2011-2019

Chapter 2011 - The Bell Rings on Top of Mount Gu Dao

In the land of the Ancient Dao, the restriction valley hidden inside the mountains, the pool in the plain, and the huge underground burial ground were three places containing great fortune. Xuan Luo had prepared these three places for his disciple, for Wang Lin.

In the mountains stood Wang Lin and Xuan Luo's figures. Their figures also appeared outside the pool and inside the burial ground.

The pool on the plain contained powerful killing intent, and Wang Lin immersed himself inside for three months!

Xuan Luo stayed outside the pool the whole time. While protecting Wang Lin, he also silently looked at his disciple and revealed a kind smile.

The cliffs of the valley were engraved with runes, and each contained restrictions. As the years passed, the valley slowly became a famous place in the Ancient Dao: the prestigious Restriction Valley!

Ordinary people couldn't enter as this place had been sealed by Xuan Luo hundreds of years ago. It became a place he especially prepared for his disciple to comprehend the restriction essence.

Wang Lin comprehended for three months inside the Restriction Valley.

There was another very mysterious place in the Ancient Dao. It was an underground burial ground. No bodies were buried here, but it was filled with abandoned treasures. They were useless and had no value, but at an unknown time, someone had buried them here like a sacrifice.

Due to the existence of the treasures, this area was enveloped in the power of the five elements. This aura had become more and more dense until the aura of essences began to appear.

Wang Lin also sat in this burial ground for three months. He was unwilling, but he decisively stopped absorbing the five elements essences and left with Xuan Luo.

In the Ancient Shi, Wang Lin saw the Grand Empyrean of the Ancient Shi. He went to three places to cultivate and comprehend. This lasted for five months.

In the Ancient Ji, Wang Lin didn't see the Grand Empyrean but went to various places across the 12 countries to comprehend for nearly half a year.

In a flash, from when Wang Lin and Xuan Luo left the Ancient Dao imperial city, it had been one and a half years.

In this one and a half year period, Wang Lin faced no danger and didn't have to struggle between life or death. He just had to absorb essences and increase his cultivation level.

He didn't have to think too much, as everything was taken care of by his teacher, Xuan Luo!

Wang Lin could feel that Xuan Luo was really treating him as a direct disciple without any schemes. The warm gaze Xuan Luo gave him when he cultivated felt like home.

Wang Lin hadn't experienced this much in his life, but the more rare it was, the more he cherished it. He cherished this time, he cherished Xuan Luo as his teacher, and he cherished these rare moments of happiness in his life.

In his heart, he wanted times like these to continue forever. Wang Lin could even ignore the suppression from the Ancient Dao Emperor.

"Teacher has treated me this well… I must protect the Ancient Dao…" Wang Lin said in his heart once more.

He cared a lot about his relationships. Xuan Luo had helped him in the cave world and was his teacher. He saw all of it and remembered it in his heart.

He didn't want to disappoint Xuan Luo.

One and half years of travel ended this way. After the two had gone through most of the Ancient clan, Wang Lin and Xuan Luo arrived at Mount Gu Dao!

Mount Gu Dao was the intersection of the three ancient clans and where Grand Empyrean Gu Dao was!

This mountain was also referred to as the holy mountain and holy land. All of this was because of Grand Empyrean Gu Dao.

Below Mount Gu Dao, even Xuan Lou became respectful. He didn't fly or teleport up, but walked up the this holy mountain like a mortal with Wang Lin.

These steps seemed to lead to the sky and were covered by clouds. One could not see the end, but a vague shadow could be made out.

At the bottom of the mountain, Xuan Luo walked in front and kindly looked back at Wang Lin. "If Grand Empyrean Gu Dao sees you, remember to be respectful. Grand Empyrean Gu Dao is a senior, and even Teacher has to bow to him."

"Teacher, rest assured, Disciple understands." Wang Lin's expression was serious and his heart felt warm. Along the way, Xuan Luo had admonished him a lot like a real old man who was worried about his descendant making a mistake. Even though Xuan Luo had the appearance of a young man and didn't look much older than Wang Lin.

"Grand Empyrean Gu Dao is someone who came from the same era as the Ancient Ancestor and is also the guardian of the Ancient clan. If he didn't exist, I fear my Ancient clan would have been devoured by the celestial clan and would no longer exist." Xuan Luo looked up at Mount Gu Dao with respect coming from his heart.

"When Disciple was at the celestial clan, I saw some descriptions of Grand Empyrean Gu Dao in some books. They said that Grand Empyrean Gu Dao's cultivation level is higher than that of other Grand Empyreans and is the only one who has killed multiple Grand Empyreans. Disciple respects such a powerful person." Wang Lin walked up the steps and looked at the top of the mountain.

"Even Teacher doesn't know what Grand Empyrean Gu Dao's real cultivation level is, but before him, Teacher found the feeling of being a mortal…" Xuan Luo shook his head and sighed.

"Aside from Grand Empyreans, Senior Gu Dao won't casually summon anyone. Only when a new generation of ancient emperor is selected will they be summoned here." Xuan Luo silently walked up the steps, feeling a little uneasy.

"I wonder if Grand Empyrean Gu Dao will meet Wang Lin now that I have brought him here. I had reported to Senior Gu Dao about Wang Lin obtaining 10 drops of ancestral blood and the 10th drop being a drop of soul blood. Grand Empyrean Gu Dao should meet my disciple." Xuan Luo was silent as they walked up. The closer he got to the top, the more uneasy he felt.

"If Grand Empyrean Gu Dao summons Wang Lin, then the matter of Wang Lin being the guardian of the Ancient Dao will be smooth. With the recognition of Gu Dao, Wang Lin's status in the Ancient Dao will rise. No matter how much Ye Dao hates Wang Lin, he wouldn't dare to say more.

"However, if Grand Empyrean Gu Dao doesn't summon him…" Xuan Luo sighed. In truth, he had brought Wang Lin here at the risk of making Gu Dao angry. He had brought Wang Lin here without a summon.

He had done all this for the Ancient Dao and also for his disciple to protect the Ancient Dao without suffering humiliation.

One side was the clan he had protected his entire life, and the other was the disciple he was very satisfied with and viewed as his own descendent. Xuan Luo wanted to keep the two sides at a balance.

Wang Lin followed Xuan Luo and looked at Xuan Luo's back. This back was not tall, but it made Wang Lin feel a rare sense of warmth. This warmth had accompanied him for a year and half.

"I feel no sense of belonging to the Ancient clan. I came here for Teacher Xuan Luo and I'll protect the Ancient Dao for Teacher Xuan Luo…" Wang Lin silently walked.

Their steps were silent, as if mixing in with the silence of the mountain. When they got close to the peak of the mountain, Wang Lin saw a tower!

This tower had nine layers and there were four huge pillars tied to it with chains. There were a lot of bells hanging on the chains, and when Wang Lin and Xuan Luo got close, the bells gave off crisp sounds.

These sounds were very pleasant to hear, and when they entered one's mind, their mind would become clear. It would even make the ancient power inside their body cycle faster.

Standing here, Wang Lin's face became slightly pale. He clearly felt that his cultivation was being suppressed. However, his ancient power was only not suppressed, but was filled with vitality.

The suppressed cultivation and essences made Wang Lin feel like he was holding up several mountains. It made him feel a bit breathless, but he gritted his teeth and stood behind Xuan Luo.

There were four people sitting on the four huge pillars. They were middle-aged and very thin, wearing grey robes. Their robes fluttered with the wind, but their eyes remained closed.

Not even Xuan Luo's arrival would make the four of them open their eyes.

Wang Lin's face was pale and his gaze swept past the four of them. He was a bit shocked. The four of them looked like mortals without any ancient power inside them.

"Junior Xuan Luo requests to meet Grand Empyrean Gu Dao." Xuan Luo clasped his hands and bowed at the tower.

Wang Lin also clasped his hands and bowed behind Xuan Luo.

The surroundings were completely silent. Only the sounds of wind and bells echoed. They didn't stop and the sounds revealed a strange force. This suppressed Wang Lin's essences and cultivation even more, causing cold sweat to appear on his forehead.

After a long time, the door on the first floor silently opened and a person walked out. This person was a bald young man wearing the same grey robe. After he walked out, he bowed at Xuan Luo.

"Lord Gu is still on a mental journey. Grand Empyrean Xuan Luo, please wait for a moment." The young man had a respectful attitude.

"No problem, I'll wait here." Xuan Luo didn't mind at all as he smiled and nodded.

The young man looked a Wang Lin, and after withdrawing his gaze, he bowed at Xuan Luo once more. He returned back into the tower and the door slowly closed.

Time slowly passed. In a flash, three days went by. During these three days, Xuan Luo had stood there without any impatience and was as respectful as he was at the beginning. Wang Lin stood behind Xuan Luo. These three days felt like three years to him, like 300 years!

Because the sounds of the bells were continuously echoing in Wang Lin's mind as if they wanted to melt his celestial cultivation and all his essences.

They seemed to force him to scatter his essences and cultivation so that only the power of the Ancient clan would remain in his body, to allow the drop of soul blood in his body to spread through his whole body.

Chapter 2012 - A Step Up the Mountain!

Xuan Luo was calmly standing there, but he began to struggle in his heart. He knew that this was Grand Empyrean Gu Dao being dissatisfied with him and making him wait outside.

He also knew that the source of this dissatisfaction was became his disciple, Wang Lin, had celestial cultivation and essences!

Grand Empyrean Gu Dao was someone who upheld tradition. He cared about the bloodline of the Ancient Ancestor, he cared about the generations of ancient emperors, and he also cared about the Ancient Ancestor's bloodline!

But he obviously could not allow someone who had the soul blood to also contain the aura of the celestial clan.

Wang Lin's body trembled. During the three days of time, the sounds of the bells entered his mind and rumbled. They suppressed his cultivation and tried to erase it.

"Whether it is the power of the Ancients or the celestials, they both belong to me and were obtained through my hard work. I refuse to lose my celestial cultivation!" Wang Lin's eyes were bloodshot. His determination was firm and he continued to struggle against the bells!

The celestial power inside his body continued to attack in an attempt to scatter the bell sounds in his mind.

As Wang Lin's body trembled violently, Xuan Luo's eyes lit up. He turned around and raised his hand to help Wang Lin resist the bells. After all, Wang Lin was his disciple!

But just as Xuan Luo turned around, the door to the tower opened once more and the young man walked out.

"Grand Empyrean Xuan Luo, Ancestor Gu is summoning you."

Xuan Luo paused for a moment and then silently pondered for a long time. With his right hand still pointed at Wang Lin, he turned toward the tower. The young man looked at Wang Lin profoundly before going back into the tower and closing the door.

Xuan Luo's point had caused Wang Lin's heart to suddenly rumble. This aura made Wang Lin feel warmth inside his body. It didn't suppress his cultivation but resisted the sound of the bells inside his body.

It allowed Wang Lin's cultivation and essences to relax a bit. His cultivation and essences quickly gathered. As Xuan Luo's power permeated and the sound of the bells canceled out, they gradually faded after an unknown amount of time. Wang Lin's cultivation and essences were rapidly cycling through his body when the bells began to move once more without any wind and another wave of sounds rushed into Wang Lin's mind.

They began another confrontation with Wang Lin's cultivation and essences.

Wang Lin coughed out a mouthful of blood and his body trembled. He retreated back down the steps from the top of the mountain.

"Dissipate your celestial cultivation, erase your essences, forget the memories of your past, awaken the inheritance of your bloodline… After that, I'll grant you the title of guardian of the Ancient Dao and Grand Empyrean cultivation!" A cold and ancient voice echoed in Wang Lin's heart along with the bells.

Wang Lin suddenly looked up.

His eyes were bloodshot and his cultivation suddenly activated. Along with his ancient power, he reached the peak of his cultivation.

"I don't have have any celestial clan cultivation, what I have is my own strength that I obtained over my 3,000 years of life! What right do you have to make me dissipate it?!" Wang Lin roared and the bell sounds inside his body erupted. They collided with his cultivation and he coughed out a mouthful of blood. He continued to retreat as if something was pushing him, until he was standing on the middle of the mountain.

"My essences are my perceptions of life. They are the fruits of my life's struggle. What right do you have to make me dissipate them!?" Wang Lin looked up and his eyes became even more bloodshot. He let out a roar of life.

As he roared, Wang Lin coughed out a third mouthful of blood. His body trembled as the sound of the bells collided with his cultivation once more. He retreated to the foot of the mountain. There were only 19 steps behind him!

"My memories are even more important than my cultivation, my essences, my bloodline, and the Grand Empyrean power you can give me! I live for my memories. What right do you have to make it forget them?!" Wang Lin let out his strongest roar. The bell sounds inside his body roared as if they had exploded.

Wang Lin coughed out the fourth mouthful of blood and retreated back 18 steps. At the last step, Wang Lin's right foot stepped down with a bang and he forced himself to stop there.

Looking up, his eyes were bloodshot and his expression was fierce, but the power of the bells inside his body was being completely suppressed by him. With the power of the bells suppressed, Wang Lin's cultivation erupted. His hair suddenly turned half black and half white, and behind him, the outline of a Grand Empyrean sun appeared!

This Grand Empyrean sun was also half black and half white. It gave off a strange light and allowed Wang Lin to display his strongest strength, strength comparable to a Grand Empyrean!

The moment Wang Lin's Grand Empyrean sun appeared, the sky above Mount Gu Dao changed!

An indifferent voice came from the tower in the sky and echoed throughout the world. "Mount Gu Dao has a total of 999 steps. If you can get through 300, I can spare your sin of disrespect!"

At the top of the tower sat a figure covered in fog, and before him was Xuan Luo.

"Senior Gu Dao…" Xuan Luo became anxious.

"I don't recognize your disciple!" An indifferent voice came from the shadow covered by the fog.

"But since you've brought him here, if he can walk up 300 steps, I'll let you take him away. However, I won't help awaken that drop of soul blood inside his body.

"As for protecting the Ancient Dao… Since you chose him, then he will do. However, from now on, he can't leave the Ancient clan; otherwise, I'll act." The words from the figure were cold and contained no emotion.

Xuan Luo had a bitter expression. He had brought Wang Lin here with good intentions, but he hadn't expected Gu Dao to say such things. He silently pondered before he revealed a decisive gaze and clasped his hands at the figure inside the fog.

The figure inside the fog slowly said, "If he can't pass 300 steps, he needs to stay."

Xuan Luo silently pondered.

Wang Lin stood at the bottom of Mount Gu Dao and looked up. He knew that his teacher was up there and perhaps was watching him.

"Wang Lin, use your strongest cultivation and walk past 300 steps! Let Grand Empyrean Gu Dao see if my disciple is worthy!" Xuan Luo's voice came from the top of the mountain and contained a hint of anger.

This was Xuan Luo's anger. He had said these words at the top of the power and completely ignored Gud Dao who was next to him.

Xuan Luo's looked at the figure inside the fog and said, "I brought him out of the cave world and led him here. The only way I won't take him away is if I die!" His back was straight and he no longer bowed.

The figure inside the fog didn't speak. The top of the tower was completely silent.

Xuan Luo had special feelings toward Wang Lin. He had watched Wang Lin struggle inside the cave world and had witnessed Wang Lin's persistence and decisiveness. He had even seen Wang Lin's feelings for the woman called Wan Er.

Xuan Luo could not forget the tears and reminiscence Wang Lin had for his wife in the cave world.

This made him think about himself and his own past. Even what Wang Lin had experienced in the celestial clan made Xuan Luo think of himself. It was as if their histories had overlapped.

Wang Lin was standing on the first step when his teacher's words echoed in his ears. His eyes revealed a decisive gaze. He didn't like Mount Gu Dao and he would never respect Grand Empyrean Gu Dao again!

"In this world, the strong control the fate of the weak… Grand Empyrean Gu Dao's cultivation is strong and he is the strongest person on the Immortal Astral Continent, so he can impose his will on me… but one day, if I, Wang Lin, become strong and replace Gu Dao, I'll be the heavens!" Wang Lin's eyes lit up and the outline of the Grand Empyrean sun behind him shined. The light fused with his body and made him seem taller.

He suddenly raised his foot and stepped forward!

This step was Wang Lin's first resistance against the Ancient clan! This was the first defiant action he had taken against the Ancient clan. This was the first crack in his relationship with the Ancient clan!

He originally intended to stay in the Ancient clan due to his teacher's grace. He was willing to endure kneeling to the Ancient Dao Emperor and endure the helplessness of not being accustomed to the imperial power of the Ancient clan.

However, even though he would still endure, now there was a crack between him and the Ancient clan. Perhaps, if nothing else happened, this crack would slowly heal due to Xuan Luo…

But…

This chance completely disappeared as an important event was taking inside the Ancient Dao imperial city!

Inside the palace of the Ancient Dao imperial city, the Ancient Dao Emperor was sitting on his throne. Before him were three old men in purple, and they were kneeling in excitement.

"Your Majesty, for hundreds of years, we have searched for countless women to fuse with the soul, but none of them could do it. There was great rejection and they could not nourish the soul at all.

"But now there is a woman who has successfully fused with the soul!!" The old man's voice was filled with excitement. They had been secretly carrying out this plan for hundreds of years. What awaited him had to be a great reward!

"Where did the woman come from and what is her name?" The Ancient Dao Emperor looked calm but was filled with expectation. He could not forget what the imperial teacher had said. This soul could allow him to become a real ancient emperor that ruled the entire Ancient clan!!

One of the other old men quickly said, "She came from the Ancient Shi, her name is Song Zhi!"

"Let that Song Zhi enter the palace. I want to meet this woman in person. You all tell the world that in three months, I'll hold a grand ceremony! I'll take Song Zhi as my wife and make her the ancient empress!" The Ancient Dao Emperor laughed as he got up. His eyes were filled with monstrous light.

Chapter 2013 - Who is He?

The sky was blue and there were many pavilions below, like a sect. However, the name of the sect was blurry, making it impossible to see. The more one tried to get a better look, the more blurry it would become.

In one of the pavilions, there was a woman. This woman was very familiar, very familiar. She bit her lower lip as she looked into the sky as if she was looking for something…

"Who is she… Who am I…"

The land was vast, the sky was dark, and the surroundings were filled with a bloody aura, as if there had been a battle here. A woman was escaping through the sky and her face was pale from panic. She would occasionally look back to see a cultivator with lecherous eyes casually chasing her.

At the most critical moment, she saw a familiar man hiding below…

"Who is she, who is he… Who am I…"

A fog-like sea and an ordinary-looking cave. A man was sitting inside the cave as if he was at the most critical moment of forming his core.

The woman stood outside the cave. Although she was filled with fear, her eyes were filled with determination. Before her, many cultivators were using spells, trying to break the formation to enter the cave.

She gritted her teeth and controlled the formation to resist until she used up all her strength. Her body went limp, but she found herself leaning on a warm chest.

"I'll take you to kill!"

This sentence seemed to penetrate the sky and thus connected the two lovers for a lifetime…

"Who is she, who is he… Who am I…"

Still under the blue sky, there was a familiar yet unfamiliar sect. The woman was silently sitting outside a pavilion, holding a zither. Sad zither music echoed. She was going to get married.

However, when she walked out of the pavilion to face everything, a man appeared with his supreme cultivation and walked before her.

The gentle smile startled her.

She wanted to know who he was, who she was, and who exactly herself was…

A ray of light that made one feel warmth shined down in a quiet valley. There was a wooden house there, and cheerful song came from a woman playing a zither within. She looked at the man leaning on her and revealed a tender gaze.

She seemed very happy… however, who was she, who was this man, who… am I.

She seemed like she was going to remember something but could not remember it. Her mind was blurry, as if she had slept for a long time…

In a blur, the tender image cracked and slowly collapsed. It turned into a stormy day. The man was holding the woman with tears flowing down his eyes, and he let out a startling roar. This roar contained pain, it contained a commitment!!

"Even if heaven wants you to die, I'll take you back!!!"

In the Ancient Dao imperial capital, in a luxurious room in the imperial palace, a woman was lying on a soft bed. She was not an absolute beauty, but she was pleasing to the eye. However, she was struggling and her face was pale. Her eyelashes trembled as if she was having a nightmare and was trying to awaken from her dream.

Tears appeared on the corners of her eyes and flowed down her cheeks, wetting the white pillow.

In her dream, that heart-wrenching roar echoed in her heart. It was a roar directed at the sky that defied fate, defied the world - it was a defying will!

This voice caused even more tears to flow out…

However, she couldn't remember who this woman was, nor who the man who let out the heart-wrenching scream was… She wanted to remember, but now she couldn't even remember who she was.

In her dream, she vaguely saw the man appear next to a coffin after some years. He caressed the coffin and his face gently leaned against it. The gentle expression on his face made her heart ache…

The tears that fell on the coffin made her sad… She had the impulse of opening her eyes to touch the man's face and wipe away his tears.

In her struggle, everything in the dream was broken. The woman dissipated and the man seemed to disappear into the fog. Everything became blurry.

She opened her eyes.

"You've awakened…" A soft voice came from beside her.

She looked at the exquisite pattern on the bed and there was confusion in her eyes. Everything from the dream still existed, but it was a blur.

Turning her head, she followed the voice and saw a man with long hair in a royal robe. Although he was already middle-aged, he was rather handsome and had a noble temperament. He was also smiling at her.

"Who… Are you… Who… Am I…" The woman's eyes became even more confused and she felt intense pain. It was as if there was an invisible force preventing her from finding herself.

"I'm the Ancient Dao Emperor, the supreme existence of the Ancient Dao. I am your husband! You are called Song Zhi, you come from the Ancient Shi and you are my empress!" The man smiled as he spoke, and the aura of an emperor spread out from his body.

"Husband…" As this word echoed, another figure appeared in her mind. This figure was looking at the sky and let out a painful roar.

This figure sat with her and listened to her play cheerful zither music.

The figure carried her and told her that he was going to bring her to kill…

The figure… Was blurry and seemed to overlap with the royal robe, and they slowly did overlap… It's just that she felt like it was out of place, and after overlapping, they scattered.

The intense pain came from her mind once more. The woman closed her eyes and passed out due to the pain.

The man in the royal robe immediately became gloomy and said, "Tell me the reason!"

Ripples echoed behind the man and an old man walked out and dropped down to one knee. "Your majesty, Song… After the Empress fused with the soul, her body became weak. She already has her own soul, and fusion caused a disorder in her memories.

"But there is no harm. The Empress only needs to rest for a period of time to recover, but her memory will still be in disarray. However, this is a good thing as Your Majesty can introduce memories to gradually fill her mind and become her real memories.

"This body is very suitable for the soul and continues to nourish it. Within a few years, this soul and her body will completely fuse. At that time, not even the soul's real body could fuse with the soul anymore."

The man in the royal robe slowly said, "You can leave."

The old man quickly nodded before turning into smoke and disappearing from the room, leaving only the Ancient Dao Emperor and the woman.

The Ancient Dao Emperor sat beside the woman and looked at her with a strange light in his eyes.

"The imperial teacher once said that this soul can make me the true ancient emperor that will unify the three clans… The imperial teacher can't be wrong… Then making this woman my empress is the best reward."

As he muttered, he raised his right hand and gently stroked her face. He revealed a faint smile.

"Although this woman is not beautiful, she has her own charm. I've always wondered where the imperial teacher got this soul, but he wouldn't say… However, the soul was also a beauty… She may have her own lover, and perhaps her lover felt extreme pain after she died…

"Unfortunately, he will never know that this woman is in my hands… If there was a chance to see who her past lover was, it would be very interesting.

"Perhaps this person is long dead. If he is not dead and they meet, will they recognize each other…" The man in the royal robe smiled even more.

"I'm looking forward to it… But thinking about it, there will be no such day." The man's right hand gently pinched her face, leaving behind a bruise on her face.

The woman's body trembled as if she felt pain in her coma, and tears flowed down the corners of her eyes.

"If not for the fact that she must be a virgin to be titled my empress, I really would want to turn her into a woman now. However, there is no rush. Once the ceremony is over, I'll take my time to enjoy this soul." The man in the royal robe stood up with a smile and waved his sleeve as he left.

As the woman's tears flowed, far away, at the bottom of Mount Gu Dao, Wang Lin looked up at the top of the mountain with coldness in his eyes.

Grand Empyrean Gu Dao obviously didn't recognize him, but he also didn't recognize the entire Ancient clan. The only person he respected was Xuan Luo!

Without Xuan Luo, he would never have come here!

"300 steps…" The Grand Empyrean sun behind Wang Lin released a powerful black and white light. Wang Lin raised his foot!

He didn't take just one step, but dozens!

The moment his feet stopped, Wang Lin stood on the 39th step, and a powerful pressure smashed down on him, causing him to pause. It was as if countless mountains were pressing down on top of him.

In his eyes, the staircase leading to the top of the mountain became twisted as if it was alive.

With a cold snort, the Grand Empyrean sun outline behind Wang Lin shined even brighter. With one step, he leaped forward once more.

The 42nd step, 57th step, 69th step, 83rd step… Thunderous rumbles echoed in his ears as he faced the powerful pressure to reach the 99th step. He raised his right foot and mercilessly stepped into the 100th step!

Once his foot landed, the world rumbled and Mount Gu Dao seemed to tremble. A powerful pressure bombarded Wang Lin, causing his mind to rumble and blood to flow out from the corner of his mouth.

This pressure came from the mountain, from Grand Empyrean Gu Dao!

Chapter 2014 - Golden Opportunity!

"There is a total of 999 stone steps, and every 100 steps represents 10% of my power! Throughout the ages, no Grand Empyrean could ascend to the 600th step under my will.

"The person who reached the furthest was a Grand Empyrean named Dong Lin from the celestial clan. He failed to reach the 600th step, and after leaving someone behind, I allowed him to leave.

"As for you… Let me see how many steps you can reach!" An extremely indifferent voice echoed when Wang Lin's foot landed on the 100th step.

When the voice finished, the staircase that seemed to have turned into a dragon revealed its true shape. It was a real dragon. Its body was completely black and it let out a roar after it appeared. It charged directly at Wang Lin.

A fishy smell with a stench rushed toward Wang Lin in an attempt to stop him on the 100th step. The dragon closed in instantly!

Wang Lin's eyes lit up. Although his face was pale, he didn't flinch. He looked up and his right hand reached at the void. The Grand Empyrean sun outline behind him shrank a bit and black and white light gathered in his hand. It was a strange scene.

The palm of Wang Lin's right hand was white and the back of his palm was black. When the dragon closed in, his palm pressed down and touched the dragon.

Thunderous rumbles suddenly echoed. The dragon trembled and let out a miserable scream. Its head collapsed, and the collapse spread rapidly. The entire dragon disintegrated into ashes and disappeared.

At the same time, the steps going up the mountain returned to normal and were no longer twisted. It was as if everything Wang Lin had seen earlier was just an illusion.

Wang Lin coughed out a mouthful of blood. The moment he destroyed the dragon, his right hand also dissipated as if it had disappeared into thin air. Afterward, black gas gathered in its place and a new arm was formed!

However, his right foot had also touched the dragon, and he felt like he had been hit by countless mountains. His right foot rose up and began to fall toward the 99th step behind him.

If it landed, it meant that he could not step onto the 100th step!

Just as this right foot was about to land, Wang Lin let out a roar and popping sounds echoed. He used his Ancient clan body to resist the force. His right foot suddenly changed directions before it landed.

However, it did not land on the 99th step, but the 100th step!

Wang Lin took a deep breath. He faintly felt that after he stepped onto the 100th step, his ancient and celestial powers showed a sign of fusing. This phenomenon shocked Wang Lin.

As he pondered, he raised his foot and stepped forward once more. He was not very fast and only crossed 10 steps each time. However, every step he took made Mount Gu Dao rumble.

After the 100th step, the pressure from the mountain and Gu Dao doubled. Wang Lin felt like the pressure was almost unbearable, and when he reached the 150th step, he could not help but stop there.

At the top of the mountain, Xuan Luo looked at Wang Lin from the top of the tower and his heart ached. He had made up his mind. Once Wang Lin failed, he would risk offending Grand Empyrean Gu Dao and take Wang Lin away!

"He was brought here by me and came to the Ancient clan because of me. I must take him away!" Xuan Luo silently pondered.

"If he can't pass the 200th step, Xuo Luo, leave your disciple behind." The blurry figure inside the fog behind Xuan Luo spoke these cold words.

But before Xuan Luo could speak, Wang Lin let out a roar and the Grand Empyrean sun outline behind him rapidly shrank.

As it shrank, Wang Lin suddenly looked up and stepped forward. He stepped onto the 160th step.

Without pausing, he stepped forward once more. The Grand Empyrean sun outline behind him continued to shrink as if infinite power had entered Wang Lin's body. Wang Lin stepped onto the 170th step, 180th step, 190th step, and finally, when the Grand Empyrean sun outline had shrank to its limit and disappeared, Wang Lin made it to the 200th step!

The moment his foot landed, the figure inside the fog at the top of the tower exclaimed softly.

And Xuan Luo's eyes lit up and he revealed a smile for the first time.

The blurry figure slowly said, "He has burned the power of the Grand Empyrean sun to obtain the power to reach the 200th step. However, what will he use for the last 100 steps."

The moment Wang Lin's foot landed on the 200th step, the person sitting on the northern pillar of the four pillars around the tower suddenly opened his closed eyes. There was a flash of grey light and he disappeared without a trace.

When he reappeared, he was on the staircase and walked toward Wang Lin. He waved his hand and his face revealed no expression, as if he was wearing a human mask. He pointed toward Wang Lin!

With this, the world changed. It was like a giant hole had appeared in the world. The earth trembled and the entire mountain shook.

Wang Lin's pupils shranks. From his view, this point was comparable to something from a Grand Empyrean!!

"This grey-robed man who looks like he is wearing a mask has power comparable to a Grand Empyrean… Who is he?" Wang Lin didn't have much time to think as the finger rushed toward his forehead.

If he was hit by this finger, not even his ancient body would be able to withstand it - he would immediately die!

During this moment of crisis, all the Grand Empyrean sun aura he had absorbed from the 150th to the 200th step erupted inside his body.

Wang Lin's cultivation cycled, and as his essences activated, 99 afterimages appeared around him. He raised his right hand and punched at the finger!

With this punch, the Ancient Dao shadows appeared behind him. The ancient god, ancient demon, and ancient devil all threw punches! Above the Ancient Dao shadows, there was a golden shadow. This figure was blurry but gave off extremely pure celestial energy, and it also threw a punch.

At this moment, a large amount of black gas spread out from Wang Lin's body. This black gas was filled with slaughter and madness. It fused with thunder to form slaughter thunder and formed another punch!

Thunderous rumbles echoed across Mount Gu Dao and spread in all directions.

The finger of the grey-robed person collapsed and his body trembled, but he remained standing. He looked at Wang Lin profoundly and then turned back toward the top of the mountain. He disappeared from Wang Lin's vision, and when he reappeared, he was sitting on the northern pillar again with his eyes closed.

Wang Lin coughed out blood and the Ancient Dao shadow behind him dissipated. Even the golden shadow that gave off extremely pure celestial energy dissipated. His breathing was rough, but he stood on the 200th step firmly!

When he stood still, he clearly felt that the ancient and celestial power in his body were fusing in an unimaginable way. This fusion was forced by the pressure from Mount Gu Dao.

"Whether it is the celestial clan's Empyrean Exalts or Ascendant Empyreans, they can't step on my mountain. Only Grand Empyreans can. To reach the 200th step means you already have the initial powers of a Grand Empyrean. Continue, let me see if you can reach the 300th step." An indifferent voice echoed in Wang Lin's ears.

"Grand Empyrean Gu Dao, he is my disciple!" Xuan Luo's roar came from the top of the mountain. A ray of light flew out from the tower next to Wang Lin. It was Xuan Luo.

"He was brought here by me and I'm taking him away! Grand Empyrean Gu Dao, I, Xuan Luo, have lived my life for the Ancient Dao, never caring about my personal gains or losses. Since ancient times, I never complained and have always wholeheartedly worked for the Ancient clan!

"But today, I implore Grand Empyrean Gu Dao to let me take my disciple away!" Xuan Luo looked up at the top of the mountain. He was filled with determination as he spoke.

After a long time, the cold voice seemed to become less cold.

"Xuan Luo, when you became a Grand Empyrean, I asked you to become my disciple and stay with me here… You wanted to protect the Ancient Dao and didn't want to stay here all the time, so you refused…

"You have protected the Ancient Dao for all these years… This is your first plea, so I'll agree, but it is also your last…"

Xuan Luo revealed a complicated expression and bowed at the tower. He was about to take the weak Wang Lin away.

"Teacher… Disciple can still go on!" Wang Lin took a deep breath and straightened his body.

"You…" Xuan Luo's eyes expressed his concern.

"Teacher, the pressure from Mount Guo Dao is the best cultivation for Disciple. Please allow Disciple to continue!" Wang Lin clasped his hands and bowed at Xuan Luo. He then turned around and walked toward the 201st step!

The moment his foot landed, the sound of his body being unable to bear the pressure became loud, but his eyes were very bright.

"The ancient power exists because of my bloodline, and my celestial cultivation exists because of my essences, but they could never integrate together… Back in the cave world, I tried to fuse them, but they rejected each other… In the end, they could only be kept separate.

"But right now, there is nothing better place than this to help me fuse the celestial and ancient powers! Grand Empyrean Gu Dao is strongest person on the Immortal Astral Continent. His pressure is the best help in fusing them!"

Wang Lin was determined to continue up the steps, because in the first 200 steps, he felt the opportunity to fuse his ancient and celestial cultivations. This was a golden opportunity for him!

Chapter 2015 - Nine Songs Three Signs (1)

Seeing Wang Lin's decisiveness, Xuan Luo's eyes narrowed, but didn't stop Wang Lin. He watched Wang Lin walk toward the 201st step.

The pressure from Mount Gu Dao formed an indescribable pressure and smashed down on Wang Lin as he stepped onto the 201st step.

The gap in power between the 200th step and the 201st step was great. If before it was a raging wave that Wang Lin had to exhaust all his power and burn his Grand Empyrean sun outline to barely cross, then now it was the entire sea smashing down on him.

After just one step, Wang Lin's face became even more pale. His body trembled and blood continued to flow out from the corner of his mouth. His bones were being squeezed, his flesh and blood torn, his origin soul about to shatter, and his soul was going to be wiped out!

He was like a lonely boat in the sea. He was extremely fragile when facing the power of the entire sea!

However, Wang Lin didn't back down. Even if continuing this path would be very dangerous, Wang Lin didn't want to and was unwilling to give up this chance! This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance; this was perhaps his last chance since the last time he had failed to fuse them!

Once he gave up, not only would he fail the fusion, but it would create a shadow in Wang Lin's heart. This was a shadow toward Gu Dao, the irresistible existence. This could create a fear that would linger for a long time and cause Wang Lin great harm.

"Grand Empyrean Gu Dao… I must walk past these 300 steps!" Wang Lin's face became distorted and the pain inside and outside his body made him want to roar at the sky. However, he suppressed it and saved the power of this roar inside his body to take the second step.

When he took the second step, Wang Lin's mind rumbled and his body trembled violently, but he clearly felt the celestial and ancient power inside his body being fused by force by this pressure.

However, as they fused, a shocking rejection force appeared. If not for the pressure from the mountain, Wang Lin would've had no way of stopping this rejection force, and the fusion would've failed once more.

However, now there was no need for Wang Lin to suppress it. The pressure from the Mount Gu Dao played the role of suppressing the rejection force.

He struggled as he took the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth steps!

Although he was trembling, his body contained an amazing tenacity. This tenacity supported his backbone, allowing him to look up when he faced anyone!

The seventh step, the eighth step! Wang Lin stepped onto the 208th step. The veins on his face swelled and creaking sounds echoed inside his body as if bones were rubbing against each other!

But his eyes still revealed an unyielding gaze. He felt his celestial and ancient powers rapidly fusing under this pressure. At this moment, he felt like something was different!

"The ancient power is on the outside and celestial cultivation is inside. The fusion of celestial and ancient power into one…" Wang Lin raised his foot and took the ninth step and 10th step onto the 210th step!

The moment his foot landed, Wang Lin's essence cultivation and ancient power finally fused a sliver under the intense pressure from the outside!

This trace of fused power was a mix of celestial and ancient. It contained both celestial and ancient powers, but it was also Wang Lin's own power!

The moment this power appeared, a scene appeared in the sky. This shocked Xuan Luo and caused the figure inside the fog at the top of the tower to open his eyes!

The sky instantly turned from blue to gold. The golden sky shined brightly and spread in all directions. In the blink of an eye, the sky within hundreds of thousands of kilometers turned golden!

This golden sky could even be seen from very far away - it was a shocking sight!

This gold was not formed by spells. In the entire Ancient clan, such a natural golden sky that was not caused by spells had never appeared before.

The appearance of this scene caused Xuan Luo to look up, and his eyes reflected the golden sky.

The Ancient clan's earth was black, but under the golden sky, it was countless times more intense. The entire earth was covered in this endless black!

The moment someone looked at this black earth, their heart would tremble!

This was…

"Nine songs three signs. The first sign, golden sky and black earth!!" Xuan Luo took a deep breath.

The nine songs three signs were phenomena that appeared when the Celestial Ancestor and Ancient Ancestor were born. The nine songs were for the Ancient Ancestor and the three signs were for the Celestial Ancestor. Aside from their births, these phenomena had never taken place elsewhere.

But today, it was happening on Mount Gu Dao. The golden sky and black earth gave off an unspeakable sense of strangeness. The surroundings immediately became quiet.

Wang Lin faced everything as if he couldn't see any of it. The only thought in his mind was to reach the 300th step and, during the process, fuse his celestial and ancient powers!

The moment the golden sky and black earth appeared, Wang Lin's right foot stepped onto the 211th step. The mountain seemed to rumble and Wang Lin felt countless mountains weighing down upon him, but he didn't hesitate to take another step!

The 11th step, 12th step, 13th step, 14th step… Until the 19th step!

Every step caused Wang Lin's body to tremble. He was extremely weak; even his origin soul and soul were trembling under the pressure as if he could no longer hold on.

The moment he stepped onto the 219th step, Wang Lin's body collapsed, but it only scattered into countless black strands that quickly reformed into his body!

He was even willing to use the power of slaughter to reinforce his body. As long as his soul was not destroyed, he could carry out his forced fusion as many times as he wanted!

However, under this pressure, even if he could continue to reform his body thousands of times, he might still not make it, because his soul would die to this pressure!

But this life threatening pressure was the best tool for fusing his celestial and ancient powers. Wang Lin let out a roar and his foot landed on the 220th step!

Popping sounds echoed through the world like crazy. Wang Lin's foot collapsed into black gas dozens of times and reformed dozens of times before he finally stabilized himself!

The moment he stood still, a sound suddenly rang out in the golden sky and black earth. This sound was not very clear, but soon, it swept across the golden sky and black earth, becoming more clear.

Listening to it carefully, this was the sound of the wind, but what was strange was that there was no wind, yet it sounded like the wind was playing a song!

However, when the sound of wind rang out, Xuan Luo's expression changed!

The four grey-robed people sitting on the four pillars opened their eyes. When they looked at the sky, their eternal expressions changed.

As for the figure inside the fog that had opened his eyes when the golden sky and black earth appeared, he silently pondered for a bit and began to murmur.

"Heavenly Wind Song… The first of the nine songs…"

Another sliver of the fusion of celestial and ancient power appeared inside Wang Lin. It didn't flow inside his body but settled down. As his celestial and ancient power continued to fuse, this power slowly grew.

But Wang Lin knew that although he can't see through this power, it was an existence beyond celestial and ancient powers!

This was the power he desired from the fusion, this was the regret when he failed back then!

He heard the song of the wind. The voice echoed through the world as if it were singing and telling a story. However, Wang Lin didn't understand it, just like how he could not understand the murmur inside the Heaven Defying Bead.

While pondering, Wang Lin felt exhausted, but he still stepped toward the distant Mount Gu Dao. He gritted his teeth and continued from the 220th step. Every two steps, his body would collapse into black strands and reform. However, his origin soul and soul were no longer able to persist.

It seemed like he was about to reach his limit.

One step, one step, one step… When Wang Lin stepped onto the 230th step, he coughed out a large mouthful of blood. The blood fell on the step. It was a shocking sight.

However, the moment the blood landed, a second sound appeared in the Heavenly Wing Song!

This was the sound of thunder. Thunderous rumbles echoed in all directions. This thunder seemed to roar, but it contained a sense of rhythm. It was like a heavenly song of thunder!

The thunder echoed and fused with the wing song. The wind and thunder mixed and it was as if millions of horse charged through the golden sky and black earth!

"When the Ancient Ancestor was born, he was accompanied by nine songs. If all nine songs appear, they can create a birthday song… Since ancient times, it is rumored that when both the nine songs and three signs appear on the Immortal Astral Continent, the successor to the Celestial Ancestor and the Ancient Ancestor will appear…" Xuan Luo looked at Wang Lin. He suddenly felt like he couldn't see through his disciple anymore…

"In the cave, I also saw on him… Silver eyes…

"This is just a rumor that spread across the Immortal Astral Continent… Will it be him…" Xuan Luo entered a trance. He found it difficult to believe everything that had happened today.

Chapter 2016 - Nine Songs Three Signs (2)

Nine songs three signs. The first song was the Heavenly Wind Song!

The second song was the Heavenly Dao Thunder Beat!

The third song was the Origin Cloud Flute!

This Origin Cloud Flute came from the white clouds that appeared in the golden sky. It would echo through the sky, and when it entered your mind, it would make you relax as if you wanted to sleep.

When Wang Lin stepped onto the 240th step, this flute sound appeared in the sky. This flute was wondrous and was not something a living thing could create. It was created by the countless small holes in the clouds as the wind blew through them.

It fused with the wind to create an extremely wondrous song. The thunder was like a drum and perfectly fused with the wind song.

This song would make one lose themself. Xuan Luo immersed himself in the song and closed his eyes.

On the four pillars, as the four grey-robed men silently listen to the music, memories rippled in their minds. At the top of the tower, a sigh came out of the fog.

Wang Lin stood on the 240th step and also listened to the song of the wind, thunder, and clouds. The song surrounded his origin soul and body with a feeling a warmth and slowly nourished them. All the injuries he had received from walking up the steps began to recover thanks to this song.

Even more celestial and ancient power fused, but it still didn't move.

After a long time, there was a flash of light in Wang Lin's eyes. He raised his foot and slowly walked up. His expression was no longer fierce, but calm.

His eyes were no longer bloodshot and he calmly walked forward.

The golden sky was the light, the black earth was the road, the thunder was the drum, the wind was the rhythm, and the wind was the flute. All of these accompanied Wang Lin as he steadily walked up to the 250th step.

The moment his foot landed, an extra sound appeared, It was like the sound of rain hitting the ground.

The sound of rain echoed through the world and mixed with the cloud flute. The song became even more wondrous, as if there was a hidden sense of vitality within it.

Xuan Luo opened his eyes at this moment. He looked at Wang Lin and took a deep breath. With his cultivation level and identity, he normally would not show much shock. However, the four songs Wang Lin had triggered set off a wave in his emotions.

Xuan Luo's gaze passed Wang Lin and moved onto the tower as he silently thought to himself, "Grand Empyrean Gu Dao… You didn't approve of his existence, but now I wonder what you think… Or if my disciple who possess the soul blood, Wang Lin, will recognize your existence!"

The top of the tower was still silent, and after the sigh, the figure had closed his eyes. He seemed to be immersed in the song, and his face revealed a hint of melancholy and reminiscence.

Wang Lin paused slightly on the 250th step. After hearing the sound of the rain, he immersed himself in it for a few moments before he went up again.

On the 260th step, Wang Lin heard the sound of the sky. This sound was very mysterious, The sky was silent, but at this moment, a soft murmur came like a whisper from the sky. It fused with wind, thunder, cloud, and rain songs.

The moment this song appeared, the little fusion of celestial and ancient powers began to show signs of movement as the pressure from the mountain increased.

However, its speed was very slow, and it was unknown how long it would take to complete one cycle. Wang Lin was not anxious. Thanks to the five songs, he felt very farm inside and outside of his body, as if he had infinite power.

The soul blood inside Wang Lin's body showed signs of melting. This was the soul blood that Xuan Luo had asked Grand Empyrean Gu Dao to awaken but was refused.

Wang Lin silently walked forward and walked past the steps. When his foot fell on the 270th step, all the essences in Wang Lin's body suddenly melted!

At this moment, there was not a single essence inside Wang Lin's body, but there was silver light inside his eyes. With this silver light, his eyes became silver!

There was no emotion in his eyes; they were very cold. Even his black pupils had become silver! When the silver eyes appeared, an unspeakable aura spread out from Wang Lin's body. This was the aura Xuan Luo felt back in the cave world. It felt like everything was going to be destroyed!

After this aura appeared, Xuan Luo revealed a complicated expression.

"Among the nine songs and three signs, the silver eyes is the one thing in common. The Ancient Ancestor's nine songs can make one's eyes become silver, and the second of the three signs is these eyes…"

The four grey-robed men on the pillars withdrew their gazes from the sky and once again looked at Wang Lin. They looked at Wang Lin's silver eyes with confusion. This confusion was like a black hole, as if their minds had been devoured!

It was as if they had a strange attraction toward these silver eyes!

As for the figure inside the fog, after pondering for a long time, he said something that echoed throughout the world.

"Nine songs three signs… In your body, there are five songs and two signs… Come up. If you can make it up to the 300th step, I'll awaken your soul blood and summon you to see you…"

This voice was still cold.

Wang Lin stood on the 270th step and didn't respond to the cold voice at all. He raised his foot and walked up once more. When he reached the 280th step, Wang Lin's ancient power suddenly melted.

When it melted, another song was added to the five songs. This was the song of the earth. The black earth let out a desolate funeral song.

It was unknown how this funeral song had appeared, but it was clear. This sad song mourned the deaths of the people who were buried.

When it mixed with the song of the sky, it was like a mixture of life and death. Along with the songs of the wind, cloud, thunder, and rain, it created a grand song!

"Nine songs three signs… I have heard of it too… Now six songs and two signs have appeared…" Wang Lin silently pondered. He felt his essences and ancient power melt. They didn't disappear, but fused with his body on an even deeper level.

He could feel the sliver of the new force that was born after his celestial and ancient powers fused. However, it moved very slowly - perhaps it would take years, or even decades, to complete one cycle.

He silently raised his foot and resisted the power of Mount Gu Dao to step onto the 281st step. He walked up step by step, and when he reached the 290th step, he felt the power inside his body move slightly faster.

At the same time, he felt the existence of the essences and ancient power that had disappeared. They existed inside his origin soul and internal organs.

His essences existed inside his origin soul and his ancient power was inside his internal organs. They seemed to have fused and also seemed like they didn't, but they were very different from before.

And when Wang Lin stepped onto the 290th step, another song appeared after the first six songs. However, outsiders could not hear this song. Only Wang Lin could hear it because it came from his body.

This song was the song of his body. When he looked up, moved his arms, lifted his feet, breathed, and his pores opened and closed, he created this sound. It was the sound of his body!

These sounds were very subtle, but at this moment, they fused with the song outside. It condensed around Wang Lin into a song that surrounded him.

"This is the seventh song…" Wang Lin listened to it for a moment and then suddenly looked up. He revealed a fierce gaze and stared at the tower at the top of the mountain.

"You said that I can't pass the 300th step…" Wang Lin lift his feet and climbed 10 steps to reach the 300th step.

The moment he stood on the 300th step, the confusion in the eyes of two of the grey-robed men on the four pillars disappeared and was replaced with coldness as if they had recovered. As the coldness filed their eyes, they both moved and took a step forward. They rushed toward Wang Lin like lightning.

They instantly closed in and each threw a punch.

The punches contained a grey fog, and there was a giant head inside each one. The heads seemed mad and let out silent roars as they charged at Wang Lin!

Popping sounds echoed inside Wang Lin's body. This sound was like a heartbeat, but it was the eighth song formed by Wang Lin's internal organs!

Internal organ song!

This was the contraction of his lungs, the beating of his heart, the vibrations of his spleen, the quivering of his liver, and the jumps of his kidney. The sounds of the five internal organs fused to form this song!

It crossed with his body song; fused with wind, cloud, thunder, and rain; and finally entangled with life and death to cause all eight songs to erupt!

The moment the eight songs echoed at the same time, Wang Lin's ancient power inside his internal organs spread throughout his flesh and blood. At the same time, his essences inside his origin soul spread out through his meridians.

When these two powers spread out and regathered for the first time inside Wang Lin's body, they fused on a large scale. A large amount of this fused power cycled through Wang Lin's body at an unimaginable speed. A cycle that should have taken decades to complete was completed in an instant.

This power that didn't belong to the celestials or Ancients completed a cycle, and Wang Lin let out a roar!

"Scram!!"

Chapter 2017 - Invitation From the Imperial Palace!

His voice was not loud and was not heaven-shaking. However, when it appeared, a pressure no weaker than that of Mount Gu Dao came from Wang Lin!

This pressure was enough to shock anyone who felt it!

It has to be said that Mount Gu Dao's pressure came from Grand Empyrean Gu Dao, the number one most powerful person on the Immortal Astral Continent! However, the pressure Wang Lin gave off was comparable to that of Grand Empyrean Gu Dao!

The meaning of this was enough to terrify anyone!

As he roared, the entire mountain began to tremble. Dirt flew off the mountain as if the mountain was going to collapse. The two grey-robed people fused into one person and threw a punch at him. The head formed by the grey fog around the fist let out a harsh cry when it was 30 feet from Wang Lin.

The head was swept by a violent wind and dissipated into nothing. The punch formed by the two overlapping grey-robed men suddenly collapsed!

The moment the punch collapsed, the figure seemed to be knocked back by a powerful force and split into two people. They coughed out blood and their eternally calm expressions revealed looks of disbelief.

After they coughed out blood, they still could not stop and continued to fly back. They were pushed back more than 10,000 feet by Wang Lin's roar.

Mount Gu Dao rumbled, and from the tower at the peak, a large, black hand came out. It swept down like the wind and became thousands of feet large. It was like a black, five-finger mountain smashing down on Wang Lin.

This five-finger mountain collided with Wang Lin's celestial and ancient fusion power.

A thunderous roar echoed and the black five-finger mountain trembled violently before it was knocked back. It dissipated into the sky. At the same time, Wang Lin's body trembled and his fused power split back into celestial and ancient. The wisp of fused power began to move toward a second cycle, but it was very slow and looked like it would need decades to complete another full cycle.

Xuan Luo saw this and gasped.

Inside the tower, the figure pondered for a moment and then a cold voice came out.

"Come up, I'll awaken the soul blood for you…"

Wang Lin's face was pale as he stood on the 300th step. He didn't speak but raised his foot to take one more step. When his foot fell on the 301st step, the soul blood inside his body suddenly melted and fused with his body completely.

He no longer need Grand Empyrean Gu Dao's help to make the soul blood fuse with his body. The bloodline inheritance gradually revealed itself.

Standing there, Wang Lin silently pondered and clasped his hands toward the top of Mount Gu Dao.

"Thanks, Grand Empyrean Gu Dao, for helping me." Wang Lin was not reckless person. The gap between him and Gu Dao was very large. Even if Gu Dao meant for him to leave after 300 steps, he still buried his indifference toward Gu Dao and said goodbye.

Moreover, he was able to fuse his ancient and celestial power because of the pressure from Gu Dao. Perhaps it was an accident, or perhaps this was Gu Dao's silent acknowledgement.

However, no matter what, Wang Lin understood that Grand Empyrean Gu Dao was the strongest person on the Immortal Astral Continent, so he needed to show respect.

After a long time, Grand Empyrean's cold voice came out of the tower. "You can rest assured, I have said that if you can pass the 300th step, you can leave… Now that you've passed, you can leave!"

It was as if Grand Empyrean Gu Dao was pondering before he said those words.

Wang Lin no longer spoke but walked down the mountain. When he arrived next to Xuan Luo, he saw the hidden ripples around Xuan Luo. It was obvious if that if Gu Dao had gone back on his words, Xuan Luo would have acted.

"Teacher…" Wang Lin's said softly. Xuan Luo's action caused warmth to appear on the cracks he had with the Ancient clan.

"Let's go." Xuan Luo looked at Wang Lin profoundly and buried the shock from the eight songs and two signs. He waved his sleeve and flew into the distance with Wang Lin.

It wasn't until he disappeared from the end of the horizon that the two injured grey-robed men return to the pillar. They looked at the distance with complicated expressions and then closed their eyes to cultivate.

After a long time, a sigh came from the tower.

The figure inside the fog stood up and walked next to the window. He looked into the sky, and his gaze seemed to fall in the direction of Xuan Luo and Wang Lin.

Xuan Luo brought Wang Lin back to the Ancient Dao imperial city after a few days. They returned to the mountain behind the Ancient Dao Temple and settled down.

Xuan Luo didn't ask about what had happened back at Mount Gu Dao, and Wang Lin didn't explain, as if nothing had happened. A month passed, and it was as if everything had disappeared like smoke.

During this month, Wang Lin had entered closed door cultivation inside the wooden house. Before the trip to Mount Gu Dao, he had gone to a lot of places and absorbed a lot of essences. The power of his essences had increased a lot and his cultivation had improved even more.

The essences and ancient power seemed to return to their normal positions during this month. The essences returned to their essence true body forms and the ancient power reverted back to the 27 stars.

They seemed ordinary, but only Wang Lin knew that with one thought, he could make them fuse again and gain a short eruption of power.

This power and pressure was comparable to Mount Gu Dao!

As his essences and ancient power increased, the duration of the fusion would become longer and longer! Until one day, when he could fully integrate them and they would not just be a short fusion - he would have power equal to Grand Empyrean Gu Dao.

Right now, the wisp of the fusion power was slowly cycling through his body. It looked like it would take a long time for it to complete a cycle.

On this day, Wang Lin opened his eyes from cultivation and his eyes lit up. He waved his right hand and a cylinder appeared in his grasp. After pondering for a moment, he opened the cylinder and there were some liquid that contained pure wood essence inside.

He took out one drop and fused it into his body. The drop suddenly disappeared, and at the same time, the power of Wang Lin's wood essence increased greatly.

After three days, when Wang Lin fused with another drop, his wood essence was rapidly approaching an essence true body.

After less than half a month, when all the liquid in the cylinder was absorbed, Wang Lin was still sitting there. An overlapping image appeared and his five-element true body walked out and stood before him.

The five-element true body remained the same and stood before Wang Lin, emitting five colors. The colors that represented wood and metal were dimmer than the other three. However, the color that represented wood gradually became brighter until a few days later, when it reached the same degree as water, fire, and dearth!

The five-element true body trembled and four figures and a ball of light appeared. Among the four figures, aside from water, fire, and earth, was Wang Lin's wood essence true body!

At the center of the four essence true bodies was a ball of golden light. This was the metal essence, and it hadn't formed an essence true body yet.

Wang Lin opened his eyes and looked at the ball of golden light, revealing a troubled expression. A moment later, he revealed a decisive gaze and waved his hand. A golden fragment appeared.

This fragment was the sword fragment Wang Lin was given by Jiu Di on the long street. He had refined it but had not fully integrated it yet. He was going to use the metal essence he had absorbed while he was with Xuan Luo, along with this fragment, to complete his five-element true body!

Once his metal essence formed an essence true body, then the power of his five-element true body would increase greatly. It would also help determine if his deduction about his future cultivation path was correct.

"The five-element true body will be complete. If my cultivation level increases, then my speculation is correct!" Wang Lin no longer hesitated and spat out a mouthful of golden gas. It surrounded the golden sword fragment.

Time passed. In a flash, another month went by…

It had been two and a half months since Wang Lin and Xuan Luo returned. Wang Lin had stayed inside the wooden house and hadn't stepped out. Xuan Luo had come twice and stood outside the wooden house, observing. He knew Wang Lin was condensing his essences and was in no danger, so he left.

On this morning, when the first ray of sunlight fell from the sky onto the earth and dispelled the darkness, causing warmth to fill this garden, a jade flew over from the direction of the Ancient Dao Temple. It circled around the wooden house a few times before it fell down on the grass outside the house.

However, a moment later, the jade trembled and flew into the house. It was caught by Wang Lin, who was sitting inside the wooden house.

His divine sense swept past the jade. It was a message jade. There wasn't much inside, it was just an invitation.

"The Ancient Dao Emperor will hold the ceremony to title his empress in 10 days…" Wang Lin's expression remained the same. This jade came from the Ancient Dao Emperor to invite Wang Lin to the ceremony.

"Since this jade could be sent here, then it must have obtained the recognition of Teacher. Then this ceremony must be very important to the Ancient Dao." Wang Lin pondered.

"This Ancient Dao Emperor has been choosing a concubine for hundreds of years, and now he finally chose one and is going to title her as his empress… Should I go or not…" Wang Lin had reached the critical moment of fusing with his metal essence, so he didn't want to go to this so-called empress title ceremony.

Chapter 2018 - One Finger of the Ancient Ancestor

Wang Lin put down the invitation jade and no longer considered this matter. After all, compared to the Ancient Dao Emperor's empress title ceremony, his cultivation was more important.

"The metal essence true body will be able to form in these next few days. When the five-element true body is complete, I will be able to verify if my speculation is correct." Wang Lin revealed a hint of worry. If he remained at the late stage of Void Tribulant after his five-element true body was complete, then his deduction would be wrong.

Once he failed, Wang Lin would have to give up forming essence true bodies for the other essences and focus on comprehending the fourth ethereal essence after life and death, karma, and true and false.

However, ethereal essences were a complete blur and completely relied on opportunity and insight. Perhaps he could obtain it in a few years, or not find any clue in thousands of years.

This made Wang Lin look at the metal essence with a hint of worry and anticipation.

After a long time, Wang Lin let out a sigh and withdrew his gaze from the metal essence. He had done all he could. Whether his cultivation would increase or not, he would have his answer in a few days.

Wang Lin's eyes opened slightly. After pondering a bit, he waved his sleeve. Light shined in the wooden house and a restriction slowly turned. It made no sound, and from outside, no light spread out.

Wang Lin stepped into the formation and disappeared.

In the earth below the formation, a large cave was opened about 100,000 feet below the wooden house. This cave had appeared not long ago. Wang Lin had created it on the fifth day of his closed door cultivation.

This cave was thousands of feet large and was filled by a black and white sun. At the center floated a giant black and white sun!

Although it was only an outline, it was indeed Wang Lin's Grand Empyrean sun!

Under the Grand Empyrean sun, there was a 1,000-foot-tall head. It had no eyes or ears and there was a deep crack on its scalp. This was the Celestial Ancestor's head!

Wang Lin had placed countless restrictions around this cave. With his current cultivation level, these restrictions were extremely powerful. Forget Empyrean Exalts, not even Ascendant Empyreans could sense them.

Even Grand Empyreans would find it difficult to detect them unless they looked carefully. This was because these restrictions contained Wang Lin's fusion of celestial and ancient power! He had extracted a bit and combined it with the restrictions to give them this powerful effect.

Wang Lin's figure appeared next to the Celestial Ancestor's head. He had created this space to nourish his Grand Empyrean sun. Based on his analysis, once his Grand Empyrean Sun completely fused with the Celestial Ancestor's head, the Grand Empyrean sun would become solid.

He sat down before the Celestial Ancestor's head and spat out a wisp of green gas. The green gas entered the head and the Celestial Ancestor's head trembled. It released large amounts of golden light that was immediately absorbed by the sun above. It turned into black and white light that nourished this sun.

During this three-month time period, his Grand Empyrean sun had been absorbing the Celestial Ancestor's head, but how could it be refined so easily? It would be difficult to fully absorb it in a short period of time.

After pondering for a bit, Wang Lin opened his eyes and raised his right hand. His hand reached at the void and a dark golden light spread out from his palm. There was a weak soul with its eyes closed in Wang Lin's hand. Although Wang Lin looked calm, but his pupils shrank and he became serious.

This weak soul was the Celestial Emperor, Lian Daozhen!!

The Celestial Emperor, who had been captured by Wang Lin, was in a sorry state. He trembled in Wang Lin's hand as if he wanted to open his eyes, but he had no strength left. However, his body gave off a powerful celestial energy that would make anyone recognize that this was the pressure of a Grand Empyrean!

Although this pressure belonged to a Grand Empyrean, the celestial energy was not pure - it was extremely chaotic and exuded a sense of defeat. It seemed like the soul was suffering great pain right now.

"What a powerful ancestral curse…" Wang Lin muttered to himself. Wang Lin continued to place seals on the Celestial Emperor's soul. With his cultivation level and power, along with the Celestial Emperor's own power, they still could not expel the ancestral curse. However, he was able to reach a balance so the soul would not dissipate.

"I originally intended to use the pressure from this soul to help fuse my celestial and ancient powers by force, but now it looks like there is no need. However, this is the soul of the Celestial Emperor; it's still very useful to me." Wang Lin pondered as he looked at his own Grand Empyrean sun.

"Unfortunately, the ancestral curse is too strong… If I could expel the curse, I could fuse his soul into my Grand Empyrean sun and use it as a guide to devour the Celestial Ancestor's head by force…" Wang Lin left hand touched his chin and he pondered. Then his eyes lit up and his left hand formed a seal. When he was done, he pointed at the soul in his right hand.

The Celestial Emperor's soul suddenly trembled when Wang Lin pointed at him. He opened his mouth and let out a silent howl. The restrictions around the cave began to flash.

Wang Lin's expression was very serious as his left hand pointed at the Celestial Emperor's soul. After a long time, a trace of grey gas gathered and was slowly pulled out by Wang Lin.

When his left hand had completely risen, the grey gas around his finger suddenly turned into an evil ghost-like shadow. It opened its mouth and charged at Wang Lin's finger.

However, just as it going to devour Wang Lin's finger, Wang Lin's eyes narrowed and his pupils became silver. The silver light fell on this ghost and it suddenly trembled as if it were afraid. It then quickly shrank to half its original size. Wang Lin grabbed it and mercilessly squeezed.

The grey gas dissipated.

Wang Lin's forehead was covered in sweat and the silver light in his eyes dissipated. He revealed a bitter smile.

"The fusion of the celestial and ancient powers can remove the ancestral curse… However, with my current cultivation level, I can't last for long and can't expel the ancestral curse all at once…" Wang Lin looked at the Celestial Emperor's soul. The sliver of ancestral curse he had removed had recovered.

With a sigh, Wang Lin waved his right hand and put the Celestial Emperor's soul away. He sat there, pondering, for a long time and let out a sigh in the end.

"It looks like I need to wait for my cultivation level to rise so I can maintain the fused power for longer to dispel the ancestral curse and fuse it with my Grand Empyrean sun.

"This ancestral curse is strange and the Celestial Emperor's identity is special, so it's not convenient to ask Teacher Xuan Luo to help." Wang Lin had his own secrets, and unless it was absolutely necessary, he had the habit of not letting anyone know.

Wang Lin put the Celestial Emperor's soul away and waved his right hand to take out a jade. This jade was gifted to him by Prince Ji Du and contained the power of one finger from the Ancient Ancestor.

When Wang Lin had obtained this jade, he could not study it, as there seemed to be a barrier that blocked him, preventing him from seeing inside. He could only use it as a one-time spell.

However, now he had melted the soul blood inside his body and had gained some fragmented memories. He could feel these memories but not look through them - it was obvious he didn't have enough soul blood.

Holding the jade, Wang Lin looked at it. There was a blurry figure inside, and the figure was moving inside an equally blurry world. As the figure trembled, the world shattered and disappeared.

It was a very simple illusion, but because it was blurry, it was very difficult to comprehend.

Wang Lin had looked at it several times before, and it was always like this. This time was the same, but he was not discouraged. He closed his eyes, and after a long time, when he reopened them, silver light appeared in his eyes once more!

The silver light occupied his entire eyes, and his gaze was very cold. Wang Lin looked at the jade once more, and under his gaze, the blurry figure appeared once more.

However, because Wang Lin's mind contained those memories, some of the memories linked together and appeared in his mind when he saw the blurry figure.

This was a man wearing a grey robe, and he had long hair. He looked exactly the same as the statue in the Ancient Dao imperial city. It was the Ancient Ancestor!

His left hand was behind him and he was floating in the sky. He was looking at the sky with contempt and disdain in his eyes, seeming aloof. As he looked at the sky, there were groups of black dots closing in. These black dots were groups of fierce beasts.

These beasts had the heads of humans but the bodies of lions. They only had two front limbs - the hind limbs and tail seemed to have morphed into fish tails.

As they flew over, they let out sharp roars. The powerful one in front gave off a powerful aura that was close to that of a Grand Empyrean.

However, the grey-robed man still looked at them with contempt. He raised his right hand and pointed forward.

When he did this, the world trembled. Everything within 100,000 kilometers of these beasts seemed to separate from the world. Then the top and bottom of this separated world squeezed together!

Thunderous rumble echoed. When the separated world squeezed, all the beasts shattered.

With a bang, a crack appeared in the jade in Wang Lin's hand and the jade split in half. The two halves fell to the ground and turned to dust.

Wang Lin became sober and the silver in his eyes dissipated, but his eyes were bright.

"What a powerful point from the Ancient Ancestor…"

Chapter 2019 - Wind Swept Across the Ancient Dao

"This finger is not a spell, but communicates with the world or manipulates the world. It also didn't attack the beasts, but the world the beasts exist in.

"It tore open the world and used the pressure of the finger to cause the world to squeeze and collapse. The beasts were mere collateral damage."

However, Wang Lin's finger was very slow, as if there were layers of invisible barriers before him, preventing him from pointing forward like the Ancient Ancestor.

A moment later, Wang Lin withdrew his finger and no longer tried again. He lowered his head and pondered.

"From this spell, I can see that the strength of the Ancient Ancestor has reached a different realm… But with the memory fragment and the Rapid Spell Art, I can copy it."

Wang Lin raised his head and looked at the fragments of the jade as he closed his eyes.

There were many chaotic origin souls inside his body that he had taken from the slaughter in the celestial ancestral city. He had been slowly refining them, and now he had enough to create another spell vein.

"I have five Spell Veins in my body, so with one movement, I can create 99 afterimages. I wonder what will happen when I create the sixth one." Wang Lin quickly activated the Rapid Spell Art to condense the sixth Spell Vein. Soon, seven days passed.

There were only three days left until the grand ceremony, where the Emperor would title his empress.

The entire Ancient Dao imperial city was festive and was beautifully decorated. In particular, at night, the colorful lights could be seen from far away.

Even the sky of the Ancient Dao imperial city was dyed in colorful lights. It gave people a wondrous feeling and revealed the joyous atmosphere.

The Ancient Dao Emperor put great importance on this grand ceremony, and even the entire imperial family put great importance on this matter. After all, the Ancient Dao Emperor was going to title his empress. All the powerful members of the Ancient Dao had gathered, and people from other countries had come as well. They were going to personally see this grand ceremony!

The messengers from the Ancient Ji and Ancient Shi had arrived to participate in this celebration.

The Ancient Shi had prepared a lot of gifts, and their leader was Prince Ji Du. Back then, he had personally accompanied the Ancient Dao ambassadors to choose Song Zhi, so it was no surprise that he had come.

Also, the empress was named Song and was a distant descendant of the Ancient Shi Grand Empyrean, so he had also sent a messenger to bring a gift.

Many people had come to the Ancient Dao imperial city, making it very lively. The security of the imperial city increased to ensure that nothing would happen during the grand ceremony.

The Ancient Dao imperial city, especially the palace, was strictly guarded. Almost all the powerful people of the Ancient Dao had arrived.

The various kings that were scattered and had royal bloodlines were here. This made the Ancient Dao imperial city very lively for this grand ceremony.

This was a grand matter in the Ancient clan. One of the three ancient emperors were going to title an empress. This was a great matter in the Ancient Clan, where the imperial power was supreme. Almost everyone knew of this, and even Mount Gu Dao had send a gift. The Ancient Dao Emperor had attracted the attention of everyone during this period of time.

In these last few days, due to the fact that there were too many people, the Ancient Dao had taken out their powerful treasures to create 99 huge platforms and spread them out around the flying city.

Powerful people quickly created various forms of housing on these platforms, and this was the only way to accommodate all the people that were coming.

Wang Lin was immersed in his cultivation and ignored all of this. On the night three days before the grand ceremony, the entire Ancient Dao imperial city was bright. It was lively with the sound of people, and even the 99 platforms were the same.

Because so many people from all three clans had arrived, many auctions had appeared. While waiting for the ceremony, the people of all three clans began to trade with each other.

A joyous atmosphere filled the Ancient Dao palace. At the highest pavilion, the Ancient Dao Emperor had his hands behind his back as he looked at the colorful city, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The Ancient Dao Emperor slowly said, "In the future, I'm going to make it like this in the Ancient Dao imperial city every day and become the center of the entire Ancient Clan!"

"Your Majesty is a great man. There will certainly be a day when you will achieve it! We are willing to follow Your Majesty to see that day arrive!" In the pavilion, there were seven people kneeling on the ground, and they were filled with excitement.

"How are the preparations?" The Ancient Dao Emperor smiled.

"The ambassadors of the Ancient Shi and Ancient Ji have arrived, and their lodgings have been arranged. The messengers of the two Grand Empyreans have also arrived. The lord messenger who brought the gift from Mount Gu Dao has been given a place to stay in the imperial city," one of them quickly said.

The second person quickly said, "I have arranged for the people of our clan and the powerful people of the other two clans to be scattered across the surrounding 99 platforms. Although there are a lot of people, it was enough to accommodate them."

"I have been personally overseeing the layout of the grand ceremony to ensure its success. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

"In terms of protection, the first to seventh armies will guard the ceremony to make sure nothing happens!"

"The imperial teacher has sent word that he will personally come for the grand ceremony."

"Empress Song is the same as usual and still hasn't come out. She seems to be trying to remember something, but that always ends in pain and she does not remember anything."

"Grand Empyrean hasn't sent any word. I don't know if he will come to the grand ceremony."

The seven of them spoke one by one and then lowered their heads. They awaited the orders of this supreme existence in the Ancient Dao.

"According to the rules, the grand ceremony will last for 99 days. Aside from offering to the Ancient Ancestor on the first day, I won't participate for the rest. If anything happens, you all will be responsible!" The man in royal robe gave his commands and the seven immediately accepted.

"The grand ceremony will begin in three days. Every generation of Ancient Dao emperor has held a banquet at the night before to allow the people of the Ancient Dao and messengers from the other two nations to see the empress…

"How well have you all arranged this matter?"

One of the seven respectfully said, "It's all been arranged."

"Good!" The man in the royal robe revealed a smile that contained a hint of anticipation. He waved his sleeve and disappeared from the pavilion.

"Marrying her and giving her this status are the best rewards for her. Imperial Teacher, I'm anticipating the result of your divination…"

At this moment, also in the palace, in a quiet room, there was a woman wearing a phoenix robe. This woman was not an absolute beauty but had an unspeakable temperament. She looked at the mirror before her, and her eyes were filled with confusion.

"I can't remember anything… Everything in the dream is a blurry after waking up… I can't remember what the woman looks like and I can't remember the man's appearance. I can only remember his words…" The woman closed her eyes and those two lines echoed in her mind.

"Let's go, I'll take you to kill!"

"Even if heaven wants you to die I'll take you back!"

Tears flowed out of her closed eyes and down the sides of her face. The two lines of tears dripped down her cheeks and onto her clothes, making her clothes wet.

"Why would I shed tears… Who is he… Who am I… Am I Song Zhi… Am I song Zhi…" The woman opened her eyes, and there was even more confusion now.

Wang Lin didn't know about any of this, and he could not sense it. Although his cultivation had pierced the heavens, he still could not see her tears or feel her aura.

Even if he saw her personally, he might not see who this woman was… This was because there was a fog covering everything about the soul fragment, and after his woman and Song Zhi fused, this fog became even more intense.

He didn't know that Wan Er's soul fragment that he had been looking for was so close to him… So close…

The woman also didn't know that the person she was confused about was breathing the same spiritual energy as her.

In the morning before the grand ceremony, Wang Lin opened his eyes in the underground cave. There was a flash of doubt in his eyes even though a sixth Spell Vein had appeared in his body.

The source of his doubt was a sliver of unease that had appeared in his heart for some unknown reason. This sense of unease caused him to feel doubt.

After silently pondering a bit, Wang Lin got up, walked out of the cave, and appeared in the wooden house. A human figure had appeared in the metal essence and a body had begun to take shape.

"Longer than I expected…" Wang Lin sat down and looked at the metal essence, suppressing the excitement in his heart. When the sun set, Wang Lin looked up and opened his mouth to swallow his five element essences back into his body. He then got up and pushed open the door.

In the sunset, Xuan Luo was standing outside, smiling at Wang Lin.

"You have been in closed door cultivation for three months. You don't have to participate in the grand ceremony tomorrow, but go to the banquet tonight in my place.

"I know you don't like lively places. Just go sit for a while then come back."

Wang Lin hesitated a bit. He really didn't want to go to this banquet, but since his teacher had asked him, Wang Lin nodded.

"Gift this to Ye Dao. Consider it my wedding gift to him." Xuan Luo smiled and handed a gift box to Wang Lin.

After Wang Lin accepted it, he didn't look at it and clasped his hands at Xuan Luo. He flew into the air and flew toward the direction of the Ancient Dao imperial palace.

"After handing him this gift, I'll leave and continue cultivating. My metal essence is about to form its true body, and nothing is more important right now." Wang Lin made up his mind, but at this moment, he felt that sense of unease again.

Wang Lin frowned and looked at the imperial palace in the distance.