A howling gale, earth-shattering in its fury, erupted from the swirling vortex. An invisible wave surged forth, striking Wang Lin, halting him in his tracks.

The sound of thunder reverberated across the eight directions in that instant!

This was the first true confrontation between Master Lu and Wang Lin. Though neither had yet raised a hand, one sought to advance, while the other barred the way. A clash of wills unfurled above the celestial array!

The simple, piercing howl was the culmination of Master Lu’s lifelong cultivation. It contained the power of a Void Nirvana cultivator, a being of the third step. At its utterance, the star-strewn sky quivered, threatening to shatter. Countless rifts tore open, like deadly scythes aimed at Wang Lin.

As a raging storm crashes into a cliff face, so did the fearsome roar of Master Lu reveal his might. A Sky-Human Fifth Decay cultivator would have been torn apart, flesh rent asunder, and primordial spirit extinguished, by the force of that sonic assault!

Even a fellow cultivator of the third step, a compatriot in the Void Nirvana realm, would have been checked, their advance stalled by its deafening power!

But Wang Lin had yet to reach the third step. He wielded the ancient Daogu heritage, ascended to become a seven-starred Ancient God, his formidable physique defying the might of a third-step master!

His physical strength, already reaching terrifying levels, was tested by Master Lu’s wail. Wang Lin’s eyes flashed with a sudden, intense light!

“There is no howl in this universe that can rival the roar of an Ancient God, especially a Daogu roar! What then, is a mere third step cultivator?”

The ancient god star points on Wang Lin’s brow began to spin rapidly. As the seven stars whirled, the power of the Ancient God surged through Wang Lin’s entire being. Behind him, the towering head of the Daogu materialized from thin air.

In the instant of the head’s appearance, Wang Lin opened his mouth, directing his voice toward the massive vortex, the heart of the star array, unleashing a roar that shook the heavens!

ROAR!!!

The sound, like a primal bellow, exploded outward, overwhelming Master Lu’s piercing howl. It became a sound of divine punishment, an echoing thunder that swept across the expanse!

Though it did not possess the power of the ancient tomb, amplified by Wang Lin to wound countless Great Powers and drive back the Palm Sovereign, this Daogu roar from Wang Lin was already a display of formidable strength!

The roar echoed between Wang Lin and Master Lu, shaking the firmament. It was as if two invisible giants clashed in a furious struggle. The star array shuddered, the rifts in the sky collapsed, and countless retreating cultivators coughed up blood, forced to flee further.

Deep within the heart of the star array, at the center of the vortex, Yan Lei Zi and the others were deathly pale. Seated in meditation, they frantically circulated their primordial energy, lest the roar shatter them entirely.

Master Lu sat before Yan Lei Zi and the others. His expression changed, and he clearly felt an unimaginable force rushing toward him, intent on obliterating any resistance.

His howl disintegrated into nothingness under the power of the Daogu’s roar. As if swept by a gale, Master Lu’s robes billowed wildly, his hair stood on end. His expression hardened but fear shone through his eyes.

He had believed he understood Wang Lin’s power, even acknowledging the man’s eight-breath array-breaking feat. Despite the shock, he did not feel fear, reasoning his many treasures and spells would make him an equal match!

Now, that belief wavered. The roar contained an aura that sent chills down his spine. A terrible feeling washed over him, an inability to resist!

It felt as if what was attempting to break through was not a mere cultivator, nor even an Ancient God, but a terrible being far beyond his comprehension, a creature that should not exist in this world. A being filled with a tyrannical, heaven-defying aura, unleashed in that roar!

Any who dared to impede its path would pay the price!

The roar echoed. The vortex where Master Lu resided, ever spinning, abruptly faltered, as if the vortex itself dared not move in the face of this thunderous sound!

Yan Lei Zi’s face was ashen. Horror seized his heart, overwhelming his senses. He stared blankly at Wang Lin beyond the vortex, unable to reconcile that figure with the man he once knew!

Though he had accepted the facts, some hidden part of him still refused to believe it!

Lie Yun Zi, the weakest of the group, still bore the wounds of battle. Although recovered, his cultivation had not progressed much. The roar, though Master Lu had shielded them, still deafened him. Blood streamed from his ears, forcing him back for dozens of yards before he could stop.

His eyes, filled with terror, mirrored Yan Lei Zi’s as they pierced through the vortex, fixing upon Wang Lin in the distance. Wang Lin was so different, so far removed from the man he remembered!

“To gain such cultivation in mere centuries…could he have comprehended all of my Zhan Clan’s Battle Imprints? Fortunately, I have no deep-seated hatred with him, and even gifted him a Zhan Yu Imprint to study. Otherwise, even Master Lu might not be able to stop him! He…he has become so strong!”

But it was Blood God Child whose eyes reflected the greatest terror. His scalp crawled, his soul nearly fled. He knew he had offended Wang Lin too deeply. Seeing Wang Lin in person, feeling the earth-shattering power of the roar, he began to tremble uncontrollably.

As the elder of the Yao Clan, as the Blood God Child of Luo Tian, he was proud, rarely knowing the feeling of fear. But now, he was truly afraid!

Wang Lin’s strength terrified him, and the despair that was beginning to grow in him was a terrible thing, especially now that even Master Lu’s face had changed, and in his heart there was still a hint of hope!
Wang Lin’s arrival, it seemed, was less for vengeance upon this mere ant that I am, and more for the looming presence of Lord Lu. He seeks a battle with Lu, a clash for which I am but an insignificant mote. He is unlikely to trouble himself with me…

A roar echoed through the heavens as Wang Lin strode forward, each step a peal of thunder that coalesced into an immense pressure. This aura surged from him, crashing against the swirling vortex before him like a tidal wave against the shore.

“Since our parting at Vermilion Bird, your progress on the Dao is most…remarkable,” Lord Lu intoned, his eyes fixed upon the approaching figure beyond the vortex. He did not rise, yet his voice, amplified by arcane power, boomed forth, scattering across the stars.

“The events of Vermilion Bird remain fresh in memory. Even then, Lord Lu’s waning light upon the Dao held a certain…interest,” Wang Lin replied, his voice calm, never breaking his stride. He then turned his gaze towards the being known as Yan Leizi, offering a respectful bow.

“Greetings, Yan Leizi. My journey has brought me through Luo Tian to settle some old debts. Forgive my intrusion.” He dared not address Yan Leizi as “venerable elder,” for the burden of such a title would surely crush him. Yet even the simple acknowledgement of Yan Leizi’s own Dao filled the man with a strange, bittersweet pride. He hastily returned the bow, a sense of unworthiness washing over him.

“Luo Tian is your home, Daoist,” Yan Leizi stammered. “There is naught to forgive.”

Wang Lin offered a faint smile as he continued his approach towards the swirling gate.

“During the Vermilion Bird crisis, we fought side-by-side, forging a fleeting alliance,” Lord Lu continued, his voice hardening. “Therefore, I should welcome your arrival. However, why did you spill the blood of eleven masters of my Star Array upon your arrival?”

Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged. He raised a hand, pointing directly at the pallid figure of the Blood Fiend beside Lord Lu. “These deaths were justified. We have no quarrel, Lu. I seek not battle, but only this one.”

The Blood Fiend gasped, his face draining of all color. Wang Lin’s single gesture seemed to sever his very life force.

Wang Lin halted his advance a hundred paces from the vortex. Lord Lu was an elder of Luo Tian, a veteran of countless battles beyond the stars. They had once fought as allies. While Wang Lin held little regard for Lu’s power, he would extend the respect befitting a fellow Third Step cultivator.

Lord Lu’s brow furrowed, a flicker of indecision in his eyes.

“Lord Lu! Only I can guide you to….” The Blood Fiend’s voice was a desperate rasp, but Lu silenced him with a wave of his hand. “I shall decide this matter.”

Lord Lu finally rose, offering a measured bow to Wang Lin. “Daoist Wang Lin, would you grant me a small favor? Spare this wretch! Consider it a debt owed to you.”

Wang Lin regarded Lu for a long moment before shaking his head.

“This one is of great use to me. I ask only that you stand aside.”

Lord Lu’s face darkened. Though cautious by nature, arrogance lay deep within him, a hallmark of a Third Step cultivator. For countless millennia, he had held sway, his words law within Luo Tian. He believed he had humbled himself, offering a debt in exchange. Surely Wang Lin would grant him this small concession!

But Wang Lin dismissed his offer with a casual flick of the wrist. A slow, cold smile crept across Lord Lu’s face.

“I shall see what gives you such confidence! You dare challenge me within my Star Array? Your roar possesses might, and your flesh surpasses the Third Step, but I have trod this path for eons. You know nothing of true power!”

Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed, a chilling light emanating from within. He did not advance, but instead snapped his hand to his side. “Enough empty words! If it is battle you seek, then battle it shall be!”