Decades passed without notice.
Lin Jiong and Lin Ling had smoothly taken over the Lin family, and the other children of Lin Xiao Tian had also joined the Lin family one after another. The old matriarch was immensely pleased to see the main Lin family flourishing.
On the Yang family's side, with Lin Xiao Tian's help, their two children grew rapidly. Despite their special circumstances, they carved out a place for themselves in the Yang family, relying on the skills Lin Xiao Tian had imparted.
With the children settling down, Lin Xiao Tian finally had time for himself.
For a period afterward, Lin Xiao Tian accompanied Qin Yu Xiang on travels.
Everything Lin Xiao Tian had promised Qin Yu Xiang was now fulfilled.
Another ten years passed.
News came from the Lin family that the old matriarch's health was declining.
Lin Xiao Tian and Qin Yu Xiang returned to be with her. The matriarch had no particular ailments, but she was simply too old.
Even without any diseases in her organs, it was becoming impossible for her to sustain her body any longer.
This was the fate of mortals; without cultivating immortality, death was their only destiny.
A few days later, the old matriarch finally passed away.
The Lin family stayed with her until her very last moment.
This elder had made countless sacrifices for the entire family.
Fortunately, she departed with a smile.
Lin Xiao Tian held a memorial service for the old matriarch and remained at the Lin family residence to keep vigil for a period.
Afterward, Lin Xiao Tian largely stayed at the Lin family home. When he had free time, he would cultivate with Qin Yu Xiang or go to the Lightning Pool in Black Mountain to train.
Lin Xiao Tian successfully advanced to the late stage of Core Formation, while Qin Yu Xiang reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.
Upon reaching the late stage of Core Formation, Lin Xiao Tian's seclusion became much more frequent.
On one occasion, Lin Xiao Tian entered seclusion and emerged ten years later.
Qin Yu Xiang came out to greet him, accompanied by a mischievous little girl.
Lin Xiao Tian blinked in surprise.
Had he time-traveled?
"How did Lin Ling become so small?" Lin Xiao Tian asked, looking at the girl before him.
Qin Yu Xiang couldn't help but roll her eyes. "What nonsense are you spouting? This is Lin Fei, the daughter of our Ling'er. You've been in seclusion for ten years, and you don't even recognize your own granddaughter!"
Lin Xiao Tian looked closely and saw that she did indeed look slightly different from Lin Ling.
"You can't blame me! You haven't changed at all, and standing next to you is a little girl who looks so much like Lin Ling. It's only natural for me to make a mistake!" Lin Xiao Tian argued stubbornly.
"Heh! Still being stubborn! Come on, Fei Fei, let's go. Don't mind your grandfather," Qin Yu Xiang said, pulling the little girl away.
As Lin Fei walked, she kept turning back to look at Lin Xiao Tian, her bright, spirited eyes scanning him.
"Alas! Are you really leaving? Wait for me!"
Lin Xiao Tian instantly teleported in front of Lin Fei.
"Hehe, Fei Fei, I'm your grandpa! Shall Grandpa take you flying?" Lin Xiao Tian said with a smile.
Lin Fei nodded quickly upon hearing this.
"Haha, just like Ling'er's daughter, she's very interested in flying."
"Flying what! She's so small, what if she gets scared?" Qin Yu Xiang pinched Lin Xiao Tian hard.
Lin Xiao Tian remained unfazed.
With his current physique, the pinch had no effect whatsoever.
"Alright, alright, then we'll just walk back," Lin Xiao Tian shrugged.
"Come, Grandpa will hold you."
Little Lin Fei obediently nestled into Lin Xiao Tian's embrace, watching him intently.
Upon arriving at the Lin family residence, Lin Xiao Tian also met Lin Ling.
After ten years, the once willful little girl had grown into a woman.
A stranger stood beside Lin Ling.
"This is Yu Chen, Ling'er's husband."
"Xiao Chen, this is your father-in-law."
Qin Yu Xiang introduced them to each other.
Lin Xiao Tian only then learned that Lin Ling had been married for ten years.
Apparently, shortly after his last seclusion, Lin Ling had married Yu Chen. They had intended to call Lin Xiao Tian out, but he had been in seclusion and unable to leave, so the matter had been dropped.
Lin Xiao Tian felt a pang of guilt; he had missed his own daughter's wedding.
Fortunately, Lin Ling was an adult now and had matured considerably, understanding that Lin Xiao Tian truly couldn't have come out.
In the evening, the family gathered for dinner.
Lin Jiong also had his own children, and so did the others. The family was harmonious and happy.
After dinner, Lin Xiao Tian played with his grandchildren and grand-nieces, with Qin Yu Xiang accompanying him.
The children were boisterous, but fortunately, Lin Xiao Tian had plenty of energy. Any other person his age would have been utterly exhausted by now.
Qin Yu Xiang let out a sigh for no apparent reason as she watched Lin Xiao Tian enthusiastically playing with the children.
"What's wrong?" Lin Xiao Tian came to her side.
"The children have been waiting for you to come out of seclusion. Now that you're finally out, I can't seem to be happy."
"Why?"
"They hope you'll teach all your skills to their children," Qin Yu Xiang said, pointing to the children clamoring around them.
The children's anticipation of Lin Xiao Tian's return was not solely due to familial affection; it was also driven by self-interest, which made Qin Yu Xiang feel a little sad.
"They're all adults now, not children anymore," Lin Xiao Tian said, stroking Qin Yu Xiang's head.
Qin Yu Xiang leaned into Lin Xiao Tian's embrace. The children around them watched the couple with expressions of bewilderment.
The Lin family followed the tradition of primogeniture. Lin Jiong's children were the future successors of the Lin family. For the sake of the family's future stability, Lin Xiao Tian naturally showed some favoritism when imparting his skills.
Later that night, Lin Xiao Tian went into the courtyard.
His gaze fell upon an ancient stone tablet. With a movement of his divine sense, the tablet emitted a faint glow.
"The inheritance of Shennongjia..." Lin Xiao Tian murmured.
Now that he was in the Nascent Soul stage, it was time to make a trip to Shennongjia.
Lin Xiao Tian planned to depart in a few days. However, on the day before his intended departure, someone from the Yang family arrived, specifically asking for Lin Xiao Tian.
When they met, Lin Xiao Tian realized the visitor was an old acquaintance.
"Yang Lin?"
"What are you doing here?"
They stood facing each other, two vastly different figures.
Yang Lin was stooped with age, while Lin Xiao Tian maintained the appearance of a man in his early twenties.
Looking at the youthful Lin Xiao Tian before him, Yang Lin couldn't help but be astonished.
However, recalling the events that had transpired in the Kunlun Valley, he found it more understandable.
"Xiao Tian, I've finally found you. You must save Yang Tao and the others this time!"
Yang Tao was the son of Yang Xin and Lin Xiao Tian. Since Yang Xin was a member of the Yang family, Yang Tao had taken their surname.
"What happened?" Lin Xiao Tian frowned.
Lin Xiao Tian held Yang Tao's strength in high regard. After all these years, he should have reached the Qi Condensation stage. What trouble could a member of an immortal family at that level encounter?
"Yang Tao was captured by the Apostles in the Kunlun Valley. They left a message demanding something from your possession. This has been going on for over a month. Fortunately, you've appeared..." Yang Lin paused, hesitating.
"Just say whatever you need to say!"