## The Scroll of Battle

Wang Lin’s eyes gleamed like twin stars reflecting ancient wars. With a swift, phantom-like grasp, he snatched the three painted scrolls from the air. His divine sense, finely honed by years of cultivation and a profound understanding of the Scroll of Battle, instantly discerned their authenticity.

“Now that you possess the Scroll of Battle, may this old one depart?” Lié Yúnzi pleaded, his voice thick with repressed agony. To surrender a treasure of the Zhàn clan was a near-unbearable humiliation. Yet, he knew resistance was futile; Wang Lin would claim it regardless.

Were his adversary a mere Holy Emperor, Lié Yúnzi might dare risk offense, confident the man would hesitate to kill him. Imprisonment was the worst he imagined, for he had Róu Tiān at his back! Within the Alliance Star System, Róu Tiān’s enigmatic power offered a measure of protection. Few truly understood Róu Tiān, just as Róu Tiān remained ignorant of the Alliance.

But Wang Lin knew Róu Tiān too well, having once walked as a genuine Thunder Immortal. The mists of mystery surrounding Róu Tiān dissipated before Wang Lin’s gaze.

More importantly, Lié Yúnzi understood Wang Lin’s nature: ruthless, audacious, and decisive. He was a man who would not hesitate. If Wang Lin intended to kill, he would strike swiftly, leaving no opportunity for retaliation. Survival demanded submission, even if it meant tearing at his own soul to relinquish the Scroll of Battle.

Securing the Scroll, Wang Lin’s gaze sharpened. “Your insult against my Holy Emperor status is forgiven,” he declared, “but I have a private matter to discuss with Elder Lié Yúnzi.”

Lié Yúnzi’s heart plummeted. He stared at Wang Lin, grinding his teeth. “You have the Scroll of Battle! I have paid for my past transgressions! What more do you demand?”

Wang Lin remained impassive. “Earlier, you spoke of me claiming your Zhàn clan’s treasure as if you possessed the gift of foresight. I require an explanation for this as well.” Wang Lin weighed his options. He desired this man’s death, yet his demise would surely ignite a conflict between the Four Sacred Sects and Róu Tiān.

Such a war would disrupt Wang Lin’s plans for dealing with Tuō Sēn. More crucially, animosity between the Four Sacred Sects and Róu Tiān would only benefit the Corpse Yin Sect and the Alliance.

Qīng Shuǐ likely resided within the Alliance, and Wang Lin owed a debt to the former Holy Emperor. All these considerations stayed Wang Lin’s hand, preventing him from striking Lié Yúnzi down – for now. “What do you want?” Lié Yúnzi repeated, barely containing his fury.

“Ten Luo Fú Blood Orbs,” Wang Lin stated calmly.

“You…!” A thunderous roar erupted within Lié Yúnzi’s body, a testament to his inner turmoil. He trembled, wrestling with his rage. He breathed deeply, struggling for composure. “After the last tribute, I possess only six Luo Fú Blood Orbs. Any more, and I have nothing left. This is my limit!” Lié Yúnzi spat through clenched teeth.

Wang Lin smiled faintly and nodded. “Six will suffice. And the jade slip used for their control.”

Lié Yúnzi closed his eyes in anguish. He reached into a nearby rift and pulled out six swirling orbs radiating palpable blood-qi. He also produced a jade slip that flew to Wang Lin.

With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Lin collected the Luo Fú Blood Orbs into his storage bag. He examined the jade slip before storing that away, too. “I bid you farewell!” Lié Yúnzi turned to leave. He could no longer bear to remain within the Vermillion Bird Holy Sect.

“Tarry, Elder Lié Yúnzi. I have a small gift for you to deliver to Elder Yán Léizi,” Wang Lin said. With a wave of his hand, a jade slip shot forth, landing in Lié Yúnzi’s grasp.

Lié Yúnzi frowned. He examined the slip, and his face instantly paled. He looked up, his eyes burning with an eerie light. “This…this…?”

“If Elder Yán Léizi is interested, he may seek me within the Vermillion Bird Holy Sect.” Wang Lin offered a knowing smile, saying no more.

Lié Yúnzi carefully stowed away the jade slip, then glanced at Wang Lin. He could no longer fathom the man before him. With an inward sigh, he turned and swiftly departed.

“The Zhàn clan’s legacy will never remain in the hands of an outsider,” Lié Yúnzi swore as he flew from the cultivator’s star. “Wang Lin, one day I will reclaim what is rightfully mine. And if I don’t kill you then, I am no Lié Yúnzi!”

“But Wang Lin’s jade slip speaks of a truth of great magnitude. I must deliver it to Yán Léizi at once! If true, this matter will be earth-shattering!” Lié Yúnzi resolved, increasing his speed. Every breath he took within the Four Sacred Sects felt like an act of abject degradation.

He summoned a dark stone from a spatial rift before him. He crushed it, transforming it into a cloud of dust that clung to him like a dark shroud. In a flash, Lié Yúnzi’s speed increased tenfold, vanishing into the depths of the star system.

Days later, the elder had raced out of the domain of the Four Sacred Sects and into the Northern Star System. But as he traversed a desolate expanse, a blinding light erupted from the void before him, searing through space toward Lié Yúnzi at impossible speed. The elder tried to evade it, but even in his current state, he was unable to escape his doom.

The light crashed into his chest, ripping through his flesh. He didn’t even have time to activate a spell or activate a protection as it shredded his mortal form.

His blood flowed into the void as his corporeal form collapsed in on itself. His Nascent Soul erupted from the void, horrified at the sudden attack. But the beam of light began to converge on his soul, seemingly hell-bent on obliteration.

In his panic, Lié Yúnzi unleashed his powers, summoning one of his Luo Fú Blood Orbs before him. “Explode!” he commanded.

The orb detonated in a burst of crimson energy. The blast slowed down the incoming light. Lié Yúnzi consumed an enormous amount of energy as he fled into the void.

The light had also embedded into his soul, leaving a red mark that spread across his body. He could only think of one thing when he noticed it.

“Poison! The Corpse Yin Sect’s Lust for Death toxin!” Under the influence of Róu Tiān’s power, the Corpse Yin Sect had its weaknesses studied in-depth. As a powerful mage under Róu Tiān, Lié Yúnzi instantly knew the toxin was of the Corpse Yin Sect.

He continued to flee, his body collapsing and reforming, barely holding onto his form.

As Lié Yúnzi vanished from sight, a man appeared in the void. Dressed in blue and blessed with exceptional looks, he looked at Lié Yúnzi’s direction of escape and sighed before turning around. “To ambush a younger cultivator with a poison stolen from Sī Tū Nán…alas, too much is owed to Wáng Lín…”

Meanwhile, back at the Vermillion Bird Holy Sect, the Corpse Yin Sect’s seductress completed her presentation of gifts, expressing the desire to form an alliance with the Holy Sect. She was about to leave until Wáng Lín stopped her in her tracks.

“Lady Lǐ, the Corpse Yin Sect has always been obsessed with the art of corpses. Surely, it is capable of assessing them based on their quality. What, in your opinion, is the finest corpse known to the world?” Wáng Lín asked.

The seductress was interested in the new Holy Emperor, especially after the way he forced Lié Yúnzi to submit. This was more than enough to make her heart flutter.

Smiling slyly, the woman lightly bit her lips, “Your Majesty, I will describe this as thoroughly as possible. Surely the greatest in the world is the Reverse Five-Elements Absolute Corpse.”

“These bodies do not rise from the dead. They are born through the forces of nature, their bodies embodying the five elements. These elements also manifest outside of the body, creating unusual patterns.” Wáng Lín nodded.

“So it is. This lowly one was led to believe that the corpse spoken of in the legends was truly number one. I wish I could have you assess its quality, but I guess it is not to be.”

The seductress’ eyes glowed. “Oh? What is this corpse that you have such confidence in?”

Wáng Lín did not mince his words as he threw a jade slip towards her. She took it with a smile.

In her mind, the corpse would just be a typical legend. Even if it was the rare Five-Elements Corpse, the Corpse Yin Sect had its own.

Furthermore, the Reverse Five-Elements Corpse was just a legend for the public. In reality, the Corpse Yin Sect had seven greater corpses.

She nonchalantly scanned the jade slip. She felt her grip loosen as her expression stiffened.

That stiffness quickly melted into shock and horror. Her right hand shook as she held on for dear life. Her face flushed with a sickly red and her breathing escalated. The woman recoiled and stumbled backwards.

Her lack of composure was not due to a weak will. She had just been shown something that no Corpse Yin Sect member could resist. If the Corpse Yin Sect Leader were to see it, his mind would be broken by its power.

“Th-this…” She stared at Wáng Lín, unable to string together her thoughts. It was as if dozens of thunderbolts had struck her mind, reducing it to ash.

Wáng Lín remained still as he took a sip of the tea from his servant. He turned towards the woman.

“Where does this corpse rank?”