Chapter 3050: The World in Uproar |
What to do? There was no doubt that this was a thorny dilemma. Gaoyang Huai and Jiang Tao exchanged a glance, their brows knitting tightly. After witnessing the annihilation of the Ji Clan, how could they dare underestimate Lin Xun any longer?
In truth, hesitation had already crept into their hearts! Why provoke someone who possessed the tyrannical power to wipe out an entire divine clan overnight? However, the words carved upon the stele made one thing painfully clear: even if they chose to retreat now, Lin Xun would still come knocking on their doors one month later.
When that time came, the consequences would be unthinkable.
“This action is being carried out in accordance with the will of the supreme ruler behind the epochal calamities. We absolutely cannot abandon it halfway!” After a long silence, Gaoyang Huai drew a deep breath, determination flashing in his eyes as he spoke in a firm voice. “Moreover, Lin Xun has already erected a stele and declared war. If we retreat now, wouldn’t we become a laughingstock before all under heaven?”
The words sounded lofty and righteous, but everyone present understood the truth. Gaoyang Huai’s decision was born out of sheer necessity. Of course, no one would expose this fact. Because they all knew that there was no room left to retreat!
Jiang Tao nodded slowly and spoke in a deep voice, “Indeed, we cannot let this matter end here. Lin Xun’s strength may be enough to wipe out the Ji Clan, but do not forget that this is the Fortune Dominion. There are hundreds of epochal civilizations here, and no fewer than thirty-three of them are guarded by Eternal Realm figures. If they unite, destroying Lin Xun is by no means impossible.”
The crowd was stunned for a moment before their eyes gradually began to brighten. As expected, the older the fox, the craftier it was. If the Gaoyang and Jiang Clans confronted Lin Xun alone, they would inevitably suffer devastating losses. On the other hand, if they united with other forces, the combined strength would become terrifying beyond imagination, while the cost could be spread among them.
More importantly, given the influence and standing of the Gaoyang and Jiang Clans, rallying the Eternal Realm figures of the various divine clans was no difficult task.
“Brother Jiang has said exactly what I was thinking.” Gaoyang Huai said, his spirit lifting. “Everyone, do not forget, this is the Fortune Dominion, a land enveloped by the principle powers of the supreme ruler behind the epochal calamity. We are acting in accordance with that supreme being’s will. I refuse to believe that the supreme ruler would tolerate Lin Xun’s continued rampage!”
Jiang Tao’s eyes flashed. He glanced at Gaoyang Huai and said with a trace of excitement in his voice, “Fellow Daoist’s words have awakened me. In my view, this matter must not be delayed. We must act at once.”
“Good!” Gaoyang Huai nodded decisively. Without further hesitation, the two led their clansmen away, returning to their respective clans to set their plans in motion.
Three days later, all the epochal worlds of the Fortune Dominion were plunged into turmoil. The Gaoyang and Jiang Clan jointly issued an edict to all under heaven, ordering every force to gather at Fortune Divine City in ten days to exterminate Lin Xun!
The news sent shockwaves through the world.
“The Divine Yan, Liangqiu, and Ying Clans have all declared their full support!”
“The Divine Pu Clan has also announced that it will arrive outside Fortune Divine City in ten days!”
“The Divine Chu Clan…”
In a short time, divine clans across the world voiced their stances one after another. Throughout the many epochal civilizations, Eternal figures declared their intent to act alongside the Gaoyang and Jiang Clans, triggering massive upheaval across every realm. All under heaven was thrown into an uproar.
“Lin Xun! Who would have imagined that his return after so many years would stir up such a colossal storm?”
“It’s said he annihilated the Divine Ji Clan in a single night and openly declared war on the Gaoyang and Jiang Clans. That alone was enough to enrage all the divine clans. Now, he has become the focus of universal hostility.”
“But it must be admitted that Lin Xun is truly a ruthless figure. His strength has grown to such a degree that even the divine clans cannot help but feel fear?”
“The world…is about to fall into chaos!”
Voices like these spread without pause. The Fortune Dominion encompassed hundreds of epochal civilizations, yet in three short days, all of them were shaken by this single event. Lin Xun’s name swept across the world like wildfire within those three days, becoming known to cultivators of every epochal civilization.
“If Lin Xun could overturn the Ji Clan, then his power must already be enough to suppress Creation Eternal beings. And don’t forget, he once comprehended the profound secrets of Fortune Divine City and became its lord. Even if all the divine clans join forces against him, the price they would have to pay would be unimaginably severe.”
“Speculation is pointless now. In ten days, everything will be revealed!”
……
Three days earlier…
Lin Xun, together with Lin Fan and Su Bai, traversed the starry sky. Half a day later, they finally arrived before Fortune Divine City.
“What a grand and magnificent city!” Lin Fan couldn’t help but exclaim as the colossal divine city appeared in the distance, standing tall amid the boundless cosmos. The city’s majesty was peerless. It was so vast and resplendent that even the surrounding stars seemed insignificant in its presence.
Su Bai’s eyes shone brightly. On the journey here, he and Lin Fan had already learned of the city’s origin from Lin Xun, but witnessing it with their own eyes was an entirely different experience.
Lin Xun’s gaze lifted toward the heights above Fortune Divine City, where a vast, chaotic curtain of obscure light blanketed the sky. Within it, a mysterious treasure could be faintly discerned, rising and sinking as it hovered, its form resembling a dark tortoise shell.
The Precious River Map! This was a priceless relic left behind by Chen Linkong’s grandfather. Thanks to the protection of this treasure, cultivators could prove the dao and transcend tribulations within the city, without fear of the Great Silence Unlife Calamity.
Naturally, the city’s laws and principles suppressed the power of all cultivators. Any Eternal Realm figure who dared approach would be struck down and forcibly repelled. Even Immortal-level beings could only enter by forcibly suppressing their cultivation down to the level of a supreme Emperor Ancestor.
All of this meant that unless Lin Xun, the master of the city, granted permission, no Eternals had any chance of evading the slaughter of the Great Silence Unlife Calamity within the city.
Back then, after Lin Xun departed, many sages of the Ancient Wasteland Alliance, such as Mo Yang and Xingjia, remained behind the city. One purpose was to evade the ravages of the Great Silence Unlife Calamity, and the other was to comprehend the power of the Fortune Origin. In this way, they could prove the dao and break through their realms within the city.
“Let’s go.”
Lin Xun stepped forward, leading Lin Fan and Su Bai into the city. As the lord of Fortune Divine City, he was naturally untouched by the suppression of its laws.
The moment he entered, scenes from every district of the vast divine city unfolded within his consciousness with perfect clarity. At that instant, he clearly sensed the law power belonging to the city itself!
It was like invisible air, omnipresent, permeating every inch of the city, unfathomably profound, and brimming with mysteries beyond imagination. Back when Lin Xun was still at the Heavenly Longevity Immortal Stage, he had been able to faintly sense the city’s power, yet he was utterly incapable of understanding or comprehending it.
Now, everything was different. With a single thought, countless wondrous dao auras surged into his mind like roaring tidal waves, so overwhelming that he felt an almost irresistible urge to sit down and cultivate on the spot.
In the end, he restrained himself. Having just returned, he wished to meet his old friends first.
“They’re cultivating in the depths of the Fortune Starry Firmament…”
Before long, Lin Xun sensed the familiar auras of Battle Emperor Mo Yang and Saint Buddha Xingjia. Without hesitation, he sped through the air with Lin Fan and Su Bai. Moments later, they arrived at the Fortune Starry Firmament.
This was an incomparably vast plain, utterly barren and devoid of vegetation. The ground was solid and unyielding, paved with layers of black divine stone. Above it, the firmament was studded with countless radiant stars, each exuding a distinct great dao aura, floating silently like heavenly lanterns as they cast down varied streams of dao radiance that suffused the vast heaven and earth.
This Fortune Starry Firmament had been created by Chen Xi, the grandfather of Chen Linkong. It incorporated the cultivation systems of more than a hundred epochs into a single starry cosmos, left behind without reservation for future generations to observe and comprehend.
Back then, it was here that Lin Xun grasped the ultimate mystery of the Fortune Starry Firmament, thus becoming the master who governed Fortune Divine City! Just as in the past, many figures were seated cross-legged throughout this region, immersed in meditation as they comprehended the cultivation power contained within the Fortune Starry Firmament.
Some frowned in deep contemplation, some sat motionless like statues, some were radiant with excitement and others stared blankly, lost in a daze…
The sight stirred a strong sense of curiosity in Lin Fan and Su Bai. Seeing this, Lin Xun said at once, “You can meditate here and gain insight into the cultivation systems of different epochal civilizations. It will be of great benefit to your future cultivation.”
The two agreed without hesitation. Meanwhile, Lin Xun continued deeper into the region. The farther he went, the fewer cultivators he encountered, until at last, only around twenty figures remained, seated alone in that vast and silent expanse.
The moment Lin Xun arrived, every one of them sensed his presence and opened their eyes.
“Look who’s here.”
“Haha! No wonder I felt restless today. So it’s our young friend.”
“Lin Xun, when did you return?”
Voices rang out as figures rose one after another, smiling as they stepped forward. At the forefront were none other than Battle Emperor Mo Yang, Saint Buddha Xingjia, and Dragon Elephant Battle Emperor, all with widening expressions of surprise and delight.
“Greetings, elders.” Lin Xun smiled and cupped his hands in greeting. After such a long separation, the reunion naturally filled him with joy.
“Eh? You’ve already attained eternity?” Mo Yang was the first to notice the change in Lin Xun’s aura, a hint of astonishment flashing across her expression. At once, the others realized it as well. Each of them paused for a moment, disbelief evident on their faces.
They clearly remembered that when Lin Xun left Fortune Divine City, he was nothing more than a Heavenly Longevity Immortal. Now, in less than a hundred years, he had already set foot on the Eternal Path!
Such a terrifying rate of advancement stunned even these seasoned veterans, each of them wearing a different expression.
“Come, sit down,” Mo Yang said with a smile. “Tell us what you’ve experienced over the years, and how you managed to attain eternal enlightenment.”
“Indeed, indeed. Since we are finally reunited with our little friend after so long, we should talk over drinks. That would be far more satisfying. What do you all think?” someone proposed
The others laughed and nodded in agreement.