Had only the Lord of Ages spoken, Wang Lin might have turned a deaf ear. His purpose in venturing into the Imperial Palace was to rescue the Madman, and he would not abandon him simply due to the Lord of Ages’ threats!

Moreover, Wang Lin could not bring himself to believe that the Lord of Ages would truly do as he said, and cease the suppression of the cursed power within the Madman, forever denying him the chance to recover.

However, the words of the Twins held a different weight. Wang Lin could not ignore them.

In his heart, he already carried a debt to the Twins. Their plea forced him into silence.

“Give me a reason!” After a long pause, Wang Lin spoke with difficulty, his gaze not on the Lord of Ages, but fixed upon the Twin Grand Empyrean.

“The Immortal Emperor is broken, and Lian Dao Fei… he is vital to the Immortal Clan,” the Twin Grand Empyrean sighed softly, her eyes meeting Wang Lin’s.

“Wang Lin… Lian Dao Fei must remain,” said Hai Zi, who had been silent until now. Her voice was gentle as she looked at Wang Lin.

“This is the Forbidden Palace. Though now shattered, its essence can restore itself. Within the Immortal Clan, the Forbidden Palace is a place of utmost importance, for it houses the Skull of the Immortal Ancestor…

“The Skull of the Immortal Ancestor serves to suppress the spirits of the Immortal Clan’s Seventy-Two Continents. Because of its presence, the spirits of those continents remain sealed. Should the Skull of the Immortal Ancestor be damaged, there would be no force to restrain the spirits that still live, and even those that have died would return from their illusory continental forms to the void…

“At that time, the entire Immortal Clan will descend into chaos, and great swathes of land will crumble and vanish. The Immortal Clan will face a great calamity… Our clan’s original plan was not to destroy the Immortal Clan. Therefore, after dividing the Skull of the Immortal Ancestor, we would choose one among us to slumber here, replacing the Immortal Ancestor’s Skull and becoming the new suppressor of the Seventy-Two Continents…

“That person, we have chosen Lian Dao Fei!

“He possesses the bloodline of the Immortal Ancestor and has inherited a portion of his cultivation. Moreover, over many years, our clan has subtly planted a seed within him. By activating this seed, Lian Dao Fei can inherit the Immortal Ancestor’s cultivation and become a Grand Empyrean!

“With his cultivation as a Grand Empyrean, combined with our clan’s secret arts, he can achieve the necessary suppression. Therefore, you cannot take him away… Should you force the issue, then… I too will intervene,” Hai Zi said softly.

“Wang Lin, leave Lian Dao Fei. He will not be in mortal danger, merely remain here to suppress the spirits of the Seventy-Two Continents,” the Twins sighed, looking at Wang Lin, repeating their plea.

The Lord of Ages watched this scene coldly, saying nothing.

Wang Lin was silent, looking at the Madman, who lay unconscious upon the Immortal Ancestor’s Skull. Without hesitation, he spoke.

“I will relinquish the Skull of the Immortal Ancestor, and only take Lian Dao Fei!”

“Relinquish it? Even if the Skull of the Immortal Ancestor were returned to its place, it could no longer suppress the spirits. The Immortal Emperor has cleaved it open, and the Immortal Ancestor’s cultivation within has been scattered. It is now useless for suppression!” the Lord of Ages sneered.

Wang Lin’s face paled instantly, his eyes filled with struggle and complexity. The Lord of Ages’ words were simple, and even without deep thought, Wang Lin understood their truth.

“Wang Chi… leave Lian Dao Fei,” the Twins said for the third time.

Time slowly passed. Wang Lin’s internal conflict raged like a storm. Finally, he sighed deeply. He could not forcefully take the Madman. The Twin Grand Empyrean would stop him. The Lord of Ages would attack, and Hai Zi as well. With the three of them against him, Wang Lin could not take the Madman away.

Furthermore, if he took the Madman, the Immortal Clan would be plunged into chaos. Wang Lin might not care, but the Twins, who had helped him so much, would be placed in a difficult position… Even the Violet Sun Sect would face destruction.

In silence, a bitter smile appeared on Wang Lin’s face. He looked at the unconscious Madman and slowly closed his eyes.

“Madman, the next time Wang Lin comes to this Imperial Palace, it will be the moment I rescue you completely! I swear it!” Wang Lin raised his right hand and struck the Skull of the Immortal Ancestor. Immediately, the skull transformed into golden light and was absorbed into Wang Lin’s storage space. He suddenly looked up.

“Lord of Ages, there is no need for you to seek me out. I, Wang, will return one day!” With these words, Wang Lin’s body flickered, and he flew straight toward the sky. He did not look back, leaving the Madman behind. His heart ached. This journey to the Imperial Palace had brought him the greatest of benefits. He had obtained a portion of the Immortal Ancestor’s inheritance, obtained his skull, and even formed the outline of the Grand Empyrean’s Yang.

But in the end, he still could not take the Madman…

If he could choose, Wang Lin would unhesitatingly dissipate all of these fortunes to bring the Madman away. But alas, from the very beginning, this was fated.

“The Mournful Clan’s Elder Ancestor’s plans and deductions… he even anticipated the Immortal Emperor’s soul attempting to seize the Madman’s body… Perhaps even that so-called seizure was part of his plan, which I unknowingly disrupted…

“Even the Immortal Emperor’s decision to self-detonate, and the division of the cursed power between the four Grand Empyreans, the Elder Ancestor of the Great Soul Sect likely deduced all of this, but did not reveal or prevent it…

“Perhaps he did so for his clan’s chosen one, Hai Zi, or perhaps… it was to quell my anger towards his clan… But what exactly did he see that made him so polite to me? Could it be that, in his eyes, my existence is more fearsome than a Grand Empyrean?”

Wang Lin thought of the genius of the Mournful Clan within the Great Soul Sect, and the words he had left behind, each one filled with respect and the repeated use of “You.”

The Twin Grand Empyrean glanced down at the unconscious Lian Dao Fei and sighed softly. Her body flickered, and she followed Wang Lin, flying away into the sky.

Within the shattered sky of the Forbidden Palace, as Wang Lin departed, he could not help but look down.
He beheld it, as Haizi wove his clan’s mystic art. The maddened Lunatic, in his trance, erupted with blinding golden light. Within that radiant glow, the Lunatic’s form was consumed, replaced by a golden sun that eclipsed him. From this solar aura, a Great Venerate’s power pulsed, a true and complete manifestation, not merely the nascent yang-wheel of Wang Lin.

In that blinding light, even Dao Fei became the Celestial Clan’s fifth Great Venerate since the fall of the Celestial Sovereign! Yet, this fifth Venerate was destined to slumber eternally, never to awaken. His very existence was to replace the head of the Ancestor, a bulwark against the restless spirits of the Seventy-Two Provinces!

Wang Lin gazed upon the Lunatic’s ascendance, watching as his form, bathed in golden light and embraced by the solar aura, slowly transformed into a mountain, resplendent with golden energy, piercing the heavens!

With the mountain’s emergence, the shattered land healed with astonishing speed, returning to its former glory. Yet, unlike the Nine Mountains of old, only this single, golden peak stood. The sky, too, was restored, until the entire realm was made whole again.

His final gaze lingered on the golden mountain, and then, with unspoken oaths etched deep within his heart, Wang Lin turned and departed.

Leaving the Forbidden Palace and the crumbling catacombs, Wang Lin strode forth, vanishing in an instant. He reappeared upon the Celestial Continent, within the ruined imperial palace of the Central Prefecture’s ancestral city.

The palace was a wasteland, save for a solitary statue that stood defiant. It was a likeness of the Celestial Ancestor, gazing skyward, arms outstretched as if channeling some ancient power.

Wang Lin stared at the statue, his silence profound.

A ripple of distorted space heralded the arrival of the Twin Venerates.

“The Ancestor’s era has passed. His protection will wane… and the Celestial Clan will never again see another of the Celestial Sovereign’s bloodline,” sighed the Twin Venerates, their gaze fixed on the statue.

“Thank you,” Wang Lin said, his voice even.

“This was my promise to you, though the cost was… personal. But I, too, must thank you, for choosing the form of two little girls when I divided myself.”

“Dao Fei… I could not allow you to take him. I hope you understand. I belong to the Celestial Clan, while you… you may belong to the Ancient Clan.” The Twin Venerates spoke softly.

Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged. He turned to face them, neither questioning nor denying their knowledge of his true identity.

“Thank you…” Wang Lin bowed, offering his respect to the Twin Venerates.

“I have claimed the Ancestor’s eyes. I shall return to the Violet Sun Sect to begin my seclusion. Will you depart now, or travel with me for a time?”

“I wish to return to the Great Soul Gate… and then, leave the Celestial Clan,” Wang Lin said, his eyes drawn toward the Eastern Prefecture.

The Twin Venerates sighed softly after a moment of silence.

“I know not if helping you is right, or wrong…” They shook their heads, and with a burst of violet light, they reformed into the two little girls. Weary, they turned to Wang Lin, offered a simple, innocent smile, and waved farewell before soaring skyward as twin rainbows.

“Wawa, I want to sleep when we get back, I’m so tired.”

“Hanhan, maybe we should check on Little Wolf first, see if he’s been good, and then we can rest.”

“Okay, let’s do that!”

Their sweet, childish voices echoed in the wind like tinkling bells. Wang Lin watched them go, murmuring, “Thank you…”

He closed his eyes, and after a long moment, opened them. With a flicker, he transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the vastness of the world. He did not see Haizi, standing amidst the ruins of the palace, watching his departure with a look of aching regret as twilight began to fall.

“Haizi, let us go…”

Behind Haizi, Jiu Di emerged, weary. A dark aura clung to him, threatening to overwhelm him.

“I do not blame you for not stopping him… That child is unfathomable. I am old. The connection your clan has forged with him will benefit you in the days to come.” The dark aura did not conceal the fondness and love in Jiu Di’s eyes as he looked at Haizi.