Inside the black and white world, the dense grids floated and gleamed as the many world-destroying sword qi crazily gathered momentum.

Each sword qi was coalesced with Zhi Bai's lifelong knowledge. To say that it was the ultimate release of his entire cultivation was no exaggeration.

At this moment, it was as if he was on fire. His qi rumbled like thunder, and in his expression was resolve and insanity.

When it was time to determine the victor of a chess game, there was no going back!

“Now!” resounded a loud shout.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

One sword qi chopped down after another, pulling in all the great dao power in the chess world and manifested visions upon visions. It looked as though the world was about to be destroyed.

Yet, Lin Xun’s reaction was a smile. His pupils were like still water as they reflected the ocean of sword qi in the air.

“I’ve been accumulating momentum just for this moment…” With a soft sigh, he suddenly transformed into a mass of chaos.

The chaos mass was consistent as it took the shape of a furnace and the aura of an abyss. Faintly, a vast and complete world could be seen within, with a sky and the earth, a sun, a moon, and stars in the universe beyond. The four seasons alternated, and things changed…

However, when one tried to look closer, there was nothing but inexplicable chaos!

This was Lin Xun's Great Dao Field being demonstrated in its entirety at this moment.

BOOM!

An earth-shattering noise resounded.

The sky trembled as the sword qi, which were capable of slaying gods, fell from the sky like comets and got engulfed.

Immediately following, the dense black and white grids behind Lin Xun exploded one by one under a destructive devouring power.

“Pfff!” Zhi Bai coughed up blood. His pupils dilated, and his hands and feet went cold as shock and disbelief welled up in him.

How can… How can this be…

The Black and White Chess Game was his perfectly polished skill. It regarded the great dao as a chess world and cultivators as chess pieces. Once trapped inside, it was impossible for the enemy to escape domination and execution.

This was like a mortal playing a chess game against Heaven!

Who had ever seen Heaven lose?

To the chessboard world, Zhi Bai was Heaven!

The fate of everything in it lay in his palm, and he was an unfeeling creator who decided their every move!

Now, however, such ‘Heaven’ had lost…

Rumble!

The black and white board was in turmoil, as if a world was sinking into destruction. That terrifying mass of chaos was like a wide-open mouth that was devouring everything…

Zhi Bai was drenched in cold sweat, and his face was ashen. Every fiber of him was trembling in unwillingness, confusion, and shock.

The Black and White Chess Game was the embodiment of his cultivation. As it was greatly damaged, he also suffered a terrifying backlash.

Scarlet blood seeped out in a flow from the corner of his lips. The bright luster of his eyes also dimmed. His injuries kept getting worse!

However, he seemed oblivious to his condition as he stared fixedly at the destruction, as though he still couldn’t believe that it was truly happening … Ｒ

He only felt that his lifelong quest and pride were collapsing along with the chess world!

“Why…why is my dao so powerless even though we…we are both on the extreme path?! This…this is my chessboard! Ahhh!” murmured Zhi Bai.

Boom!

At this point, the Black and White Chess Game completely crumbled in front of its master’s eyes.

Lin Xun's figure was like the brightest ray of light before dawn as it shot out from the ruins of the chess world. He stopped in the void, looking ethereal as his clothes fluttered.

Seeing this, the crowd who had been anxiously watching the battle of the ages was first startled, and then all revealed astonished expressions.

“He broke out!?” Some were incredulous.

“He placed himself in danger then broke out of it. This is no different from defeating Zhi Bai’s strongest power!” Some gasped.

“Isn’t Lin Xun a little too powerful?! How did he do it?” Some were in a daze.

None of them knew how he had done because the battle had taken place in the Black and White Chess Game. Only Zhi Bai had the answer.

“On the battle of the extreme path, Zhi Bai has already lost…” lamented Mi Wuya.

Among the people present, only a few were taken seriously by him, and Zhi Bai was one of them.

Unfortunately, he had lost.

“Defeated…” Yue Ruhuo's heart tightened.

It was only then did the crowd notice Zhi Bai’s state.

His hair was disheveled, and there were blood stains on his chest. His eyes were dull, his face was deathly pale, and he was staring blankly and quietly as if bewitched.

Everyone instantly realized that the battle of dao had dealt an unimaginably blow to a supreme freak like Zhi Bai!

Yue Ruhuo couldn't help but call out, “Brother Zhi Bai.”

“I've lost…” Zhi Bai smiled bitterly, his aura despondent. He turned toward Lin Xun in the distance. “Your mastery over dao opened up my eyes and my mind as well, Brother Lin. I admit defeat.”

After a pause, he took a deep breath and said, “According to our agreement, you can have anything in my possession, including…my life!”

The field was dead silent as many felt emotional and looked at Lin Xun.

“Brother Lin, since we’ve gotten a clear result, can you…forgive Zhi Bai this once?” Yue Ruhuo had no choice but to plead for his friend.

An expert of his caliber, who was proud and unyielding, would never bow down and beg for mercy unless he absolutely had no other choice.

Apparently, Yue Ruhuo couldn't care less about this anymore.

Lin Xun indifferently said, “You want my fortune, but I’m not interested in taking your life. Since you’ve admitted defeat, I’ll drop this matter if you hand over a treasure and leave this place immediately.”

This request, to the other cultivators, was already very damaging and hard to accept.

After all, they were standing before the Gate of Ruination in the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone. Being made to leave meant that one would miss the opportunity to fight for the chaos treasure!

Who was willing to accept that?

To Zhi Bai, however, this was quite lenient to losing his life. In fact, it surprised him.

“Many thanks, Brother Lin!” Yue Ruhuo had responded before his friend could, “As a sign of sincerity, I will leave with Zhi Bai and no longer participate in the fight for the chaos treasure.”

When his statement came out, the crowd of onlookers was in an uproar!

No one had expected that Yue Ruhuo would make such a decision for Zhi Bai. Such was too hefty a price.

Zhi Bai was stunned. “Brother Yue, you…”

Yue Ruhuo cut him off, “I’ve made my decision.”

Warmth surged in Zhi Bai's heart. He had just suffered a failure that dyed his mentality in a bleak gray, but Yue Ruhuo's action was like a ray of light that shone into his mind, dispelling the gloom and doom.

“My good brother!” Zhi Bai beamed, seeming to have completely emerged from the defeat.

“Brother Lin, please take this.” He took out a small, green jade bottle and tossed it to Lin Xun.

Yue Ruhuo's eyes narrowed at the sight of the bottle, and he immediately laughed, “Looks like you really have recovered. Not bad, not bad at all.”

Zhi Bai cupped his fist toward Lin Xun, then turned to leave as he said to Yue Ruhuo, “Let's go. Us brothers seek neither fame nor fortune, so let's not be an eyesore here.”

“Everything in this world is nothing but passing clouds, only my dao is true. Farewell, Brother Lin,” Yue Ruhuo bid goodbye and left alongside Zhi Bai.

Watching them leave, the emotions of the crowd fluctuated.

Some were glad to have two fewer tricky competitors.

Some were awed that they dared to make such a hard decision to let go. It took real courage!

Mi Wuya suddenly had a premonition. “One day, those two will be present on the road of Emperors.”

Lin Xun murmured as he fiddled with the green jade bottle, “I spared your life merely so the path to certify my dao won’t be too lonely. Hopefully…we will meet again in the future.”

The bottle stored a Guiyuan Merging Dao Pill, which was ranked second on the All Heavens Divine Pill Rankings!

It was rarer than the third ranked Mythical Huang Nine Aperture Pill as it had only appeared during the primeval era, and had been as rarely seen as a myth since.

Zhi Bai had left behind such a priceless treasure to pay for his defeat!

This caught Lin Xun off guard a little and improved his impression of Zhi Bai.

All of a sudden, Tang Su said, “Brother Lin, Zhi Bai and Yue Ruhuo have left. Although you won beautifully, your energy has definitely been consumed. Believe it or not, many people are secretly rejoicing right now.”

With this remark, she once again made the atmosphere in the area become unnatural.

Many secretly gritted their teeth.

Is this damned Tang Su a broadcast horn or what? Why does she have to say out loud the things that should be kept quiet?

“Is that so?” Lin Xun looked around and nonchalantly said, “If that's the case, then I don’t mind killing a few idiots.”

His tone was casual, but the attitude was domineering.

He had been bold when he had first arrived, and after going through a great battle, he was still just as bold. This caused some to frown in suspicion.

Does this fellow not know how to restrain his arrogance?

Or is he really not worried about the dangers he will face due to his lack of energy?

However, no matter what their thoughts were like, no one dared to respond to Lin Xun's challenge!

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The tragic defeat of Zhi Bai had let them understand much better how powerful and terrifying Lin Xun was. No one would be so stupid as to cross him again.

Upon seeing this result, Lin Xun withdrew his gaze and sat down cross-legged. Consuming a divine pill, he began to meditate.

The previous battle had indeed used up a lot of his physical strength but not to a serious degree. Therefore, he wasn't worried even if another person jumped out to provoke him.

With the passage of time, calm was restored to the area around the Gate of Ruination.

The experts were scattered in different areas, waiting silently while remaining alert of their surroundings.

Some talked via voice transmission, seemingly discussing their plans.

Lin Xun didn’t bother to care about what was happening around him.

“Hahaha! Brother Lin, ah, Brother Lin, I finally know your true origin.”

Half an hour later, there was suddenly a loud laugh coming from the distance. Everyone looked over and saw a hemp-clothed Xuan Jiuyin arrive with a big grin.

With an indolent and unserious manner, he ignored the various gazes on him and walked straight toward Lin Xun.

Lin Xun cast him a glance. “I'm a remnant of Fangchun Mountain. Are you not worried you’ll get implicated?”

After the competition in the Mythical Huang Secret Realm had come to a close, Xuan Jiuyin had faced the aggressive questioning of Emperor Fire Spirit. In response, he had spoken out righteously to fight on Lin Xun's behalf.

It had surprised Lin Xun, who hadn’t expected at all that such a carefree fellow who liked to watch the bustle from the sidelines would go out of his way to defend him in that situation.

Although that appeared like Xuan Jiuyin not knowing his place at all, how could Lin Xun not appreciate it?

“What’s the big deal about being a member of Fangchun Mountain? Even if you’re a demonic villain who is hated by both gods and devils, I, a brave and righteous son of the Xuan Family, will never be afraid!” declared Xuan Jiuyin cheerfully as he plopped down next to Lin Xun.