A flicker of understanding, a mere sliver of the truth, touched the edges of Wang Lin’s mind regarding Yun Yifeng’s motives. The man was a serpent of cunning, each action coiled with hidden purpose. Yet, Wang Lin, in this moment, chose to ignore the intricate dance. He sat, cross-legged, and upon his outstretched right hand, he cradled the golden seal. The instant it settled in his palm, a chilling cold seeped into his flesh, a frigid tendril that snaked into his very being. As it circled within, the seal blazed with an ethereal light, a nascent bond forging between it and Wang Lin.

The artifact, newly birthed from illusion, was as yet unclaimed. Wang Lin imprinted his cultivation upon it, instantly claiming dominion as its first master.

A majestic aura radiated from the golden seal, within which lay imprisoned the Destroying Divinity Art of the Palm Sovereign, unleashed by a being of Xuan Tribulation cultivation. Its power rivaled the Palm Sovereign’s own hand.

Furthermore, because Xuan Luo himself had conjured it into existence, the seal pulsed with a sliver of Nine Suns power, rendering it nigh unbreakable.

Before the horrified gaze of the Palm Sovereign, Wang Lin opened his maw and swallowed the seal whole, embarking on its arduous refinement within his primordial spirit.

Xuan Luo, standing before Wang Lin, cast a knowing glance upon him, a subtle smile playing upon his lips.

Terror, raw and unbridled, clawed at the Palm Sovereign’s mind. He abandoned all thoughts of slaying Wang Lin, retreating in a frenzy of fear, his senses shattered, his thoughts echoing with a hollow buzz.

A master of stratagem and calculation, he could not have foreseen Xuan Luo’s presence. In his reckoning, it was more likely that the Master’s brother had found his way here!

The mere thought of his Master’s brother sent icy sweat pouring down his brow, soaking his raiment, his very soul threatening to flee.

Even as he fled with desperate haste, Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed with a chilling light. He rose from his seated position, a thunderous sound erupting as he took a single stride to the side, and in a flash, pursued.

“Years ago, you sought to end me with the Tribulation of Life and Death! Today, Wang Lin will visit that same Tribulation upon you! Tuo Sen, if you have come to fight me, or to aid me in this battle, declare yourself!” Wang Lin’s voice thundered across the heavens as he gave chase.

In that very instant, a roaring laugh shattered the air. Behind the fleeing Palm Sovereign, the fabric of reality twisted, revealing a towering form.

The figure, half-naked, emanated an aura of timeless experience and raw, unbridled dominance. It was Tuo Sen!

As his form materialized, his right fist clenched, he unleashed a devastating blow upon the rapidly retreating Palm Sovereign. The heavens themselves seemed to groan under the weight of the strike, drawing upon all the power in the surrounding realm, condensing it into that single, earth-shattering punch.

The Palm Sovereign spun, his hands weaving intricate seals, his body erupting in a blinding radiance, transforming him into a miniature sun as he collided with the colossal fist.

A deafening roar echoed through the ancient battlefield. The Palm Sovereign grunted in pain, stumbling backward, while Tuo Sen, equally staggered, retreated a hundred paces, a savage grin stretching across his face.

“That felt glorious! Wang Lin, forsake the methods of the petty cultivators who kill with spells. We of the Ancient Gods shatter the heavens with our strength, and fight the Immortals with our bare hands!” Tuo Sen roared, his body convulsing, swelling in size until he towered thousands of feet tall. Yet he did not stop there. He continued to grow, becoming a behemoth of tens of thousands of feet, a colossal being capable of propping up the very heavens, standing in the second-to-last layer of the Ancient Tomb!

Wang Lin’s gaze sharpened, a smile playing upon his lips. A resounding echo erupted within him as his own form began to expand. In the blink of an eye, Wang Lin had matched Tuo Sen’s colossal size.

From afar, the two stood like titans, mountain-sized figures, trapping the Palm Sovereign between them.

At the same time, Yun Yifeng’s eyes gleamed with cold calculation. Knowing Xuan Luo lurked nearby, he moved swiftly. His hands forming seals, he raised his right hand, pointing towards the sky. Purple light erupted from his body, coalescing into a savage purple monkey. The beast, eyes blazing with feral hunger, shrieked, abandoned Yun Yifeng’s side, and lunged toward the Palm Sovereign.

“Within the heart of this cave, Wang Lin cannot fail. This plan, I will not misstep!” And then, there was the Third Consort, Tang Shan, who bit her lip, her body leaping into the air. She waved the golden beads on her right wrist, and as golden gates manifested, they merged and overlapped. Seven gates became one, and golden light flooded the area as a colossal golden dragon erupted from the gate, roaring towards the Palm Sovereign.

Four figures attacked in unison, their combined power shaking the very heavens.

Especially Wang Lin and Tuo Sen, their fists clenched, they unleashed earth-shattering blows, hurtling like colossal celestial bodies towards the Palm Sovereign.

The Palm Sovereign’s face was ashen. His heart was not in this fight. The terror induced by the golden seal had completely overwhelmed him. He suspected that the Master’s brother was lurking in the shadows!

Consumed by this terrifying thought, he was unable to bring his full power to bear. His only desire was to flee! As the blows of Tuo Sen and Wang Lin landed, the Palm Sovereign roared, attempting to expel the fear that gripped his soul. He wielded his sleeves like twin suns, one before, one behind, as he met the fists of Wang Lin and Tuo Sen.

A thunderous roar echoed across the heavens. Tuo Sen’s arm trembled, causing him to stumble backward, and Wang Lin similarly staggered a few steps.

Taking advantage of the Palm Sovereign’s struggles, Yun Yifeng’s arcane technique manifested as the savage monkey, which dove towards its prey. It transformed into a cloud of purple mist that seeped into the Palm Sovereign’s seven orifices. An image of the monkey appeared on the Palm Sovereign’s brow.

The Palm Sovereign shuddered. The assaults of Wang Lin and Tuo Sen had already churned the energy within him, and he had barely contained it when Yun Yifeng’s spell, originating from the Immortal Origin Continent, invaded his body. A feeling of being ripped asunder flooded his senses, causing him to stumble backward just as Tang Shan’s golden dragon roared and consumed him whole.
The Grand Sovereign whirled, his right hand rising to strike the golden dragon. The dragon shattered into a thousand glittering fragments, and the Grand Sovereign, for the first time, coughed forth a torrent of crimson blood. His face grew wan, and a chilling dread filled his eyes.

Before him stood four figures, and the Grand Sovereign particularly feared the ancient god power possessed by Wang Lin and that Thorsen. Yet, a vast gulf separated their cultivation levels. Though these four were troublesome and could inflict grievous wounds, the price would be exorbitant.

But what truly gripped him with terror was the golden seal he had witnessed earlier. He felt a fifth pair of eyes watching him from the shadows, calm and unwavering.

This sensation was overwhelming, driving him to the brink of madness. Furthermore, he sensed the aura of Daoist Blue Dream rapidly approaching from afar. If she were to intervene, he would surely perish this day!

Spitting forth blood, the Grand Sovereign’s eyes turned bloodshot. He lifted his head abruptly and took a stride outward, ripples shimmering beneath his feet, intending to flee. But in that instant, Wang Lin raised his right hand and seized the air. With a thunderous roar, he tore open a spatial rift and drew forth dozens of ancient leaf fragments.

Bathed in ethereal light, the ancient leaves hurtled forth, encircling the Grand Sovereign and sealing off every possible escape!

As his retreat was cut off, a killing intent flashed in Wang Lin’s eyes. He strode forward, raising his hands to unleash his most potent technique: Heaven Rend. With a deafening crash, the very fabric of reality tore, forming a fissure that lunged towards the Grand Sovereign.

In a heartbeat, it was upon him. The Grand Sovereign, his fingers flying in arcane gestures, met the approaching, heaven-rending crack with a palm strike of immense power.

Simultaneously, Thorsen’s form flickered, and overlapping afterimages appeared around him. The raw, untamed power that had clung to Thorsen vanished, replaced by an aura of composure and chilling calculation.

It was as if he had become someone else, as if the slumbering Tu Si had awakened!

Indeed, it was Tu Si who now stood forth. His right hand clenched the air, and the heavens themselves thundered with lightning as a colossal spear materialized in his grasp. Gripping the weapon tight, Tu Si swung his arm, unleashing a force that seemed to tear through reality itself, and drove the spear towards the Grand Sovereign.

Yun Yifeng and Tang Shan launched their own desperate assaults, each deploying their most formidable spells.

A cataclysmic roar reverberated through the air. Yun Yifeng coughed blood and was hurled back, crashing to the earth with a sickening thud. Tang Shan, her lips stained crimson, staggered back thousands of paces, weakened and spent.

As Tu Si’s spear pierced towards the Grand Sovereign, the latter seized it with his left hand. His face contorted in a savage snarl, he roared and transformed his right hand into a gigantic palm, striking down upon Tu Si with overwhelming force.

Tu Si shuddered and retreated a hundred paces, yet remained unscathed!

Having repelled Tu Si, the Grand Sovereign whirled around. The Heaven Rend technique was upon him, a mere arm’s length away. His hair disheveled, he bit down on his tongue without hesitation, spewing forth a mouthful of his primordial blood. This ichor, golden in hue, pierced through the very fabric of the tearing rift and hurtled towards Wang Lin!

If that blood were to strike him, Wang Lin would surely face dire peril!

In that crucial moment, Wang Lin’s face remained serene. As the blood came showering down, a single word escaped his lips.

“Freeze!”

Freeze heaven, freeze earth, freeze all laws of existence!

The blood congealed into droplets, suspended in the air before Wang Lin. He swayed his body, narrowly avoiding the lethal shower. As he did so, he waved his right hand forward. A crimson flash announced the arrival of the Blood Sword. However, the backlash from the spell surged within him. He suppressed it with sheer will, though a pallor washed over his face.

The instant passed. The freeze spell dissipated, and the blood arced past Wang Lin, striking the earth. A sizzling sound erupted as the ground warped and sank deeply where the ichor landed.

The Blood Sword flashed. A muffled groan escaped the Grand Sovereign as the blade, moving with impossible speed, pierced through his right shoulder at the very moment he spat forth his blood.

Crimson sprayed through the air. Blood vessels burst in the Grand Sovereign’s eyes. As he stumbled backwards, he pointed a finger to the heavens.

“You seek death! Well-Lain Moon!”

The Grand Sovereign’s sorcery used the earth as a well, reflecting the sky within. He sought to pluck out the reflection and steal the soul of the target. Wang Lin had witnessed this technique before, and each time, it had left him profoundly shaken.