It seems that Lin Chen was told to get on its back.

Lin Chen thought for a moment, then leapt onto the back of the Island Whale.

Immediately afterward, Lin Chen saw the Island Whale’s back, covered in all kinds of scars.

Injuries several yards long could be seen everywhere, and there were many leech-like creatures the size of fists sucking blood from the wounds.

Lin Chen could feel the plea from the Island Whale, who seemed to be begging Lin Chen to help him remove these creatures.

"Alas, you are quite pitiable... A dignified Fifth Tier Sea Beast, yet so miserable..."

Lin Chen shook his head and cast several Fire Techniques, burning all the parasites on the Island Whale’s back.

Then he used a Wood Element Technique to help it recover quickly.

Soon, the Island Whale emitted cheerful cries, loudly calling to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen laughed as well, reaching out to stroke the Island Whale’s back.

Lin Chen once heard that, regarding whale-like creatures, humans happen to land right on their aesthetic appreciation points.

Perhaps, in a whale’s eyes, humans are somewhat like kittens.

Imagine a kitten bandaging your wounds, feeding you, presumably it would be quite endearing.

Just then, the Island Whale let out some different cries to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen listened carefully for a moment, then asked in surprise:

"Are you saying you know where the demon beasts that bullied you are? You want me to take you for revenge?"

The Island Whale nodded happily.

Lin Chen paused in thought.

The Island Whale, although a Fifth Tier Sea Beast, wasn’t adept at attacking, and was famously good-natured.

Even so, those who could bully him must be at least Fifth Tier Sea Beasts.

"Haha, I’ve been troubled by the lack of Fifth Tier Sea Beast meat anyway, might as well look for some..."

Lin Chen muttered to himself.

The Island Whale then dived into the deep sea, stirring up waves like an island sinking.

And Lin Chen pinched a Water Avoidance Technique, following the Island Whale.

After a day and a night, Lin Chen had no idea how far they had traveled.

But the Island Whale’s tunneling speed in water was probably twice as fast as his.

Until Lin Chen sensed a dangerous aura around him.

"The Fifth Tier Sea Beast is nearby..."

Lin Chen squinted his eyes; under the deep sea, everything was dark.

Even people with excellent vision couldn’t see anything beyond the blackness.

But fortunately, Lin Chen had his Divine Sense.

Soon, Lin Chen sensed a huge Sea Beast through his Divine Sense.

It was a giant octopus, as tall as a ten-story building, with hundreds of tentacles covered in peculiar organs resembling suckers and eyes.

"Indeed, this is a Fifth Tier Sea Beast. The good news is... this octopus seems to be injured as well!"

Considering this, Lin Chen charged directly at the Sea Beast octopus.

What a fine delicacy!

The mere thought of grilled octopus made from Fifth Tier Sea Beast meat made Lin Chen drool.

Lin Chen swung his blade, and black rays flashed.

Dozens of octopus tentacles were severed in the depths of the sea.

Not only Lin Chen took action; the Island Whale, filled with resentment, also charged at the giant octopus.

Lin Chen coordinated with the Island Whale, battling the massive octopus for over a quarter of an hour.

Eventually, the octopus was slain by Lin Chen.

Lin Chen stored the octopus’s tentacles and body in his Storage Bag.

...

An hour later, the Island Whale was lazily floating on the water, blowing the sea breeze.

The pressure from the Fifth Tier Sea Beast scattered around, and ordinary sea beasts didn’t dare to approach.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen was intrigued, setting up a campfire on the Island Whale’s back to grill squid tentacles.

The tender squid tentacles sizzled with oil, and Lin Chen took a bite, feeling his appetite grow.

He devoured more than ten pounds in one go, feeling his Qi and Blood Value surge, the Fifth Tier Sea Beast’s flesh nourishing Lin Chen’s body.

Soon, the Island Whale also sent joyful cries.

Listening, Lin Chen chuckled, "You little guy, got greedy too..."

So, Lin Chen tossed some octopus flesh to the Island Whale, letting him enjoy it for a while.

After eating and drinking his fill, Lin Chen said:

"If there are good things like this in the future, remember to call me along..."

Below, the Island Whale understood.

He cried out a few more times, indicating he knew the positions of many enemies.

Lin Chen thought for a moment and said:

"No rush, let’s wait a few days before going..."

With that, Lin Chen contentedly practiced on the Island Whale’s back.

The Island Whale frolicked on the sea surface.

...

Three months passed while the man and fish interacted.

In the early morning of this day, the countdown on Lin Chen’s arm ended, and Lin Chen smoothly returned to Blue Star.

In the Martial Arts Palace, Lin Chen announced his retreat to the outside world, then stepped into the Cultivation Room.

"The Qi and Blood Value has finally hit a bottleneck, 2,993,000... To advance further, it must reach the Martial Emperor Grade!"

Lin Chen murmured.

During these ten months, Lin Chen consumed at least a dozen Nine Dragons and Two Tigers Pills.

Repeated consumption of the pill gradually brought fewer improvements to Lin Chen’s qi and blood.

Nonetheless, it eventually pushed Lin Chen to the Martial Emperor Peak.

million qi and blood, one more step to become a Martial Emperor!

"Martial Emperor Realm, surpassing three million qi and blood, with basic strength exceeding a million tons, peak running speed surpassing 15 kilometers per second..."

Undoubtedly, to ordinary Martial Artists, a Martial Emperor was akin to gods.

And Lin Chen, at this moment, was striving toward this realm.

"The materials for the Divinity Transformation Pill are also about ready. After stepping into the Martial Emperor Realm, I will undergo Crossing Tribulation and Divinity Transformation... By then, my strength will surely undergo a transformation!"

Lin Chen felt a hint of anticipation.

Then, adjusting himself to his optimal state, Lin Chen didn’t hesitate and consumed a Nine Dragons and Two Tigers Pill.

Afterward, Lin Chen absorbed the energy contained in the pill, with his Qi and Blood Value continuously rising.

By the evening of the same day, Lin Chen’s Qi and Blood Value was just tens of points away from three million.

Until three days later...

Lin Chen kept practicing the Breathing Technique, and upon opening his eyes again, he realized the surrounding space had changed.

He was back in that mysterious space.

Different from before, this space felt more real and clearer.

"You’ve done well, you’re getting stronger..."

In Lin Chen’s ear, that familiar, ancient voice rang out again.

It was Zhu Jiuyin!

"Senior, why did you become my Martial Spirit?"

This time, Lin Chen seized the opportunity to ask the question that had been troubling him for a long time. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

And this time, Zhu Jiuyin finally responded.

"I traversed endless space-time and eventually appeared on you. I suppose this is destiny!"

"Child, only you... can prevent that future disaster!"

Lin Chen wanted to inquire about many things, but clearly, the Martial Emperor Realm wasn’t enough for him to remain in that space for long.

"Time is short. Your strength has increased, and you can accept more of my power now..."

"All things in heaven and earth are connected to the river of time. Do you know what the Time Law is..."

As Zhu Jiuyin’s words fell, a beam of light landed on Lin Chen’s forehead.

Lin Chen’s mind seemed flooded with memories, temporarily stripping him of action and thought.

When he regained his senses, he was no longer in that space but appeared in the Martial Arts Palace’s Cultivation Room.

After a while, Lin Chen opened his eyes.

"Time Law, so that’s it... A power beyond the Mental Realm!"

From Zhu Jiuyin’s inherited memories, Lin Chen learned a lot.

Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation Cultivators comprehend Mental Realm.

But above the Mental Realm is the Power of Law!

This is the power only Returning Void Ascendants can comprehend!

Looking at the myriad laws in the world, Time Law is destined to be the one at the top...

Lin Chen’s mind was inwardly focused, and he could feel a small seed was planted within him.

Zhu Jiuyin called this seed the Time Tao Seed!

With it, Lin Chen’s cultivation in the time-related Great Path laws would be much more efficient!

Including Time Intent Realm, which also became simpler for Lin Chen.

Lin Chen slightly sensed his grasp over the Time Intent Realm, then showed a surprised look.

"Time Intent Realm has already reached the Great Success Realm?"

This single awakening of the Martial Spirit had saved Lin Chen at least several years of arduous cultivation.

"Great Success level of Time Intent Realm is surely a true trump card!"

"However, a bit more research might be needed to combine it with divine techniques and unleash its maximum power..."