Chapter 1409 Something from Nothing

"Yes, acknowledge."

The mysterious woman said, "Countless eons have passed since I became the gatekeeper, but until now, only a single person has come close to opening the door."

A look of reminiscence flashed in the mysterious woman's eyes. "It was a long, long time ago. I remember he was a proud and dashing sword cultivator who overcame the nine trials of the Great Azure Cloud Path with Supreme King stage cultivation...

"His talent and ability were in no way below yours. When he pushed the Omega Door, it rumbled incessantly, and the true sound of the dao descended. Back then, I had believed that he would be the one who would finally step through...

"However, when the door finally cracked open slightly, he suddenly started coughing blood and was forced to stop.

"When he left, he shook his head and said that it was impossible to open because the time wasn’t right."

At this point, the mysterious woman sighed softly. "It was truly...a shame."

Lin Xun’s expression couldn’t help but change and he asked, "Who was he?"

The mysterious woman uttered a name, "Xuan Shangchen.

"He didn’t belong to this world or this era. If my calculations are correct, he is from the same time period as the primeval era generation of this world."

Xuan Shangchen!

It was an extremely unfamiliar name to Lin Xun.

Moreover, the fact that he was likely born in the primeval era and was from another world made him feel even more distant to Lin Xun.

The mysterious woman suddenly said, "Remember this surname. You might meet descendants of this clan when you head to the Ancient Nebula Road in the future. Xuan is a word that signifies mystery and wonder. It is a surname that not just any ordinary clan would dare to take on."

Lin Xun was taken aback and nodded to indicate he understood.

The mysterious woman asked, "Now, do you wish to challenge the trials?"

"Sure."

Lin Xun nodded. He could still recall the time in the West Infinity World of the Ancient Wasteland Domain where he had passed the sixth trial of Great Azure Cloud Path and obtained the second halves of the Mystery Grotto Devour Wilderness Scripture and the Heavenly Yuan Blade Art.

Back then, the mysterious woman had said he would be able to challenge the final three trials after reaching the Supreme King stage.

The final three trials were Burning Realm, Dao Breaking, and Self Realization!

If it weren't for the fact that he was in the Supreme Realm when he reached the Supreme King stage, he would have challenged the trials long ago.

However, it wasn’t too late to do so now.

"The 7th trial is called Burning Realm, where one’s essence, qi, and spirit will be burned..."

A strange, gorgeous rain of fiery light suddenly appeared above the Great Azure Cloud Path and enveloped Lin Xun.

In the next instant, he found himself in a world of fire.

There were raging flames as far as the eye could see, donning magnificent colors such as indigo, crimson, golden, dark blue, silver, white...

Rumble~

As soon as Lin Xun appeared, the surging flames suddenly transformed into god-like phantasms that pulsed with terrifying power.

The mysterious woman's voice echoed, "They are the phantasm forms of these divine flames. There are a total of one hundred and eight of them and the trial will be complete when all of them are killed. The faster you complete it, the better the reward."

Lin Xun nodded. In the next instant, his eyes flashed fiercely, and his aura flared up as he attacked without hesitation.

Swoosh!

With his seventh longevity tribulation Supreme King stage strength, he swiftly took out one of the phantasms with a single punch, turning it into light particles that rained down from the sky.

However, a strange scene soon followed. Instead of disappearing, the light particles gathered together again to reform the phantasm.

Oh?

Lin Xun's eyes narrowed, realizing that the trial wasn’t as simple as he had imagined.

Rumble!

He stepped forward and struck the phantom again, instantly blowing it apart. However, it reformed again in a flash.

It was as if it was unkillable!

However, Lin Xun noticed that its aura had weakened a little after being killed twice.

He immediately centered himself, rushed into the horde of phantasms, and began fighting with all of his might.

The phantasms were clearly not on the same level as Lin Xun and thus didn’t pose a big threat to him.

In the time it took to brew a cup of tea, all of the phantasms in the world of fire were eliminated. All that remained were the fiery specks of light raining down from the sky.

In the next instant, Lin Xun reappeared on the Great Azure Cloud Path, and the mysterious woman said, "You’ve passed, do you wish to continue?"

Lin Xun nodded.

"The 8th trial is called Dao Breaking and tests one’s mastery over the dao...."

As her voice sounded, Lin Xun vanished and appeared in a room.

The room contained a single desk with a large sheet of paper atop it and a brush to the side.

"A piece of paper can be akin to a world. With the dao as ink, create a world that can propagate endlessly like a never-ending cycle and you will have passed."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xun stepped forward and fell into deep thought.

The trial appeared simple, but was anything but simple!

The dao was like the sky. Only by diligently pursuing the dao would a cultivator be able to freely wield its power.

In this test, one needed to display one’s understanding and mastery of the dao through the medium of brush and paper!

If one’s understanding was too low, it would be impossible to reach the stage of containing an eternally propagating world on a piece of paper.

After a long silence, Lin Xun picked up the brush and began his work.

Omm!

The essence of the dao surged out from his heart and poured into his brush. With each steady stroke, a giant abyss gradually appeared on the paper.

Next, the abyss took on the colors of black and white and slowly began to revolve. Then, the powers of fire and water began to dance along with the flowing vortex, creating a cycle that reflected the harmony of water and fire...

Subsequently, the cry of a true dragon rang out from the bottom of the abyss while the Immortal aura flowed and hummed outside the abyss, blending into a beat that signified eternity...

Lin Xun was completely immersed in his ‘drawing,’ as more and more of his understanding and comprehension of the dao emerged with each brushstroke

The blank piece of paper gradually changed into the embryo of a world as numerous transformations occurred.

When Lin Xun finally put down the brush, the paper vanished with a strange rumble as a magnificent world appeared before him.

The world circulated like a mighty abyss that swallowed everything around it. It gave off the sensation of suppressing all things and hummed with the rhythm of eternity...

Enlightenment blossomed in Lin Xun’s heart and mind.

The dao was the source from which the world was built, and the ultimate power that cultivators sought was hidden amidst the mysteries of the world’s circulation.

If one’s heart could contain the universe, one would have power over the universe!

If one could one day build a world with one’s own power, creating order, cycle, and all possible matter, would one be any different from the Supreme Creator?

Lin Xun's heart trembled as a window had suddenly been opened, and he could now see an extremely sublime stage of cultivation!

It was a realm where power wasn’t used to achieve magical feats, but instead was used to create and destroy!

To create something from nothing, to be the founder of life and death!

This was what it meant to ‘create something from nothing.’

Lin Xun wasn’t aware that this was a realm very few people would reach even among the Emperor stage!

Now that he had seen it, although he was still far from reaching it, he knew that this was one of the goals he sought.

As long as he persevered, it was a realm he would one day attain.

With this crucial comprehension, he would no longer become lost and go astray on his future cultivation path!

"Trial passed."

When the mysterious woman's voice sounded again, Lin Xun had returned to the Great Azure Cloud Path. However, his entire mindset was now different from before.

"I didn't expect you to understand it so quickly."

The mysterious woman revealed a rare hint of surprise and emotion.

She had evidently noticed the change in Lin Xun after completing the ‘drawing’ and knew that he had seen the legendary ‘something from nothing’ realm.

Lin Xun cupped his hands together, "Thank you, Elder."

"No need to thank me, you passed through your own enlightenment."

The mysterious woman shook her head and said, "You should sit down and meditate. It won’t hurt to first reflect on your enlightenment before continuing."

Lin Xun nodded and sat down with his legs crossed.

There were many things he needed to digest, absorb, and make his own.

The mysterious woman observed him from afar, unable to calm her heart. She had seen Lin Xun’s drawing; it wasn't that impressive.

She was, however, surprised by how Lin Xun had sensed the legendary realm of ‘something from nothing’ while he was drawing.

"Perhaps, he might truly be able to open the door?"

The mysterious woman's emotions swirled as she became lost in thought.

She could still remember that even Xuan Shangchen had not seen even a small corner of that legendary realm like Lin Xun!

In other words, Lin Xun was the first to achieve this since she became the gatekeeper.

It was so unusual that the mysterious woman found herself unable to calm down for a time.

To create something out of nothing and become the founder of life and death. It was a realm that was akin to a taboo!

A few hours later, Lin Xun awoke with a refreshed mind that was as clear as the sky.

He rose to his feet, let out a long breath, and said, "It's time to begin."

"The ninth trial is called Self Realization. When you enter, you will undergo reincarnation in another capacity. In that reincarnation, you will no longer be you. To pass, you need to see 'yourself' in the reincarnation."

The mysterious woman's words were rather cryptic and made Lin Xun frown slightly. After some time passed, he nodded. "I understand."

Omm!

The mysterious woman didn't say anything else. Beautiful and dreamy haze-like light appeared on the Great Azure Cloud Path and swallowed Lin Xun.

In the next moment, he vanished.

Meanwhile, the mysterious woman revealed a hint of curiosity. "I’m interested to see how you will perform and survive. I wonder if you’ll be able to maintain a little clarity and find yourself..."