The black-robed warrior struck the ground, dust swirling around his polished boots. Wang Lin’s gaze, sharp as a honed blade, flickered. With a flick of his wrist, he traced arcane symbols in the air. Ethereal chains of light materialized, snaking around the warrior, binding him. Before the warrior could even twitch, the glyphs sealed the hidden pathways of his energy, crippling him.

Wang Lin’s casual gesture belied the power he channeled – the Whispering Finger of Oblivion. A mere glance had revealed the oddity within the warrior. Instead of the vibrant core of a true Ascendant, a shard of jade, no larger than a fingernail, pulsed within his spirit.

Thus, though the warrior possessed the outward shell of an Ascendant, he lacked the true comprehension, the inner resonance of that lofty state. To Wang Lin, he was but a brute, a puppet animated by a trinket.

Even before his own Ascendance, Wang Lin would have dispatched this foe with ease. Now, the difference was a chasm.

However, to the onlookers, Wang Lin’s single motion crashed upon them like a thunderclap. The members of the Cultivator’s Alliance stood frozen, their faces masks of disbelief.

The warrior clad in gold trembled, his face losing all color. If the path behind him were not choked by the encroaching shadow-mist, he would have fled without a second thought.

His companions, too, stared dumbly at their fallen comrade, now prone and bound before Wang Lin. Words died in their throats.

Only Bo Yunshan dared to savor the moment. A sigh escaped his lips, a breath of pure, unadulterated relief, as if he were expelling the accumulated pressure of days and weeks gone by.

“F-forebear, a misunderstanding! A misunderstanding! We merely represent the Cultivator’s Alliance, seeking your presence…” stammered the gold-clad warrior, his voice wavering.

“Brother Wang, their true aim is to capture you!” Sun Yunshan’s voice cut through the air, laced with bitter amusement. With a subtle shift, he distanced himself by a dozen paces.

Wang Lin acknowledged Sun Yunshan with a nod. He had seen him all along.

The gold-clad warrior’s pallor deepened. He fixed a venomous glare upon Sun Yunshan, spitting, “Sun Yunshan, you dare betray the Ancestor!”

Sun Yunshan recoiled, about to respond, but Wang Lin simply waved his hand dismissively. A mere breath of wind, it seemed. Yet, that touch was enough. The gold-clad warrior detonated, his physical form exploding in a shower of blood and gore. His fleetingly bewildered spirit, revealed for a moment, was then swallowed whole by the encroaching shadow-mist, vanishing without a trace.

The stench of carnage lingered, yet the surrounding cultivators could only stare in horror. They reeled at the unfathomable power displayed by Wang Lin. A gesture to capture an Immortal Guard! A wave to obliterate an Ascendant!

“Ascendant Late Stage! He must be Ascendant Late Stage!” The murmur rippled through the terrified ranks.

Wang Lin paid them no heed. Instead, he turned his attention to Bo Yunshan, a smile gracing his lips. “Brother Sun, many years have passed.”

Sun Yunshan sighed, his voice tinged with bitterness. “Brother Wang, save me.”

Wang Lin’s expression remained calm. “Come inside and speak freely.” He seized the black-robed warrior from the ground and strode towards the tower.

Sun Yunshan hesitated only for a moment before following. Yet, the shock within his heart was no less potent than that of the others.

He remembered Wang Lin from before their descent into the Spirit Realm, when Wang Lin’s cultivation had been a mere Nascent Soul. In these few decades, Wang Lin had reached Ascendancy, and his form grew infinitely larger in Sun Yunshan’s heart.

High above, the remaining cultivators remained, paralyzed by fear. They dared not flee, nor could they muster the courage to attack. Suspended in the air, their hearts pounded a frantic rhythm against their ribs.

Within the tower, Wang Lin sat cross-legged. From his dimensional pouch, he produced a weathered table and a jug of fine wine. He poured a cup for Sun Yunshan, smiling, “Brother Sun, be seated.”

Sun Yunshan stood stiffly, hesitant. After a moment, he obeyed, settling across from Wang Lin. “Brother Wang… I…”

“You have come seeking aid from Wang. Speak freely.” Wang Lin smiled gently, setting down the jug and meeting Sun Yunshan’s gaze.

Sun Yunshan hesitated. Grasping the cup, he drained it in a single gulp. Then, seizing the jug, he drank directly from its mouth, consuming nearly half its contents before setting it down. His eyes blazed with emotion as he focused on Wang Lin, taking a deep breath. He gestured towards the bound warrior. “Brother Wang, this man has no name. He is an Immortal Guard. He and I belong to an organization that calls itself the Cultivator’s Alliance.”

Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged. “Immortal Guard…” he murmured.

Sun Yunshan took another swig, his eyes reddening. “Within the Alliance, there is one who styles himself an Immortal Ancestor. His power is beyond reckoning. The name ‘Immortal Guard’ was bestowed by him. There are ten of these guards, their strength roughly equal.”

“Your battle with the demon general, Mo Li Hai, in the ancient demon city of the Heavenly Demon Clan drew the Ancestor’s attention. For reasons unknown, he commanded your capture. I suspect you encountered those sent to capture you within the Heavenly Demon City. After that, you disappeared within the Heavenly Demon Clan, and the matter was dropped. But months ago, someone discovered your presence here and informed the Ancestor. Thus, we were dispatched to take you captive once more!”

Wang Lin’s gaze hardened. He remembered those individuals who had appeared while he listened to the lyre in the Heavenly Demon City. The leader, when captured, had detonated himself without hesitation. Wang Lin had not forgotten the man’s fanaticism.

He had assumed they were sent by another demon general, but now, thanks to Sun Yunshan, the truth was unveiled.

Sun Yunshan clenched his fists, continuing, “Brother Wang, you may not know this, but… somehow, my younger sister came to this Spirit Realm. She was seduced by the Ancestor and became a member of the Alliance. Upon encountering me, she tricked me into joining this organization. When I sensed the danger, the Ancestor appeared and, with a single spell, subdued all four of my grand-uncles… since then, their minds have been erased, and they have become mere puppets. Even I was cursed with an Immortal Seed, and now, I am no longer my own master.”
A flash of potent light ignited in Wang Lin’s eyes, a gaze that pierced the very essence of Sun Yunshan. Under that scrutiny, Sun Yunshan’s nascent soul shuddered, teetering on the precipice of collapse. He felt utterly exposed, as though every secret, every hidden thought, was laid bare before Wang Lin’s unblinking gaze.

The sensation, though fleeting, left Sun Yunshan drenched in sweat, his eyes wide with a mixture of awe and terror.

Wang Lin retracted his gaze, his right hand rising to point a single finger towards Sun Yunshan’s brow. Immediately, intricate patterns of light bloomed forth from his third eye, a web of ethereal veins spreading across his face and engulfing his entire being.

A soft exclamation escaped Wang Lin’s lips, his expression hardening with concern. He studied the glowing patterns intently, his eyes closing as he retreated into thoughtful silence.

Sun Yunshan, wracked with anxiety, understood that his fate hung precariously in the balance. Should this “immortal seed,” as it was called, remain, he would be forever bound to the whims of the ancient ancestor, robbed of his freedom.

After a long, tense silence, Wang Lin opened his eyes and spoke, his voice measured. “This old one calls this binding a ‘Celestial Seed’?”

Sun Yunshan nodded fervently. “Indeed, Ancestor claims it was brought from the Celestial Realm before its fall. A treasure of the Immortals, beyond the power of any to sever, save for him alone!”

A strange light flickered in Wang Lin’s eyes. “The black-clad warriors, he names ‘Celestial Guards.’ This peculiar binding, a ‘Celestial Seed.’ And the old one claims descent from the Celestial Realm… Could it be the Celestial Emperor, Qing Shuang? Though the possibility seems remote, this peculiar binding is certainly no mere mortal creation. A palpable essence of immortality permeates it; truly a relic of the Celestial Realm!”

After a moment of consideration, Wang Lin’s hand shot out, seizing one of the Celestial Guards in a telekinetic grip. A coldness radiated from his eyes as his hand pressed onto the warrior’s crown, initiating the forbidden art of Soul-Searching!

Had this dark warrior been a true Ascendant cultivator, Wang Lin would have proceeded with the utmost caution. However, the warrior’s Ascendant cultivation was a mere illusion, granted by a shard of jade lodged within his soul. In truth, his power was no more than that of an Infant Transformation cultivator.

As he delved into the warrior’s mind, Wang Lin’s face grew grim. The warrior’s memories were fleeting, limited only to his time as a Celestial Guard. His past was a blank slate.

Wang Lin released his grip, a flick of his wrist shattering the man’s spirit. With chilling detachment, Wang Lin unleashed a torrent of Primordial Spirit Fire, incinerating the soul before Sun Yunshan’s horrified eyes.

Sun Yunshan, witnessing this display of power, was struck by a profound combination of terror and awe.

Wang Lin, oblivious to the effect he had, allowed his gaze to drift over Sun Yunshan’s face before turning away. There was a purpose to his actions. He would not blindly trust Sun Yunshan’s word regarding the ancient ancestor’s origins. A display of dominance, a touch of intimidation, was necessary to ensure compliance.

The Celestial Guard’s spirit was soon reduced to ash, leaving behind a thumbnail-sized shard of jade, glittering faintly before Wang Lin. He studied it intently, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Though the jade radiated no discernible immortal energy, a sweep of Wang Lin’s spiritual sense revealed an immense, unimaginable reservoir of celestial power. However, the power was inaccessible, for it was guarded by a distinct, powerful will!

“The cultivator’s spirit fuses with this jade, birthing a being akin to an early-stage Ascendant cultivator. Yet, such fusion must be rare, for otherwise, the old one would command more than a mere ten Celestial Guards!

Furthermore, the fusion must be more complex than a mere blending of soul and jade. The key lies within the residing will! Only through acceptance of that will can true harmony be achieved!” Wang Lin mused, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

Had the ancient ancestor overheard Wang Lin’s deduction, he would have been stunned. For he had spent years unraveling that very secret. Yet here, Wang Lin had deciphered the majority of it through mere observation and deduction!

“Where lies the domain of this Cultivation Alliance?” Wang Lin asked, his voice low and filled with a chilling intent.