From beyond the Sea of Clouds, they came! Tens of thousands of cultivators, each a streak of vibrant color against the void, visible only to those initiated into the mysteries of cultivation, to those bearing witness to the clash between realms. This sight, etched into the minds of those who saw it, was destined to remain forevermore.

Mortals, perhaps, might glimpse a fleeting meteor shower once in their lifetime, but what descended from the heavens now dwarfed even the most spectacular celestial display tenfold, a hundredfold! These streaks of incandescent light, each carrying a warrior of the Sea of Clouds, plunged from the far reaches of the cosmos like a torrential downpour. The faces of these valiant protectors were obscured within their fiery trails, yet their unwavering resolve, their desperate devotion to their homeland, resonated across the stars. Before such a force, even the unyielding Celestial Mountains themselves would tremble and yield.

“For the Glory of the Sea of Clouds!” These words, once mere pronouncements, were now incarnate. They became a tangible aura, a wave of valorous spirit emanating from the Sea of Clouds, steeped in sorrow yet blazing with righteous fury. None could remain untouched by such a spectacle. Even the most cruel and wicked heart, if harboring a sliver of affection for its origin, would find that ember ignited into a raging inferno of dedication.

Hong Shanzi, clad in crimson robes, bore a grave expression. The tide of war had unexpectedly shifted, a consequence of the Golden Tempest wrought by Shui Daozi. Though the monstrous Netherbeast had consumed the tempest, Hong Shanzi was prepared to meet his end if necessary. Undeterred by the sudden outbreak of conflict on their borders, he strode forward with a resonant laugh, a beacon of defiance cutting through the tension.

His laughter, a symphony of valor and might, showcased the indomitable spirit of a Third Step cultivator, one who feared neither heaven nor earth. Beside him came Nan Yunzi, a figure shrouded in mystery, of whom Wang Lin knew little. Yet, his eyes glittered with a chilling light as he hastened alongside Hong Guiizi. All this transpired in the blink of an eye. Even as the warriors of the Sea of Clouds arrived, Wang Lin faced a dire peril, not from the old ancestor of the Fire Finch Clan, but from the formidable Nan Zhao Shangren, whose cultivation had reached the Empty Spiritual realm. The four realms of Emptiness were separated by vast gulfs of power. An Empty Spiritual cultivator, beyond wielding the power of incense offerings, could infuse his spirit with it, making it his very essence. This power, born of incense, was known in the initial realm of Emptiness as Nirvana Force.

Nirvana Force, the power of rebirth, an endless flow of devotion! Empty Nirvana cultivators commanded this power drawn from incense, wielding it to perform earth-shattering feats.

Empty Spiritual… In this realm, the spirit underwent a profound elevation. The soul of a cultivator who attained the Empty Spiritual realm became a sentient entity, merging with the nascent soul. Or, rather, within the body of an Empty Spiritual cultivator, the nascent soul could no longer be called a nascent soul, but rather a Divine Spirit!

Likewise, the realm of incense offerings would meld with the Empty Spiritual cultivator, forming the very foundation of his cosmos. Some mighty beings, such as Miao Yin, chose not to merge their realm with themselves due to their unique powers. Thus, Wang Lin seized a portion of her incense offerings when she and Da Huang joined forces. This fusion of realm and being resulted in the transformation of Nirvana Force within the Empty Spiritual cultivator into Spiritual Power. This power differed from the natural spiritual energy that First Step cultivators absorbed. It arose when incense was transformed into Nirvana Force, infused with will, and changed the nascent soul. The cultivator became a microcosm, his devotees, his subjects, and through this process, Spiritual Power was born.

Thus, each Empty Spiritual cultivator was akin to a miniature cosmos, a world unto itself! Even the simplest strike from an Empty Spiritual cultivator of the initial stage surpassed anything an Empty Nirvana cultivator could achieve. Nan Zhao Shangren’s seemingly simple palm strike contained the Spiritual Power of his personal cosmos, an earth-shattering cataclysm unleashed in a single blow! In that instant, Wang Lin’s perception shifted. The body of Nan Zhao Shangren vanished, and everything else, including the sealing formation and the countless cultivators, dissolved into nothingness. He was forcibly pulled into a phantasm, thrust into a previously unseen realm! The starry expanse, the familiar world, were gone without a trace.

Here, the sky was black, the earth was black, and a pungent, fetid stench permeated the air. He saw countless figures cloaked in black robes, seated in meditation upon the ground, an endless, boundless throng! Ten thousand, a hundred thousand, a million, ten million, a hundred million! The heavens stretched to infinity, and the multitude of black-robed figures was unfathomable! These were the incense-bound subjects of Nan Zhao Shangren; this was his realm of devotion!

A single attack from an Empty Spiritual cultivator could draw one into their realm of incense offerings. This realm had fused with the Divine Spirit of the cultivator, the very soil from which their Spiritual Power sprang!

Wang Lin was shaken. His understanding of Third Step cultivators, especially those of the Empty Spiritual realm, was limited, even his understanding of the earlier realms was hazy. Such insights could only come from experience, from having personally cultivated to that level. In the past, Wang Lin harbored a sliver of contempt for the Empty Spiritual realm, for he had faced the Blue Dream Daoist and contended against the Palm Sovereign in the Outer Realm, even fighting alongside Da Huang!

But now, that faint contempt vanished. Wang Lin understood! He was within Nan Zhao’s realm of incense offerings. The black heavens rumbled as the entire sky writhed and churned. An enormous palm, black and ominous, materialized, reeking of decay, and descended from above! The entire sky had become a single, titanic hand, crashing down upon Wang Lin!

The earth trembled, a droning hum resonated everywhere, the sound of countless black-robed figures murmuring in unison around Wang Lin. He could not decipher their words, but a gnawing unease began to rise within him. It was both a real and unreal illusion.

The truth was that within the starry sky, the Outer Realm invaders continued their frenzied assault, and the cultivators of the Sea of Clouds raced towards the conflict.

Wang Lin’s body remained suspended, his keen gaze replaced by vacant hollowness. In front of him, the black firebird approached, bearing Nan Zhao Shangren’s right hand, which hurtled through the air. Reflected in Wang Lin’s empty pupils, the hand grew ever larger, threatening to consume his entire vision, aiming straight for his brow! Though it seemed an eternity, all of this unfolded in a single instant!

There was no dodging, no escaping. The incessant droning of the black-robed figures filled his ears, stoking a maddening urge within Wang Lin to kneel, to join their incessant chanting. The urge grew stronger, cresting to a fever pitch, crushing him, filling his eyes with blood and causing the veins on his face to bulge. Now, the massive hand was almost upon him, exerting a crushing pressure, whipping his white hair about his face. It was less than a thousand yards away!

“I am an Ancient God! I am a Dao Ancient!” Wang Lin roared, his voice laced with desperation. He raised his right hand, and the Ancient God bracer upon his arm sprang to life. In this moment of dire need, Wang Lin invoked the protection of the Ancient God without hesitation!

With a deafening roar, a colossal Ancient God manifested before Wang Lin, wrapping its arms around him, offering its back as a shield against the impending doom! As the hand struck the Ancient God’s back, a thunderous sound erupted. The Ancient God’s form shuddered violently. Its back instantly began to collapse, sinking inward, as if even it could not withstand the force!

“Never shall I bow before the likes of you!” Wang Lin bellowed, his face twisted in fury. In response, the Ancient God gripping him turned, clenched its right fist, and smashed it into the descending hand! Another earth-shattering explosion ripped through the void. The Ancient God’s fist crashed against the black palm, sending shockwaves rolling outward. With a soft sigh, the Ancient God slowly dissipated, reverting to a bracer upon Wang Lin’s right arm, cracks spiderwebbing across its surface!

At the same moment, the Ancient God’s attack momentarily disrupted the enormous black palm, and Wang Lin surged forward, clenched his own right fist, and unleashed a devastating strike! The image of the Dao Ancient’s head materialized, swiftly merging into his fist, transforming it into an embodiment of terrifying might!

“Break!” Taking advantage of the momentarily disabled hand, Wang Lin’s body seemed to meld with the punch, and a whirlwind of fire and lightning engulfed him. Like a blazing comet, he hurtled towards the sky, colliding with the obsidian palm once more!

The heavens shattered from the force of the collision. The black palm faltered, breaking apart as Wang Lin’s body ripped through the void. He burst out of the palm’s center in a cacophony of destruction!

In the starry sky, Wang Lin’s vacant eyes regained their luster, and he returned to his senses. His confusion had lasted only an instant. Wang Lin, pale and weary, spat out a mouthful of blood and retreated.

Before him, Nan Zhao Shangren, within the black firebird, recoiled. His palm erupted in blood as he neared Wang Lin, as if wounded by an unseen force. Shock filled his eyes as a massive power surged through his body, preventing him from pursuing his quarry. He stumbled back, exiting the form of the black firebird!

“Such formidable physical strength!” Nan Zhao Shangren’s expression was dark. He now understood why Wang Lin was listed at the top of the Ancient Starry Sky’s hit list!

“He hasn’t even reached the Third Step, yet he can escape my palm and retaliate! If he were to reach the Third Step, this child would become a terrifying force! He must not be allowed to live!”