Unrivaled Comprehension: From Mortal to Immortal King

Lin Jiufeng finally understood why the Painted-Skin Scholar treated him so warmly.

It was because they were both from the Mortal Realm.

Five thousand years ago, after the Ten Great Kings ascended, the Mortal Realm saw the emergence of the Path to Immortality. Many top cultivators from the Mortal Realm were enticed, believing that by taking this path, they could easily enter the Dimensional Battlefield. However, they soon realized that while entry was possible, what awaited them afterward was beyond their control.

Since then, no more powerful figures from the Mortal Realm had ascended. With the subsequent decline of spiritual energy, cultivation progress slowed drastically, and the Path to Immortality ceased to appear, making ascension even more impossible.

Thus, the Ten Great Kings were the last group from the Mortal Realm to ascend. From that point on, no one else followed—until Lin Jiufeng.

For this reason, the Painted-Skin Scholar had waited at the door for him, showing a rare warmth—out of a deep fondness for a fellow countryman.

Following the Painted-Skin Scholar into the study, Lin Jiufeng was immediately greeted by a warm, comforting atmosphere. Compared to the cold outside, this room felt like a pleasant spring day.

"Please, have a seat," the Painted-Skin Scholar invited.

Lin Jiufeng sat across from him and, without hesitation, began brewing tea. His movements were smooth and practiced, a seamless flow from steeping to pouring. The Painted-Skin Scholar raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"You brew tea often?"

Lin Jiufeng nodded. "Back in the Mortal Realm, I did it all the time."

The Painted-Skin Scholar sighed. "It's been five thousand years since I last heard news from the Mortal Realm. What is it like now?"

Lin Jiufeng began recounting the current state of the Mortal Realm.

As he listened, the Painted-Skin Scholar was overcome with emotion. The world had changed too much—most of the powers and organizations Lin Jiufeng mentioned were entirely unfamiliar to him.

When Lin Jiufeng mentioned the Wen Family, the scholar's expression froze, his voice tinged with nostalgia.

"The Wen Family… That was founded by my former bookboy…"

Lin Jiufeng nodded. "Yes, the Wen Family is now a powerful hidden clan in the Mortal Realm, producing many formidable cultivators. They've been searching for you all this time."

The Painted-Skin Scholar sighed. "The Mortal Realm no longer has any trace of me."

Lin Jiufeng took a sip of tea, watching as the Painted-Skin Scholar sank into his memories.

For centuries, these recollections had likely remained sealed away, buried in his subconscious. But Lin Jiufeng's arrival had unearthed them, bringing back those long-lost days of glory in the Mortal Realm.

After a long silence, the Painted-Skin Scholar snapped out of his reverie and smiled bitterly. "I must be getting old. I find myself reminiscing too much. My apologies."

Lin Jiufeng shook his head. Then, with a serious expression, he said, "I came here for the survival of the human race."

The Painted-Skin Scholar's eyes narrowed. Seeing Lin Jiufeng's grave demeanor, he didn't take it lightly. "What's happened?"

"The Skeleton Clan, the Giant Clan, and the Yaksha Clan are gathering allies from across the Hundred Clans to annihilate humanity," Lin Jiufeng revealed.

The Painted-Skin Scholar's face turned somber. His piercing gaze locked onto Lin Jiufeng, searching for any trace of falsehood. But Lin Jiufeng's expression was resolute, his voice steady—he wasn't lying.

"Tell me everything," the scholar said seriously.

Lin Jiufeng recounted what had transpired at Yunmeng Great Marsh—how he had stumbled upon the meeting between the Yaksha King, the Five-Colored Skeleton King, and the Giant King, learning of their sinister plans.

The Painted-Skin Scholar listened intently, his mind racing. He had no reason to doubt Lin Jiufeng. With his immense cultivation, he could discern truth from falsehood.

By the time Lin Jiufeng finished speaking, the Painted-Skin Scholar's expression had turned grim.

"Lin Jiufeng, thank you for bringing this information. I will immediately send people to verify it. If this is true, it will be an unprecedented disaster for humanity. I don't know if we'll be able to withstand it."

"That's exactly why I came—to warn you early so that we won't be caught off guard," Lin Jiufeng said.

"Thank you. Stay here for now. You may use anything you need," the Painted-Skin Scholar said before standing up and leaving without wasting a second.

Lin Jiufeng watched him go, exhaling in relief.

Now that the Painted-Skin Scholar knew, humanity wouldn't be ambushed completely unprepared. Even if they couldn't win, at least they wouldn't face extinction outright.

Scanning the tranquil residence, Lin Jiufeng extended his divine sense. Not a single other soul was present.

"This place is perfect for cultivation. I should use this time to break through."

He had the resources for it.

When he slew the Five-Colored Skeleton King, ten celestial crystals had dropped. Converted into divine essence, that was a full hundred million jin of energy.

This was an enormous fortune.

For Lin Jiufeng, it was more than enough to advance to the Fourteenth Forbidden Realm.

Maybe even the Fifteenth.

Previously, he had forcibly suppressed his desire to break through, prioritizing getting the message to the high-ranking members of humanity. For an entire month, he had pushed himself to deliver this warning.

Now that his task was complete, he could finally focus on himself.

Without hesitation, Lin Jiufeng opened the Taiyuan Immortal Abode and stepped inside.

He first checked on the Taiyuan Immortal, who was still working tirelessly to heal the Sword God, Di Liu. Every ounce of stored energy in the abode was being channeled into him, but his injuries were so severe that recovery was slow.

Lin Jiufeng didn't disturb them.

Next, he looked in on the Sacred Beast Qilin, who was in deep slumber inside the white jade ring, his aura fluctuating as though on the verge of a breakthrough.

Lin Jiufeng carefully removed the ring and placed it in a secluded area, ensuring the Qilin could emerge undisturbed once his breakthrough was complete.

With everything settled, Lin Jiufeng let out a breath and made his way to a mountaintop.

There, upon a large stone, he sat cross-legged, clearing his mind of distractions.

Whoosh!

Ten celestial crystals floated before him, radiating waves of immense energy, surrounding him in a pulsating aura.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Jiufeng drew the energy into himself.

BOOM!!!

His realm, his body, his divine soul—all of it erupted with power.

Celestial crystals, after all, were treasures from the Immortal Realm, refined for Immortals to absorb. The energy they contained was beyond comprehension.

By inhaling this energy, Lin Jiufeng was effectively absorbing five hundred thousand jin of divine essence in an instant.

A surge of power coursed through him, overwhelming and boundless.

His breakthrough had begun.

This version ensures clarity for English-speaking audiences while preserving the novel's flow and intensity. Let me know if you'd like any stylistic adjustments!