“Xu Mu! He who stained the Western Reaches of Luo Tian with stardust and the blood of worlds, Xu Mu!”

“He was hunted by the Yao Clan, yet emerged victorious, leaving their ranks shattered! He defied the Celestial Decree and remains unscathed, a feat unmatched in the annals!”

“Whispers abound that the Yao Clan suffered grievous losses, their kin slaughtered by this demonic prodigy, Xu Mu!”

“Moreover, many a cultivation family that dared to join the Yao Clan’s crusade now tremble in their towers. As long as Xu Mu draws breath, they fear his vengeance!”

A tempest of such pronouncements arose after a moment of hushed awe. The name of Xu Mu echoed across the Luo Tian Starfield, known by nearly all!

Shen Gonghu stared, dumbstruck, at Wang Lin. A complex whirlwind of emotions churned within him. But at that very instant, the revelation of Wang Lin’s nascent Ascendant Void cultivation struck him like a thunderbolt.

This shock resonated from the deepest core of his being, flooding his senses. He could scarcely comprehend if the figure before him was truly the one he suspected.

Zhan Konglie, too, stood in stunned silence. Never had he conceived that the familiar sensation within the warrior’s spirit could be Wang Lin. Most perplexing of all was the riddle of Wang Lin’s cultivation.

“The first glimpse I had of him was in the late Asking Realm. The second, in the Yang Solidification stage. And now, this third encounter… he has reached the very threshold of the Ascendant Void! Could it be… he held no secrets, truly displayed his cultivation…?” Zhan Konglie was lost in bewilderment.

“Senior!” Beside Zhan Konglie, Zhan Yun, her face alight with joyous surprise, rose swiftly and flew forth. Halting a respectful distance away, she bowed, her expression brimming with reverence.

And she was not alone. Scattered across the myriad leagues of Di Yan Star, others who had been rescued from the Thunder Immortal Realm by Wang Lin now surged forth, their hearts filled with gratitude. They prostrated themselves, offering their solemn respects.

Wang Lin acknowledged them with a slight nod.

Just then, a grim, low growl emerged from afar, issuing from a craggy white stone. Upon it sat an elder in meditation, and at his side lay Tang Yanfeng, sunk in unconsciousness!

“By what right do you dare usurp the prize of my Luo Tian Southern Domain, one of the foremost one hundred and eight? Without competing in the trials, your actions disregard all the cultivators of our domain!” The elder glared at Wang Lin, his eyes burning with murderous intent.

In his judgment, while Xu Mu had not ended Tang Yanfeng’s life, he had grievously wounded him. Even if the young man recovered, his cultivation would be diminished, and his chances in the upcoming Rite of Sealing Immortals were now forfeit.

Wang Lin’s face remained an icy mask as he turned his gaze towards the elder.

At that moment, a middle-aged cultivator, one Wang Lin had rescued from the Thunder Immortal Realm, stood forth barely a hundred paces distant. After a moment of deliberation, he steeled himself, his gaze hardening as he turned towards the Tang family elder and declared in a booming voice:

“The Chen family of the Luo Tian Southern Domain nominates Senior Xu Mu to possess the right to compete! I ask, does the Chen family ‘have the right’ to make such a nomination?”

The Tang elder’s eyes narrowed, and he shifted his gaze towards one of the Chen family patriarchs who had arrived at the scene.

Presently, another cultivator stepped forward. Slightly aged, he turned towards the Tang elder and stated in a deep voice, “The Zhao family of the Luo Tian Southern Domain nominates Senior Xu Mu to possess the right to compete! I ask, does the Zhao family, in the eyes of Elder Tang, have the right to make such a nomination!”

“The Li family of the Luo Tian Southern Domain nominates Senior Xu Mu to possess the right to compete! I ask, does the Li family have the right to make such a nomination!” A middle-aged man clad in azure robes stepped forth, directing his words towards the Tang elder.

“The Zheng family, too, nominates Senior Xu Mu! I ask, does the Zheng family have the right to make such a nomination!” Following close behind the middle-aged man, a young woman adorned in vibrant silks emerged, her voice soft, yet carrying the weight of unwavering conviction.

“I, as a direct descendant of the Miao family, nominate Senior Xu Mu! As one of the main star families, Elder Tang, does the Miao family have such a right to claim!” Dressed in somber black, a youth with a chilling countenance slowly advanced.

These four had all been saved by Wang Lin within the Thunder Immortal Realm. They harbored a deep sense of gratitude towards him, but during the Yao Clan’s pursuit, they had been restrained by their families, unable to aid him. A profound guilt had lingered within them, and now they cast aside all hesitation, standing resolutely by Wang Lin’s side!

This unfolding scene caused a shift in the Tang elder’s complexion. Even the Chen family patriarch was taken aback, and a bitter smile played upon his lips as he closed his eyes. In truth, all the leading figures of the other supporting cultivation families followed suit, turning a deaf ear and blind eye to the situation. Though silent, they would not hesitate to defend their family’s honor if their right to nominate were questioned.

“The Meng family of Di Yan Star nominates Senior Xu Mu! I ask, does the Meng family have such a right!” Yet another cultivator stepped forward, fearlessly directing his gaze towards the Tang family elder.

“The Baili family of Thundercloud Star nominates Senior Xu Mu…”

“The Sikong family of Watermoon Star nominates Senior Xu Mu…”

“The Zhou family of Di Yan Star nominates Senior Xu Mu…”

“The Ning family of Azure Sky Star also nominates Senior Xu Mu! As one of the main star families, I ask, does the Ning family have such a right!”

Following one another, an ever-growing throng of cultivators stepped forward to stand beside Wang Lin, gazing defiantly at the Tang elder. Every single one of them was among those Wang Lin had led to safety within the Thunder Immortal Realm!

The spectacle unfolding before him left the Tang elder in a state of bewilderment and inner turmoil. His eyes gleamed as he observed the younger generation standing beside Wang Lin, challenging him with their gazes. Even with his cultivation, he found himself at a loss.

These juniors were insignificant in themselves, but their actions, coupled with the tacit approval of their elders, who had chosen to remain silent, sparked a flicker of awe within the Tang elder for the enigmatic figure of Xu Mu.

His own cultivation had also reached the Ascendant Void, like Wang Lin’s, in its early stages. However, he had clearly entered that realm earlier, having reached the peak of its initial phase.

Within the Luo Tian Starfield, cultivators who had attained the Yin Yang or Void Solidification realms were revered as family patriarchs, unless fortune smiled upon them, gifting them with the ability to reach the Ascendant Void.

Only those cultivation families residing on the main stars could boast of an Ascendant Void cultivator, and even among them, they were rare, with each family possessing no more than one.
Only houses as ancient and potent as the Tang Clan, inheritors of celestial secrets second only to the Yao, could boast a handful of cultivators who had truly stepped into the Second Threshold. This was the foundation of their power, a legacy built over tens of millennia, not something easily acquired.

The elder, a patriarch of the Tang Clan, was one of these four, a master of the Second Threshold. He was also a target of Wang Lin’s simmering wrath.

“Zhan Konglie, representing the Zhan family, proposes that Elder Xu Mu be granted qualification! Venerable Tang, does Zhan Konglie have the standing to make such a request?” Zhan Konglie spoke, his voice echoing in the stillness of the arena.

The Tang elder’s face darkened.

“Shen Gonghu echoes the sentiment, proposing that Elder Xu Mu be granted the necessary qualifications!” Shen Gonghu declared, a glint of determination in his eyes.

The Tang elder scoffed, preparing to unleash a torrent of scorn. But then, a placid voice cut through the air, emanating from the violet-robed elder amongst the Lei Xian Temple envoys, one who had remained silent until now.

“Xu Mu is qualified.”

These simple words transformed the Tang elder’s countenance. He recognized the power held by the violet-robed envoy. He dared not defy him. With a snarl, he swept Tang Yanfeng into his sleeve and departed, the rest of the Tang Clan following in his wake, their faces etched with resentment.

As the elder turned to leave, his gaze, filled with venom, lingered on Wang Lin.

Wang Lin met the look with unsettling calm and uttered a single word: “Detonate.”

The Tang elder paused, confusion momentarily clouding his face, before dawning horror struck him. He whirled around, but it was too late. The Tang Yanfeng he held shuddered violently and then erupted in a rain of blood and shattered bone.

Even his nascent soul was obliterated in the blast, leaving the elder no opportunity for rescue. Wang Lin had secreted a potent and deeply concealed power within Tang Yanfeng, undetectable except by those who had surpassed him in cultivation, reaching at least the mid-stage of Nirvana Scrying.

Now, seeing the killing intent in the eyes of the Tang Clan, Wang Lin had detonated it without hesitation, consigning Tang Yanfeng to oblivion.

“Let your Tang Clan not become another Yao family,” Wang Lin stated, his voice deceptively soft, yet brimming with a chilling malice.

“Xu Mu!” The Tang elder roared, grief warring with fury. He fixed Wang Lin with a murderous stare and lunged forward.

Wang Lin remained unperturbed, raising a hand. But before he could act, a cold snort echoed from the violet-robed envoy of the Lei Xian Temple. For the first time, the envoy’s eyes opened, revealing the icy depths within.

“No infighting is permitted during the trials. Tang Shan, take your clan and be gone! If you seek vengeance after the trial’s conclusion, feel free to follow the Yao family’s example and settle it amongst yourselves!”

The Tang elder froze, hesitating before reluctantly withdrawing, his eyes burning with hatred as he led his clan away.

“You desire the first place amongst the one hundred and eight qualifications of the Southern Domain?” The violet-robed envoy regarded Wang Lin, his gaze piercing. Wang Lin met his stare, sensing a tremendous wellspring of power within the elder, far surpassing even the Blood Ancestor. Even if he was not yet a Nirvana Cleanser, he was undoubtedly a master of the late-stage of Nirvana Scrying.

“I do,” Wang Lin declared, his voice resolute, a spark of battle lust igniting within him.

“Very well. If none here challenge you, I shall decree that you are the first amongst the qualified of the Southern Domain!” The violet-robed envoy bestowed a rare, approving glance upon Wang Lin.

“Are there any who dare challenge him?” The violet-robed envoy scanned the crowd, his gaze sweeping across the many cultivators seated upon the crimson stones. Finally, it settled upon a solitary figure.

This man was cloaked in black, appearing to be in his forties, his temples touched with grey. Before his stone were planted nine gleaming blades.

Even when Wang Lin’s battle intent had permeated the arena, this man had remained motionless in meditation. Only when Wang Lin had revealed his early-stage Nirvana Scrying cultivation did he finally lift his head, a faint flicker of battle lust briefly illuminating his eyes.

“Zhan Konglie, wishes to challenge Elder Xu Mu!” Zhan Konglie announced, his voice echoing in the arena, a look of both confusion and determination in his eyes. He clasped his fist in respectful greeting, addressing Wang Lin with deference.

“If Elder Xu Mu can truly impress Zhan, then Zhan Konglie will willingly surrender his Dao Will, acknowledging the Elder as his liege, and will fight under his banner for the Alliance!”

These words reverberated through the arena, creating a storm of shock and speculation amongst the assembled cultivators!