coming to find me suddenly?" Lin Mo stood up from his chair, stretched a bit, and smiled as he asked.

"It's Qionglong Taoist. It seems he is about to form his Golden Core. Didn't you instruct that once Qionglong Taoist intends to form his Golden Core, I must inform you?" Yingzi blinked her bright eyes, smilingly said.

"Oh, Elder Qiong Long is about to form his Golden Core. I need to go take a look."

Lin Mo smiled, "Let's go, let's go and see together."

On the second day after Lin Mo returned to the Sword Heart Martial Arts Hall, Qionglong Taoist and Su Wen arrived at the hall, and Su Wen joined the Sword Heart Martial Arts Hall to continue cultivating.

Outside the Nine Continents Secret Realm, within the Demon Beast Mountain Range.

The fierce beasts, having undergone anomalies from Spiritual Energy nourishment, were in a frenzy, fleeing through the forest as if in terror, scurrying continuously from the center of the mountains to the periphery, seemingly under threat.

"Yingzi, for the past few days, don't allow any disciples to enter the Demon Beast Mountain Range for trials. Those high-level demon beasts lurking in the core have begun fleeing to the periphery. A disciple lacking their strength would be doomed if they encountered these beasts on the outside." Lin Mo instructed with a frown.

"Master, you don't need to instruct me; I had already given the order. For the past half month, no disciples have entered the Demon Beast Mountain Range for cultivation." Yingzi replied with a smile.

"Girls think things through more thoroughly than I do, ha ha."

Lin Mo chuckled, and along with Yingzi, they turned into two streaks of flowing light, flying toward the core of the Demon Beast Mountain Range.

And in the sky above, several individuals were already present: July, Wu Yihan, Zhuang Ziruo, Su Wen, and others.

"Master!"

"Master!"

Everyone greeted Lin Mo and Yingzi respectfully upon their arrival. "How is Elder Qiong Long?" Lin Mo nodded and cast his gaze towards the depths of the mountains, where a powerful force was surging forth, causing the fierce beasts in the mountains to stampede outward like a torrent.

"Mr. Lin, my master has been in seclusion in the mountains for half a month. Recently, his aura has become turbulent and vigorous, indicating he might be about to make a breakthrough." Su Wen stated respectfully, standing by, her gaze fixed on the mountain depths with traces of anticipation and excitement.

"Mm, let's watch and wait in silence, hoping that Elder Qiong Long can successfully form his Golden Core this time."

Lin Mo nodded and fell silent, directing his gaze forward, wary that utilizing divine thought could easily interfere with Qiong Long's Golden Core condensation process.

In the depths of the Demon Beast Mountain Range, at a protruding mountain nook, a curved barrier encased the location like an overturned bowl. One could visibly discern the ripple and wave disturbances across its surface.

The barrier seemed to be composed of numerous rhombus-shaped segments. As the wind blew, several dry summer leaves landed on the barrier, instantly being shredded and turned to powder by the violent forces contained within the barrier.

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