“By the celestial dragon’s beard, I had forgotten his mastery of that most tyrannical Binding Art!” Greedy Wolf’s heart churned like a tempest, fear spreading like ink across his eyes, consuming all.

“That bane is treacherous!” he thought, his mind racing, “To possess such divine constraint and yet conceal it until I unveiled my most potent treasure! He has robbed me of my final hope!” Greedy Wolf’s body, spirit, and even his very consciousness were utterly immobilized, leaving him a helpless spectator as Wang Lin approached with measured steps.

The fractured statue, devoid of any discernible aura, floated serenely to Greedy Wolf’s right.

As Wang Lin advanced, his form gradually diminished, until he stood before Greedy Wolf as a man of ordinary stature. Ignoring Greedy Wolf for the moment, Wang Lin reached out and seized the broken statue.

Seeing his ultimate weapon snatched away, Greedy Wolf felt as though a barbed blade had been thrust through his heart, ripped out, and repeated a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times. The agonizing pain fueled his fury, causing blood to trickle from the corner of his lips.

“A mere bauble, surely Senior Greedy Wolf would not be so miserly,” Wang Lin said with a smile, his gaze fixed upon the battered statue. “You bestowed upon me many gifts in the past. Today, you offer even more. I, Wang Lin, shall accept them with gratitude.” He scrutinized the statue, his expression shifting.

The statue appeared unremarkable, marred by cracks and bearing a somewhat eerie countenance. It depicted a man, seemingly middle-aged, adorned in a flowing Daoist robe. His features were plain, yet an indefinable air of authority radiated from him. It was not an oppressive or terrifying presence, but the instant Wang Lin’s gaze met the statue’s eyes, he was seized by a violent tremor.

A shudder that shook him to his core!

Before Wang Lin, the cosmos shattered into a million pieces, obliterating everything. An immeasurable force erupted from the statue, surging through Wang Lin’s eyes and into his very soul.

The roar of the heavens echoed in Wang Lin’s ears, drowning out even the thunder. The entire universe, all existence, crumbled into nothingness in that instant. In that void, Wang Lin lost his consciousness, overwhelmed by the surging power and plunged into a state of profound bewilderment.

How long did he remain in this state? Ten years? A century? Ten thousand? A hundred thousand?

Finally, Wang Lin glimpsed a continent forming within the nonexistent heavens. This land stretched beyond measure, and Wang Lin felt an undeniable conviction that its size surpassed the entire Ancient Star Domain, even the Inner Realm. Adding them together would barely equal one ten-thousandth of this vast continent!

The visions within his mind dissipated, fading into the void. With another shudder, Wang Lin returned to his senses.

The stars were as they were, the heavens remained, and Greedy Wolf stood frozen, his eyes wide with terror, trapped by the Binding Art.

Wang Lin fell silent.

No matter how many eons he seemed to have spent in that strange realm, upon awakening, Wang Lin understood that it had all transpired in the blink of an eye!

The true distance was merely the moment his eyes met those of the statue!

“An illusion…?” Wang Lin muttered, his expression a mask of bewilderment. He could not comprehend it, but the visions he had witnessed were seared into his mind, never to be erased or forgotten.

“What… what was that…?” Wang Lin’s eyes returned to the statue. This time, the sensation was entirely different. The seemingly ordinary figure now radiated an indescribable majesty!

A majesty that reduced all cultivators to the status of ants! A power that could force even the heavens to yield! Wang Lin sensed that even a Third Step Ascendant would tremble before this statue!

“Who… who is he…?” Wang Lin remained silent.

Of all the statues he had seen in his life, only the image of Immortal Emperor Qinglin in the Demon Spirit Land had possessed such a profound impact, threatening to shatter the viewer’s mind. Yet, even that statue paled in comparison to this one. Although the feeling of impending mental collapse was less intense, Wang Lin sensed that Qinglin’s image was like an ant compared to this statue.

The statue depicted a simple, middle-aged man, his head raised, his expression calm, devoid of joy or sorrow, utterly impassive.

“From whence did you obtain this statue?” Wang Lin asked, his gaze fixed on the statue, not Greedy Wolf.

As he spoke, he subtly released some of the Binding Art’s hold on Greedy Wolf, allowing him to speak.

“From… from an ancient tomb,” Greedy Wolf replied after a moment of silence, sighing inwardly.

“To enter the Ancient Star Domain, one must breach the Realm Sealing Array. With your cultivation, you could not possibly accomplish this. How did you enter?” Wang Lin’s voice was cold, laced with a chilling intent that seeped into Greedy Wolf’s mind, causing him to shudder.

“The same ancient tomb…” Greedy Wolf whispered. “All my treasures, the Floating Shadow Sword, the Bone Shattering Armor, the Mist Demon Spear, the Heavenly Furnace, the Eternal Wood Spirit, the Ancient Breath Leaf, and the Demon Soul Bottle… I obtained them all from that tomb.” He relinquished all resistance, knowing that honesty offered the only chance of survival. Otherwise, this fearsome individual would not hesitate to unleash the Soul Searching Art, leaving him a mindless husk even if he survived.

Wang Lin’s eyes glinted as he turned back to Greedy Wolf. “What ancient tomb? Speak in detail, lest you force me to search your soul!”

Greedy Wolf dared not conceal anything and immediately began to speak in a low voice.

“After escaping from beneath the gaze of Wang Yue, I did not perish. Instead, I hid on a partially abandoned cultivation star within the Luo Tian Star Domain. There, I sought refuge from your pursuit and dedicated myself to healing.

“After a long time, when you did not pursue me, I surmised that you believed me dead. I felt safe and focused my efforts on cultivation until my injuries were fully healed. Only then did I choose to leave…”
“In those days, you were long gone from Luo Tian,” the vagrant recounted, his voice tinged with a fear that still clung to him. “The vastness of the Luo Tian Starfield was almost unbearable, emptied as it was by the great exodus to the Alliance, where war raged. This desolation offered me a sliver of opportunity.”

He paused, a flicker of unease crossing his features. “Safe passage was mine, yet a return to the Alliance was unthinkable. The vile stench left by the Devourer, Wangyue, clung to me, saturating my very soul. A curse that made me an outcast, detectable from leagues away. It was a burden I could not bear.”

“And so,” he continued, “I wandered the star-strewn void, seeking a way to cleanse myself of this foulness. Years bled into years, until one day, at the edge of the Luo Tian Starfield, perilously close to the Shimmering Barrier, I stumbled upon an anomaly—a strange, swirling vortex.”

“It materialized suddenly, as though sprung from the very fabric of reality before my eyes. Such occurrences are hardly surprising to one of my… fortune. My life has been punctuated by events stranger still. Why, even when I was but a fledgling Core Formation cultivator, on the verge of defeat in mortal combat, a celestial cauldron descended from the heavens, crushing my foe beneath its weight!”

Wang Lin’s brow furrowed, his patience wearing thin. “The heart of the matter, vagrant. Speak to it!”

The vagrant, startled by Wang Lin’s sharp tone, stammered, “The vortex! Upon its emergence, an overwhelming sensation seized my spirit, the likes of which I had never before experienced. Not even the sight of the descending cauldron, nor the looming presence of Wangyue, could compare.”

He faltered, seeing Wang Lin’s darkening gaze, and hastily continued, “Without hesitation, I plunged into the swirling abyss. As I did, it vanished as quickly as it appeared, its existence spanning no more than three breaths.”

Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed, a chilling frost creeping into his voice. “It would seem, vagrant, that this vortex was opened solely for you.”

Panic flared in the vagrant’s eyes. “I speak the truth! Every word is wrenched from the depths of my soul. I know such a claim may seem fantastical, but it is the unvarnished truth. And it has happened to me more than once!”

He rushed on, desperate to convince the skeptical immortal before him. “As a boy of eight, playing in the village fields, I would stumble upon elixirs of the purest gold. Falling from a cliffside would lead me to a grove of Crimson Fruits. The fangs of the Ancient Thunder Dragon would seek me out, and that very cauldron of which I spoke before came down and obliterated my opponent. Others struggle and fight to seize a Rain Cauldron in the Immortal Realm of Rain, but when I journeyed there, such a vessel came to me on the winds.”

“And others will scratch at rocks and scour the land to find even a speck of Immortal Jade while I was transported directly to the chamber of an Immortal King! In the star fields there is an ancient ruin, where others fight for a map and it’s entrances are lost to time. But when I went there, with three steps it pulled me in.” The vagrant’s voice rose, a desperate plea echoing in the air. He knew these tales bordered on the absurd, yet they were, to his endless astonishment, the irrefutable truth.

“Continue,” Wang Lin commanded, silencing the vagrant’s frantic protestations. “Describe what transpired within the vortex.”

The vagrant swallowed hard, composing himself. “Within the vortex lay a chaotic realm, a maelstrom of spatial currents that threatened oblivion at every turn. Countless fragments of colossal stone drifted through the void, circling a nebulous heart veiled in impenetrable mist.”

“I found no exit, and remained trapped for centuries, a prisoner in that desolate domain. Death hung heavy in the air, and I soon realized that this place was nothing less than a vast, forgotten tomb!”

His voice dropped to a haunted whisper. “Upon one of those shattered stones, I saw a head, impossibly large, perhaps a hundred zhang in size, contorted in a silent scream. A single star adorned its brow.”

A shiver ran through him as he continued, “It was there that I discovered the Heavenly Furnace. A sacred incense burned within, its smoke drifting upward in what seemed a macabre ritual.”

“As I ventured deeper, I encountered more of these severed heads, each radiating an aura of profound sorrow and bitter resentment. Some bore a single horn, others two. Before certain heads, relics of forgotten power lay scattered.”

The vagrant’s eyes glazed over, lost in the terrible memories. “Aside from the statue and the Ancient Wood Sprite, all of my treasures were claimed from these petrified remains. For centuries, I remained on the fringes of this graveyard, venturing cautiously, fearing the unknown depths.”

He paused, his voice trembling. “Then, one day, as I traversed between two floating islands, a maelstrom of spatial energy descended upon me. My cultivation was insufficient to weather such a storm; death seemed inevitable.”

“In desperation, I retreated blindly, deeper into the heart of the tomb. I stumbled into the outer reaches of that abyss, and was instantly assaulted by a chorus of shrieks, a cacophony that set my very soul to trembling.”

“I dared not move, frozen by terror. After years of this torment, I found the will to try and leave this place and so I did. But as I tried, I was pulled in with a storm and fell unconscious. When I woke up, I was within a dead and massive forest.”

“It was so big and endless, even my spiritual sense couldn’t traverse it all. All the trees had died and there was only one tree that didn’t wither completely. Upon this tree was a leaf that hung on to life, still yellow but not dead. I ended up taking this leaf but even stored the entire tree in my storage bag.”

“I didn’t know what the hell this place was, but I continued forward. And after what felt like centuries, I came to it’s center, where there was a statue, and the very sight of it made me think it was why this forest died.”
A sense, a primal knowing, pulsed within him – the statue was a treasure of immense power. He seized it. As his fingers closed around the cold stone, a swirling vortex ripped open before him, an echo of the gateway he had first traversed. A surge of triumph coursed through him; without hesitation, he plunged into the shimmering maelstrom.

“I emerged in a star-strewn expanse, unlike any I had known,” the rogue, Greedfang, continued, his gaze fixated on the man before him, Warlord Lin. “A realm beyond the Sealed Worlds…”

Warlord Lin’s brow furrowed, his eyes reflecting the depths of his thoughts.

A cunning glint flickered in Greedfang’s eyes, almost imperceptible. Even as he spoke, he felt the binding spell that had held him captive unraveling, its enchantments fading with the passage of time.

He watched Warlord Lin, his mind churning, and a desperate anxiety gripped him. Slowly, imperceptibly, he edged backward. Then, with a sudden burst of speed, he launched himself into a desperate escape. But even as he fled, Warlord Lin’s hand shot out, a swift and effortless gesture.

Greedfang cried out, a strangled sound of despair. An unseen force seized him, dragging him back toward Warlord Lin’s outstretched hand. He saw his doom looming – Warlord Lin’s palm descending towards his crown. A terrifying vortex of power emanated from the Warlord’s hand, a dark tide that threatened to drown his very soul.

Panic surged through him, a tidal wave washing away all reason. “You swore you wouldn’t kill me!” he shrieked.

His words were swallowed as Warlord Lin’s hand fell upon his head. A searing torrent of power exploded into his consciousness, invading his very being, scouring his memories.

Simultaneously, the heavens themselves seemed to erupt. Lightning crackled and roared across the cosmos, converging above Warlord Lin’s hand, plunging into Greedfang’s soul.

Warlord Lin’s own lightning, pure and untamed, washed through Greedfang’s spirit, purging, cleansing.

Greedfang’s body convulsed, drenched in a cold sweat within moments. Then, as quickly as it began, it ceased. Warlord Lin flung him aside with a dismissive gesture.

“I will not take your trinket for nothing. Go.”

Greedfang’s face was ashen. With a desperate bite, he tore his tongue, spitting a gout of crimson upon the void. Imbued with fresh vigour, he shot away like a burning arrow, vanishing into the depths of the cosmos.

In the cold expanse of space, a wave of relief washed over him, mingled with the bitter taste of humiliation.

“Twice now, he has plundered me of my treasures,” he muttered, “I vow, this shall never happen a third time!” Deprived of his enchanted wards, the desolate wastes were perilous. “I must reach my sanctuary, claim what remains, and flee this forsaken place!” His face contorted with a sour grievance. Only after countless star leaps did he dare to believe he was free from pursuit. Then, with a flicker, he vanished.

He reappeared on a sparsely populated world. No sooner had he materialized than he plunged toward a jagged peak. Shifting to a streak of light he rammed into its core. He waved a hand and the mountain rent itself open, revealing a hidden fissure.

Greedfang wasted no time, striding into the opening but as he crossed the threshold into his sanctuary, his body froze. A stench, foul beyond imagining, wafted from the crevice, a suffocating wave that nearly rendered him unconscious.

“What foulness is this…?” Greedfang began in curses but ceased abruptly. He raised his arm, cautiously bringing it to his nose. He inhaled, slowly, deliberately. His eyes widened, disbelief etching itself upon his features.

“The stench… it’s gone!” he whispered. “Even my senses have returned! The reek that permeates my sanctuary… I had grown so accustomed to it, I no longer perceived it!”

A flicker of realization sparked in his eyes. He remembered Warlord Lin’s parting words, “I will not take your trinket for nothing”, and a wave of complicated emotions washed over him.

After releasing Greedfang, Warlord Lin turned and journeyed back to the home of the Shadow Scorpions. That rogue had crossed the boundaries between realms, a step ahead to await him in the Ancient Star Sea, offering up his hard-earned treasures. Combined with the joy of finding a familiar face in a strange land, how could Warlord Lin have possibly taken his life?

“Greedfang is a boon to me. I cannot slay him, he must be spared. I eagerly anticipate our third encounter, for surely then, he will bring forth even more treasures!” Warlord Lin smiled, shaking his head, as he materialized upon the Shadow Scorpion world.

The Cloud Runners, nearly a thousand strong, dared not depart, still awaiting his judgment. The lackey Zhong Dahong, once cowering, had regained his arrogance. He reclined, pointedly directing wounded glares toward those he thought powerful, groaning loudly.

Each groan sent a tremor through the minds of those assembled.

Their gaze, directed towards Zhong Dahong, was filled with a palpable fear, not of him, but of the master he served! The demeanor and words of their chieftain upon seeing the jade talisman had made it abundantly clear – they had offended one who should not be offended, and a calamity was upon them.

The Shadow Scorpions who had been cast out were escorted back with obsequious apologies. Healing elixirs were offered, even the old man Zhang, Zhong Dahong’s personal assistant, was asked to return with dignity.

“If only you had known this at first!” Zhong Dahong sneered, two Cloud Runner women fanning him. “I warned you, but you refused to listen! What use are eyes, if they cannot see the truth?”

“It is not out of disrespect for you, my strength is far too weak to assist my master, but I will use it! He could scatter you all with a flick of his wrist, like crushing ants!” Zhong Dahong continued to sneer and berate.

The Cloud Runners nodded subserviently. Even the proudest among them were cowed into silence, unwilling to risk further provoking the wrath of one whose master held their entire clan’s fate in his hands.

The Cloud Runner chieftain and his elders stood close to Zhong Dahong, smiling ingratiatingly, nodding.

“Please forgive our ignorance, great sir! We were unaware of your true identity! Speak kindly of us, and a generous gift awaits!” The chieftain’s heart was bitter. He was the elder here, how humiliating was it to serve in this way. In a fair contest his power could destroy this man a thousand times over, but here and now he had to tread carefully.
Zhong Dahong, pleasantly plied by the ministrations of the fair maidens of the Wu, grunted in response to the offering. With a haughty air, he began, “Indeed, you should be granted a chance to repent, but…”

The Chieftain of the Cloud-Walkers, desperate, hastened forward. With a flick of his wrist, he produced a jade vial. A flicker of pain crossed his face, betraying the offering’s value, but he gritted his teeth and presented it.

“A small token, Great One, we implore you to accept it.”

Zhong Dahong took the vial, and his eyes lit up as he peered within. He quickly secreted it away, clearing his throat. “Very well,” he declared, his voice ringing with self-importance. “I shall endeavor to see what can be done.”

But even as he spoke, the air shimmered, and from the heart of the distortion strode Wang Lin. The instant he appeared, Zhong Dahong’s countenance underwent a radical transformation. He shot to his feet, fearing any delay, shoving aside the Wu maiden as though she were naught but a discarded rag. His face now shone with servility.

“Welcome home, Master, triumphant! Oh, Great One, Dahong has been lost these days, devoid of your wise counsel! My mind is in turmoil, meditation offers no solace, and a deep emptiness plagues me. I must chant your name a hundred times just to find a moment’s peace! Yet, even this pales in comparison to the burning devotion that consumes my heart for my Lord!”

“Only in your presence, Master, only by your side, does my soul find true rest!” Zhong Dahong rushed forward, bowing low, employing every ounce of his groveling art, fearful lest a word too extravagant should offend Wang Lin’s sensibilities.

The arrogance he had displayed before the Cloud-Walkers vanished, replaced by an obsequious display that knew no bounds.

The Cloud-Walkers, never having witnessed such a spectacle, stood in dumbfounded silence. Even the Chieftain, whose precious offering now resided within Zhong Dahong’s grasp, gaped in disbelief. He could not fathom how a single being could execute such a complete reversal in the blink of an eye.

“Out of the way, you dullards! What do you stand there for? Clear the path for my Master!” Zhong Dahong, before Wang Lin could even speak, shoved aside the Cloud-Walkers, even pushing the Chieftain unceremoniously aside, as if the lavish gift he had so greedily accepted were a figment of a forgotten dream.