As the last disciple of the Four Sacred Sect vanished from the platform, Wang Lin stood silently, the cacophony of Rain Realm’s destruction a distant rumble in his ears, drowned out by the turmoil within his heart.

To liberate the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor was not merely to repay a debt to the Vermillion Bird Sacred Emperor; it was to secure a powerful figure for the Four Sacred Sect, a bulwark against the impending chaos, ensuring the Sect’s survival.

Within the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect, few, save for a handful of elders, truly acknowledged him as their Sacred Emperor. Only the younger clansmen held genuine fealty in their hearts.

Given time, Wang Lin could perhaps have changed this, but the unease stemming from Tuo Sen gnawed at him, a relentless urgency. Delay would only doom the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect, betraying the trust of the aged Sacred Emperor.

From the moment the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor eschewed vengeance against Heavenly Fate, Wang Lin realized the depth of the dragon’s machinations, a labyrinth he could not hope to navigate.

Then came the pronouncements regarding the Heavenly Dao, a revelation that shook Wang Lin to his core.

Yet, nothing compared to the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor’s parting words, words that laid bare his understanding of Wang Lin’s thoughts, his dismissal of Wang Lin’s title as Vermillion Bird Sacred Emperor. Only the Vermillion Bird Ancient Sacred Artifact held any significance.

“You may hold the Sacred Artifact for now, but once you depart Rain Realm, it must be returned to the Four Sacred Sect!”

“Were it not for the presence of so many elders, and his own recent escape, the Ancient Sacred Artifact would not await my delivery, but would be seized this very moment!” Wang Lin’s face twisted in a bitter smile. It was as it should be. Should he relinquish the mantle of Vermillion Bird Sacred Emperor, he would have no right to retain the Sacred Artifact.

In truth, Wang Lin had no intention of claiming it as his own. However, the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor’s unwavering silence on the fate of the other three Sacred Emperors, his casual mention of their deaths as commonplace events, unsettled Wang Lin deeply.

The Vermillion Bird Sacred Emperor had endured untold suffering for millennia, dedicating himself to the Four Sacred Sect’s survival. The White Tiger Sacred Emperor had fought valiantly for the Sect, falling in battle, his body lost to the ages. Yet, to the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor, these sacrifices were mere trifles, not worthy of acknowledgement.

Si Tu Nan, sensing his comrade’s distress, sighed and clapped Wang Lin on the shoulder. “To the hell with the Four Sacred Sect! When Qing Lin awakens, we shall rule the stars together, unfettered!”

Wang Lin managed a weak smile and nodded.

“Master once said that Heavenly Dao Blood is an accursed substance; those who ingest it and survive are destined to undergo a profound transformation! I recall the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor from long ago, a boisterous, honorable man. To see him now… he must have, as Master foretold, consumed Heavenly Dao Blood, leading to this brooding nature,” Wang Wei lamented.

Though consumed with the need to find the Palace before Rain Realm succumbed completely, Wang Wei held his tongue. Wang Lin sighed. He knew that with those final words from the Azure Dragon Sacred Emperor, his ties to the Four Sacred Sect were severed, save for the gratitude he held for the aged Vermillion Bird Sacred Emperor.

Wang Lin raised his head, gathered his robes, and knelt upon the crumbling earth, bowing three times towards the gate of Rain Realm.

“Aged Sacred Emperor, your kindness shall forever be etched in my memory. I shall never forget. If the Vermillion Bird Sacred Sect ever faces peril, I shall offer my aid, even unto death!” Wang Lin raised his head, his eyes misty with the memory of the aged Sacred Emperor’s departure, his gentle face, his weary spirit, forever imprinted upon his heart.

“If the burden becomes too great, if the Four Sacred Sect can never reclaim its glory, if the heavens themselves seek to destroy my Sect… then do not force yourself.” The words of the aged Sacred Emperor echoed in Wang Lin’s mind.

Silently, he rose, took a deep breath, and turned to Wang Wei and Hu Juan. “Esteemed seniors, let us find the Palace.”

Aside from Wang Wei, Hu Juan, and Si Tu Nan, the silver-clad female corpse remained, ever at Wang Lin’s side, her silent guardian.

“Wang Lin, are you…” Hu Juan, as a woman, understood the turmoil that must be raging within him.

“I am well,” Wang Lin replied, forcing a smile to mask the sorrow in his heart.

Wang Wei nodded and leapt towards the platform’s edge. Hu Juan glanced at Wang Lin before following after Wang Wei. Si Tu Nan, placing a hand on Wang Lin’s shoulder, joined him in flight. The silver-clad female corpse followed close behind.

Rain Realm’s destruction continued unabated. Collapsed fragments littered the landscape, some dissolving into gargantuan vortexes that tore apart the remaining debris.

The earth-shattering roar of the destruction did not deter the group. With Rain Realm already crumbling, they cast caution aside, transforming into streaks of light, their passage marked by sonic booms.

Wang Wei’s eyes pierced the chaos, searching for familiar landmarks, cross-referencing his memories. After what seemed like an eternity, his eyes narrowed.

“It should be here!” Wang Wei exclaimed, pointing below.

Wang Lin’s gaze followed, and he gasped. The fragments below were also in a state of collapse, yet, beneath them, a faint outline of another fragmented landmass remained!

This alone would not have elicited such a response from Wang Lin, for this place was etched in his memory. It was here, in this very place, that Zhou Yi had fought Sun Tai, sacrificing his soul in the process.

“Rain Realm’s collapse has resulted in countless fragments, some overlapping. According to the ancient maps of Rain Realm’s Palace, it lies amidst these overlapping fragments!” Wang Wei explained, raising his right hand and pressing downwards.

Instantly, a wave of azure mist materialized, smashing into the fragments below. Like leaves before a gale, the collapsing fragments scattered amidst earth-shattering tremors.

Beneath, the overlapping fragments were revealed.
The company, unhalting, dissolved into streaks of vibrant color as they descended upon the shattered landmass. Here, the very bones of the world groaned in their death throes. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and with extended senses, they perceived the edges of this broken isle crumbling, shedding stones into the void. Cracks, like jagged scars, widened and deepened with each earth-shattering shudder.

“Time wanes,” thundered Wang Wei. “Should the entirety of the Rain Realm collapse, this place will become a ravenous maw, devouring all within its grasp!” With a stomp of his right foot, the earth for a hundred paces around him shattered, sending splinters of rock scattering like startled birds.

They plunged downwards through the collapsing ground, and soon, they broke through the fragment upon which they stood, emerging onto another, layered beneath.

This new shard was smaller, the throes of destruction less pronounced. The ground trembled, but with a gentler hand. A swift sweep of his senses revealed no trace of the Venerable Hall.

“More fragments lie below!” Wang Wei declared, his right foot again a weapon. The lower shard mirrored the fate of the one above, crumbling under his power. But in that instant, Wang Wei’s face darkened. With a flick of his sleeve, he snatched up his companions, drawing them back with desperate haste.

Where Wang Wei had trod, the ground fractured, but instead of scattering, the fragments plunged downwards, vanishing into an abyss. A colossal vortex yawned open, a gaping wound in the fabric of reality.

Within its swirling darkness, beyond the veil of sight, they glimpsed another fragmented continent, utterly collapsing. Amidst the destruction, a single structure remained unscathed – a hall of verdant jade, drifting slowly into the abyss.

In the oppressive blackness, the jade hall stood out like a beacon of forgotten power.

“The Rain Realm’s Venerable Hall!” Wang Wei’s eyes blazed with renewed purpose. He launched himself towards the vortex, a living arrow aimed at his prize. The others followed, their hopes rekindled. Wang Lin, his gaze fixed upon the jade hall, moved with unwavering focus.

In a heartbeat, they plunged into the swirling vortex. A monstrous force attempted to drag them down, to consume them. Had it been before, Wang Lin might have struggled, required aid. But now, his left eye shimmered, and a raging inferno erupted around him. A being of living flame, he strode through the vortex’s grip, escaping its pull, and set his course for the drifting jade hall.

The others followed, breaking free of the vortex and speeding towards their destination. Wang Wei, his face alight with fervent anticipation, had waited an eternity for this moment.

The jade hall, though ancient and powerful, could not outpace them. Soon, they stood beside it, dwarfed by its presence. Wang Lin felt a tremor in his very soul.

Though not towering in height, the hall radiated an aura of undeniable authority, a verdant glow swirling about it like a divine aura. Above its massive doors, a single, intricately carved character shone with oppressive weight: “Green.”

Wang Wei stepped forward, planting his feet before the gates. He raised his right hand and pushed. With a grinding groan that echoed through the void, the doors slowly parted, unleashing a torrent of emerald light that bathed the surrounding darkness in its ethereal glow.

Wang Lin stepped across the threshold.

The hall within was vast and empty, save for a single formation etched upon the floor, pulsing with verdant light.

Wang Wei, visibly moved, scanned the chamber, his gaze finally settling upon the formation. Hu Juan, entering close behind, studied the array, her expression changing with dawning comprehension.

“I have never seen a formation like this. It possesses the power to sever the soul from the body!”

“Bring forth the corporeal shell of Immortal Emperor Qing Lin,” Wang Lin commanded, his eyes fixed on the pulsing array.

Wang Wei raised his hand, tearing a rift in the void. From within emerged the body of Qing Lin, drifting silently, adorned in black armor. A single, crimson point pulsed above his brow. His eyes were closed, and he lay still, devoid of breath.