In the celestial realm of Xiāng Gāng, there dwelled a beast of formidable size, known as the Mù Yú. Its form, a thousand fathoms long, possessed a head like a scooped-out bowl and a body akin to a serpentine serpent of mud. This creature subsisted upon the very earth, drawing forth the essence of the land to nourish its frame, and imbibing the spiritual energies of the heavens to nurture its spirit.

The young Mù Yú, as mere hatchlings, secreted themselves within the silt-laden rivers, rarely venturing forth, instead weaving through the muddy depths. As eons drifted by, these beasts would mature, their bodies swelling to lengths of a thousand fathoms. They would bore through riverbeds, embarking on journeys beneath the earth, their destination the sacred mountains that dotted the landscape. There, in the embrace of the mountains, they would slumber for three.

In the vast expanse of Xiāng Gāng, these formidable Mù Yú were often sealed away, employed as guardian beasts by various sects. Yet, they were far from cherished by cultivators. For once a Mù Yú entered a mountain, it would become entwined with the very essence of the peak, imbuing it with a certain spirit. Though not immediately apparent, with time, the mountain would be reduced to a desolate wasteland of ochre sand.

Such creatures, that plundered the very essence of celestial energy, demanded restraint. Indeed, it was customary that any Mù Yú discovered upon Xiāng Gāng would be immediately sealed away, lest they wreak havoc.

Wang Lin, seated in the yellow dunes of this Cultivation Star, was enveloped by the mournful song of the wind. Grains of sand swirled about him, forming colossal dust devils that blotted out the sky, casting the world into a dim, desolate hue. His knowledge of the Mù Yú stemmed from his Third Soul, from within the memories of the Seven-Colored Immortal. The immortal, in his bygone years, had once brought a young Mù Yú into the Three Hundred Remnant Worlds, intending to raise it for a time. However, fate had intervened, and the immortal had met his demise, leaving his plans in disarray.

During his recent escape, Wang Lin had sensed the aura of a monstrous beast emanating from this location. The sight of the Cultivation Star’s vast, sandy desert had stirred something within him, prompting his return. He sifted through the yellow sand, detecting a faint trace of spiritual energy. Furthermore, as his divine sense spread outwards, he pinpointed the presence of a monstrous aura deep within the Cultivation Star. All signs suggested that the beast lurking here was none other than a Mù Yú.

“A Mù Yú, unburdened by restrictions, has thrived within this Remnant World for countless ages… a peculiar transformation must have taken place. This starfield contains but this single Cultivation Star, the rest undoubtedly consumed and absorbed by the Mù Yú…”

Withdrawing his divine sense from the surroundings, Wang Lin allowed the essence of the Cultivation Star to coalesce within his mind.

“This… this is the ideal location for an ambush!” A glint of icy determination flickered in Wang Lin’s eyes. He raised his right hand, weaving intricate hand seals. Countless illusory formations materialized, overlapping and coalescing into the form of the Ancient Burning Realm Umbrella.

As the umbrella materialized, waves of heat emanated outwards, soaring towards the heavens and scattering the surrounding clouds. Slowly, the colossal umbrella unfurled, spanning the heavens and earth of the star. Its canopy fused with the sky itself, and its ribs became monstrous pillars, connecting the heavens and the earth.

Wang Lin, gazing upwards at the burning canopy, bit his tongue and spat forth a mouthful of blood. The blood ignited instantly, surging towards the heavens with deafening roars. Slowly, the Ancient Umbrella faded, its very existence concealed, even the gargantuan ribs gradually becoming transparent until they vanished completely.

The Ancient Burning Realm Umbrella had merged with the void, becoming indistinguishable from it. Any who set foot upon this Cultivation Star would find themselves enveloped within its embrace.

This was the First Ambush!

His breath came in ragged gasps. Even with his cultivation base at the late stage of Sky Ethereal, wielding this umbrella was a formidable task, especially as he sought to unleash its full potential, demanding even greater expenditure.

“Its power can be amplified…” Wang Lin raised his right hand and pointed at his left eye. Instantly, the source of flames within his left pupil stirred, erupting in a roaring inferno. With a sweeping gesture of his right hand, a sea of flames poured forth from Wang Lin’s left eye, transforming into a colossal Vermillion Bird before him. It soared towards the heavens with a thunderous roar.

The Vermillion Bird was immense, its tail feathers scattered like the plumage of a phoenix. It circled the heavens several times before fading into the very fabric of the world.

Wang Lin closed his eyes, breathing calmly for a time. He opened them with a sudden snap, his hands weaving seals, murmuring incantations. In an instant, waves of seven-colored light erupted from his hands, reminiscent of the Seven-Colored Daoist’s own techniques. Wielded by Wang Lin, the light grew even more dazzling, eventually engulfing the entirety of the Cultivation Star.

“Seven-Colored Dao Spear!” Wang Lin roared. He thrust his hands towards the sky, and with a deafening rumble, the seven-colored light ascended, coalescing within the heavens into a shimmering spear of immense proportions. An aura of unimaginable power emanated from the spear. It hummed with energy, soaring through the heavens before plunging downwards, striking the earth with a thunderous crash to the right of where Wang Lin sat cross-legged.

This was the Second Ambush!

Having unleashed these two great divine abilities, Wang Lin’s face betrayed a hint of fatigue. Yet, he did not falter. He formed hand seals and touched his brow. Immediately, his form blurred, creating a superimposed image. After a moment, the image twisted, revealing Wang Lin’s true body and his separated spirit. The true body, bearing the inheritance of the Ancient Dao, rose and ascended towards the heavens. With a grasp in the void, the very heavens and earth shifted. A gargantuan Heaven-Splitting Axe materialized in Wang Lin’s hand. He grasped it firmly and vanished from sight. The Ancient Dao inheritance, a full-force strike – this was the Third Ambush!

After these three ambushes, Wang Lin appeared slightly weakened, his breathing more labored. He rested for half an incense stick before opening his eyes once more. He reached into the void and summoned the Ghastly Sail. This item, from the celestial realm of Xiāng Gāng, was a treasure of immense value! Wang Lin had yet to fully decipher its secrets, but he could utilize the sail to cast illusions. He stared at the ghastly face within the sail, remaining silent for a moment before biting his left index finger. With blood flowing freely, he thrust it into the mouth of the ghastly face.

The ghastly face began to absorb his blood voraciously. In just three breaths, it had drained nearly half of Wang Lin’s blood, leaving him pale and gaunt.

In the fourth breath, the ghastly face ceased its consumption. Its eyes glowed with an eerie crimson light. Wang Lin brandished the sail, and the ghastly face emerged, unleashing a silent roar that sent tremors throughout the Cultivation Star. In an instant, it expanded to encompass the entire star, vanishing without a trace.

Following the disappearance of the ghastly face, a subtle shift permeated the heavens and earth. It was difficult to discern exactly where the change lay. The ghastly face illusion was Wang Lin’s Fourth Ambush!

Sweat beaded on his forehead. Wang Lin wiped it away and took a deep breath. He raised his right hand and pointed towards the sky, and with a deafening roar, a tiny speck of dim light materialized, expanding rapidly… revealing a fierce beast!

Although the beast’s form was not fully expanded, measuring only a hundred fathoms, the cold, merciless look in its eyes was enough to send shivers down the spines of any who beheld it. Wang Lin pointed once more, and the Nether Beast closed its eyes, its form slowly dissolving into a mist that spread across the heavens and earth, shrouding everything in a hazy veil.

The Nether Beast was Wang Lin’s Fifth Ambush!

Wang Lin’s spirit, seated cross-legged upon the yellow sands, now bore the weight of exhaustion. He had never undertaken such a series of actions in his entire life. These divine abilities, if used in battle, would likely never have the time to fully manifest. Yet, here, he had the opportunity.

“There is still the Sixth Ambush…” Wang Lin silently raised his left hand. The blood on his fingertip had scabbed over, but he tore it open and used the blood to draw a circle around himself.

As the blood circle was completed, Wang Lin spat forth his Primordial Spirit essence, infusing the circle with a blend of blood and the dense energies of the heavens and earth.

The instant the energies and the scent of blood emanated from the circle, the entire Cultivation Star shuddered. A tremor spread from the center of the earth, merging with the land and causing the yellow sand on the surface to ripple like ocean waves.

Without hesitation, Wang Lin formed hand seals. The pupils of his eyes turned bloodshot, and those blood vessels merged with the circle, deeply concealing the energies within. The ripples in the earth slowly subsided, and Wang Lin exhaled. “That Mù Yú is my Sixth Ambush!”

A cold glint flickered in Wang Lin’s eyes. Within his pupils, faint golden light emerged. The golden light possessed a pure essence of celestial bloodline power. It was the only remaining strength within Wang Lin’s body. He reached into the void, and with a flash of golden light, Li Guang’s Bow materialized, grasped firmly in his hand. He looked towards the sky, pausing for a long moment. Finally, Wang Lin closed his eyes, carefully deducing the changes in this realm. Li Guang’s Bow was his final, Seventh Ambush! Seven ambushes intertwined, creating this earth-shattering trap!

Time slowly flowed by, another incense stick’s worth passing. Wang Lin opened his eyes. He wasted no time. He waved his left hand, and a black incense stick, unlit, materialized before him.

He brandished the incense stick in the air, and with a whoosh, it ignited, sending black smoke rising rapidly into the sky like a signal fire. After the incense stick was lit, Wang Lin tossed it forward, planting it in the yellow sand three hundred Zhang away. The flames flickered dimly, and the black smoke billowed even more densely.

He reached into the void once more. This time, the figure of Zi Xia, her eyes tightly shut, appeared before Wang Lin. He showed no hint of pity. He thrust his left finger towards Zi Xia’s brow. Her golden body shuddered, a look of agony crossing her exquisite face. Yet, Wang Lin’s eyes remained cold and impassive. As his fingertip touched her brow, Zi Xia’s eyes snapped open. She struggled, but her right hand, beyond her control, trembled and reached out to grasp the void. A communication jade talisman materialized.

Gripping the jade talisman, Zi Xia’s struggle intensified, but she was unable to control her mind and body. She transmitted a divine thought, and the jade talisman flashed before shattering.

With the seven ambushes laid, and the lit incense stick and jade talisman used, Wang Lin had thrown out his bait. He awaited the arrival of his prey, ready to engage in a great battle upon this Cultivation Star!

In this battle, Wang Lin did not expect to kill the Seven-Colored Daoist or the War Devil. But killing was not his goal. Sometimes, gravely injuring someone was enough to set in motion their ultimate destruction. For if either the War Devil or the Seven-Colored Daoist were severely injured, it would provide an unparalleled opportunity for the other!