Within the Terrestrial Gate of Meng Continent, amidst the ceaseless, swirling dust storms, the voice of the Lord of the Forest echoed through the heavens and earth. Even the howling gale seemed to cower before its might, and under Wang Lin’s decree, all seemed to approach a standstill.

Yet, it was but an approximation. The dust storms continued their relentless dance, the sands still whirled in a frenzied ballet.

Nonetheless, this reverberation of divine will delivered a tempestuous shock to the very souls of all cultivators within the Terrestrial Gate.

The more profound one’s cultivation, the deeper the impact. Within the Terrestrial Gate of Meng Continent resided its most powerful, the venerable Founder, a Golden Paragon, and the Sect Master, who, though not yet a Golden Paragon, was a cultivator of the late Void Shattering stage.

These two individuals were the mightiest within the entire Terrestrial Gate.

At that moment, the Sect Master, while holding court in the grand hall, was sternly rebuking his three personal disciples, his words laced with an oppressive force that caused them to tremble.

But then, Wang Lin’s divine will descended like a roaring avalanche. Showing no intent to harm the lesser cultivators, the three disciples, whose cultivation was meager, were able to withstand the brunt of it, though their faces paled as if swept by a raging storm.

The Sect Master, however, experienced a cataclysmic change. His mind was as if shattered by ten million thunderbolts, and he felt the crushing weight of a collapsing mountain. Staggering back, he transformed into a streak of light, fleeing towards the Terrestrial Gate’s outer reaches.

He dared not disobey, dared not defy!

The Golden Paragon Ancestor, secluded in his chambers for years, a figure of unparalleled reverence, was immersed in the rhythmic dance of his breathing when Wang Lin’s divine will erupted within his mind. With untamed power, it shattered all defenses and reverberated deep within his soul.

The Golden Paragon Ancestor’s eyes snapped open, filled with dread and astonishment.

“Celestial Venerable!” In that instant, the Paragon felt the very fabric of the heavens collapsing upon him, as if a single shard of that cataclysmic destruction could obliterate him utterly.

Terror flooded his being. The Golden Paragon Ancestor shuddered and teleported toward the Terrestrial Gate’s outer boundaries.

Elsewhere, within the Terrestrial Gate, in a pavilion within the district of the Fifth Order Disciples, a man named Qing felt a sudden jolt at the whisper of divine will. A deeper confusion clouded his eyes, more profound than before.

His companion, a woman at his side, also shuddered, her eyes veiled in a moment of similar bewilderment.

Every one of the thirty thousand disciples of the sect trembled under the divine will, their hearts filled with awe. Only this man and woman displayed the same fleeting look of confusion.

Yet, neither knew that they had shared such a singular moment, a mirroring of souls.

Outside the Terrestrial Gate, Wang Lin stood calmly atop the Sea Dragon, watching as the dust storms parted to reveal the Golden Paragon Ancestor and the Sect Master, hastening towards them like a shooting star.

The Golden Paragon Ancestor’s gaze fell first upon the Sea Dragon beneath Wang Lin. A chill ran down his spine at the sight of the beast, a creature of Golden Paragon strength, surpassing even the might of the Dao Demon Sect Master.

“A Golden Paragon Sea Dragon as a mount…” Sweat beaded upon the Golden Paragon Ancestor’s brow. He glanced at Wang Lin, seated serenely upon the Sea Dragon’s head. At Wang Lin’s gaze, the old man felt his heart shudder. Without hesitation, he bowed deeply, his hands clasped in the utmost respect.

“Zheng Tianlin of the Terrestrial Gate, greets Your Excellency.”

As he spoke, the Sect Master, still in his streaking form, drew near. His face paled at the sight of Wang Lin’s extravagant mount, and he stood meekly beside his Ancestor, bowing with equal reverence.

“Your Excellency’s arrival is unexpected, we were unable to properly welcome you. Forgive our shortcomings, and should you find us worthy, we humbly invite you to rest within our halls, that we may pay our respects.” Zheng Tianlin, the Golden Paragon Ancestor, spoke with extreme deference, afraid to offend the terrifying Celestial Venerable before him.

He did not dare to probe Wang Lin’s cultivation with his divine sense, knowing it was an act of grave disrespect to scan a superior being.

The mere echo of that potent divine will was enough to ascertain that his visitor was undoubtedly a Celestial Venerable. Moreover, the presence of the Golden Paragon Sea Dragon as a steed was an ominous sign.

“I have only encountered two Celestial Venerables in my life, each of whom could shake a continent with a stomp of their foot… His sudden arrival at our Terrestrial Gate, could it be that someone within our sect has provoked this old God?”

“This Continent, Africa!”

“There is no need for an audience, I am only passing through Meng Continent. I require the most comprehensive map of the surrounding continents that your Terrestrial Gate possesses. Would you grant me such a jade scroll?” Wang Lin spoke to the Golden Paragon elder with a gentle smile.

The elder breathed a sigh of relief at the seemingly innocuous request, fearful that his sect members had inadvertently offended this Celestial Venerable. Know that in the Immortal Gang Continent, there are only a little more than a thousand Celestial Venerable cultivators, most of them being in Central Continent, another part following the Grand Celestial, and the rest remaining within a strong sect to become their true Ancestor.

Upon learning that Wang Lin only sought a map, Zheng Tianlin hastened to comply.

“Your Excellency honors us, the most complete map in our sect is on my person. It encompasses all of the Eastern Continent, as well as a substantial portion of the Southern Continent.” As he spoke, he raised his right hand, summoning a golden jade scroll from the void. He presented it respectfully to Wang Lin.

Wang Lin received the scroll and scanned it with his divine sense. The map contained within exceeded the scope of his tortoise shell map and was remarkably detailed.

“It even includes a significant portion of the Southern Continent,” Wang Lin remarked, casting a knowing glance at the Golden Paragon Ancestor.

Seeing Wang Lin’s satisfaction, Zheng Tianlin felt a surge of relief. “When I first attained the Golden Paragon realm, I ventured on a journey of experience. My travels took me as far as the Southern Continent, and I recorded all that I saw and learned, and approximated it. I hope it will be of use to Your Excellency, you need not make a copy, the scroll is yours to take.”

Wang Lin, wishing to offer something in return for such a rare gift, found himself lacking. He had only recently become a Celestial Venerable and had spent over a century within the Scorpion Temple of Green Devil Continent, he didn’t have anything of value that he can give.

A map jade scroll was a very private thing in the Immortal Gang Continent, sects didn’t easily hand them out because it was the accumulation of generations.

After a moment of consideration, Wang Lin raised his right hand and drew forth a wisp of flame, containing a spark of Fire Source. The flame, unyielding and eternal, radiated a faint heat.

“I shall not take your Terrestrial Gate’s map without recompense. This wisp contains a touch of Fire Source. If one of your disciples can comprehend and integrate it into their being, it shall increase their chance of forming their own Fire Source.” With a wave of his hand, Wang Lin sent the Fire Source towards the Golden Paragon Ancestor.

The old man’s face lit up with delight as he carefully accepted it and placed it within his storage space. However, he sighed inwardly, thinking Celestial Venerables were all stingy people. The previous two he encountered were like this and this third one was no different.

Having bestowed the flame and received the jade scroll, Wang Lin turned to depart. As he was about to leave, Wang Lin instinctively swept his divine sense through the Terrestrial Gate, a habitual act born of his cautious nature. At that moment, the Sea Dragon flew a hundred feet.

“We respectfully bid Your Excellency farewell!” The Golden Paragon Ancestor bowed, feeling a surge of relief.

Beside him, the Sect Master, remaining reverently silent, also bowed in unison.

But in that instant, Wang Lin stopped abruptly and whirled around, his gaze fixed upon the Terrestrial Gate, his heart pounding in his chest!

In that brief sweep of his divine sense, he had detected a familiar soul resonance, one that sent tremors through his very being.

With a flicker of his form, Wang Lin’s Sea Dragon sensed his intent and roared skyward, transforming into a whirlwind, and hurtling towards the Terrestrial Gate.

The sudden turn of events caught Zheng Tianlin, the Golden Paragon Ancestor, completely off guard. Stunned, he watched as the Sea Dragon thundered past, plunging into the Terrestrial Gate!

“Your Excellency!” Alarm etched on Zheng Tianlin’s face, as he exchanged a look with the Sect Master, and they transformed into two streaks of light in pursuit of Wang Lin.

Within the Terrestrial Gate, as the Sea Dragon crashed into the sect, its roars reverberating through the heavens, every one of the thirty thousand disciples felt a surge of celestial dread.

The Sea Dragon hovered over the district of the Fifth Order Disciples. Wang Lin stood atop the beast, and his eyes saw a vision that sent him reeling.

The Golden Paragon Ancestor and the Sect Master caught up, their faces filled with doubt.

“Your Excellency, this is where the Fifth Order Disciples reside…” the Golden Paragon Ancestor introduced with a sigh.

“Fifth Order Disciples, obey the order, all of you come forth, and pay respects to His Excellency!” The Golden Paragon Ancestor was thinking, in order to appease the Celestial Venerable he must satisfy the former somehow, even if it means sacrificing all of his Fifth Order Disciples for the sect’s sake.

“All are dead, yet it cannot offend a Celestial Venerable!” Zheng Tianlin resolved himself. At his command, thousands of Fifth Order Disciples, their faces pale, emerged from their residences and knelt towards Wang Lin.

Within the crowd were Qing and the woman at his side.

They were about to kneel when Wang Lin’s eyes flashed and he descended from the Sea Dragon. With a wave of his sleeve, a gentle force halted their descent.

His gaze softened as he looked upon the man.

“Brother Zhou…”