“Silence!” Wang Lin’s brow furrowed, a dark command that echoed through the desolate land.

Xu Liguo, the ancient sword spirit, ceased his blathering at once, though the blade itself trembled violently. A silent scream arose within his essence: “Doomed! Utterly doomed! I must have been addled by the clash of will, to dare strike at this star of ill omen! Xu Liguo, oh Xu Liguo, how could such a brilliant and cunning devil as yourself succumb to such reckless impulse?!”

“This tempering shall be postponed,” Wang Lin declared, his voice a chilling wind, “Observe yourself henceforth. Should you persist in such defiance, your sword-soul shall be extinguished entirely!” The words, though harsh, fell upon Xu Liguo’s ears like the first warmth of spring, calming his frantic spirit.

“My Lord, your wisdom is truly…” The fulsome praise was cut short. With a flick of his wrist, Wang Lin banished the great sword into a dimensional rift that materialized at his will, silencing the escalating flattery.

Having dealt with the sycophantic Xu Liguo, Wang Lin shifted his form, vanishing without a trace.

Upon a cultivation star within the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect, Tasi sat in perpetual meditation. Around him lay scattered hides of beasts, marked with complex runes drawn in blood and empowered by the force within his very soul.

As he meticulously inscribed, Tasi’s hand faltered, his head snapped up. Wang Lin stood before him, as if summoned from thin air, his gaze unwavering and profound.

“Master…” Tasi murmured, his voice heavy with regret and resignation.

Wang Lin turned his gaze towards the horizon, his silence stretching into an age. “You have regained your sentience. You need not call me Master any longer.”

A wave of bitterness washed over Tasi’s face. “It was you, Master, who preserved my existence. A debt Tasi will never forget.”

Wang Lin sighed, meeting Tasi’s eyes for a brief moment. “When do you depart?”

Tasi stiffened, his eyes widening in surprise. He hesitated, a pained smile tugging at his lips. “How did you know, Master?”

“Since arriving here, you have ceaselessly crafted talismans. Unless driven by a purpose, a plan formed in your heart, such industry would be impossible.” It had been years since their last meeting, and Wang Lin felt a pang of complicated emotion upon seeing his former Immortal Guard.

Tasi nodded slowly. “I wish to see my kin in Luo Tian. These talismans… besides those for my own use, I have crafted three for you, Master – Speed, Collapse, and Seal!” He retrieved three hides from within his robes, rising to offer them to Wang Lin with reverence. These were crafted from the rarest hides, imbued with far more heart and focus than any common talisman.

Wang Lin accepted the gifts, his voice soft. “The Alliance Starfield is in turmoil. Be wary on your journey.”

Tasi bowed his head in acknowledgment.

“If you encounter my former disciple upon the Azure Spirit Star, extend a hand in my stead.” With a final, searching look, Wang Lin turned and departed.

Only after Wang Lin had vanished did Tasi sink to his knees, bowing his head to the ground in the direction of Wang Lin’s departure. A fierce resolve hardened his features, and with a deep breath, he gathered his talismans and soared into the star-strewn sky.

As for Situ Nan, he would naturally accompany Wang Lin in the quest to rescue the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor. The lingering poison within his body was a constant threat, and a cure was paramount.

Even before Wang Lin could seek him out, Situ Nan had positioned himself amongst the thirty-five Elders of the Four Sacred Sects. He sat behind the Elder who had tirelessly striven to alleviate his suffering.

Situ Nan’s face was solemn, his heart ablaze with a burning desire for vengeance. Should he be freed from the poison, he vowed to drag Wang Lin to Phoenix Luan Star and exact retribution! The suffering he had endured would be repaid tenfold, nay, a hundredfold upon those female cultivators of Phoenix Luan Star! Within the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect’s domain lay desolate worlds, unsuitable for even the most hardened cultivators. These barren planets seethed with toxic miasma, which, when ignited by the ever-present flames, unleashed a potent and deadly energy.

It was to such a world that Wang Lin now travelled. The planet was devoid of life, a black wasteland radiating intense heat.

As Wang Lin stepped onto the obsidian sands, he felt the venomous emanations swirling within the searing heat. The desolate terrain was not a smooth plain but a landscape of jagged peaks and deep ravines.

Before him lay one such ravine, a chasm of utter darkness from which waves of heat billowed, stirring the strands of Wang Lin’s white hair.

“Wang Lin seeks audience with the Daoist Companions Yun Xian!” Wang Lin’s voice, clear and resonant, echoed across the barren landscape.

In response, a blade of pure light erupted from the ravine, hurtling towards Wang Lin with deadly speed. A subtle smile graced Wang Lin’s lips as he stood his ground, his gaze unwavering.

As the sword-light drew near, it resolved into the figure of a handsome man of middle age, though his complexion was unusually pale. He too, bore a faint smile.

“Wang Lin, the two Sages are aware of your arrival. Come, follow me.” The man was Zhou Yi, a bond forged in trials past transcended mere words. Sharing a knowing glance, Wang Lin descended into the abyss.

The ravine plunged into the depths, an oppressive wave of heat assaulting them with each step. Wang Lin, unperturbed, turned to Zhou Yi. The man’s expression was calm. “This place was once… difficult to endure. Now, it is of little consequence. Wang Lin… you… you come to save the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor, I hear?” Zhou Yi ventured hesitantly.

Wang Lin shook his head, his gaze fixed on Zhou Yi, a note of respect in his voice. “Beyond the rescue of the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor lies the fate of Emperor Qing Lin. Only with Qing Lin’s reawakening can Qing Shuang Xianjun hope for resurrection.”

A surge of emotion flooded Zhou Yi’s features. “Thank you!” he cried, gratitude ringing in his tone.

Wang Lin’s expression grew troubled, and he shook his head in silence. Zhou Yi faltered, understanding dawning in his eyes. His own features grew clouded as they descended. “You and I are alike… save that you have aid, while I had none. I… I am powerless to repay.”

Wang Lin remained silent, his gaze fixed ahead.

Soon, they reached the base of the ravine, a hidden sanctuary carved from the toxic heart of the world. By some great feat of arcane power, the deadly miasma and oppressive heat were banished, creating a haven of tranquil beauty.
A silver ribbon of a stream meandered through the vale, its destination a mystery whispered only to the wind. Nestled near its banks stood a handful of humble woodcutter’s cottages, embraced by a verdant carpet of grass, dotted with vibrant blossoms like jewels scattered upon an emerald cloth.

Lord Wang, a serene smile gracing his lips, sat cross-legged by the water’s edge, gazing upon his beloved, the Lady Hu Juan, across the stream. She frolicked like a sprite, her bare feet splashing and stirring the water into miniature storms.

“Honored elders,” a voice echoed, cutting through the tranquil scene. Wang Lin, having cleaved a path through the heat-warped barriers with the aid of Zhou Yi, stood respectfully, hands clasped in deference.

Lord Wang turned his gaze upon the newcomer, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “Explain your interference with the… *incident* concerning the Lieling Cloud Child,” he boomed, his voice laced with mock severity, “or suffer the consequences!”

Lady Hu Juan, on the opposite bank, chuckled, smoothing a stray lock of raven hair. “Wang Lin, husband has taken this matter to heart. He feels it beneath his dignity to ambush one so young.”

A smile played on Wang Lin’s lips. He knew that Lord Wang and Lady Hu Juan, having fought alongside him in the harrowing lands of the Demon Spirit Realm, held him in fond regard. The incident was but a jest.

Wang Lin offered a brief explanation, which Lord Wang accepted with a dismissive wave.

“In the Demon Spirit Realm,” Wang Lin began, his voice serious, “I overheard the Celestial Emperor Qing Lin speak of three things: the Rain Realm Sanctuary, the Yuan Soul Crystal, and the Azure Frost Blood. I possess the latter two, but the Rain Realm Sanctuary…” He paused, his gaze meeting Lord Wang’s.

Lord Wang’s jovial demeanor vanished, replaced by a grave intensity. “In years past, I have pondered the old Rain Immortal Realm,” he confirmed. “There was indeed a Sanctuary, the very place where my master ascended to become an Emperor! I told you of this before. Your presence here… is it because…?” His eyes held a question, a mixture of hope and apprehension.

Wang Lin hesitated, then confessed the tale of the venerable Sacred Phoenix Emperor and the acquisition of the Rain Crystal. Lord Wang listened, his expression growing solemn. Lady Hu Juan abandoned her playful games, donned her sandals, and stood beside her husband, her hand finding his.

A silent exchange passed between the two, then Lord Wang spoke, his voice resonating with determination. “We, the two of us, shall forever remember the kindness of the Sacred Phoenix Emperor! If the Azure Dragon Emperor truly languishes within the Rain Realm, we shall aid in his rescue, thus repaying the debt of the Rain Crystal.”

Wang Lin nodded in gratitude. With a few hurried preparations, Lord Wang and Lady Hu Juan, accompanied by Zhou Yi, joined Wang Lin on his journey, their steps guided towards the beckoning stars.

The physical form of Qing Lin, meanwhile, remained entrusted to Lord Wang’s care, safely preserved.

Upon the main altar of the Sacred Phoenix Sect, surrounded by ancient formations, the assembled multitude waited in breathless anticipation. Suddenly, four streaks of light descended from the heavens, coalescing above the formation into the figures of Wang Lin, Lord Wang, and their companions.

Without hesitation, Wang Lin strode into the heart of the formation, sinking into a meditative posture. His eyes snapped open, blazing with an inner fire. “Activate the array!” he commanded. His right hand reached into the void, conjuring a shimmering rift in reality from which he drew forth a radiant, otherworldly crystal, pulsating with immortal power.

Simultaneously, the tens of thousands of disciples of the Four Sacred Sects, encircling the formation, closed their eyes, their own cultivated power surging forth, feeding into the intricate network beneath their feet. Runes began to blaze with light, their energies flowing along interconnected pathways, converging upon the thirty-five elders stationed at key points around the perimeter.

These elders, channeling the collective power of the assembled multitude, amplified it thirty-fivefold, directing the torrent towards Wang Lin at the center, where it slammed into the crystal. The crystal erupted in a blinding cascade of luminescence, unleashing an unimaginable force that tore through the veil of reality, creating a pillar of light that soared into the heavens, sending ripples of power cascading across the stars.

The skies roared, and the gate to the Rain Realm, slowly, painstakingly, materialized above the Sacred Phoenix Sect’s ancestral star! In that instant, virtually every cultivator of sufficient power throughout the Allied Starfield felt the disturbance in the heavens. Those familiar with the arcane energies recognized it instantly: the Rain Immortal Realm had been opened! Rain Cauldrons, ancient artifacts of power, manifested spontaneously in various corners of the Allied Starfield. However, the eyes of Luo Tian, the Corpse Yin Sect, and the Allied forces were firmly fixed upon Zhuque Star. The sudden opening of the Rain Realm, while astonishing, could not divert their attention from the looming threat.

“Our combined strength would destabilize the Rain Realm, risking its collapse! We must rescue the Azure Dragon Emperor swiftly!” Wang Lin declared. With a blur of motion, he transformed into a streak of light, soaring towards the Rain Realm gate. Behind him followed the thirty-five Nirvana Shattering elders, Situ Nan, Lord Wang, Lady Hu Juan, and the others, their faces set with determination.

And one more, unnoticed even by Wang Lin, slipped into the Rain Realm as a streak of silver light: the Silver-Clad Corpse Maiden!

Meanwhile, far to the north, on a desolate and forgotten world within the Allied Starfield, the ground shuddered and cracked in a cruciform pattern. From the fissure arose an ancient figure, his white hair obscuring his face. Before him shimmered a Rain Cauldron, newly manifested.

“Wang Lin… You cannot escape my machinations!”

A gust of wind swept across the plains, revealing the face of the aged figure, a face etched with malice and cunning… it was Tian Yunzi!