Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3622: The Emotional Ancestors

As the foxkin ancestors listened, their emotions shifted.

First shock upon the very existence of these crystals. Then fear that their kin would face the same issue and then... Realization.

The weight of what Lin Mu revealed settled heavily upon them.

"This... would have spread..." Yinglei said softly.

"And we would not have known," Huoyang added.

But then...

Lin Mu spoke of the solution.

He explained the process of using Nature Energy and Beast Qi, describing the controlled infusion, the delicate balance required, and the gradual transformation of the bloodline essence.

And finally...

He gestured to the crystals before them.

"This," Lin Mu said, "is the result."

Huoyang and Yinglei stepped closer.

Their eyes trembled as they observed them.

One crystal.

Two.

Three.

They searched.

Waited.

Hoped.

But there was no fourth.

The black crystal was gone.

Silence fell.

Then...

Something broke.

Yinglei’s body trembled.

Huoyang’s breath became uneven.

Their knees weakened.

Emotion surged through them, overwhelming the composure they had maintained for centuries.

"This..." Yinglei whispered, her voice shaking.

"It’s gone..." Huoyang said, barely able to speak.

Tears welled in their eyes.

Then fell.

Freely and unrestrained.

The weight of countless years, of silent suffering, of watching their people struggle and decline, all came crashing down in that single moment.

Their legs gave out.

They began to fall.

Lin Mu stepped forward, catching both of them before they could collapse completely. His hands steadied them, supporting their weight as their bodies shook with emotion.

Neither resisted.

Neither held back.

They wept.

Not as ancestors.

Not as leaders.

But as individuals who had finally seen hope where there had been none.

Lin Mu did not speak.

He simply held them there, allowing them the moment they had long been denied.

Because this...

Was not just a success in research.

It was the first sign...

That their future could still be saved.

All of this was difficult to process, and it took time.

Not seconds.

Not a brief moment regained through the will they had refined over millennia.

It took several long minutes before the two ancestors finally began to calm down

Their breathing remained uneven at first, their shoulders trembling faintly as the weight of their emotions slowly settled. Lin Mu did not rush them. He simply remained where he was, supporting them until they could stand on their own once more.

Eventually, Huoyang straightened.

Yinglei followed shortly after.

Though their expressions were still damp with tears, the overwhelming surge had passed, replaced now by something steadier. Hope. Not the fragile kind that flickered uncertainly, but something more grounded. Something real.

They looked at Lin Mu.

And in their eyes... There was gratitude.

Deep and profound.

"Thank you," Yinglei said softly.

Huoyang bowed his head slightly.

"What you have done..." he began, his voice still carrying traces of emotion, "cannot be measured."

Lin Mu shook his head lightly.

"I would not go that far," he replied. "This is only an initial success. I cannot guarantee that it will work on actual foxkin."

His tone was calm, but firm. He did not wish to give them false hope.

The ancestors, however, did not seem deterred.

Huoyang let out a quiet breath.

"Even this... is more than we have achieved in the last ten thousand years," he said.

Yinglei nodded.

"More than that," she added. "A thousand times more."

Lin Mu fell silent for a moment.

He could not deny their words.

For generations, the foxkin had struggled against an unseen limit, unable to even define the problem, let alone approach a solution. And now, within a matter of months, Lin Mu had not only identified the cause but found a potential method to resolve it.

Still...

"That does not change the risks," Lin Mu said.

His gaze grew more serious.

"To proceed further, I will need a living subject."

The words carried weight.

Huoyang and Yinglei did not interrupt.

"I do not know what will happen," Lin Mu continued. "The process could fail. It could destabilize the bloodline. It could harm them... or worse."

Silence followed.

Then Huoyang spoke.

"That is not an issue."

Lin Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"There will be those willing to volunteer," Yinglei added. "More than enough."

Lin Mu’s lips pressed into a thin line.

He had expected this.

And yet...

Hearing it still brought a faint heaviness to his thoughts.

"These are not simple trials," he said. "I cannot promise their survival."

Huoyang met his gaze directly.

"They will understand that."

Yinglei’s voice was steady.

"Our people have already faced a slow extinction. Compared to that... taking a chance at survival is not something they will shy away from."

Lin Mu exhaled quietly.

He understood their resolve.

And yet, he could not take it lightly.

"Select someone suitable," Lin Mu said after a moment. "They cannot be too old, as their vitality would be insufficient. Nor too young, as their bloodline would not be stable enough."

The ancestors nodded.

"We will handle it," Huoyang said.

"You only need to focus on your work," Yinglei added.

Lin Mu gave a slight nod.

That was the best course.

Just as the two ancestors were about to leave, Huoyang paused.

"There is one more matter," he said.

Lin Mu looked at him.

"The work on the space vessel is progressing well," Huoyang continued. "Most of the materials have been gathered. The last few took some ’extra’ effort. The elders had to go personally to gather them. But all that remains now is the modification."

Yinglei added, "Your companions have been assisting. Their contribution has greatly accelerated the process."

Lin Mu’s expression softened slightly.

Daoist Chu.

Cattaleya.

Meng Bai.

Elyon.

They had not remained idle.

"That is good to hear," Lin Mu said.

He paused briefly before continuing.

"But that can wait."

His gaze returned to the crystals on the table.

"This takes priority."

Huoyang and Yinglei exchanged a glance before nodding.

"We understand."

With that, they departed.

The chamber returned to silence once more.

Lin Mu stood still for a moment, his thoughts shifting.