Wang Lin’s spirit swept past the three youths, stretching further into the veiled distance. Once more, his mind’s eye settled upon a towering peak. No wards or enchantments warded its slopes; even the ethereal mists seemed to shy away, reluctant to trespass near its formidable presence.

As Wang Lin’s consciousness approached, a tempest of spiritual energy erupted from the mountain’s heart, a raw and untamed force that crashed against his own like a rogue wave. A silent thunder reverberated within Wang Lin’s soul, instantly clearing the haze of his wandering thoughts. “It has been long since I have sensed such a pure resonance of will…” a chilling mental voice echoed from the peak, followed by an even more overwhelming wave of divine sense that surged towards Wang Lin.

In that instant, the very fabric of the world seemed to shift and darken, even the Seven-Colored Light faltering in its brilliance. The surge of spiritual energy coalesced in the air, forming a colossal hand that lunged for Wang Lin’s ethereal form.

But before the grasping fingers could close, Wang Lin’s essence rapidly contracted, drawing upon an illusionary power that blurred the edges of reality, as though the world itself was dissolving.

A surprised murmur echoed from the peak, and a white-haired elder emerged, eyes fixed upon the shimmering void. With a sudden burst of speed, he lunged forward, his right hand striking at the empty space before him. With deafening booms, Wang Lin’s illusion shattered, the mirage utterly dispelled. “Mere trickery cannot hope to deceive an old one such as I! Since you offer yourself, then remain! Such pure resonance is worth a hundred times that of those who seek to inscribe their wills!”

The elder pressed closer, his outstretched hand seeming to blot out the very sky, a vortex of unseen force drawing Wang Lin’s essence towards him, twisting and pulling.

Wang Lin’s spiritual form retreated, yet within this realm he manifested a phantasmal likeness, staring at the approaching elder, silent. Then, with a flick of his wrist, all the discarded fragments of enlightenment that Wang Lin had abandoned throughout the Seven-Colored Realm surged into motion, rushing towards him from every direction.

Countless, abandoned philosophies converged upon him, stirring the Seven-Colored Realm’s mists and dimming the heavens. In mere moments, the accumulated essence around Wang Lin swelled to a staggering degree.

With another flick of his wrist, these gathered fragments formed a colossal vortex. The elder’s grasping hand faltered, his expression hardening.

“I was merely seeking enlightenment, and my spirit wandered without intent. I apologize for disturbing your cultivation, honored cultivator. It was without malice!” Wang Lin’s phantom form was now wreathed in a formidable shield of swirling philosophies, constantly replenished by streams of stray essence.

The elder’s eyes narrowed, taking in Wang Lin’s ethereal figure. Never before had he witnessed such a feat – the ability to draw upon and coalesce so many divergent paths of understanding.

After a moment’s contemplation, the elder scoffed. “This once, I shall overlook this transgression! But let it not happen again!” With a flick of his sleeve, he retreated into the mountain, withdrawing his spiritual presence.

Wang Lin receded, the swirling fragments of essence shielding him as he traversed the land, returning in a heartbeat to his corporeal form within the valley.

A moment later, his eyes opened, a cold glint within them. Had the elder been more insistent, Wang Lin would have unleashed the full force of his accumulated philosophies in retaliation.

Rising to his feet, Wang Lin raised his right hand to the heavens. The countless fragments of enlightenment came rushing towards him, converging within the valley and coalescing within his fingertips, churning the air and earth as they gathered. Upon Wang Lin’s hand, a sphere of pure blackness began to form.

Soon, all the discarded philosophies that Wang Lin had rejected during his moment of enlightenment had been drawn into this obsidian orb. The lost souls outside the valley once more stumbled in confusion, scattering aimlessly. The inscription seekers resumed their mumbling, drifting away.

Even the Rank Twelve beasts seemed to regain their senses, roaring as they fled the valley, and soon, all was as it had been. Pale-faced, Cang Songzi fled in terror.

Wang Lin closed his fist, and the black orb, with a final crackling burst, solidified into a dark crystal, settling in his palm. He examined the object, his fingers tracing its edges. This was the essence distilled from countless discarded paths, a weapon potent enough to shatter even the most resilient spirit.

“What does he guard?” Wang Lin murmured, his mind returning to the elder he had sensed deep within the mountain. At the last moment, something had held him back. He was a cultivator who had reached the Late stage of Spirit Severing, yet he remained bound to that peak. Unless he was guarding or seeking something of immense significance, Wang Lin refused to believe it. “And those three young cultivators… I have seen one of them before. I never expected to find him here…” Wang Lin frowned. “But if this place is connected to the Sect Leader, then his presence is, perhaps, explained.” Wang Lin gazed at the sky, his spirit serene, his deep eyes seeming to contain the very principles of the universe. “The resonance of will bloomed when I beheld the scriptures upon the skeleton. With time, my cultivation will reach the Middle stage of Nether Severing.” Wang Lin inhaled deeply, turning his gaze towards the Age-Sealing Barrier beyond the valley. He strode forth, the barrier rippling as he passed, and his eyes fell upon the fleeing Cang Songzi. His figure flickered, and he moved like lightning.

“Cang Songzi, despite his wounds, has found my location. His hatred runs deep. I cannot allow him to escape. What is the liquid within that jade bottle? The answer lies with him. And the method to leave this place is locked within his soul.” Cold resolve burned within Wang Lin’s eyes as he gave chase.

Cang Songzi ran, his face ashen, his heart seething with rage. He had believed himself healed, and the death of the man named Lu would be swift, with only the array proving to be slightly problematic. Never did he expect that he would not even see Lu’s shadow, and merely stepping within a thousand yards would stir his spirit until he was nearly devastated.

Especially the countless rejected paths of enlightenment stirred by the valley, he felt as if he were a solitary boat in a stormy sea. When Wang Lin’s spiritual sense swept past him, it nearly crushed him. He vaguely sensed that Wang Lin had enlightened, and his cultivation will improve.

Cang Songzi’s heart grew colder at the thought of his opponent growing stronger. When his opponent hadn’t improved yet, Cang Songzi could only fight to hurt both of them, but if Wang Lin were to break through now, he would surely die!

Cang Songzi was bitter and wished to curse to the heavens. He had prepared for so many years, but today he would have to admit defeat, and if he were to press on, he would only be imprisoned here. “I am not willing!!” His eyes were hateful towards Wang Lin, he wished to eat his flesh and drink his blood!

“This person ruined my work and so did Zhao. If it weren’t for her trying to steal it, Lu would not have had the chance… Forget it, forget it!” Cang Songzi twisted his expression, his eyes were filled with anger, but more of it was stifled.

“I’ll give it up! If you want it, you can take it! I will just leave this Seven-Colored Realm and completely seal it off! I’ll destroy the rift to the outside world and trap you here for eternity! Only in this way can the hatred in my heart be cleared! Lu must have interrogated Pang Decai as well, otherwise he would not have been able to coincidentally found Sima Mo’s cave. But even Pang Decai did not know the true way out of here, he only knew what I wanted him to know!

“You will be forever trapped here!” Cang Songzi grimaced as he ran towards the outer regions along a path that he did not pass by before.

He only passed through this path twice, so he was very familiar with it. If he wasn’t concerned about encountering lost souls, he would be moving even faster.

Just as he was rushing by, Cang Songzi trembled and looked behind him. He saw Wang Lin’s figure flickering. A murderous aura enveloped him, causing Cang Songzi’s heart to feel cold. He sped up and moved forward.

Wang Lin stared at Cang Songzi’s figure and formed a seal. The illusionary Ancient God cauldron appeared around him as he pointed at Cang Songzi.

“Swap!” As he spoke, light sparkled around Cang Songzi. The light became blinding, and Cang Songzi disappeared before Wang Lin’s location was swapped!

Cang Songzi only felt his vision blur. When his vision returned, his expression changed. Wang Lin and Cang Songzi had swapped locations, and Wang Lin charged at Cang Songzi without stopping. Using the moment when his opponent was dazed by the sudden spell, he closed the gap.

He raised his right hand and pressed down. His left hand quickly tapped the back of his right hand, and a powerful origin energy rumbled as it moved toward Cang Songzi.

All of this happened in a blink of an eye, it was too fast! Cang Songzi had never expected Wang Lin to have such a treasure! When he reacted, the powerful origin energy was already approaching.

His pupils shrank and he let out a sharp shriek, causing his face to twist. Seven blood-colored nascent souls appeared and quickly gathered on the lightning mark between his eyebrows. The mark suddenly released a dazzling light and charged towards the origin energy.

Earth-shattering booms echoed as Chen Tianjun of the Beast Master Sect stepped out from a cave nearby and stared at Wang Lin and Cang Songzi’s battle. He gasped as he watched.