Beneath a sky weeping crimson light, the ethereal form of Nanyunzi, naught but a lingering spirit, glared at the youth veiled within the sanguine aura. His laughter, hollow and forlorn, echoed in the ether as he heard the youth’s pronouncements.

“Two days, you say? Know then, that since the Ascendant Realm was forged by Wang Lin himself, its inhabitants have endured only battles against the encroaching darkness beyond the stars! Within our realms, a single truth holds dominion: have you heard it, spawn of shadows?” Nanyunzi’s cry, born of desperation and defiance, resonated across the land. As if roused from a slumber, the gathered cultivators of the Ascendant Realm lifted their heads in unison.

“For the sake of our realm, we offer our lives without regret!”

A chorus of voices, coalescing into a wave of defiant sound, surged skyward. The roar of their unity briefly parted the crimson shroud, revealing a legion of figures, ten thousand strong, garbed in robes of blood.

Behind this ghastly host swirled a miasma of coagulated crimson, within whose depths sat a single, shadowy form.

“Old fool, you court oblivion! When the seal crumbles, I shall beg my Master to grant me your essence, that I might savor the power of a third-step paragon!” The youth’s features twisted in fury, malice glinting in his eyes.

“Death holds no fear for me!” Nanyunzi roared in reply. “Wang Lin, the architect of this realm, shall return! And when he does, your petty Redsoul Sect, your insignificant Redsoul Lord, shall crumble before his might!”

Beside Nanyunzi, Grandmaster Lan Meng sat in silent meditation, his face pallid, his breath ragged as he sought to mend his wounded spirit.

“Wang Lin? ‘Tis fortunate he fled these lands long ago. Before my Master, he would be but an ant beneath one’s heel! This seal, erected by his hand, shall fall all the same. Were it not for the desire to claim this realm whole, my Master could have shattered it with a mere thought!”

The youth scoffed, his disembodied form a mere phantom projected from afar. As his laughter faded, his image dissolved into the crimson light, vanishing from sight.

Beyond the borders of the Ascendant Realm, the protective arrays woven by Wang Lin now lay strangled by a tide of blood. This crimson tide gnawed relentlessly, having already devoured the greater part of the defenses. In two days’ time, it was foretold, the Ascendant Realm would be laid bare.

Myriad figures, each draped in the crimson hue of death, floated silently in the void, like puppets on invisible strings. From their beings emanated a thick crimson vapor, feeding the devouring aura that assailed the beleaguered seal.

Beyond this silent host of crimson specters, in the heart of the swirling miasma, sat a single figure. An ancient being draped in scarlet robes, his very hair a fiery crimson, he was the Redsoul Lord himself.

His hands moved in arcane gestures, weaving complex seals that accelerated the seal’s demise.

“Wang Lin possessed considerable skill, to be sure,” the Redsoul Lord mused, his voice a gravelly whisper. “His barriers have held me at bay for days. Within them lies an unsettling power, a whisper of some dire event should I unleash my full might and shatter the realms within.

“Yet, by feeding upon the seal with the patient corruption of blood, I bypass this ominous presence, dissolving it into nothingness. Fortunately, it is but a trace, or else the unraveling would prove far more challenging.”

The Redsoul Lord, once a fragment of the accursed spirit of Yemo, freed during Wang Lin’s tribulations, had regained his form after uncounted years. He now stood as the leader of the Redsoul Sect. His power had been brought to bear against the Ascendant Realm, devastating Grandmaster Lan Meng and shattering Nanyunzi’s physical form.

His gaze, filled with cruel anticipation, lingered on the realm before him.

“Within this realm lies the culmination of all the strength of this fragment of the universe. When my strength was less than it is now, I lacked the certainty to penetrate these barriers. But in two days, when this seal finally breaks, they will become my sustenance. When I have consumed their blood and essence, my strength will rise once more, and I shall ascend to become a Gold Paragon!”

“Then,” he roared, his voice echoing in the void, “I, the Redsoul Lord, shall be elevated within the Halls of the Immortals, and my name will be among those of the Elders of great renown. Even now, I dare to dream of transcending my station, and claiming the title of Heaven Ascendant.” His eyes burned with feverish desire. “The number of Heaven Ascendants is few…but a few hundred at the most! And they who claim such power are welcomed by the Great Heavenly Sovereigns!”

“Of the five great Heavenly Sovereigns of the Immortals, I would most eagerly align myself with the Immortal Emperor…” he mused, a hint of calculation in his crimson eyes. “Alas, his ranks are already filled with the powerful…But even were I not embraced by the Immortal Emperor, I could place myself at the service of the Dao, Great Heavenly Sovereign!”

“He treasures those who have reached the Heaven Ascendant level. When I arrive, he will undoubtedly accept me. Protected by the Dao, Great Heavenly Sovereign, even if Wang Lin were to discover what I have done, I would have nothing to fear!”

“If his power is not up to mine, I will drain him of his lifeforce, thus increasing my strength. But, should his power somehow be roughly equal to mine, then it is Dao, the Great Heavenly Sovereign, who will stand behind me! I do not believe that Wang Lin will be able to resist such temptation…or have the power to resist! He will bow and worship such power before it!”

“The Heavenly Sovereigns view the rest of us as ants, do they not!” So sure of his victory, the Redsoul Lord broke into a cacophony of laughter.

“Master!” From within the crimson haze, near the Redsoul Lord’s side, another figure sat in meditation. This youth, the very phantom who had earlier spoken over the Ascendant Realm, opened his eyes and bowed respectfully.

The Redsoul Lord smiled at his disciple, a youth he had discovered on the Star of the Vermillion Bird. The boy possessed a rare talent for the Lord’s dark arts. And, interestingly, it was said that the youth was a distant descendant of none other than Wang Lin himself.

“Master, they have not yet given up hope. They continue to pour their life force into the seal in a vain attempt to strengthen it. Nanyunzi, in particular, is becoming a nuisance. I implore you, Master, when you break this seal, grant me Nanyunzi’s essence, that I might savor his torment.” The youth spoke with a venomous hunger.
“A paltry Yunzi Nan, you may have him!” Red Soul Child watched the cruel satisfaction bloom across the young man’s face, and he approved. This was the disciple he desired.

“However, that Mu Bingmei…” Red Soul Child drawled, his voice laced with subtle intent.

“If Master desires this woman, this disciple offers her with open hands,” the young man replied, bowing low.

“She was, after all, your ancestor’s beloved,” Red Soul Child said, amusement glinting in his eyes. He found this situation delightfully ironic. He even pondered Wang Lin’s reaction should he ever learn of this.

“What of it? Though I bear the name Wang, Wang Lin has abandoned the Domain of Caves and Heavens, his fate unknown. It is only fitting that his beauty be enjoyed by a descendant, to ease the burden of solitude. Has not Master always taught me thus?” the young man said obsequiously.

“Ye Mo is dead, but you have inherited his legacy. Therefore, Wang Lin, you shall also inherit my hatred for him!” Red Soul Child roared with laughter, a venomous gleam flashing in his eyes.

“No need for such drastic measures. Mu Bingmei is the chosen consort I have selected for you. I could never steal her away. However, I shall mold her to my liking for a time. When I tire of her, then she shall be yours,” Red Soul Child said with a smile.

“As it should be. Thank you, Master,” the young man said with a slight nod.

“Good. We wait but two days more!” Red Soul Child’s eyes narrowed. He formed a series of hand seals, and the surrounding crimson mist churned violently. The tens of thousands of blood-colored puppets outside pulsed with even more crimson light, further weakening the Immortal Realm array.

Indeed, as Red Soul Child’s crimson assault relentlessly gnawed at the barriers of the Immortal Realm, within the celestial domain itself, atop the highest mountain peak, stood a woman garbed in white.

Her beauty was transcendent, unparalleled not only within the Domain of Caves and Heavens but across the entire Immortal Astral Continent. No other woman could rival her ethereal grace.

Her beauty seemed to belong to a realm beyond mortal comprehension.

A gust of wind, heavy with the stench of blood, whipped through her raven tresses. Her breathtakingly beautiful face remained serene, a mask of tranquility.

But hidden deep within that placid facade lay a wellspring of wistful melancholy, unseen by the world. It was locked away, encased in a shell of unbreakable fortitude.

“Holy Maiden…” An old man stood behind her, his face etched with worry as he gazed upon the woman. His voice was respectful, tinged with anxiety.

“The barrier… It will hold for no more than two days.”

“I know…” Mu Bingmei said softly, gazing at the heavens. “Leave me to my thoughts, I pray.”

The old man hesitated for a moment, then sighed and bowed, retreating into the shadows.

Mu Bingmei was now alone on the mountain’s peak. She stood in silence for a long while. Then, she raised her right hand. In her palm lay a crystalline sword.

It was a gift from Wang Lin, forged from his very essence, imbued with the ancient aura of his Daoist past.

“If I still breathe, I will welcome you…” Mu Bingmei whispered, echoing the words she had spoken to Wang Lin as he departed long ago.

“If I no longer breathe…” Her face filled with grief as she stared at the sword, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Wang Lin, where are you!?” Her tears fell onto the crystalline blade, a faint sound escaping as they trickled down its edge…

As Mu Bingmei whispered his name, a blinding light suddenly appeared in the calm, black expanse of space that once belonged to Luo Tian. The light flashed, forming a shimmering gate. From that gate, a figure emerged.

Clad in white robes, with hair as white as snow.

Wang Lin.

“This is…” Wang Lin looked around, a smile spreading across his face.

“Luo Tian…” His smile was filled with joy. He recognized the familiar aura, confirming his return. “I have come home…”

Instinctively, his spiritual sense reached out, expanding in all directions.

“I wonder how the Immortal Realm fares now. If it has changed much since I departed,” he murmured. “Those familiar faces… are they still…” Wang Lin paused abruptly, his head snapping up. He stared intently towards the Immortal Realm, his smile vanishing, replaced by a chilling frost and a boundless, murderous intent.

This was the first time since becoming the strongest on the Immortal Astral Continent that he had unleashed the full force of his killing intent.