Chen Linkong!

If Lin Xun were here, he would definitely recognize this peerlessly refined figure who resembled a deity.

Back then, in the Burning Immortal World in the Supreme Realm, he and Toady had run into this man who called himself Burning Immortal Chen Linkong.

It had been in a palace situated in a canyon, and through this man, Toady had learned that his ancestor had been one of the one hundred and eight divine generals under Chen Linkong.

It was also then and there that Toady had acquired an opportunistic fortune.

Meanwhile, one thing that Chen Linkong had said had still left a deep impression on Lin Xun.

“You remind me of the Star Annihilation Battle Emperor, but obviously, you are different from the Star Annihilation Battle Emperor and your path is also destined to be different from his. I look forward to seeing what kind of path you would walk.”

At that time, Lin Xun’s reply was:

“I was very lucky to meet a golden cicada some time ago and chatted with it. It also said something similar.”

Chen Linkong then asked,

“Then did the golden cicada not tell you what price you have to pay to walk a unique path to the world?”

Lin Xun answered,

“It only said that the laws of fate are like an illusion and as empty as anything. It is best to follow your heart and desires. But if you persist obstinately, then you will fall to a lower level and oppose the great dao.”

[1]

That conversation had practically announced that Chen Linkong not only knew Star Annihilation Battle Emperor but also the golden cicada.

Unfortunately, Lin Xun wasn't here, or else he would have definitely asked Chen Linkong about Star Annihilation Battle Emperor.

As for the girl, she had never heard of Burning Immortal Chen Linkong at all. Anyway, she wouldn’t have cared much even if she had.

For in her world, there was only room for one person, Lin Xun.

The girl was naturally Xia Zhi.

Feeling a gentle flow of vitality continuously pouring into her, Xia Zhi stopped struggling and sank into silence.

The atmosphere became a little dull, but Chen Linkong wasn’t bothered by it and only smiled faintly.

Immediately, however, his brows furrowed, and there was a flash of suspicion in his eyes.

The girl in front of him was badly injured, but her condition was still something that he supposedly could easily repair.

Yet, he keenly sensed an extremely obscure power deep behind all her wounds!

This mysterious power was beyond horrifying as it was like many chains that lurked within her body and firmly bound down her life essence!

“What kind of power is this that can sneak into a person's life essence? Doesn't this mean that this child’s fate has long been altered?

“Could this be…a power that can tamper with a fate destined by Heaven?” Chen Linkong was startled by the unexpected finding.

The power of life was most mysterious and abstract as it was capable of carrying the weight of the almighty dao and prompting cultivators to grow time and time again.

The nature of life was known as fate, which was regarded as the course that a person was destined to go through.

The so-called fortune-telling was to deduce one’s fate and probe one’s destined course, thereby peeking into their whole life.

However, this art of fortune telling was only applicable to mortals.

In the eyes of cultivators, the power of life was as unfathomable and impenetrable as the heavenly laws. When cultivators diligently sought to transform and break through, they were in fact metamorphosing their own lives into something higher.

It was precisely because of such metamorphoses that made the life of a cultivator full of variables. As such, wanting to deduce their fate and destiny was a very difficult task.

In short, anything that was related to the changes in life could be called the dao of fate.

To cultivators, the dao of fate, like the dao of time, was a supreme dao that was almost ungraspable!

As far as Chen Linkong knew, only upon reaching the Emperor Ancestor Stage could one barely touch the means of fate divination, which still couldn’t even be considered the start of researching the grand dao of fate.

The current situation, however, was that the girl in front of him carried in her a mysterious power that enveloped her entire life essence like a prison. This was beyond inconceivable!

“Could it be that a great expert who could control the Law Power of Fate has tampered with her destiny?”

At the thought of this, Chen Linkong looked at Xia Zhi completely differently, with a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

“The golden cicada invited me here, he must know something. Let’s not take the liberty of probing into it…”

In the end, Chen Linkong decided against testing out the power that was like a shackle in Xia Zhi.

As a matter of fact, he didn't dare to mess around this kind of power that involved a person's fate. Otherwise, it would definitely produce unpredictable variables.

“I see...” He soon made a new discovery.

Xia Zhi’s injuries were so fatal that she had been on the verge of dying and her vitality was slipping away, but under Chen Linkong's watchful eye, the power chaining her life essence suddenly sent out strands of miraculous force that surged into different parts of her body.

Right away, her broken shell seemed to be nourished all over and started recovering in silence.

Even her vitality that had been drying out showed a tendency to come to life again

In just a quarter of an hour, a drastic change had occurred to the dying girl right before Chen Linkong's eyes.

Not only had her wounds healed, but her entity had also undergone a whole transformation, now gushing with strange and unpredictable power fluctuations.

Sure enough. The average cultivator would have been long gone with such a serious injury, but she instead achieved nirvana and even metamorphosed on the brink of death, all thanks to the mysterious power that tethers her life essence…

No wonder she’s been able to fight nonstop with only a spear in this barren world of nothing but great perils…

To her, that mysterious shackle may just be an inexhaustible treasure trove that lets her transcend and improve in the face of death.

At this moment, Chen Linkong finally understood what was going on. He couldn’t help marveling at the power of fate!

It was so magical, unfathomable, and almost mythical!

From beginning to end, Xia Zhi was as quiet as a rock. She wasn’t at all aware of the amazing occurrence in her body that was shocking even Burning Immortal Chen Linkong.

When she finally felt that she had completely recovered, she silently got up. Carrying the bone spear, she headed toward the gray horizon alone.

Before leaving, she only said two words, “Thank you.”

She was frugal with them as if they were made of gold.

Chen Linkong, however, was not upset. Watching her walking away, an inexplicable pity suddenly welled up in his heart.

What was she fighting this never-ending battle for?

“Isn't it interesting?” suddenly rang a gentle and clear voice.

“You asked me to come here just to show me the power of fate? Honestly, it's not like I've never seen someone who can wield the Law Power of Fate before.” Chen Linkong already knew that it was the golden cicada without even having to turn his head.

Hemp-clothed and barefooted, the golden cicada youth was as ethereal as ever.

He gazed at Xia Zhi's delicate figure in the distance and said, “Your surname is Chen, so it's not strange that you have seen someone who can control the power of fate. But you have to know that she's not the only one on the Ancient Nebula Road whose destiny has been altered against the will of Heaven.”

Chen Linkong revealed a surprised look, “Who else?”

The golden cicada youth casually replied, “The Lin Xun she spoke of.”

“So it's him.” Chen Linkong then suddenly remembered something and asked, “So Fangchun Mountain won?”

The golden cicada youth nodded. “Nameless Esteemed Emperor has been defeated. You, I, or any of those fellows in the nebula who aspire to travel to the other side of the cosmos will have Fangchun Mountain to thank for this favor, whether we like it or not.”

Chen Linkong sighed, “The ‘Eldest Senior Brother’ of Fangchun Mountain…is indeed an extraordinary character. In the past, I would never have believed that there could be someone of his caliber on the Ancient Nebula Road.”

The golden cicada youth said, “Let's go.”

Chen Linkong turned toward the departing Xia Zhi with curiosity. “Don't be in such a hurry. Can you tell me why that child insists on battling without stopping here?”

The golden cicada youth thought about it a little and decided not to hide it. “Where we are is regarded as the ‘source of calamities’ of the Underworld, and also known as the Law Extinction Zone. However, very few know that the calamities filling this place actually come from the other side of the cosmos.”

Chen Linkong nodded as he seemed to understand right away. “I see. No wonder I've seen some starry sky beasts that don't belong to this world.”

The golden cicada youth continued, “She is here to fight and prevent those starry sky beasts from descending to the world simply because she must, otherwise, they will hunt down someone who she regards as more important than even her own life.”

Chen Linkong raised his brows. “Lin Xun?”

The golden cicada youth nodded.

Chen Linkong felt a burst of emotions. He asked, “Does that boy know about this?”

The golden cicada youth seemed to evade the question. “This is the most treacherous Law Extinction Zone of the Underworld where vitality doesn’t exist and everything withers. Only the power she wields can easily tear apart this realm’s Law Power to create an entrance.

“After entering here, she is to face endless calamities and battles. If no one helps to resolve them, then she will have to spend her entire life here.”

Chen Linkong's eyes flickered. “You're not going to help?”

The golden cicada youth shook his head, “Whoever starts it should be the one to end it. Even if we take her away, do you believe that she will return?”

Chen Linkong asked, “What if we help her eradicate the calamities?”

The golden cicada youth sighed softly, “It's impossible. Like with the taboo tribulation power, their source is on the other side of the cosmos.”

Then, he turned and walked off. “Let's go.”

Chen Linkong, after taking one last look at that solitary figure walking between heaven and earth, also turned to leave with a long sigh.

Against the gray backdrop, Xia Zhi traveled alone. The brim of her hat covered her beauty as she remained ever silent.

However, right after the golden cicada youth and Chen Linkong left, her pace slightly lurched, and her clear, unadulterated eyes looked up at the sky.

A thought echoed in her mind.

They mentioned your name… It seems that you are still alive… Then…I’m relieved…

A smile, even though very faint, alighted on the corners of her lips.

This was her first smile during all these years in this place.

1. See chapter 1148 for that interaction between Lin Xun and Chen Linkong ☜