The echoing resonance shattered the dormant peace, ancient runes dissolved into a whirlwind of shimmering dust, tearing asunder the golden seals binding the plant’s grotesque form.

From the violated husk, a spectral figure emerged, a wraith garbed in ebony robes, its presence veiled in swirling shadows.

Wang Lin, his countenance unperturbed, cast a chilling gaze upon the shadowed form. “A mere Nascent Soul of the Ethereal Glimpse? I shall see how you force Wang Lin to forfeit his life!”

With a swift flick of his wrist, Wang Lin formed a mystic incantation, his right hand transforming into the embodiment of the Mother-Son Dao. As the ancient bone manifested, its eyes ignited with an eerie light. An aura of chilling malice permeated the air, tendrils of ashen energy reaching out from the plant’s withered limbs.

The black-robed entity lifted its gaze, granting no heed to the vegetation beneath. As it ascended, the plant shattered, erupting in a cacophony of decay.

Miasmic tendrils of violet and azure essence spiraled forth from the collapsing plant, swiftly merging with the black-robed figure. Almost instantly, its form solidified, gaining corporeal substance.

Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed with intent. He took a step forward, forming his right hand into a blade. With a thrust towards the apparition, a torrent of lightning materialized, a tempestuous storm of crackling energy that hurtled towards the black-robed figure at Wang Lin’s command.

The entity, its expression darkening, retreated. With practiced gestures, it conjured a circular shield of impenetrable darkness, a protective barrier around its form. The lightning storm crashed against it, unleashing a deafening explosion that shook the very foundations of the cavern.

The entire grotto crumbled under the assault. With a pained groan, the black-robed figure stumbled backward.

“Honored Daoist, let us speak! I am Liu Qingyun, Deputy Hall Master of the怨殿 (Yuàn Diàn) of the Corpse Yin Sect!” The entity’s inner turmoil was evident. It had only just awakened, its senses still clouded. Yet, upon regaining clarity, it discovered that the one who roused it was but a cultivator of the Ethereal Glimpse!

Were its corporeal form intact, it would not fear. But stripped of flesh, and facing not one, but three Ethereal Glimpse cultivators – the grotesque child and the hulking傀儡(Kuǐlěi) (golem), a veritable behemoth in physical prowess – panic began to set in.

The sight sent shivers down his spine. Even with its physical body, it would have to flee.

“Unless I could successfully possess that Giant Devil Clan body. I could use that body’s natural gifts to get rid of one. Then the giant demon body to fight another. My own means against another, but that’s just fantasy. The black-robed man smiled bitterly, and quickly said, “Friends, this is a misunderstanding, I was just awakened, my words are a bit offensive, I hope my friends don’t care. If you like this giant demon body, I will give it to you, and take it as a friend, how about it?”

As it spoke, it continued to retreat.

Wang Lin remained silent, moving like lightning, and directly chased. Under his feet was a faint ripple. Staring at the black-robed man. Wang Lin’s eyes exposed a gleam.

“An Ethereal Glimpse Nascent Soul, and a weak one at that. With this Nascent Soul, I’m sure to get Ta Shan to reach the Ethereal Glimpse.”

Liu Qingyun’s eyes were cautious, his heart crying out in anguish. He had chosen the semi-abandoned Vermillion Bird Star precisely because its remoteness offered sanctuary from those of his own caliber, allowing him to quietly bide his time for a few thousand years, before returning to the sect to contend for the position of Hall Master.

Yet, at the cusp of his intended possession, he had drawn the attention of this formidable cultivator. Inwardly, he suspected a conspiracy orchestrated by his rivals within the Corpse Yin Sect. They must have offered this trio some great boon to sabotage his plans, perhaps even to eradicate his disembodied soul!

“Damnation! I was discreet, not involving my own disciples.” Liu Qingyun looked carefully at the three.

The more he looked, the more unfamiliar they seemed to become. As the Corpse Yin Sect怨殿(Yuàn Diàn) Deputy Hall Master, within the Alliance Star Territory. Perhaps he has not seen all the illusory cultivators, but he has seen almost all the cultivators who have reached Ethereal Glimpse. After all, there are not many cultivators above the Ethereal Glimpse in the Alliance Star Territory.

Especially the big-headed boy, which made him suspicious. Although the cultivation of that big-headed boy is the Ethereal Glimpse, he can’t see the artistic conception on the other party, on the contrary, in the other party’s body. There is actually a strong immortal power.

“This…Immortal!” Liu Qingyun’s eyes suddenly opened wide, and he retreated faster.

“You can’t escape”. The ripples suddenly dissipated under Wang Lin’s feet, and the whole person disappeared in an instant.

This scene made Liu Qingyun almost lose his soul.

“Shrinking the earth into inches!!” He screamed, his Nascent Soul disintegrated directly, in an instant, it collapsed. Turned into countless crystal lights, like the Milky Way rolled up, directly upwards at its fastest speed, fleeing frantically.

“Those few Deputy Hall Masters are really generous!!! To be able to invite one. Ethereal Glimpse that can Shrinking the earth into inches. The reward they have to pay must be unimaginable!” Liu Qingyun was shocked, but at this moment he had no time to think too much, and felt desperate in his heart.

In front of a cultivator who has comprehended the Shrinking the earth into inches magical power, the same level has an invincible position. You can advance or retreat, and fighting such a person is simply a nightmare.

His Nascent Soul turned into crystal light and fled rapidly, but in an instant, in front of him, Wang Lin took a step out, and slapped his right hand down hard in the void! At that moment, the world shook, and under a powerful impact, Liu Qingyun’s body was shocked and merged again. His face was pale. Just as I was about to retreat.

A foolish laugh came from my ears, and I saw that the big-headed boy blocked Liu Qingyun’s retreat.

In the distance, Ta Shan was roaring and coming quickly.
Liu Qingyun offered a wry smile. He knew that before a Nirvana Scryer wielding the power of Dimensional Shifting, escape was but a fool’s dream. With a sigh that spoke of long hardship, he clasped his fist in a gesture of supplication. “Honored Daoist,” he began, “between us lies no blood feud. Might you grant me a path to survival? Such grace shall not go unrewarded!”

Wang Lin cast a measured gaze upon Liu Qingyun. “How would you repay such a boon?” he inquired, his voice as steady as the ancient mountains.

Liu Qingyun gritted his teeth, a glint of desperation in his eye. “I possess the nascent soul of a Nirvana Scryer, a foe of mine from ages past. Would his essence suffice as recompense?” The soul was that of a mortal enemy, whose physical form he had shattered years ago with the might of the Corpse Yin Sect, seizing his spirit for the purpose of crafting a puppet. Now, to save his own skin, he offered it up, a sacrifice wrung from the depths of his being.

“Oh? Present it,” Wang Lin commanded, his countenance unchanged, as if demanding a common trinket.

Liu Qingyun’s gaze flickered, assessing Wang Lin. “Honored Daoist, should I offer this, and yet find myself still denied passage…”

Before he could finish his plea, Wang Lin’s brow furrowed. He fixed Liu Qingyun with a chilling stare, his voice a calm threat. “Three breaths to decide.”

Liu Qingyun fell silent, his heart a drum of despair in his chest. With a stifled sigh, he touched his brow. A ripple spread across his forehead, and from it emerged an ancient mirror. The mirror shimmered, and within its depths, the hazy form of a middle-aged man’s soul drifted forth.

Without further hesitation, Liu Qingyun propelled the soul toward Wang Lin, who accepted it into his hand.

After a close inspection, Wang Lin nodded. The soul was indeed that of a Nirvana Scryer, though its consciousness had long since faded, leaving behind only an empty vessel.

Securing the soul, Wang Lin shook his head. “This is not enough to buy your life.”

Liu Qingyun grimaced, knowing full well that his offering paled in comparison to the treasures possessed by the Palace Lords. After a moment of tumultuous thought, his gaze lifted, and he declared, his voice laced with desperation, “Honored Daoist, I possess another item, one that is sure to meet your satisfaction!”

As he spoke, a flicker of malice, subtle as a viper’s strike, danced in his eyes. He touched the ancient mirror conjured at his brow, and a wave of overwhelming power surged forth, filling the very air with its presence.

*Thump-thump, thump-thump,* a primal heartbeat resonated, shaking the very soul. From within the mirror, a corpse floated into existence.

The body was crimson red, and its arrival unleashed a torrent of flames that engulfed the heavens. The fire blazed with such ferocity that even the giant-headed boy faltered, his face paling.

“From the Corpse Yin Sect’s hallowed halls, I bring forth the Flame Spirit Corpse, twelfth in the ranks of the most wondrous and terrible bodies! Should you successfully claim it, no fire-based art in all the realms can harm you. Moreover, you shall command the fires of creation, surpassing all other powers! Its value is beyond measure; surely this is sufficient to redeem your life!” With a flourish, Liu Qingyun hurled the fiery corpse toward Wang Lin.

The corpse hurtled forward with blinding speed, almost instantly reaching Wang Lin. But, as it drew near, the corpse’s eyes snapped open, revealing a vortex of madness within.

Liu Qingyun’s face contorted in a mask of savage determination. “Detonate!” he roared.

With a deafening *BOOM*, the fiery corpse imploded. The explosion did not spread to devour Suzaku Star, but was instead contained within a small, targeted area, maximizing its destructive potential. In that instant, an unimaginable inferno blazed, consuming the sky. The clouds evaporated, and fissures cracked across the heavens.

The power was immense, forcing Ta Shan to retreat. Even the giant-headed boy was shaken to his core. He blanched, knowing that had the corpse detonated before him, he would have been obliterated.

He could never have imagined that, with victory seemingly within grasp, Liu Qingyun would resort to such a desperate gamble! For the first time, the giant-headed boy felt a true respect for the cultivators of the Alliance.

A wild laugh erupted from Liu Qingyun’s throat. His face twisted in a feral grin, he vanished into the sky. He was not one to surrender easily. Everything had been a calculated deception, designed to misdirect his opponent. The fire corpse’s detonation, if scattered, would have been ineffective, barely scratching Suzaku Star. But now, with the power contained, he believed that no cultivator of comparable rank could withstand such an attack.

“The loss of the fire corpse pains me, but to slay a Dimensional Shifter is a worthy trade. And with him gone, the remaining two will never catch me!” With a triumphant cry, Liu Qingyun flew towards the heavens, planning to return to the Corpse Yin Sect and claim a new body. As for the Palace Lords, he would exact his revenge.

“You… shall not escape.”

The words were an icy wind, a death knell in Liu Qingyun’s ears. He shuddered, his eyes wide with disbelief, and his body froze in mid-flight.

Before him, Wang Lin materialized, his expression serene, unmarred by any trace of injury. Around him, the faint image of a colossal cauldron flickered and faded.

Not only Liu Qingyun, but even the giant-headed boy, gasped, his eyes wide with shock. He knew Wang Lin was powerful, but he never imagined he could emerge unscathed from such a devastating explosion. His fear of Wang Lin now knew no bounds.

Wang Lin cast a chilling glance at Liu Qingyun and stepped forward, vanishing from sight. Liu Qingyun recoiled in horror, desperately shouting, “Honored Daoist, a misunderstanding! This time, I truly offer treasure for my life! I have—”

Before he could finish, Wang Lin appeared behind him. As Liu Qingyun turned to flee once more, Wang Lin struck, two fingers crackling with the very essence of Heavenly Lightning. The heavens roared with thunder as he plunged his hand into Liu Qingyun’s back.

With a sickening crack, Liu Qingyun was flung through the air, his face ashen, his body flickering like a dying candle.

Wang Lin had seen through Liu Qingyun’s charade from the start. He had grown up in these treacherous starfields, witnessing too much treachery. To trust Liu Qingyun would be to betray the very essence of Wang Lin.
When the adversary unveiled the Fire Corpse, a tremor of understanding rippled through him. Silently, he invoked the Ancient God Cauldron. An instant before the infernal construct dissolved into ash, the mighty cauldron yawned open, and with effortless grace, he shifted his form, escaping its wrath.

Wang Lin had deliberately withheld his hand at first, affording Liu Qingyun this perilous gambit. For the man was no mere rogue, but a Vice Hall Master of the Corpse Yin Sect’s Hall of Resentment. Surely, he possessed a litany of life-saving stratagems.

To strike prematurely, in the frenzied dance of battle, would risk injury. It was far wiser to let Liu Qingyun unleash his deadliest weapon, thus laying bare his vulnerability. Once his trump card was played, his doom would be sealed.

Indeed, events unfolded precisely as Wang Lin foresaw. This time, he would brook no quarter. A single, decisive strike was unleashed, and his form dissolved once more into the very fabric of the heavens, hurtling towards Liu Qingyun.

A grim understanding dawned upon Liu Qingyun, his heart heavy with despair. His primordial spirit, wounded and weakened, finally comprehended Wang Lin’s stratagem. Regret gnawed at him as Wang Lin’s ethereal form materialized before him once more. With a series of swift, arcane gestures, he summoned a tempest of celestial wrath.

The heavens roared as bolts of pure lightning descended, converging upon Liu Qingyun. Wang Lin’s hand, a weapon of divine power, struck again and again, each blow threatening to shatter Liu Qingyun’s very being, driving him backward in a desperate retreat.

Cornered and near broken, a flicker of desperate resolve ignited in Liu Qingyun’s eyes. “If you seek my demise, then join me in oblivion!” he roared, madness burning in his gaze. Without hesitation, he embraced the final, desperate act: self-immolation.

But this primordial spirit was not his entirety. A cunning born of long years had taught him caution. He had shrewdly sequestered a fragment of his soul, a fail-safe against the ultimate threat.

Now, with reckless abandon, he unleashed its power. A wave of annihilation washed over his spirit, a terrifying force poised to detonate. A Core Formation cultivator’s spirit self-destructing held power far exceeding the Fire Corpse, a cataclysm that the planet Suzaku could not possibly endure. Should it occur, Suzaku itself would crumble into cosmic dust!

All life upon its surface, save for a precious few, would be extinguished. And should the blast reach the crystallized heart of the world, the devastation would spread far and wide, a consequence too terrible to contemplate – one of the reasons Wang Lin had held back previously.

Seeing Liu Qingyun’s desperate act, Wang Lin remained unperturbed, his voice calm amidst the impending chaos. “Immortal Art: Immobility!” In that instant, the spell surged forth. Infused with the refined immortal essence of Qing Shui within Wang Lin, its potency was amplified a thousandfold. Liu Qingyun’s self-detonating spirit was instantly, impossibly, frozen in place.

With measured strides, Wang Lin approached the paralyzed spirit, seized it in his grasp, and stepped through a shimmering rift in space.

Far from Suzaku, amidst the starfields of the Alliance, ripples disturbed the void as Wang Lin emerged, instantly weaving a complex web of binding seals, each anchoring itself within Liu Qingyun’s spirit.

He then struck the captive spirit with a force that resonated with the very fabric of reality. The blow disrupted the chaotic energies of the impending detonation, scattering its destructive power.

After sealing away the spirit, preventing any possibility of self-destruction, Wang Lin tossed it into his storage sack. With another ripple of displaced space, he vanished once more into the black.

Upon Suzaku, the Big-Headed Child’s pupils narrowed, his awe of Wang Lin deepening. He knew in his heart that he could not have faced such a threat with such ease. Indeed, he might have fallen prey to the explosion.

But what truly struck him was Wang Lin’s unwavering calm, as if all had unfolded according to his design. The fluid grace with which he had spirited away the dying spirit was nothing short of breathtaking.

The Big-Headed Child felt a surge of genuine respect. “To serve as this man’s servant is no dishonor,” he murmured, drawing a deep breath.

Before him, another ripple of energy. Wang Lin stepped back into view. Saying little, he cast his gaze upon the ravaged land and spoke with measured calm, “Lei Ji, emerge!”

The earth trembled as the colossal form of Lei Ji rose from the ravaged landscape. Still weakened from the battle, he regarded Wang Lin with undisguised awe.

He had witnessed the battle and Wang Lin’s uncanny power, his ability to move as if unseen, and his unflappable demeanor. He now stood respectfully to the side. “Lei Ji kneels before his master,” he intoned.

“From this day forward, you shall serve as my steed,” Wang Lin declared, his gaze piercing Lei Ji’s very soul. “Should you harbor thoughts of rebellion, your form and spirit shall be utterly annihilated!” Lei Ji trembled before that potent gaze, feeling it bore through him, and he bowed low in fervent assent.

Wang Lin retrieved a small vial from his storage sack and tossed it to Lei Ji. “Draw forth your heart’s blood, and fill this vessel.”

With that, Wang Lin strode forward, Ta Shan and the Big-Headed Child following close behind. Lei Ji took the vial with a sigh. His massive form contracted with loud pops, shrinking from hundreds of feet to the size of a large man, as he began to follow his new master.

With a pang of regret, he pierced his chest with his fingers and filled the vial with blood.

Wang Lin had spared the life of this ancient of the Giant Demon race for the faint glimmer of Ancient God energy he sensed within the being’s blood. Though his cultivation had grown considerably, his awareness of looming danger had as well.

Now on Suzaku, he intended to hone his powers, starting with the arcane arts of the Ancient Gods. With this blood, he could now begin to manifest those powers.

Far to the east of the Alliance Star System lay a sea of crimson, and within its waves, a planet burned with an inner fire. That planet was called Suzaku Holy Star!
About it lay naught but dying embers, a myriad of sparks scattered across the void, as if this place had burned eternally for countless ages.

In the distant star-strewn canvas, a crimson streak blazed, revealing a young cultivator astride a fiery avian. He plunged directly into the inferno, vanishing from sight.

Within the Sacred Star of Vermilion Bird stood a colossal statue of the divine bird, its peak piercing the heavens. Unending heat radiated from the effigy, and atop it, three elders sat in meditative repose.

Moments later, the young cultivator materialized a hundred paces hence, his form wavering as if unable to withstand the searing heat. Sweat poured from him, drenching his robes.

“Report! The armies of the Luo Tian cultivators have seized six-tenths of the western lands. Eleven warbands advance from eleven directions, led by the newly crowned One Hundred and Eight Immortals of Luo Tian! Chief amongst them is Xu Ting, the Lesser Thunder Immortal!”

A heavy silence descended. Then, from the Vermilion Bird’s summit, one of the elders spoke, his voice calm yet resonant. As his words echoed, the heat around them intensified, and a subtle shift in the very fabric of reality seemed to occur. “Has Xu Mu been sighted?”

The young cultivator recoiled several score paces, barely maintaining his composure. “Xu Mu, the True Thunder Immortal newly crowned by Luo Tian, remains unseen. His whereabouts are being investigated!”

“A mere six-tenths in two moons? These Luo Tian cultivators are cautious indeed,” remarked another of the elders, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Let us see how the Alliance of Cultivators fares with their scheme. Should it succeed, the Luo Tian cultivators will taste the bitter fruit of their ambition. Alas, our Sacred Emperor is away on his wanderings. Were he here, this war with Luo Tian could bring untold benefits to the Sacred Star of Vermilion Bird,” said the last elder, his tone even and measured.