From the immortal domain of Xiangang, the Crimson Soul knew well that on the Xianli continent, cultivation levels far surpassed those of the Cave World: Gold Exalt, Celestial Exalt, Sky-Leaping Exalt, and the formidable Nine Great Celestial Exalts.

In Xiangang, Crimson Soul, with his current cultivation, would show utmost respect to any Gold Exalt. These beings were apex overlords. Even in vast sects, they were revered elders, the ultimate power dictating a sect’s prosperity.

Crimson Soul’s life ambition was to become a Gold Exalt. His purpose in breaching the Immortal Realm’s array was to devour the immortals, absorbing their essence to achieve his breakthrough.

But now, witnessing the sudden appearance of a serpent, no thicker than a thumb, that swelled into a colossal sea dragon of ten thousand fathoms, Crimson Soul’s mind went blank.

The pressure emanating from the sea dragon shook the entire Immortal Realm, causing most to tremble, feeling an impulse to prostrate.

“Gold Exalt… it is a Gold Exalt…” Crimson Soul’s face turned ashen, his ears deafened by the truth. He could scarcely believe his eyes.

The rarely seen Gold Exalt, especially the even rarer Gold Exalt beast, had appeared in this Cave World, before him. The absurdity drove Crimson Soul near madness.

The Gold Exalt Sea Dragon stirred, its massive head turning, its eyes burning with savage light as it fixed its gaze on Crimson Soul and let out a low roar.

The sound sent violent tremors through Crimson Soul, destabilizing his nascent soul, threatening to shatter it. This sensation reaffirmed the undeniable truth: the sea dragon was a Gold Exalt!

Crimson Soul stumbled backward, sweat beading on his brow. He could not comprehend how Wang Lin possessed a Gold Exalt Sea Dragon at his side.

This exceeded his capacity to reason. He felt as if this were a dream.

As he retreated, inspiration struck. The sea dragon had not emerged from beside Wang Lin, but from the shoulder of the scholarly cultivator standing nearby.

“It is not Wang Lin who is powerful. Wang Lin emanates no pressure, bears no cultivation fluctuations. While he may hide his power with treasures, in Xiangang, only the weak resort to such measures. Wang Lin’s actions reveal his meager strength!

The sea dragon is not his, but the scholarly cultivator’s beast!

Wang Lin’s cultivation is weak, but he must be a friend of the cultivator. He returned to the Cave World, fearing his own inadequacy, and thus invited another to accompany him.

And seeing the scholar’s unimpressive cultivation, I am certain. The scholar has a master, a Celestial Exalt from Xiangang! Only this explains everything!” Crimson Soul’s eyes gleamed as his mind raced. He was now certain of his deduction.

Retreating still, as the Gold Exalt Sea Dragon opened its maw, ready to devour him, Crimson Soul roared,

“Friend, hear me out!” His words were not directed at Wang Lin, nor the sea dragon, but at the distant Liu Jinbiao, who watched the spectacle with glee.

“Your master must be one of the Celestial Exalts of the Immortal Clan. Judging by your demeanor, you must be the direct disciple of that esteemed Exalt, else you would not be gifted with a Gold Exalt Sea Dragon. Friend, this is a private matter between Wang Lin and myself. I implore you not to interfere. Crimson Soul will reward you handsomely afterward!” Crimson Soul had no choice. Under the Gold Exalt’s pressure, he dared not even flee.

This was a life-or-death crisis. He could not afford to overthink, even though he suspected they were in cahoots, and persuading them would be difficult, he had to try.

“Before I was sealed, I hid a lifetime of treasures in the Eastern Continent, collected over countless years. I will give them all to you if you spare me!” Crimson Soul’s heart pounded. He was filled with terror under the sea dragon’s gaze, and his voice trembled.

Liu Jinbiao blinked.

Wang Lin smiled slightly, and remained silent. Also stunned were Xu Liguo, the sea dragon, and Nan Yunzi.

Xu Liguo recovered and laughed. Liu Jinbiao coughed, eyeing the despairing Crimson Soul with a wry grin, and shook his head.

“My master’s younger brother is Xun Shanqing, a Celestial Exalt under the command of the Great Celestial Exalt Dao Yi. If you let this sea dragon kill me, my master’s younger brother will know! I doubt your master would risk a feud with an Exalt of equal rank over this matter!” Crimson Soul shrieked, his face white, his eyes filled with fear of death.

“And the Great Celestial Exalt Dao Yi is fiercely protective. If my master’s younger brother pleads with him, you will all pay the price! Wang Lin, you cannot bear this cost. The entire Cave World will be destroyed!

You have been to Xiangang. You know the power of the Great Celestial Exalts. If you let me leave today, I swear I will never covet the Immortal Realm again. I will leave the Cave World and return to Xiangang.”

Crimson Soul screeched, hoping to intimidate Wang Lin. He believed Wang Lin, having returned from Xiangang, must know of the Great Celestial Exalts.

Liu Jinbiao glanced at Wang Lin, a reaction that gave Crimson Soul a glimmer of hope.

Wang Lin’s expression was strange. He smiled faintly, watching the fearful Crimson Soul desperately seeking a way out.

“If you let me go, I can beg my master’s younger brother to take you as a disciple. Then you will be one of Dao Yi’s subordinates. Upon breaking through, you could ascend to the heavens and dominate Xiangang!” Crimson Soul spoke rapidly.

“Dao Yi… a Celestial Exalt…” Wang Lin rose to his feet, gazing at Crimson Soul in the sky. In his eyes, Crimson Soul was nothing more than an ant.

The other immortals were unfamiliar with Wang Lin’s power, but Crimson Soul’s words, even just the name of the mysterious Dao Yi, sent shivers through their souls.

Daoist Blue Dream frowned but said nothing. Nan Yunzi also looked somber. His belief in Wang Lin’s power wavered.

“Xiangang had nine Great Celestial Exalts, of which Dao Yi was the weakest,” Wang Lin said calmly.

Crimson Soul knew this, and Wang Lin’s words further convinced him that Wang Lin knew the Great Celestial Exalts’ unparalleled might.

But he hesitated, as Wang Lin’s casual tone when mentioning the Great Celestial Exalts made him uneasy.

“But even the weakest Great Celestial Exalt has the power to rule over all life,” Wang Lin continued, before abruptly changing his tone.

“But even if Dao Yi came here himself, he would have to retreat immediately upon seeing Wang. He might not even dare to meet me.” Wang Lin smiled.

His words stunned Crimson Soul. He stared at Wang Lin, thinking he was insane. No one would dare to speak such words.

“How audacious! If you truly dare, why not go to Xiangang and say these words to the Great Celestial Exalt Dao Yi!” Crimson Soul mocked despite his fear, dismissing them as the ramblings of a lunatic.

“No need to rush,” Wang Lin replied. Crimson Soul dared breach the Immortal Realm’s array, and should not be easily killed, to assuage Wang Lin’s rage.

“Dao Yi, this person claims that one of your Celestial Exalts is his master’s younger brother. Tell me, is this true!” Wang Lin raised his right hand and waved it forward. The heavens roared. The sea dragon retreated as a massive vortex appeared in the Immortal Realm sky. It spun continuously, connecting to the stars, as if opening a passage, shattering the laws of Xiangang and linking to the Xiangang continent.

On Xiangang, Dao Yi, who had returned to his sect from the Cangmang basin, was haunted by the scene he witnessed outside the sea wall storm. His heart was filled with terror. He didn’t want to believe it, but he knew it was true.

The strongest being in Xiangang was no longer Gu Dao, but the terrifying Wang Lin!

Suddenly, above Dao Yi Sect, the sky changed. A vast vortex appeared out of nowhere. Wang Lin’s voice thundered from within, causing Dao Yi’s expression to change drastically. He was horrified to find himself unable to move, his divine sense enveloped by a strange force from the vortex, drawn out of his body and into the vortex.

Within the vortex, he saw a foreign continent and Wang Lin, and felt a strong sense that Wang Lin controlled his very life and death, as if Wang Lin could kill him with a thought.

Back in the Cave World Immortal Realm, Crimson Soul stared blankly at the sky. A trembling aura emanated from the vortex, one he had felt faintly long ago, belonging to the Great Celestial Exalt Dao Yi!

“This is impossible… impossible…”

“None of my subordinates knows this person… I beg… I beg, Revered Wang… to quell your anger…” Dao Yi’s bitter voice echoed from the vortex, filled with respect and a hint of terror, audible to Crimson Soul.

“Fake… this is fake… This is impossible!” Crimson Soul felt as if he were going mad. He could not believe it.