Ascended Without Me: Cultivating with a Genius Son | Chapter 55 | The Father's Fate | Novela.app

Four months later, Li Lin finally emerged from his seclusion. As expected, he had successfully reached the Foundation Building stage, and the heavy weight that had been pressing on Li Xue’s heart finally lifted. Inside Yuhua Hall, Daoist Yuhong looked at Li Lin, who was now a Foundation Building cultivator, and a smile graced his face. Li Xue had not been the only one worried; Daoist Yuhong had been equally concerned, understanding the perils of Foundation Building far better than she did. Although it was not difficult for a cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root to build their foundation, success was never guaranteed. Many favored children of heaven, if their state of mind was unstable, could easily fall prey to their inner demons. "Well done. Now that Xiao Lin has also reached Foundation Building, your father’s painstaking efforts have not been in vain," Daoist Yuhong remarked with a sigh of emotion. Li Xue and Li Lin both felt a jolt of shock. They had both believed that Li Ran had perished years ago. In over a decade, Daoist Yuhong had never mentioned him, and hearing this now left them utterly bewildered. Seeing their expressions, Daoist Yuhong sighed inwardly. He realized that since Li Lin had reached Foundation Building, it was time for the boy to know that his father had not truly fallen. "In truth, the announcement of Li Ran’s death was made first to protect him from being hunted, and second to ensure that you two would not be implicated." Daoist Yuhong paused, watching the stunned expressions on Li Xue and Li Lin’s faces before continuing, "Li Ran’s Life Soul Lamp never went out. It has merely remained very weak, and I have been unable to sense his location. This can only mean one of two things: either his physical body was destroyed and he has been reincarnated, or he is no longer within this cultivation world." Li Lin’s eyes sparkled with sudden light, his heart racing. He vividly remembered his struggle against his inner demons during his breakthrough, where he had floundered in a self-woven illusion for over six months. In the end, it was only the appearance of Ji Rufeng—and his decision to project the role of his father onto Ji Rufeng—that allowed him to find his true heart. Now, knowing his father still existed, whether reincarnated or elsewhere, the void in his heart was mostly filled. In contrast to Li Lin’s joy and excitement, Li Xue felt a wave of guilt. However, she quickly realized that if Li Ran had truly been reincarnated, it would provide her with a perfect excuse in the future; it was only natural that they would no longer be husband and wife after a rebirth. Suddenly, Daoist Yuhong’s final words struck her: *no longer within this cultivation world.* What did that mean? Could he have transmigrated? At that thought, Li Xue was struck by a strange horror and couldn't help but ask: "Master, when you say he is not in this cultivation world... do you mean there is another world?" Daoist Yuhong had clearly expected this question. He explained, "The place our cultivation world occupies is called a Star—anciently known as Mangyun Star. It is merely a remote, minor star on the furthest fringes of the Hongmeng Star Domain. To be 'not in this cultivation world' means he is no longer within the Hongmeng Star Domain. Once one leaves the domain for the outer starry seas, a Life Soul Lamp can no longer track a specific location." A sharp light flickered in Li Xue’s eyes. If that were the case, the world she came from might also be located within some star domain. If she could reach the Soul Transformation stage and gain the ability to fly through the starry sky, perhaps she could even return. But then she reconsidered; reaching Soul Transformation would take a thousand or even ten thousand years. By then, her original world would have gone through countless dynasties, and her loved ones would be long gone. What would be the point of going back? Her excitement instantly withered. "Grandmaster, are the descriptions in the *Records of Cultivation* about the dozens of 'Great Sects' in the Hongmeng cultivation world true?" Li Lin asked curiously. "Yes. The Hongmeng Star Domain contains hundreds of cultivation stars, so having dozens of Great Sects is quite normal. Furthermore, I estimate that the realms of those they call 'Great Sects' are higher than ours. Here, we are considered a major sect if we have a Soul Transformation cultivator; their Great Sects likely have several cultivators above that level," Daoist Yuhong said. In truth, Daoist Yuhong was still underestimating them. In the Hongmeng Star Domain, a sect could only be called a "Great Sect" if it was presided over by a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator. It was simply that Mangyun Star had been isolated for so long that such knowledge had been lost. "Then how could Father no longer be in this cultivation world?" Li Lin asked, puzzled. "We are at the outermost edge of the Hongmeng Star Domain. It is said that we are surrounded by the Smoldering Wind Belt, a place so dangerous that even Immortals dare not wander into it lightly. It possesses a terrifying natural power that can only be traversed with a supreme-grade magic treasure. Your father disappeared within the Tianyuan Secret Realm. I suspect that the realm may contain the ruins of an ancient extra-domain teleportation array. It is highly likely your father was transported beyond our domain," Daoist Yuhong explained. Venerable Yuanxi had not kept this from Daoists Yuqing and Yuhong. He had briefly mentioned the matter of Master Linghua and carefully analyzed Li Ran’s situation, concluding that it was more likely Li Ran had gone to the outer realms than been reincarnated. Hearing this, Li Lin made a silent vow. Once he reached Soul Transformation, he would definitely go to the outer realms to look. He had heard that there were teleportation arrays in the Hongmeng Star Domain that led to the outer realms, making travel quite convenient. Li Xue’s mood had settled into a calm state. Li Ran’s situation was somewhat similar to hers; perhaps he had transmigrated as well. "Xiao Lin, now that you have reached Foundation Building, you should choose a proper Natal Magic Treasure. Additionally, there are certain secret techniques you must begin to learn," Daoist Yuhong said to Li Lin. "Yes, Grandmaster," Li Lin replied respectfully. He then followed Daoist Yuhong to the treasury to select his treasure. *** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation --- | --- | --- 本命魂灯 | Life Soul Lamp | A lamp tied to a cultivator's life force; it dims or extinguishes based on their status. 鸿蒙星域 | Hongmeng Star Domain | The vast cosmic region containing many cultivation worlds/stars. 莽云星 | Mangyun Star | The specific planet or "star" where the story currently takes place. 化神期 | Soul Transformation Stage | A high-level cultivation realm allowing for cosmic travel. 渡劫期 | Tribulation Transcendence Stage | A very high cultivation realm, necessary for a sect to be truly "Great" in the wider domain. 天源秘境 | Tianyuan Secret Realm | The mysterious location where Li Ran disappeared. 熏风带 | Smoldering Wind Belt | A dangerous cosmic barrier of wind surrounding the local star system. 本命法宝 | Natal Magic Treasure | A specialized magic tool refined and bound to a cultivator's soul/life force. 上门 | Great Sect | Refers to the top-tier, influential sects in the wider cultivation universe.