Wang Lin, seeking to invoke the Path of the Underworld to open a passage to the realm beyond the bottle, found his intent twisted. As the swirling vortex pulsed with demonic energy, the Underworld Path instead led to depths far more profound and terrifying! This dense miasma of dark magic, even a mere taste of it, sent Wang Lin stumbling back, his face grim with shock.

This was the first time he had attempted the Underworld Beckoning, and he never anticipated the gateway would lead him here.

Of all he had encountered in his life, only the scattering demon and the Sea of冥 approached such potent evil. Yet now, even they paled in comparison to the demonic aura emanating from this vortex! The essence here was pure, distilled to a terrifying degree, as if it were the progenitor of all dark magic, the ultimate embodiment of evil.

Beside it, the scattering demon and the Sea of冥 were like fireflies next to the brilliant moon! Especially the figure seated upon a throne in a majestic hall at the end of the passage, with a single glance he sent shivers down Wang Lin’s spine.

In that moment, the thunder of his own heart was all Wang Lin could hear. He didn’t hesitate to sever the Underworld Beckoning, causing the vortex to shudder, crack, and begin to collapse.

As it disintegrated, wraiths of those he had slain before emerged from the vortex, each one staring at Wang Lin with a burning hatred, their screams piercing. Their forms were distorted and stretched by the collapsing vortex, as though desperate to break free and devour him.

The figure on the throne slowly raised his head, a pair of dim eyes gradually piercing the mist and locking onto Wang Lin through the collapsing passage.

The moment those ancient eyes found their mark, a flash of emerald light sparked in Wang Lin’s right eye, and he recoiled without hesitation. A shield of emerald light materialized before him.

As the emerald shield formed, the figure on the throne slowly lifted a hand, and threw something directly toward the collapsing vortex! A yellow ray of light surged towards it. The ray burst through, causing the vortex to disintegrate entirely. As the ray pierced through the vortex, the wraiths who were still trying to break free were destroyed.

The yellow light emerged and struck the shield but passed through the emerald shield unheeded, coming to a halt only three inches from Wang Lin’s face.

The vortex had vanished, leaving the black tower in eerie silence.

Yet cold sweat streamed down Wang Lin’s face as he stared at the yellow light. So close, he could see it was an intricately cut crystal.

Stepping back, Wang Lin’s expression was a shifting mask of doubt. After a long pause, he reached out. The yellow crystal slowly floated into the palm of his hand.

“My Underworld Beckoning wasn’t flawed. It was intercepted by a powerful force that wrested control and opened a passage to some unknown realm!” With his sharp mind, understanding dawned upon Wang Lin.

“That force, without a doubt, belongs to the figure on the throne! The figure was shrouded in darkness, preventing me from seeing his face clearly. Their goal must be to send me this crystal!”

A flicker of comprehension crossed Wang Lin’s eyes, but his brow furrowed. The mysteries of the Immortal Emperor’s cave dwelling were deep and frustrating, forcing him to speculate rather than truly understand.

“Could that dark figure… be Qing Lin!” Wang Lin murmured to himself after a moment of consideration. “What is their purpose in sending me this crystal?”

He set the crystal aside without probing it with his spiritual sense, and instead retreated to a lotus position, focusing on his breathing.

His physical body had sustained injuries in the Black Sand Desert, and he had lost a substantial amount of blood. He still felt faint and the vital energy within him was running low.

As if that weren’t enough, his immortal force was nearly depleted.

“The immortal force gifted by Senior Brother Qing Shui has been exhausted in this accursed desert. I must replenish it swiftly. The battle here was one of the most perilous of my life.”

Remembering the梵天 spell cast by the Sea of冥, a shiver ran down his spine. He looked out towards the tower, where the endless flames continued to rage across the sky and land.

Even though he felt no heat within the tower, the sight of the flames writhing in the air was enough to render the horizon warped and blurred, as though everything would be consumed in moments.

“I wonder how Situ and the others are faring…” Wang Lin sighed. Trapped within the tower, surrounded by a sea of fire, it felt as though he was the last man alive in the world.

After a long while, the pills he had taken began to work. The pain in his body subsided, but the lack of vital energy continued to plague him. He slapped his storage bag, producing a ball of milky-white light.

Within the light, swirling essence of pure immortal energy churned.

“The primal essence of the XuanBao Heavenly Lord might finally have a purpose!” Wang Lin held the ball of light to his nose and inhaled deeply, drawing two streams of immortal energy from it and into his body.

Time passed slowly. Several days later, Wang Lin opened his eyes. His immortal force had been replenished. Understanding that excess could cause the dissolution of his Dao intent, Wang Lin kept a close watch on his levels.

His body was healing quickly thanks to his god-like physique. But he needed more vital energy.

In normal times, he would meditate and draw in vital energy from the surrounding area. However, this was the Black Sand Desert. The vital energy here was scarce, and tainted by the surrounding flames.

Wang Lin sat up, glancing at the yellow crystal nearby. He came to the tower threshold and looked out.

Flames continued to burn. Black smoke filled the sky above.

“I can’t study the crystal if my vital energy isn’t high enough. That means I can’t leave the tower.” Wang Lin had previously spread out his spiritual sense, but he found nothing of note.

After a long pause, Wang Lin abruptly stepped out of the tower! As his feet touched the ground, the nearby flames swirled around him.

A flash of determination crossed Wang Lin’s eyes. He reached out and grabbed a piece of the flame. He quickly retreated into the black tower.

The tower disappeared into the flames, but was left untouched as the fire dissipated a short while later.

Wang Lin sat on the ground. In his right hand was a seed of flame. The flame threatened to scorch his hand.

Wang Lin’s eyes turned bloodshot. He was caught between choosing the fire or certain death.

He became decisive! “This flame is dangerous, but I have calculated my chances, so it should work. It’s time to try it!”

Wang Lin moved his storage bag and formed a small formation. Then, he took the flame in his hand and swallowed it whole. The flame threatened to burn him to a crisp.

Wang Lin screamed. Fire spewed from his pores. His clothes turned to ash.

The pain was immense, but Wang Lin did not waver. The flame began to merge with the power of his soul.

“I have to merge it with my soul!”

Wang Lin began forming a set of hand seals.

With the armor gone, Wang Lin’s vital energy and the flame entered his soul!