With Wang Lin’s return, a fervent blaze ignited within the Soul Refining Tribe of the Fire Demon Prefecture. So great was his influence that the very name of Fire Demon Prefecture was erased from memory, replaced by Wang Lin’s decree, becoming the Soul Refining Sect! Within its borders dwelled millions of disciples, their souls bound to countless soul banners, an army of spirits beyond reckoning.

It could be said that even among the seven kingdoms of cultivation, the Soul Refining Sect possessed a power to be reckoned with. “Venerable Master Duntian,” Wang Lin murmured, gazing skyward, “the promise I made long ago, I have fulfilled.”

Though the techniques cultivated by his millions of disciples were incomplete, Wang Lin’s return brought forth a treasure trove of Soul Refining arts. However, he ensured that within these arts lay a fail-safe, a means by which he could, at a moment’s notice, reclaim the souls bound within, leaving the core essence unchanged.

As the Soul Refining Sect absorbed these teachings, a frenzy of cultivation swept through the tribe. Hesitantly, Wang Lin also unveiled the Nine Revolution Immortal Refining Art, taught to him by his fourth sister from the Sky Fortune Sect, declaring it the Sect’s first forbidden technique! When mastered, the spiraling energy produced by this art was devastating. Though it held no sway over Wang Lin himself, it was akin to divine magic for his disciples. Furthermore, after much deliberation, Wang Lin erected countless protective enchantments within the sect, and amidst the swirling sea of spirits, he ventured into the Vault of Hidden Treasures. This vault, sealed within his own flesh, required but a thought to access. Only once had he truly opened it since its acquisition, and that was before his foray into the Demon Spirit Land, when he had unleashed its power on Water Spirit Star to bestow a blessing upon Situ Nan. To this day, Wang Lin remembered Situ Nan’s jaw-dropped, incredulous expression upon witnessing the vault and understanding its significance in the Immortal Realm.

Such a display was a rarity for Situ Nan! Once recovered, his eyes blazed with a light brighter than the sun and moon, revealing the turmoil within his heart. Immortal arts were divided into lower, middle, and upper tiers, with the rarest being the perfect immortal arts. Even a complete lower tier art was enough to spark a cataclysm.

Most circulated arts were but fragments of their former glory, and the forbidden techniques derived from them paled in comparison to the genuine article.

Only great cultivators, those with unparalleled status and power, could obtain perfect immortal arts, but even they were exceptionally rare.

Perfect middle and upper tier arts were beyond imagining and would drive cultivators mad with desire! Even those who had reached the stage of Shattered Nirvana would be shaken to their very core! If they only knew that the vault’s deepest chamber contained the immortal arts of Immortal Emperor Bai Fan himself, they would surely lose their minds! After all, the Vault of Hidden Treasures held almost all of the immortal arts from the Thunder Immortal Realm! Beyond Bai Fan’s arts lay the techniques of Immortal Lords, a veritable treasure trove for those who had achieved Shattered Nirvana! If even they were so moved, what of the Purified Nirvana and Peering Nirvana cultivators? Thus, Wang Lin remained exceedingly cautious with the vault. During its opening on Water Spirit Star, Situ Nan had gained tremendous benefits. His ecstatic expression revealed that while his cultivation level remained unchanged, his immense talent, coupled with the wealth of immortal arts, made him a formidable force in the Demon Spirit Land.

During that brief opening, Wang Lin had chosen a middle tier art known as Spirit Nurturing. After comprehending it, he offered it in exchange for the Dust Dao Trio’s agreement to enter the Demon Spirit Land, a decision they made with barely concealed eagerness. Now, within the vault, Wang Lin searched and selected four lower tier immortal arts. The Soul Refining Sect’s disciples, with their distorted cultivation and reliance on soul banners, had mastery over spirits but lacked in other areas.

Therefore, Wang Lin focused on arts related to the soul. Still, the disciples could not directly cultivate these arts. Wang Lin, using the immortal arts as a foundation, dissected them into countless forbidden techniques before distributing them.

As for Ouyang Hua, Wang Lin did not hesitate to bestow upon him a complete lower tier immortal art known as Soul Refining Ascension, a reward for his centuries of service.

It wasn’t that Wang Lin refused to grant him a middle tier art, but Ouyang Hua’s cultivation was even more warped. His ninety-nine soul banners allowed him to challenge formidable foes, but without them, he was significantly weakened.

The Soul Refining Ascension art, even in its entirety, would be difficult for Ouyang Hua to master. As for Thirteen, Wang Lin spared no expense. He traveled to the Immortal Mansion via the Immortal Abode Jade Slip, found Lei Ji among those attempting to break the enchantments, and extracted a significant amount of blood directly from him before immediately returning.

Bathing Thirteen’s body in the blood of the Lei Ji giant demon royal family triggered a rapid and painful transformation. The excruciating torment was unbearable, yet Thirteen gritted his teeth and persevered.

Finally, with a moment of hesitation, Wang Lin’s eyes glinted. He applied a few drops of his own royal Ancient God blood to Thirteen’s brow. In that instant, Thirteen’s body trembled violently, unable to withstand the agonizing pain that seemed to devour him from the inside out.

After undergoing this series of trials, Thirteen, reborn through pain, emanated an aura of demonic power. His physical strength rivaled even those in the later stages of Ascendant, and his potential was limitless! Still, it wasn’t enough. Wang Lin retrieved numerous magical treasures from his storage bag, melting them down and infusing them into Thirteen’s body using techniques reminiscent of creating an Immortal Guard, yet without harming Thirteen’s soul.

Under unimaginable agony, Thirteen, fueled by his loyalty and zeal for Wang Lin, endured. His body, now fused with countless treasures, reached the realm of a silver-corpse Immortal Guard, capable of withstanding attacks from Yin Void cultivators! Yet, unlike a typical Immortal Guard, Thirteen retained his consciousness.

After all, Wang Lin would never use Thirteen to create a mere Immortal Guard! He held deep affection for Thirteen, having watched him grow. In Wang Lin’s heart, he had two disciples: Thirteen, his first, and Xie Qing, his second, who was far away in Luo Tian. Wang Lin would not be stingy with his disciples, especially one so loyal. From the Vault of Hidden Treasures, he selected a complete middle tier immortal art called Immortal Soul, disassembling it into three stages and imparting them to Thirteen! If Thirteen followed the path diligently, he would eventually master the Immortal Soul art. Beyond Thirteen and Ouyang Hua, several leading figures were also permitted to study the forbidden techniques Wang Lin had prepared specifically for the Soul Refining Sect.

Wang Lin did not involve himself too deeply in the Soul Refining Sect’s affairs, allowing it to develop on its own. After bestowing spells and techniques, he opened his storage bag, revealing the immense collection of magical treasures he had accumulated over the years. He brought out countless flying swords and magical artifacts, establishing a Treasure Pavilion within the Soul Refining Sect.

He entrusted Ouyang Hua and others with managing the pavilion, rewarding disciples who contributed to the Sect’s growth.

Having completed these tasks, Wang Lin finally settled a long-held desire. Alone, without allowing anyone to follow, he approached the black stone statue.

The statue had been moved to a valley behind the Fire Demon capital’s palace. Wang Lin knew this valley well. It was here that he had released the Ancient Demon Bellows, allowing it to consume the Fire Demon Spirit.

The valley remained unchanged, just as it had been centuries ago. Standing there, Wang Lin felt a sense of unreality, as if he had truly returned to the past.

But now, instead of the statue that once housed the Ancient Demon Spirit, stood a black stone effigy, carved in his own image.

Gazing at the statue, Wang Lin had the unsettling feeling that it was staring back at him, as if it had come to life.

“Why is this happening…?” Wang Lin’s eyes flashed. He had inquired about the statue with Thirteen, learning that it was merely an ordinary stone carved by Thirteen and others from memory.

Initially, only those who had seen Wang Lin could vaguely recognize the resemblance, as Thirteen and the others were not skilled artisans.

The statue was crude and unrefined, and Thirteen and Ouyang Hua were at a loss. They carved it solely to honor the Patriarch, to make the statue a symbol of the Soul Refining Tribe, like the Ancient Demon Spirit had been in the Demon Spirit Land.

But strangely, as time passed, as the Soul Refining Tribe grew in number, and as countless individuals paid homage to it, the statue gradually became smoother. To Thirteen and the others’ disbelief, the rough edges vanished, and the statue’s appearance slowly began to transform.

Over the centuries, the statue, which had initially bore only a slight resemblance to Wang Lin, had become almost identical! Even the vicissitudes of his thousand years of cultivation were etched upon its surface.

This phenomenon bewildered Thirteen and Ouyang Hua, who could only attribute it to a manifestation of the Patriarch’s power! The statue sparked a rare curiosity within Wang Lin. He was not one to be easily intrigued, but now, he felt an undeniable urge to understand the truth behind it.

After all, the statue was too uncanny.

Wang Lin furrowed his brow and slowly stepped forward, approaching the statue. He gazed into its eyes, and as he focused his divine sense, his expression changed. The sensation that the statue was also staring at him became incredibly clear.

Though the joyous cheers of the Soul Refining Tribe echoed in the distance, at this moment, Wang Lin felt as if the world was utterly silent. Everything seemed to fade away, leaving only him and the statue! A cold glint flashed in Wang Lin’s eyes. He raised his right index finger and slowly lowered it towards the statue’s brow!