Wang Lin’s departure echoed through the Celestial Nirvana, a tremor in the very fabric of reality. The spectacle of his ascent, of his conquering the trials, ignited a maelstrom of emotions within the assembled cultivators.

Yet one sentiment resonated above all others: the name Wang Lin was etched into their minds, the name of he who had supplanted the Nether Dao Sovereign, becoming the preeminent figure beneath the Great Celestials!

The White-Haired Leap Celestial!

Whispers of the Soul Armor faded, buried beneath a tacit agreement. None dared speak of it, for they knew, even if they possessed such artifacts, they could never hope to breach seventeen levels.

As Wang Lin vanished from sight, a frenzy gripped the Celestial Nirvana. Spurred by his example, throngs of cultivators threw themselves into the trials.

The Dao One Great Celestial watched Wang Lin’s departure with eyes blazing with ambition. He moved with a sudden burst of speed, leaving the Celestial Nirvana to find where Wang Lin had traveled. He would offer anything to acquire this man.

Wu Feng sighed, knowing that after Wang Lin’s conquest of the seventeenth floor, the recruitment of this individual would be even more challenging than that of the Nether Dao Sovereign.

“Fortunately, I have already established a rapport with him, ensuring that even if I fail to recruit him, my relationship with him will be better than that of the other Great Celestials.” Wu Feng disappeared from his location.

In the heart of the Central Continent’s Imperial City, a thunderous roar erupted from the palace. The Emperor, consumed by fury, shattered the dragon throne with a single blow.

Beside him, the Nether Dao Sovereign opened vacant eyes, his gaze fixed on the floor, lost in silent contemplation.

“Nether Dao, I grant you the chance to meditate in the ancestral grounds. Whether you can overcome this humiliation depends entirely on you! Wang Lin will likely come to this Imperial City. Should you slay him, you will reclaim your title as the foremost Leap Celestial!”

This time, the Nether Dao Sovereign did not hesitate, instead simply nodded.

Upon Emperor Mountain, Jiu Di Celestial, stood tall, his gaze rose from the falling leaves. His eyes twinkled with a sharp light.

“I failed to recruit the Nether Dao Sovereign, and the Immortal Emperor holds a grudge against him. This time, I will snatch him before anyone else can!” Jiu Di Celestial turned to Hai Zi Celestial, who slowly opened her eyes beside him, laughing.

“Hai Zi, come with me. I will accept Wang Lin as my disciple, making him your elder brother, how does that sound?”

Hai Zi Celestial was taken aback, then overjoyed.

In the Purple Sun Sect of the Eastern Continent, a middle-aged cultivator’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

“Seventeen levels! He conquered seventeen levels! Such a man will surely be sought after by all the Great Celestials! Ancestors, quick, calculate his location! We must find him!”

The two young girls beside him blinked, then rose to their feet. The trio transformed into a gust of wind, vanishing from the stone chamber. But as they disappeared, a small hand emerged from the shadows, grasping at a small, furry creature.

“Oops, almost forgot about little Wolfie! Don’t worry, we won’t forget you! You were a good boy, you can come with us.”

Tears streamed down Greed Wolf’s face as the small hand snatched him by the scruff of the neck, whisking him away.

In the Great Holy Continent, within the cave where Wang Lin had secluded himself before his journey to the Celestial Nirvana, his physical form sat in meditation. Nearby, Hai Long, shrunken in size, lay sprawled out, while Liu Jinbiao hopped and skipped across his back, patting, stroking, and playfully tickling him.

Hai Long squinted contentedly, purring and wriggling in response.

“Hehe, enjoying yourself? Your Great Jinbiao Lord here learned this skill back in the Realm of the Caves. It’s a massage technique developed over generations by a sect dedicated to taming ferocious beasts. Daily massages will accelerate your blood flow and induce a state of bliss! Hold still, hold still, I’m not finished yet!

“If you can’t take it, I’ll stop!” Liu Jinbiao panted, yet felt no fatigue. After another half-hour, he collapsed beside the dragon, gasping for air.

“Damn, I’m exhausted! Alright, we’re both Hai Longs. I’ve finished with you, now it’s your turn!” Liu Jinbiao glanced at Hai Long.

“I am a real Hai Long! Didn’t I tell you before? I was cursed in an ancient land and transformed into a human.”

Hai Long hesitated, glancing at Liu Jinbiao with reluctance. Liu Jinbiao’s eyes widened in anger.

“Hey, are you being unreasonable? I’m telling you, if you don’t serve your Great Jinbiao Lord, I won’t massage you anymore! It’s a two-way street, understand? I’m warning you, the master has a lackey named Xu Liguo, a sinister and vile creature. If you don’t cooperate, you better watch out when he comes!” Liu Jinbiao lowered his voice.

Hai Long trembled, fear in its eyes. It had been brainwashed in recent times by Liu Jinbiao. Hai Long thought that Xu Liguo was an incredibly horrible creature.

After a long silence, Hai Long opened its maw and exhaled a stream of primordial energy onto Liu Jinbiao, who absorbed it greedily, a flash of triumph in his eyes.

“Hehe, I, Jinbiao, am the best! Fooled this dim-witted Hai Long! With its help, my cultivation will increase rapidly! Plus, we’re connected by our life force. I’ll slowly turn its hatred toward that little Xu. When he shows up, I won’t even have to lift a finger! Hai Long will give him a good thrashing! Haha, you just wait, little Xu!”

Amidst Liu Jinbiao’s glee, Wang Lin opened his eyes, a sharp light illuminating his face. But upon witnessing the scene before him, he paused, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features.

With a slight frown, Wang Lin saw that Hai Long seemed willing, so he simply ignored the sight.
Long ages spun by. At last, the Sea Dragon, spent of breath, collapsed in weary repose.

Only when Liu Jinbiao had completed his meditative cycles, fully absorbing the Sea Dragon’s essence, did Wang Lin rise. He cast a glance upon Liu Jinbiao.

“Enough dawdling. We must depart.”

Liu Jinbiao, feeling the keenness of Wang Lin’s gaze as if his very thoughts lay bare, blinked in sheepish embarrassment and scrambled to his feet.

“Master has completed his cultivation? Aye, aye. Wherever you lead, we shall follow. But… when do we seek out Xu Liguo?”

The Sea Dragon, stirred from its slumber, overheard the name “Xu Liguo” and its eyes blazed with ancient fury. Deep within its heart, the name was etched in venomous ink, a constant reminder of the one who delighted in tormenting its kind.

“A guest approaches. Soon, we journey to Zhongzhou. Whether we find Xu Liguo there rests upon the whims of fate.” With a flick of his sleeve, Wang Lin gathered Liu Jinbiao and the Sea Dragon, drawing them into the folds of his magic. He strode from the cave, emerging upon a mountain peak. Standing tall against the wind, white robes billowing, he gazed skyward.

“Who will be the first to arrive…?” he murmured. All his endeavors had led to this very moment.

Meanwhile, as Liu Jinbiao fueled the Sea Dragon’s vengeful desires for Xu Liguo, far away in the imperial city of Zhongzhou, a man clad in roughspun blue stumbled forward, a smug look plastered across his face. A sudden sneeze ripped through him.

The imperial city, capital of the entire Immortal Clan, sprawled across the land like a continent. No mortal hand could have raised such a behemoth; only the tireless work of countless beings, spanning millennia, could have achieved such grandeur. Its borders were immeasurable, its scale akin to an entire province.

In the city’s bustling eastern district, a flamboyant youth swaggered down the street, his face flushed with self-importance. A phalanx of a dozen guards trailed behind him, each a Third Step adept. Most astonishing of all, a gold-robed protector, a veritable Golden Venerable, was among them!

The guards, all men, remained silent, a stoic procession in the wake of their master.

Flanking the youth were two companions. One, a slender boy with an air of haughtiness, wore a blue tunic, his gait strangely constrained. The other was a young man, dressed in red, with a self-satisfied grin that seemed permanently etched upon his features. He was the one now assailed by a volley of sneezes.

“Pray tell, Lord Xu, what ails you? Perhaps you caught a chill in the night? All this sniffling is becoming tiresome,” the haughty boy said, his voice sharp and grating.

“Spit! You prancing, genderless whelp! Your esteemed Uncle Xu enjoyed a most satisfying evening! Care to join me? I’m free tonight,” the red-clad youth snarled, his eyes glinting with malice.

“You are a vile creature!” The boy rolled his eyes.

“Vile, am I? Aye, your Uncle Xu revels in vileness! Take heed this night, for I shall descend upon your chambers and unleash my vileness upon you! Beware, little one,” Xu leered, his gaze sweeping over the boy with crude amusement.

“Enough!” the flamboyant youth at their head snapped. “You two bicker like magpies! Red, you shall kick down the door! Let the old Li family learn a lesson in respect! Blue, should things take a turn, shatter the jade talisman and summon my brother. He shall teach them manners!” He pointed towards a palatial estate, a magnificent residence that loomed nearby like a slumbering lion.

The estate was colossal, radiating an awe-inspiring pressure. The gates were sealed, unguarded. A crimson plaque, edged with cerulean, bore two golden characters, vertically aligned:

“Li Estate.”

The characters pulsed with an overwhelming aura of ancient, honed archery, permeating the very air.

“As you command!” The youth known as Xu perked up, eager to engage in his favored pastime of bullying with borrowed power. He strutted forward, hand on hip, and delivered a sharp kick to the gate.

The gate remained unyielding, but Xu showed no concern, as if he had anticipated this outcome.

“Hark, denizens of the Li Estate! Your esteemed Uncle Xu has arrived! Open your gates and offer welcome!”

The flamboyant youth roared with laughter, his face alight with amusement. He turned to the blue-clad boy.

“See? See? Observe and learn. Do you now understand why I value Xu Liguo? ‘Offer welcome’! Exquisite!”