With a single gesture, he sought not to unleash some arcane power, but to commune with the very fabric of existence, to tap into the strength of primeval beginnings. His strike was not aimed at the grotesque beasts themselves, but at the heaven and earth that cradled them.

He would tear asunder that reality, crushing it with the sheer force of his finger, a fulcrum of destruction. The beasts were but incidental victims in the collapse. Wang Lin murmured to himself, raising his right hand, his gaze fixed upon his finger as he slowly extended it.

Yet, his advance was painfully slow, as if an invisible barrier, layer upon layer, prevented him from replicating the effortless power of his ancestor.

After a time, Wang Lin lowered his hand, ceasing his attempt, and fell into contemplation.

“From this technique, one can perceive the ancestor’s strength has transcended to a realm beyond comprehension… However, with the fragment of knowledge within my mind, and the Speeding Divine Formula at my disposal, I might attempt a crude imitation.”

Wang Lin raised his eyes, glancing at the shattered jade slip on the ground, before closing them once more.

Within his being resided a multitude of chaotic souls, trophies claimed in the ancestral city of the immortals. He had been slowly refining them, and now, they were nearly coalesced enough to carve out a new divine meridian.

“I possess five divine meridians within my body, allowing me to conjure ninety-nine afterimages with a single thought. I wonder what wonders the sixth will unlock?” Within Wang Lin, the Speeding Divine Formula stirred, coaxing forth the sixth divine meridian. Seven days drifted by.

The Celestial Emperor’s Enshrinement Ceremony was but three days away.

The entire Royal City of the Dao was awash in jubilation. The avenues and alleys, meticulously adorned by emissaries of the Imperial Palace, were a spectacle of splendor. Especially at night, the city glowed with an almost unnatural brilliance, bathed in a kaleidoscope of color, visible even from leagues away.

Even the firmament above the Royal City had been painted with a celestial rainbow, imbuing the city with both beauty and the celebratory air of the impending Enshrinement.

The Dao Celestial Emperor held this ceremony with the utmost importance. The Dao clan as a whole placed great significance on the event, as this was the formal ascension of their Dao Celestial Empress. All members of the Dao lineage eagerly awaited the day, their eyes fixed upon the Imperial City. Even powerful clan members and lords from distant territories had journeyed to witness the grand spectacle of the Dao clan.

Envoys from the Ancient Beginning and Beginning Ancient lineages had already arrived, bearing gifts to partake in the Dao festivities.

In particular, the Beginning Ancient lineage had prepared an extravagant tribute, led by Prince Ji Du. He had once accompanied the delegation that selected Song Zhi so his attendance was not unexpected.

Furthermore, the Celestial Empress bore the surname Song, and she was a distant descendant of the Grand Celestial of the Beginning Ancient lineage. Thus, the Grand Celestial Song Tian himself had dispatched an envoy, bearing a gift.

The influx of so many dignitaries and guests had transformed the Royal City into a teeming hub of activity. The Dao clan had tightened security, determined to prevent any mishap from marring the grand ceremony.

Now, the Royal City, particularly the Imperial Palace, was heavily guarded, a concentration of power. Nearly every strong individual within the Dao lineage had converged upon it.

In addition, various kings and nobles with Imperial blood, scattered throughout the realm, had journeyed to the Royal City, adding to the festive atmosphere.

The affair was a major event for the Ancient clans. One of the three Emperors enshrining his Empress was a matter of universal knowledge in this land where imperial power reigned supreme. Even the Ancient Dao Mountain had sent a gift, drawing all eyes to the Dao Celestial Emperor.

In the final days leading up to the ceremony, due to the sheer volume of arrivals, the Dao clan had unveiled their clan’s most treasured artifacts. They manifested as ninety-nine colossal platforms, slightly smaller than the Dao Royal City itself, arrayed around the celestial city.

Upon these platforms, powerful individuals swiftly constructed accommodations, providing space for the immense crowd.

Wang Lin, lost in his cultivation, paid none of this heed. On this night, merely three days from the ceremony, the entire Royal City of the Dao was a swirling tapestry of color, a beacon of light, and a cacophony of joyful noise, reverberating even on the ninety-nine platforms surrounding it.

The gathering of these clans had spurred the creation of makeshift marketplaces, where members traded goods and sought treasures as they awaited the ceremony. Many auction houses had also sprung up.

Within the Dao Imperial Palace, a similar atmosphere of revelry reigned. Atop the tallest tower, the Dao Celestial Emperor stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the kaleidoscopic landscape, a smile playing on his lips.

“From this day forward, I shall make this place, and every day, the heart of all the Ancient clans, as vibrant as it is during this ceremony!” the Dao Celestial Emperor declared.

“Your Majesty possesses unparalleled ambition! One day, you will realize your vision! We pledge to follow in your wake, to witness the dawn of this glorious age!” Within the tower, seven figures knelt upon one knee, their faces alight with fervor.

“How are the preparations progressing?” the Dao Celestial Emperor asked, his smile widening.

“The emissaries of the Beginning Ancient and Ancient Beginning have been accommodated, and the envoys from the two Grand Celestials have been received. The gift from the Ancient Dao Mountain, and the envoy who delivered it, have also been respectfully accommodated in the Royal City,” one of them immediately replied.

“Our own clan members, and the experts from the other two clans, have been distributed among the ninety-nine platforms. Though numerous, they will be properly accommodated,” another swiftly added.

“I have personally overseen the setup for the ceremony and can guarantee its smooth and seamless execution. Your Majesty can rest assured.”

“As for the defense, all divisions from the First Legion to the Seventh Legion will maintain strict vigilance during the ceremony, ensuring that no incident occurs!”

“The National Preceptor has sent word that he will personally attend the ceremony.”

“The Song Celestial Empress remains unchanged, remaining within her chambers. She seems to be constantly seeking to recall her past, but each attempt brings great pain and no memory returns.”

“The Grand Celestial has yet to send word, and we do not know if he will attend the ceremony.”
The seven spoke in turn, each finishing their piece before bowing their heads, awaiting the command of the supreme being of the Dao Ancient lineage before them.

“By decree, the Great Ceremony shall span ninety-nine days. Save for the ancestral rites of the first day, I shall not partake in its affairs. Should even the slightest mishap occur during this time, you shall all face annihilation!” the Emperor declared, his voice resonating with power. The seven immediately responded with respectful affirmations.

“Three days hence marks the dawn of the Great Ceremony. On the eve of this auspicious occasion, the ancient Emperors of my Dao Ancient lineage shall hold a Celebration of Investiture, that our people, and the envoys of foreign lands, may behold the Empress…”

“Report, how fares your preparations for this?”

“All arrangements are complete, and executed with precision,” one among the seven replied, his voice filled with reverence.

“Excellent!” A smile touched the Emperor’s face, mingled with a hint of anticipation. With a flick of his sleeve, he vanished from the tower.

“To take her as Empress, to bestow this title upon her, is the greatest of honors. I await with bated breath the results foretold by the Royal Astrologer…”

Meanwhile, within the serene confines of a secluded palace chamber, sat a woman adorned in phoenix robes. Her beauty was not striking, yet she possessed an indescribable aura. Gazing into the mirror before her, she stared at her reflection, her eyes filled with a profound sense of confusion.

“Nothing remains…The visions of my dreams, upon waking, become fragmented shadows… I cannot recall the visage of the woman within those dreams, nor the features of the man. Only echoes of his words remain, words that reverberated through the heavens, shaking the very foundations of the world.”

“Go, I shall take you to a place of slaughter!”

“Even if the Heavens decree your death, I shall wrest you back from their grasp!”

Tears welled in the mirror’s reflection, tracing paths down her cheeks, staining her robes with sorrow.

“Why do I weep?… Who is he?… Who am I?… Am I Song Zhi?… Am I truly Song Zhi?” She opened her eyes, the confusion within them deepening.

Unbeknownst to her, Wang Lin could neither perceive her presence nor her tears, despite his power stretching towards the heavens.

Even were he to stand before her, he might remain ignorant of her true identity. A veil of mystery shrouded her soul, a consequence of her union with Song Zhi, obscuring her very essence.

He was unaware that the soul of Wan’er, whom he relentlessly sought, lingered so close…so very close.

And she, too, remained unaware of the name that stirred within her confusion: his name, hers, the name of the man who drew breath under the same sky, sharing the same spiritual energies.

On the morning before the Great Ceremony, Wang Lin emerged from his subterranean meditation, his eyes gleaming with wonder. A sixth meridian of the gods had awakened within him.

Yet, it was not this that filled him with perplexity, but a sudden, inexplicable tremor in his soul.

After a moment of contemplation, Wang Lin rose and stepped from the earthen chamber, appearing within the wooden hut. The golden mist of his true form shimmered, beginning to coalesce into tangible form.

“It takes longer than expected,” Wang Lin muttered as he settled cross-legged, suppressing the uneasiness within him. As the sun descended, Wang Lin looked up, and opening his mouth, devoured the Five Elements True Body along with the golden mist. He then rose and opened the door.

Bathed in the evening light, Xuan Luo stood waiting, a serene smile upon his face.

“You have been in seclusion for three months. While you are not obligated to attend the Empress Investiture Ceremony tomorrow, I ask that you represent your Master at the Dao Ancient Clan’s evening celebration.”

“I know you are not fond of crowds, remain briefly, then return.”

Hesitation flickered across Wang Lin’s face. He desired nothing more than to avoid the festivities, but he would not defy his master’s request. He nodded in agreement.

“Deliver this to Ye Dao, as a gift from your Master.” Xuan Luo gestured, and a gift box materialized, which he presented to Wang Lin.

Wang Lin accepted the box without inspecting its contents, offering a bow before soaring into the sky as a streak of light. After a brief pause, he turned towards the Dao Ancient Imperial Palace.

“I shall deliver the gift, then return immediately to my cultivation. The consolidation of the Gold Source Essence is paramount, and no other matter shall take precedence,” Wang Lin declared in his mind. Yet, as these words formed in his thoughts, the tremor in his soul stirred once more.

Wang Lin frowned, casting a wary glance at the palace in the distance.