Before him shimmered the Azure Star of Cultivation, a beacon of cerulean light in the velvet void. Situ Nan, with a will as boundless as the cosmos itself, unleashed his divine sense. It swept forth like a tempest, a raging gale of spiritual energy descending upon Water Spirit Star, howling across its surface.

His cultivation, barely ascended to the nascent Void Shattering realm, lent his divine sense a piercing keenness. This, coupled with an almost demonic audacity, imbued his spiritual assault with a dauntless, heaven-defying ferocity. The very touch of his power sent shivers through Water Spirit Star. It felt as though colossal hands were stirring the very bedrock, the land groaning in protest while the heavens themselves churned, skies darkening in ominous response.

The Dust Dao Triad, deep in meditative slumber, were jolted awake, their eyes snapping open, filled with a grim unease. As one, they flickered from their hidden sanctuaries, materializing in the sky above.

Yet the force of that divine sense was overwhelming. Barely had they materialized when they were hurled back hundreds of paces, forced to summon all their strength to merely hold their ground.

Even the brute Thundertooth and the cunning Regulus felt the encroaching tide of spiritual energy. Regulus, his cultivation still meager, coughed a gout of crimson ichor, his face paling, but his eyes burned with a dark, defiant rage.

Thundertooth, enduring the mind-numbing shock, appeared before Wang Lin’s secluded chamber, standing vigil alongside Tarsan, their gazes fixed upon the troubled heavens, safeguarding their sworn brother during his crucial trials.

Lower-ranked cultivators fared far worse. Faces drained of blood, some choked on their own lifeblood, while others succumbed to unconsciousness. Only a handful, such as Zhao Xue and Ling’er, were spared the worst, sheltered by magical artifacts bestowed upon them by the Dust Dao Triad.

The overbearing spiritual invasion even washed over Wang Lin’s palatial abode, but Wang Lin remained undisturbed. He was now at the most critical juncture in the spirit refinement of the Jade Corpse.

His heart and soul were now intertwined with the female corpse. Only a cultivator of vastly superior power could truly discern him, for his presence was masked by the Jade Corpse, a being whose own cultivation had already reached the nascent Void Shattering realm.

The divine sense paused briefly before moving on. Within a distant pavilion, Floating Wind’s eyes flashed with arcane light, his brow furrowed in concentration. As the tempest of spiritual power surged towards him, his eyes flickered with an unearthly gleam. He raised his left hand, forming a mystic sign, and pointed forth.

Instantly, the divine sense recoiled, drawn into a swirling vortex, followed by a booming laughter.

“I am feeling generous today, so I will give you a chance! Hand over that water-attributed woman and the lass called Zhao Xue, or else. These old bones matter to me!” The crude voice roared across Water Spirit Star, a peal of thunder that echoed through every corner, reverberating with the power of a thousand storms.

The voice was infused with potent spellcraft and the raw might of Situ Nan’s Void Shattering cultivation. The very utterance sent the Dust Dao Triad staggering backward, spitting crimson ichor.

First Dust, his face contorted with rage, roared, “Activate the Star Guardian Array!” He slammed his hand upon his storage ring. A black talisman flew forth.

At the same instant, Second Dust and Third Dust, their faces ashen, drew forth identical talismans.

All three threw their talismans skyward. The first talisman exploded, releasing a black wave that rippled outwards, swallowing the entirety of Water Spirit Star in its embrace.

As the first talisman shattered, the remaining two followed suit, their black waves spreading outward, forming a tri-layered shield of shimmering, inky energy around Water Spirit Star.

First Dust, though pale, remained composed, his inner thoughts running. “With Wang brother here on Water Spirit Star, I will see who dares to trespass!”

“Heh, heh!” Outside Water Spirit Star, Situ Nan grinned, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light. He had already sensed the presence of two nascent Void Shattering cultivators on the planet during his initial scan.

Even if they were unharmed, he would not fear them. With a long laugh, he flickered from the pleasure-bed and appeared outside Water Spirit Star.

“The more you resist, the more I revel in it! Ha! This time, I am here for my sworn brother’s pleasure, not my own. I stand upon the righteous path!”

Situ Nan, his eyes gleaming with strange power, raised his right hand. His index finger lanced forth!

“Annihilation!”

A vortex materialized above Situ Nan’s fingertip, spinning with ever-increasing ferocity. Sonic booms erupted, shaking the void as countless strands of universal power streamed towards it, drawn into its heart. The vortex became a blur, appearing stationary to the naked eye, yet its inner spin reached an impossible velocity.

“My last seclusion was dedicated to refining the Annihilation, Demonic Transformation, and Underworld Spring Fingers. Furthermore, the latter three fingers have also been improved upon. This pitiful Star Guardian Array will shatter within mere moments!” Situ Nan’s eyes flashed. He thrust his right index finger forward!

The vortex hurtled towards the array, colliding with the outermost layer of black light in an earth-shattering explosion. Windstorms raged outwards from the point of impact, but Situ Nan stood unmoving, while those around him were sent staggering.

The first layer of black light flickered violently, then shattered with a resounding boom. The freed energy was unleashed upon the second layer.

In that instant, Situ Nan did not hesitate. Once again he unleashed a finger. “One Finger to the Heavens, Annihilate the Cosmos!”
With a flick of his finger, a colossal vortex erupted into being. The celestial energies of the surrounding starscape, in a heartbeat, surged forth to coalesce around it, as if the vortex were a ravenous black hole, capable of devouring all power within the void.

Instantly, the vortex swelled to a diameter of ten fathoms, spinning with dizzying speed. Upon its churning surface, arcs of raw, crackling lightning danced and writhed, punctuating the silence with resounding booms.

Situ Nan, his eyes ablaze with an uncanny light, roared, “Obliteration Transformation!”

At this pronouncement, the thunderous booms within the ten-fathom vortex reached a fever pitch. The arcs of lightning twisted and warped into furious shapes. But these were mere trifles compared to the profound change that seized the celestial energies contained within!

Cultivators of the Purified Nirvana realm could absorb the primeval energies of heaven and earth into their divine abilities, but they merely absorbed them. After absorbing and condensing them, they would use them to attack. This attack was naturally much stronger than the Peeking Nirvana cultivators. The only way to describe this method of using the celestial energies of heaven and earth could be called the most basic method. To put it simply, there are only two words, one is “absorb” and the other is “condense!”

Yet, if one possessed a thorough understanding of the very fabric of existence, one could add a third: Transform!

Transformation, in essence, signified a qualitative leap. It was the ceaseless compression of the absorbed and condensed primordial energies, squeezing them down, and down, until they coalesced into a singular, strange power that shattered Nirvana cultivators whispered of as the power of ‘Rule!’

In truth, Wang Lin’s self-created ability, the Fragmented Night, was precisely of this terrifying variety! Such a power, born of Rule, was a rare sight in the hands of a Purified Nirvana cultivator, and virtually unheard of among those of Peeking Nirvana. Thus, it was no wonder Fu Fengzi was utterly astounded!

With Situ Nan’s bellow, the ten-fathom vortex before him began to shrink, its captive celestial energies squeezed ever tighter. It rapidly diminished, until it was no larger than a man’s palm. With a blink, it shot forth, a guided missile aimed straight for the star-warding array.

“Break, you blasted thing!” Situ Nan boomed, taking a stride forward, following in the wake of the whirling destruction. The vortex moved with impossible swiftness, nearing the second layer of the black light net in the blink of an eye. At its touch, the net thrashed and shimmered violently, and in moments, it twisted and contorted in time with the vortex’s spiraling path. Without resistance, it was utterly absorbed, devoured by the ravenous energies within.

Undaunted, the vortex plunged onward, striking the final layer of black light.

At the instant of impact, the barrier shuddered, then shattered in a deafening roar. The three layers of the star-warding array were utterly undone!

The vortex careened toward the Water Spirit Star, with Situ Nan hot on its heels, bellowing in riotous laughter, “Today, I seek concubines for my brother! Let any dare stand in my way, and I shall obliterate them!”

As Situ Nan and the vortex appeared above the Water Spirit Star, the Three Dust Elders spat forth blood. The warding array was linked to their very souls, and they were forced to retreat once more.

Behind Situ Nan, the maidens of the Crimson Dust Palace swiftly followed, filling the sky with their presence, wafting a perfumed air that could easily intoxicate. Bringing up the rear, the middle-aged guide’s face was flushed with fervor, his eyes burning with vindictive glee as he glared at the Three Dust Elders. “You three old codgers! You’re getting what you deserve!” he roared in his heart.

Elder Dust, his face grim, fixed his gaze upon the approaching Situ Nan. “Friend,” he rasped, “Your cultivation is formidable. Surely you are not a nameless vagrant.”

Situ Nan’s eyes widened, and he roared with laughter. “I am Situ Nan!”

“Situ, with such power, why trouble we three? Ling’er and Zhao Xue are but our juniors. We beg you, release them. The Three Dust Elders will compensate you handsomely!”

Situ Nan flicked a glance at the Elders, shaking his head. “I have women aplenty, and cauldrons to spare. I have no need of your juniors. But my brother is still young, a mere thousand-odd years. He’s got a bright future, and a strong back! I’m sure he’d be glad to have them. Don’t waste my time any further, you jabbering fools, or I’ll simply erase you all and take them by force!”

“Senior,” a voice called out, “Zhao Xue will go with you, but spare my sister!” Two streaks of light shot forth from the distant heavens, resolving into two women. One was Zhao Xue, her features sharp, as cold as ice. Beside her stood Ling’er, her face serene, betraying not a single ripple of emotion.

Situ Nan narrowed his eyes, raking Zhao Xue with his gaze. In his heart, he conceded that the rumors were true. This Zhao Xue was indeed a vision of icy beauty, a rare jewel fit to serve as a concubine.

Then, his gaze fell upon Ling’er. In that instant, his eyes widened with an intense, burgeoning interest.

“A true Water Spirit root!”

Zhao Xue, however, did not spare the middle-aged man beside Situ Nan even a glance. Her aloof pride was unmistakable.

Disregarding her plea, Situ Nan waved a sleeve, unleashing a monstrous gust of wind that swept Zhao Xue and Ling’er from the ground. “The women are mine!” he thundered.

With a triumphant flourish, he turned to depart.

The Three Dust Elders, their eyes burning with fury, watched in horror. Elder Dust especially, his heart was being torn asunder. Though Ling’er was merely his descendant, he had always cherished her as if she were his own daughter. The scene unfolding before him was akin to watching a villain snatch away his own child.

With gritted teeth, he turned toward the palace where Wang Lin resided and bowed deeply, his voice laced with grief and desperation. “Brother Wang, I beg you! Lend us your aid!”

Alas, at this critical juncture, Wang Lin’s mind was utterly consumed by the art of corpse refinement. In this most crucial moment, his divine sense was focused solely on the palace and its immediate surroundings. He could not afford to be distracted by events transpiring beyond. Even if he sensed the turmoil outside, he could not spare the attention it required.

Situ Nan had been ready to leave, but the utterance of “Brother Wang” sent a jolt through him. His steps faltered, his eyes glimmering with intrigue as he muttered, “A Wang?”

“What is the name of this Brother Wang you speak of?” Situ Nan turned to Elder Dust, but before the question could be answered, he shook his head. “Never mind. I believe I already know.”

Even as the words left his lips, he transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the palace where Wang Lin resided.

Had Situ Nan not veered toward Wang Lin’s abode, Fu Fengzi would not have intervened. He was still in the throes of healing, and would never have risked himself for the sake of the Three Dust Elders. But with Situ Nan drawing near Wang Lin’s sanctuary, Fu Fengzi hesitated, and knew he had no choice but to act!
Having cultivated to such heights, many a sorcerer held a detached view of worldly affairs. Yet, his encounters with Wang Lin stirred within Fufeng Zi a torrent of conflicting emotions. Twice spared by the man, ostensibly for his aid in the Demon Spirit Land, yet the fault lay squarely upon his own shoulders. Resentment held no place.

To stand idly by now, however, would be an unpardonable offense. With a glint in his eye, Fufeng Zi abandoned his healing and, with a flicker, vanished into the void. He materialized before Situ Nan, less than ten leagues from Wang Lin’s abode.

“Fellow cultivator,” Fufeng Zi intoned, his face a mask of composure, “since you have your quarry, it would be best to depart.”

Situ Nan’s gaze narrowed, yet his expression remained one of undisguised impatience. “You? Uninjured, you might have posed a challenge. Wounded as you are now, you are in no position to hinder me!” With these words, Situ Nan raised his right hand and unleashed a spell without hesitation.

The Finger of the Yellow Springs!

As the incantation left his lips, the heavens themselves seemed to weep. An aura of profound death, thick and palpable, instantly permeated the air. The Finger of the Yellow Springs, refined by Situ Nan, now possessed considerable might.

He had plumbed the depths of the Yellow Springs, drawing upon the life force within death’s domain. Thus, the Finger, amidst its suffocating aura of mortality, pulsed with a faint spark of vitality!

In this manner, Yin and Yang intertwined, manifesting as a deadly art. A whirlwind of deathly energy, shaped like a finger, sped towards Fufeng Zi.

Fufeng Zi swiftly formed a hand seal and clapped his palm, summoning forth a torrent of elemental energies. They surged before him, coalescing to meet the encroaching Finger of the Yellow Springs.

With a resounding crash, Fufeng Zi staggered back several paces. Yet, the Finger of the Yellow Springs remained unbroken, pursuing him relentlessly.

Situ Nan, his eyes glinting with contempt, uttered a low growl, “Yellow Springs, transform!”

At this command, the Finger of the Yellow Springs unleashed a furious roar. It rapidly contracted, emitting an aura of destruction that threatened to unmake all things.

Fufeng Zi’s face paled. Recognizing the extraordinary power contained within the spell, he retreated without a second thought.

Ignoring Fufeng Zi, Situ Nan strode towards Wang Lin’s palace. Ta Shan and Da Tou, attempting to bar his path, were swept aside by a tempestuous gale unleashed from Situ Nan’s sleeve. Da Tou was hurled backwards, while Ta Shan, his physique forged of celestial steel, stood his ground. He unleashed a thunderous punch!

The blow, exceeding the speed of sound, crashed towards Situ Nan.

Situ Nan, with a surprised exclamation, scrutinized Ta Shan. He extended a finger, and Ta Shan was sent reeling backwards.

“Intriguing! A nascent Nirvana, a peeking Nirvana, and a puppet with such resilience. He who commands such devotion must be worthy of my attention!”

With a hearty laugh, Situ Nan stepped within a hundred paces of the palace. Yet, the moment his foot touched the threshold, his expression faltered, becoming profoundly strange. His mouth agape, disbelief flickered in his eyes. For, the perception gleaned through arcane senses paled in comparison to the raw experience of standing before it.

Before Situ Nan could speak, a furious roar erupted from within the palace. Array after array of enchantments sprung forth, inundating the heavens, surging towards Situ Nan.

“By the abyss!” Situ Nan cursed under his breath. He recoiled, but the sheer number of enchantments proved overwhelming. They swirled around him, intent on sealing him away.

With a sigh, Situ Nan abandoned his retreat. He stretched out his arms, unleashing a vast vortex. It spun with incredible velocity, and as Situ Nan thrust his arms outwards, the vortex transformed into a concussive wave, ripping outwards in a blinding arc.

Each and every enchantment that met this wave shattered into dust. In an instant, all the arcane defenses were extinguished.

Situ Nan was about to speak when his countenance shifted abruptly. A piercing, feminine shriek echoed from within the palace, reverberating across the firmament. Even Situ Nan was forced to retreat.

In that instant, the palace doors burst open. A woman clad in silver, a specter wreathed in ethereal light, shot forth towards Situ Nan.

Situ Nan’s eyes narrowed. Retreating, he brandished his right hand, creating a shimmering ring of light. Uttering an incantation, he pointed, intoning, “Binding Immortal Ring!”

The ring, radiating violet light and imbued with potent elemental energies, flashed forth towards the spectral woman.

As Situ Nan spoke, the ring vanished momentarily, only to reappear around the woman’s body. It constricted, squeezing mercilessly!

In an instant, the single ring multiplied into two, then four, until countless rings were encircling the woman, binding her completely! The spectral woman, however, was no mere wraith. A pair of scissors appeared, whirling about her body, dissolving the rings layer by layer.

Capitalizing on the distraction, Situ Nan spat on the ground, muttering, “What an accursed predicament! A clash of forces! A tempestuous affair!” He crossed past the woman, heading for the palace.

As he approached, he formed a hand seal and pointed forward, laughing, “Partake of my Finger of Stillness!” As he unleashed the incantation, the phantom of a colossal mountain emerged behind him, its peak reaching the heavens. In a heartbeat, the mountain’s spectral image contracted, converging upon the tip of Situ Nan’s finger.

Finally, as the mountain vanished completely, the power of the Finger of Stillness reached its zenith. It was as if an entire mountain was hurtling forth!

Within the palace, a joyous peal of laughter resonated, accompanied by a roar of power that threatened to shatter the very earth.

The two forces collided with a cataclysmic explosion. The resulting shockwave swept outwards, obliterating the land for leagues around. A tempest of dust and debris swirled as Wang Lin’s palace was utterly destroyed.

Si Tu Nan recoiled, shock etching itself upon his features. With a surge, his form blurred into a streak of vibrant light, retreating a hundred paces before the incomprehensible force that had struck him finally dissipated. Even then, his right hand still trembled, numb from the blow.

“What sorcery is this?” he exclaimed, his voice laced with disbelief. “Such raw power, merely from flesh and bone, to shatter my Mountain Tremor technique and force me to retreat! When did this whelp become so formidable?” Excitement flashed in his eyes. With a resounding laugh, Si Tu Nan sprang forth, his right hand pointing skyward as he soared through the air. “That Mountain Tremor Finger was but a glimpse, a mere echo of a single mountain’s power. Now, witness the true might, the perfected version forged in the desolate wilds of a forgotten star!”

“Excellent!” Wang Lin’s booming laughter echoed from the ground. In a single stride, he was aloft, standing firm against the sky, his gaze fixed upon Si Tu Nan. A rare fire of anticipation, a flicker of brotherhood, burned within his eyes.

Si Tu Nan’s face broke into a grin, the underlying admiration and long-awaited joy of reunion betraying his playful facade.

They locked eyes across the airy expanse, a silent communion passing between them. No grand speeches were needed; a single glance resurrected the years of shared history, the unbreakable bond of brothers-in-arms.

The scenes of Vermillion Bird Star flooded their minds, a symphony of memories played out in unison.

“Mountain Tremor Finger!” Si Tu Nan roared, his right hand plunging down from above, aimed squarely at Wang Lin. The very planet of Water Spirit trembled at that instant, every mountain range shuddering in its ancient slumber. Spectral forms, the very souls of the mountains, rose ethereally, gathering in a whirlwind of arcane energy. In the blink of an eye, a breathtaking vista unfolded behind Si Tu Nan – a phantasmal mirage of countless peaks, each one a tangible illusion. The spirits of Water Spirit’s mountains, hundreds upon thousands strong, were drawn to his will, coalescing in a breathtaking display of power.

As his finger descended, these mountain souls pulsed with an immemorial power, coalescing into a single, unstoppable force of earth-shattering energy. The Mountain Tremor Finger, now infused with the collective spirit of the planet, hurtled towards Wang Lin with unrestrained fury.

This strike embodied the ultimate expression of the Mountain Tremor technique – the most potent spell born from the union of Water Spirit’s mountain souls.

The sheer might of the Mountain Tremor Finger ignited a strange fire within Wang Lin’s eyes. His laughter boomed forth as he raised his right hand, clenching it into a mighty fist. A deafening thunderclap reverberated through the heavens, as if Wang Lin had seized the very sky itself, crushing it within his grasp.