"allow."
………………
Winter has passed and spring has arrived. The drizzle falls gently on the earth, bringing boundless vitality and life.
Lin Yi strolled through the fields on the western outskirts of the capital, holding an oil-paper umbrella.
Several barefoot toddlers ran past him, leaving behind a trail of laughter.
The splashed mud and water flew an inch away from Lin Yi before sliding down the invisible barrier to the ground.
There was a village not far away, and Lin Yi walked in.
The thatched houses of the past are gone from the village; now, rows of red brick bungalows are neatly arranged on both sides of the road in the middle of the village.
People returning from the fields are busy calling their mischievous children home.
The elderly people watched with smiles, for spring rain is as precious as oil, and this rain brought hope for a bountiful harvest.
"Young man, come in and take shelter from the rain," an old man called out.
"Thank you, sir," Lin Yi replied with a smile and walked over.
After entering the room, the old man closed the door.
Lin Yi sat at the table by the window, raindrops hitting the glass and then slowly flowing to the ground.
"How is the old man doing these days?" Lin Yi asked.
The old man chuckled and said, "I never dreamed that I would one day live in a house like this."
As he spoke, the old man tapped on the glass in the window and continued, "There's still glass. If it weren't for Master Qingxuan's intervention to save the world, I would be incredibly fortunate to have even seen it once in my life."
"Are you alone at home?" Lin Yi asked.
The old man shook his head and said, "My grandson has been selected to work in Chang Le Prefecture, and he can only come home once every five days."
Speaking of his grandson, the old man was full of pride. Then he asked, "The Taoist robe you're wearing is similar to the one my grandson is wearing. You're also from Chang Le Prefecture, aren't you?"
"I guess so," Lin Yi said.
The old man laughed and said, "When I was young, I was known for my sharp eyes in the surrounding area."
After chatting for a few more minutes, the old man suddenly remembered something, took out a handful of roasted peanuts from a bag, placed them on the table, and said, "This is a good treat from my good-for-nothing grandson, a token of his filial piety to this old man. Try some."
While eating peanuts, Lin Yi asked, "When you give a gift, you must have something in mind. Since the old man has been so hospitable, please tell me what it is."
The old man smiled and said, "Judging from your extraordinary bearing and the auspicious five-colored aura surrounding you, you must be no ordinary person. I have no other intentions. If you have the chance to meet my grandson in Chang Le Prefecture, and you think he has potential, please lend him a hand."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yi replied, "So we are kindred spirits."
The old man shook his head and said, "I became a Taoist halfway through my life and spent most of my life cultivating, but in the end I gained nothing. My grandson is now following the same path as me, and I have no choice but to wait here for him to come to me. I hope Master Qingxuan will forgive me for any offense I may have caused."
"Which hidden sect do you belong to?" Lin Yi asked.
The old man gave a wry smile and said, "By sheer chance, I obtained the inheritance of a branch of the Yin-Yang School."
The term "hidden sect" refers to a sect or lineage that does not reveal itself to the public.
It included all sorts of people, from the most respectable to the most unremarkable. Some ran brothels, some sang for a living, and some performed acrobatics. They were all just making a living by wandering the streets and were not worth mentioning.
The most prominent sect in the Hidden Sects is the Yin-Yang School, as the old man mentioned.
The history of this school of thought can be traced back to Guiguzi.
Those fortune tellers who roam the streets and possess genuine skills are mostly from the Yin-Yang school. However, although this school has many members, it is extremely scattered and therefore does not constitute a significant force.
"Wanting to secure a future for your grandson is only natural. I can recommend the Quanzhen Sect, Longhu Mountain, and Kunlun Sect. But what can you offer in return?" Lin Yi's face had lost its previous enthusiasm, and he spoke indifferently. This was just a transaction.
The old man took out a wooden box from his pocket, half of which was tender green and full of spring, while the other half was withered yellow and bleak with autumn. He placed it on the table and then pushed the box in front of Lin Yi.
"This is my most treasured possession, please take a look, sir," the old man said with a pained expression.
Lin Yi opened the wooden box, inside which lay a fragment the size of a grain of rice, yet shining like a star.
On the fragments, countless incomplete talismans and true civilizations flickered and faded, as if containing the meaning of fleeting time and eternal flow, which would not be slowed down, stopped, or reversed for anyone.
With a "snap," Lin Yi closed the wooden box and asked, "What is this?"
The old man said with a smile, "According to my research, this should be a fragment of the divine essence of the ancient god Yin Lingzi, which was nurtured by the creation of heaven and earth and became the cosmic light crystal."
Lin Yi smiled casually and said, "The Divine Crystal of the Universe, what a prestigious name. However, this is exactly what I need."
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Chapter Twenty-Five: Heaven and Earth Are Ruthless, Humanity Is Everlasting
The legendary Yinlingzi is said to be a firefly that cultivated itself under a ginkgo tree and attained enlightenment, hence the name "Yinlingzi".
After the Battle of Zhuolu, this deity disappeared without a trace. Some say he was injured and went into a deep sleep, while others say he was killed by one of the generals under the Yellow Emperor.
Although Yin Lingzi possessed the Law of Time, unfortunately, his time as a god was too short, coinciding with the great war that engulfed countless gods and demons, preventing him from fully maturing. While ranked last among the Ten Great Demon Gods, he was clearly just there to make up the numbers.
It now appears that this deity has fallen.
A true god who held the power over the laws of heaven and earth had his divine status shattered and thus vanished into the mists of history.
Lin Yi's fingers traced the grain of the wooden box, a slight sigh escaping his lips: "We cultivators, in our pursuit of the Dao, must not only attain the fruit of immortality, but also be able to preserve it. Only in this way can we truly achieve freedom and ease."