“Unseen, I beg forgiveness.”

“So, you remember this old wretch, do you!” The voice, a calm resonance, emanated from the blurred figure, striking the old man Ma like a physical blow, sending him staggering backward.

The old man’s teeth chattered. He gazed at the indistinct shape and now recognized the source of the blur. It was not some spell or artifice, but the unique and crushing presence of one touched by the Nine Suns!

In the Immortal Astral Continent, it was said that the Nine Suns, save for those of their own blood or sect, were veiled from prying eyes. Vast differences in cultivation, coupled with the strange aura of a Great Celestial, could render a Nine Sun’s form obscure. Should they desire concealment, even a fellow Nine Sun would struggle to discern their true face.

How much more so those, like this assemblage, who were as ants before the gaze of Xuan Luo!

As those words echoed, Xuan Luo’s right hand clenched. A thunderous sound reverberated through the heavens as the armorless old man’s body shattered, collapsing into a crimson mist that vanished in Xuan Luo’s grip.

With casual ease, he had slain a man. Xuan Luo flicked his wrist, as if casting off the taint of death, and his gaze swept over the remaining figures.

As that gaze washed over them, every conscious soul shuddered. Save for the old man Ma and the Yun Yi Feng, the others collapsed to their knees, trembling.

The old man Ma gritted his teeth, forcing himself to remain upright, but the tremor in his legs betrayed his struggle to endure.

Yun Yi Feng’s face was ashen, beads of sweat pouring forth to soak his garments. As Xuan Luo’s eyes bore into him, Yun Yi Feng felt the very sky pressing down, demanding he prostrate himself in worship. But his pride forbade it!

He trembled, a groaning sound rising from within as if flesh and bone were being crushed.

“Not bad, young whelp!” Xuan Luo, the Great Celestial, stood in the heavens, hands clasped behind his back, his gaze returning to Yun Yi Feng.

“To withstand this old one’s pressure, quite commendable. Alas, you are not of this old one’s Dao of Ancient Times…alas…” Xuan Luo sighed. As his gaze lifted from Yun Yi Feng, the younger man coughed up blood and, unable to resist any longer, crashed to his knees.

The old man Ma endured for a few more breaths, then, with a bitter smile on his pallid face, relinquished his resistance. He knew that further defiance would bring only death. His spirit dimmed, he knelt, unmoving.

“Great Celestial, I beg you, for the sake of the Grand Elder of the Returning One Sect, grant us leave… We shall depart this Blessed Grotto-Heaven and vow never to trespass again…”

Xuan Luo raised his right hand, and with a gesture of seizing emptiness towards the high tower’s first level, that level exploded into rubble, revealing its inner contents!

The ebon armor, amidst the swirling debris, gleamed with a spectral light, radiating an unsettling aura.

“This armor, this old one shall claim. When your Returning One Sect deems itself worthy, let it seek me out and claim it!” Xuan Luo’s voice was calm, yet the armor, as if caught in the grasp of Five Elemental forces, flew to him and vanished before him. With a cold snort, Xuan Luo turned and stepped towards the heavens, fading into nothingness.

“The time for your departure has not yet come. See to what must be done!” Xuan Luo’s voice echoed through the Five Planets after his departure, settling in the hearts of all who remained.

Long after Xuan Luo vanished, the old man Ma rose to his feet, a complex expression upon his face. One by one, the others followed suit. Yun Yi Feng, teeth gritted, looked towards the heavens where Xuan Luo had disappeared, his face dark.

“Sooner or later, I too shall become a Great Celestial, become the tenth sun!” Yun Yi Feng clenched his fists.

Silence hung heavy in the air. At last, the old man Ma sighed, glancing at those around him, his face filled with gloom.

“Enough. Our plans, so long in the making, are doomed… Even if we held victory in our grasp, with him here…we cannot prevail…” The old man Ma spoke slowly.

“That Wang Lin was with him, but from their lack of simultaneous appearance, and from Wang Lin’s expression earlier, it seems he was unaware of the Xuan Luo’s presence…”

“In that case, Xuan Luo’s refusal to allow us to leave makes his purpose clear.” Yun Yi Feng spoke in a low voice. As a core disciple and one of the chosen of the Returning One Sect, admired even by Xuan Luo, his mind was sharp, nearly matching Wang Lin’s.

With only a few clues, he had deduced the truth with near certainty.

“Feng’er is correct. This must be so. That Xuan Luo is testing Wang Lin. He has come from the Immortal Astral Continent, surely for Wang Lin’s sake!” The old man Ma’s eyes gleamed.

“Combining the demise of Ye Mo within this Blessed Grotto-Heaven, the three thousand droplets of blood that gave rise to the Three Ancient Clans, it must be that Wang Lin inherited Ye Mo’s legacy, drawing Xuan Luo’s attention…” Yun Yi Feng’s eyes narrowed as he pondered.

“Xuan Luo will not allow us to leave; he intends for us to be the whetstone to sharpen Wang Lin! Before he left, he said that we must do what must be done. If we do not grasp the meaning, if we do not act, then we shall never leave this place…we shall all die here!” Yun Yi Feng rubbed his brow, his voice heavy.

In the starry sky, Xuan Luo walked with a leisurely pace. As he travelled, he glanced back towards the distant Five Planets, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

“That youth’s mind is sharp, alas…he is of the Immortal race… I wonder, comparing him to Wang Lin, which is the more exceptional? Perhaps…this one is?” Xuan Luo shook his head and continued his journey.

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As for Wang Lin, he sat cross-legged upon the back of the Nether Beast, eyes closed, rapidly healing. His journey to the Five Planets had left him wounded, but despite it all, it had been worthwhile!

After an unknown passage of time, Wang Lin opened his eyes. A flash of cold light passed through them, and he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.
The Five Star Heretics, those who sought to unite all under their banner, coveted the power of the Third Soul. At last, they were driven from the shadows, flushed out by my actions. Now, it is time for me to join the hunt for the Third Soul.

Third Soul, who are you truly!

Wang Lin, lost in thought, struck the back of his Netherbeast. With a burst of speed, the creature surged forward, carrying Wang Lin into the void, disappearing amongst the stars.

Emerging from the void, they found themselves beyond the Silver River Array, guarding the gates of the New Immortal Realm.

Wang Lin dismounted, dismissing the Netherbeast. He stood there, lost in contemplation, the starlight illuminating his figure against the backdrop of the Silver River. Yet, he seemed a solitary, sorrowful figure, his very soul steeped in grief.

“Today… is a day of remembrance,” Wang Lin sighed, taking a step forward. His form dissolved into a streak of light, hurtling towards the Silver River, piercing its ethereal barrier and entering the Immortal Realm!

No sooner had Wang Lin vanished within the Immortal Realm than the Celestial Grand Venerate Xuan Luo materialized in the starry expanse. He glanced towards the entrance, then with a flick of his sleeve, followed Wang Lin into the Immortal Realm.

His form was indistinct, almost ethereal, rendering him invisible even to those who stood before him.

Yet, the moment Xuan Luo stepped through, Wang Lin, who was in the distance, abruptly halted. He whirled around, his eyes burning with a chilling light, piercing the void as if his gaze were a lightning bolt aimed directly at Xuan Luo.

Stunned by the intensity of Wang Lin’s stare, Xuan Luo paused.

“You have followed Wang Lin thus far. Now that we are here, will you not reveal yourself!” Wang Lin’s voice was cold, laced with deadly intent.

The Celestial Grand Venerate Xuan Luo, his eyes gleaming with curiosity, studied Wang Lin for a long moment, remaining silent and unseen.

“Must Wang Lin force you out into the open!” Wang Lin scoffed, raising his right hand and sweeping it forward. A tempestuous wind, forged from the fusion of seven origins, howled into existence, scouring the space before him.

Amidst the roaring gale, Wang Lin watched the emptiness, searching for any sign. Finding nothing, he turned and stepped into the Immortal Realm.

In truth, Wang Lin had not sensed Xuan Luo’s presence. However, his cautious nature, amplified by his recent departure from the Five Star Heretics and his suspicion of the Elder Ma’s possible pursuit, led him to take this sudden action. A feint, designed to flush out any hidden pursuer through surprise.

Only after Wang Lin’s departure did Xuan Luo reveal a wry smile, admiration shining in his eyes.

“The boy is cautious indeed! There was an aspect of a divine power in his eyes, making those who gaze upon them feel watched…

A simple trick, perhaps lacking in grand design, but undeniably effective.” Xuan Luo chuckled, confessing he had been momentarily taken aback by Wang Lin’s actions.

“Within the Five Star Array, I witnessed his dominance! Amidst the Nine Revolutions of the Mind, I beheld his enlightenment! Outside the Five Star Heretics’ High Tower, I saw his decisiveness and cunning!

And now, here, I perceive his caution! This Wang Lin is truly remarkable! Yet, the one I seek must above all possess virtue and compassion! Does this one possess such qualities?” Xuan Luo mused as he stepped forward, piercing the Silver River’s defenses and entering the beautiful Immortal Realm.

The skies of the Immortal Realm were a cerulean blue, laced with wisps of vapor that resembled strands of silk, creating an ethereal, otherworldly ambiance. Scattered white clouds added to the picturesque scene.

Beneath the sky stretched a verdant landscape, dotted with rolling hills and meandering streams. The sweet aroma of the earth permeated the air, filling the lungs with each breath.

Wang Lin stepped back into the Immortal Realm, unnoticed by all save perhaps the Daoist Blue Dream. He vanished in a flicker of movement, reappearing upon the peak where he had once secluded himself.

Gazing at the sky, Wang Lin’s face grew shadowed. His eyes, filled with longing and sorrow, spoke of memories best forgotten, yet impossible to escape. On this day, more than any other, he wished to bury the past, throwing himself into action to distract his heart.

(To be continued!)