Chapter 2018: The Last Three Days

Mount Heedless vanished, leaving the world suddenly vast and empty.

Jintian Xuanyue, Leng Xiujia, and Xie Yuhua sat down in different areas and went into a meditative state, preparing for their breakthroughs.

There was only ten days left until this trip to the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone came to an end, but Jintian Xuanyue and the others had yet to break through to the Supreme Quasi-Emperor Stage.

If they were to leave like that, it would undoubtedly be a waste of the perfect opportunity to breakthrough into the Supreme Quasi-Emperor Stage.

After all, the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone’s great dao law power protected cultivators from the taboo calamity that struck down from the depths of the sky during their breakthroughs!

Lin Xun and Ling Kezi were standing in the distance.

Ling Kezi had already returned the spoils to Lin Xun.

In the earthshaking battle before the Gate of Ruination, Lin Xun had taken down more than twenty peerless figures, including some with powerful backgrounds such as Wen Yu and Feng Beiling.

This also meant that the spoils collected by Ling Kezi were abundant and amazing, and there were as many as sixteen Emperor-grade treasures!

It included battle spears, dao swords, battle blades and divine seals...all of which were incredible and far superior to ordinary Emperor-grade treasures.

In addition, there were many storage treasures that were filled with huge numbers of elixirs, precious herbs and rare ingredients…

Not only were the number of items remarkable, but their value was also astonishing!

After checking the spoils, Lin Xun handed two of the Emperor-grade treasures and a storage bag brimming with an assortment of treasures to Ling Kezi. “I can’t let you work for nothing. These are for you.”

Ling Kezi firmly declined the offer, “Brother Lin, this will harm me instead. If I accept these treasures, I will definitely be targeted by the powerful forces behind the owners of the treasures the moment I step out of the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone.” After a pause, he added, “Only you, Brother Lin, are unafraid of anything. So, you should take them back.”

Lin Xun was taken aback for a moment, then he uttered with an awkward smile, “Do you mean I am up to my ears in debt so there is no point in worrying or I am covered with lice and don’t feel the itch anymore?”

Ling Kezi looked embarrassed. “I...am just telling the truth. After all, those Emperor-grade treasures all have amazing origins. They are either the precious treasure of a sect or the powerful weapon of a major clan. Ordinary people...wouldn’t dare to claim them as their own.”

Lin Xun did not force him and just put away the treasures. “In ten days, we will have to leave the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone. If you hang around with me now, I’m worried that you will be dragged into danger when you leave...”

Before Lin Xun could finish, Ling Kezi stood up taller and reassured him, “Brother Lin, don’t worry. I’m not afraid of being implicated.”

His voice was full of confidence.

“Good.” Lin Xun looked at Ling Kezi, deep in thought.

He thought of Xuan Jiuyin, who had never been afraid about associating with him, but Xuan Jiuyin had the support of the Xuan Clan.

What about Ling Kezi? Where did he get his confidence from?

Lin Xun shook his head. The monk was too tight-lipped. He would not find out anything even if he questioned him directly.

In the sky, a foreboding dark cloud suddenly formed, and a terrifying taboo aura quietly spread outward from it.

Sitting cross-legged in meditation, Jintian Xuanyue snapped open her eyes.

She was about to face her tribulation!

Almost at the same time, a mysterious great dao law power surged between heaven and earth, rising into the sky to engulf the taboo tribulation aura.

Seeing this, Lin Xun retracted his gaze. Under such circumstances, given Jintian Xuanyue’s talent and foundation, she would have no trouble in breaking through into the Quasi-Emperor Stage.

“Brother Lin, when you leave the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone, your identity will no doubt be exposed and everything you have done here will be known to the Emperors waiting outside. Aren’t you worried?” Ling Kezi couldn’t help but ask.

Lin Xun appeared too calm, as if he had not a single worry.

“Would worrying help?” asked Lin Xun

Ling Kezi was stumped by the question.

“Don’t worry, when enemies come, I will resist; when a flood comes, I will block it with earth.” Lin Xun’s dark eyes were calm and unfathomable.

He thought of what his Third Senior Sister Ruosu once told him: As long as he could get ahold of the chaos treasure, it did not matter even if his identity was exposed.

This gave him the reassurance that his senior brothers and sisters of Fangchun Mountain...would not sit idly by and watch him suffer.

Similarly, Lin Xun had plenty of trump cards in his hands, so even if he encountered great perils, he was confident that he could escape unscathed!

“Brother Lin.” Ling Kezi took a deep breath and said, “Didn’t you want to know what I saw in you?”

He seemed to have made his decision.

Lin Xun narrowed his dark eyes slightly, staring at Ling Kezi’s serious face, and he couldn’t help but chuckle, “About that…we can talk about that later.”

Ling Kezi was taken aback then he couldn’t help but say anxiously, “But what if something unexpected happens to you when you leave the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone, wouldn’t it...”

“Yes, if something happens to me, what’s the point of knowing about it? So, you should pray that nothing happens to me.”

Lin Xun grinned and tapped Ling Kezi on the forehead.

Ling Kezi scratched his head, confused.

Could it be that he knows that I would suffer terrible consequences if I told others about what I had seen?

Or is he worried that knowing about it would affect his state of mind?

“Stop looking so troubled. Once I survive this impending calamity, I will sit down and have a good talk with you.”

Lin Xun couldn’t help but tap Ling Kezi on the forehead again. The monk who looked like a little boy had gentle features and an innocent expression, making him quite endearing.

……

One day later.

Jintian Xuanyue successfully broke through and reached the Supreme Quasi-Emperor Stage. Her aura had completely transformed, becoming more ethereal and cold, like a fairy of an ice mountain—stunningly beautiful, as if she had stepped out of a painting.

Three days later.

Leng Xiujia also successfully broke through.

Seven days later.

Xie Yuhua also made a breakthrough.

If this happened in the outside world, it would definitely cause a huge uproar and attract countless attention. After all, it was incredibly difficult to set foot into the Supreme Quasi-Emperor Stage.

However, in the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone, as long as one had a strong foundation, it was a breeze to break through!

In fact, almost everyone who was still alive in the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone was breaking through one after another, advancing to the Supreme Quasi-Emperor Stage.

These days, Lin Xun maintained a clear state of mind, comprehending and honing his own cultivation, and he encountered no further troubles or accidents.

Meanwhile, in the outside world, a storm was brewing.

……

“Only three days left…”

The sigh of Taishu Hong, the leader of Mythical Huang Dao Court, was full of emotions.

They had all been waiting outside all this time. Although they could not pry into the situation in the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone, they could roughly infer what was happening from the extinguished life lamps.

At this point, all twelve core disciples of the Primordial Dao Court who entered the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone had been wiped out.

Of the nineteen people from the Heaven and Earth Dao Court, only two were left.

Of the fifteen Panwu Dao Court disciples, nine were left.

In addition, the Mythical Huang Dao Court only had eight disciples still alive out of the seventeen who entered.

All-Demon Dao Court…

Almost half of the core disciples from the Great Six Courts had been killed; the disciples from Primordial Dao Court and the Heaven and Earth Dao Court were almost completely wiped out!

This was enough to highlight the danger and brutal battles within the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone.

Right now, only twenty-nine life lamps were still burning!

This was a number that would send the world trembling.

It should be noted that, although there were only one hundred and eight experts who entered the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone, each of them was regarded as an elite of the Supreme Saint-King Stage. However, only twenty nine of them were still standing. The casualties were undoubtedly severe!

In recent days, the big shots of the Emperor Stage all had somber looks on their faces and did not say a single word.

Taishu Hong knew that those old fellows were all suppressing the emotions in their hearts.

“Yes, there are only three days left…”

Emperor Fire Spirit also sighed, “Let’s not talk about the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone. Just the area near the Mount of Clouds alone is already brewing with tension, like a storm ready to break.”

All the Emperors’ expressions subtly changed.

All eyes in the world were on the chaos treasure, and in the shadows, countless old monsters were watching the movements in the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone.

No one knew what kind of storm would erupt when the competition in the Ancient Immortal Forbidden Zone ended in three days!

However, there was no doubt that a storm would break out.

It was unknown who would be the hunter and who would be the prey by then.

“Say, how many people of our generation have already gathered near the Mount of Clouds right now?” Ultimate Seal Battle Emperor of Primordial Dao Court suddenly asked.

“It’s going to be a huge storm, how would those like-minded cultivators not want to join in?” someone chuckled.

“Are all the people there like-minded? Not necessarily,” someone said coldly.

“Regardless of who wants to join in this storm, they must first weigh the consequences,” Emperor Fire Spirit said proudly.

In a faraway quiet valley.

The game between the old monk and the black-robed young man had reached its most intense stage. Yet neither of them appeared particularly nervous; they remained as calm and tranquil as ever.

“Emperor Fire Spirit of the Heaven and Earth Dao Court has a really poor memory. If those wandering souls from Fangchun Mountain come, why would they need to weigh the ‘consequences’ first? Does she think she is the one playing chess?” The black-robed young man sneered.

He wore a lotus crown on his head and was dressed in a black robe, looking like a teenager, but his eyes were filled with the weight of years and the vicissitudes of life.

Emperor Ancestor Shenxu of the Holy Illumination Ancient Sect did not mask his disdain.

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

“It’s hard to say who is the chess piece and who is the chess player. This storm is full of variables, and the chess pieces may sometimes become chess players.” The old monk said calmly, his thin face etched with wrinkles.

He was dressed in a simple monk robe. But in the Ancient Nebula Underworld, the mere mention of his name could make the world go pale—Emperor Ancestor Niekong!

Emperor Ancestor Shenxu picked up a chess piece and said thoughtfully, “Not to mention anything else, this huge setup is likely going to lead to another Dao War of Emperors. Fellow Daoist, are you ready for it?”

Emperor Ancestor Niekong nodded. “Do your best and leave the rest to fate. If I succeed, it’s my luck. If I fail, it’s my fate.”

“I agree.” Emperor Ancestor Shenxu smiled. “But I am different from you in one respect.”

“Oh?” Emperor Ancestor Niekong asked, “What’s different?”

“I will risk my life for that chaos treasure.” As Emperor Ancestor Shenxu stated, he lightly set the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard.

He spoke indifferently, but his words made Emperor Ancestor Niekong raise his brows. “In that case, I look forward to seeing your brilliance.”