Three months!

Defeating thirty-five primeval experts’ will forces in three months!

Upon receiving the news, Qing Ying, the drunkard, and Big Yellow who had been waiting outside Dark Hidden Purgatory were dumbstruck.

“I’m not dreaming, am I? Or is that lad Spirit Martial messing around with us?!” clamored Big Yellow, itching to rush into Dark Hidden Purgatory to see for itself.

Over the last three months, the gray-robed man, who was also known as Spirit Martial Battle Emperor, had sent out details of Lin Xun’s journey in the Dao Forbidden Tract every ten days.

Every time, it had gotten Big Yellow’s heart to palpitate and jaw to drop.

Now that it had heard that Lin Xun was only one step away from breaking out of the Dao Forbidden Tract, the yellow dog felt as if a hundred claws were scratching at its heart. It had this urgent need to verify the truth with its own eyes.

“Spirit Martial wouldn't dare to lie about such matters. Don't forget that all of this information is going to be presented to the lord later. How would he dare to falsify it?” The drunkard inhaled deeply, his voice serious. “No matter what, it's expected that for Lin Xun, success or failure hinges on this one last battle!”

Qing Ying inexplicably grew nervous.

She had read many ancient records and learned that the most terrifying existence in that Dao Forbidden Tract was a force of will that had taken on the form of a tripod cauldron.

Back then, the Lord of Copper Sparrow House had also suffered from its domination, but in the end, he had managed to walk out of the Dao Forbidden Tract using some unknown method.

Qing Ying certainly hoped that Lin Xun could pass through as smoothly as his second senior brother, but her heart was ultimately disquieted.

“So, we can only wait here…” lamented Big Yellow.

It really wanted to go and have a look, but unfortunately, its current strength wouldn’t allow it to enter the first nine floors.

……

In a certain secret realm.

Zhong Qiu was stunned as he looked at the latest news delivered to him.

Three months?

The second he read it, there was a surge of surprise in his heart as well as it was completely beyond his prediction.

To be precise, it caught him off guard that his junior brother Lin Xun would be able to perform even better than he had imagined!

“Time marches on, and things are not the same anymore. The you of that year probably wouldn't be able to stand proud in front of Lin Xun at all,” said Xi indifferently who sat next to him. Her delicate figure was draped in a mysterious rain of light, ethereal and holy like a dream.

Her remark was undoubtedly to taunt Zhong Qiu.

However, an unruffled Zhong Qiu smiled. “If he is only comparable to the me back then, then how could he have qualified to become the last disciple of Fangchun Mountain?”

After a pause, he continued, “Also, the better he performs, the more pride I take in him. After all, I’m his second senior brother.”

His calm voice displayed his usual prideful attitude.

Xi glanced at him and asked, “Is this your approval of him?”

Zhong Qiu avoided the topic and simply said, “When I was in the Dao Forbidden Tract, I had to pay a hefty price to deal with a cauldron will force, only to end up just getting recognition and the permission to leave that place. I actually hope that he will defeat that cauldron.”

Xi hit where it hurt, “To clear your shame?”

Zhong Qiu was astounded for a moment before he replied, “This is just a test.”

Xi smiled faintly. “He can definitely help you hold your head up high.”

“What do you mean by ‘help’?” Zhong Qiu felt his pride being challenged. “That’s just his due diligence as my junior brother.”

Xi couldn't help but laugh.

This proud fellow has a tough mouth.

……

Inside the Dao Forbidden Tract.

A meditating Lin Xun suddenly opened his eyes, and there he saw his last opponent – A large tripod cauldron.

It had three feet, two handles, and a shiny bronze luster. The mouth spewed chaos qi. Floating in the air, it emanated a dominating might that stretched across heavens!

Lin Xun stopped breathing for a moment.

What kind of terrifying primeval expert did a will force like this belong to?

It was so powerful that a mere glance at it struck horror into one’s mind and suppressed one’s will, creating the feeling of utter despair!

“I can give you time to recover to your peak condition,” a voice devoid of any emotions came out from the cauldron will force.

This was also the first intelligent one Lin Xun had encountered here, and it still had the form of an object at that!

After some silence, Lin Xun stood up and said, “There's no need. The ninth floor awaits me after I defeat you.”

The cauldron hovered in the air, its surface shining with billions of streaming auras. It looked infinitely close to the supreme heavenly principle, unimaginably powerful.

“For forever, no one has been able to defeat me,” it replied calmly, as if stating a perfectly normal fact.

“But this is only the eighth floor. As far as I know, the Dark Hidden Purgatory has eighteen levels.” Lin Xun's expression was unperturbed and showed no emotions.

“Anyone who possesses the cultivation of the Emperor Stage will be transferred directly to the nine floors below. Over these countless years, none of those who passed through this place was a match for me.” The cauldron didn’t seem bugged by Lin Xun’s remark as its tone remained flat like this was just a chat.

This was undoubtedly an attitude of absolute conceit.

“Wasn't there one in the primeval era?” said Lin Xun casually. He was referring to his second senior brother Zhong Qiu.

The cauldron replied, “That person did not defeat me; he merely gained my approval.”

Lin Xun was stumped for once.

So back then, my second senior brother actually…didn’t defeat this tripod cauldron?

“Then…” Lin Xun suddenly looked up with a faint smile. “How about I be the first person to defeat you since ‘forever’?”

The question caused the cauldron will force to fall silent for a good while before it finally spoke again, “Starting now, I will give you the opportunity to fight me.”

Lin Xun laughed, “You didn't give it to me; I took the initiative to seize it. Don’t get this mixed up.”

Inwardly, he knew very well that from the moment the big cauldron had opened its mouth, every word coming from it had been a kind of invisible suppression!

If he had agreed to its offer and taken time to recover before starting the battle, then it would undoubtedly be the same as doubting his own strength with the thought that he couldn’t possibly be a match for it in his immediate condition!

As long as this thought was manifested and put into action, then even if his energy was restored to its peak state, his state of mind and will wouldn’t be.

This applied for the rest of their conversation.

The cauldron appeared to have no intention to fight the whole time, but once Lin Xun showed the slightest hint of fear, hesitation, concession, or feeling that he was having a fluke through his words and tone, it would invisibly affect his mindset!

That was why he had acted domineering. It was a kind of outward attitude, and he was in a silent battle of wills and minds.

It was much more menacing and hard to defend against than one of pure exchanges of blows!

Therefore, Lin Xun had no intention to give the cauldron a chance to open its mouth again. He attacked right away.

Boom!

He took a step forward like a demon god setting out. His mind and will were unprecedentedly focused and coalesced. They gave off the same vibe as the perfect full moon in a clear sky.

“You are not half bad. Your mind and will are both impeccable. However, you simply don't understand yet what ‘a will’ truly means.”

When the voice of the cauldron resounded, the scene in front of Lin Xun suddenly shifted.

He felt as if he was imprisoned in a boundless abyss. All around him was emptiness. There were no boundaries, no sky, no earth. There was nothing!

“This is the power of will. Without a sound, I can oppress and influence your mind, making you fall into my volitional world.”

The voice of the cauldron echoed in the world of nothingness. It was indistinct and devoid of emotional undulation, like the Creator announcing its order.

Lin Xun looked around and carefully perceived it, only to find that it was impossible to figure out any loopholes in what was supposed to be an illusory realm.

His expression instantly became grave to the extreme, and he sensed a serious threat.

Volitional world?

Lin Xun indeed didn't understand it at all.

This let him realize how terrifying the cauldron will force was!

It was also at this moment that the voice of the cauldron sounded once again, “In my eyes, you are an ant.”

The next second, Lin Xun found that he had really transformed into a tiny ant, who looked utterly fragile among the vastness of this space.

Had he not braced himself in advance, this occurrence alone would have caught him off guard and caused turmoil in his mental state.

A large hand appeared and pinched Ant Lin Xun between the tips of two fingers. In this instant, breathing became difficult as his entirety was subjected to unprecedented squeezing. It felt as though he would be crushed to death at any time!

Yet, even in such a perilous situation, Lin Xun maintained a trace of clarity in his mind. His dao heart was like a sword, and his will was like a mountain!

“Illusion, this is all an illusion, a delusion created by the impact to my state of mind…” Lin Xun reminded himself and held fast to this belief. His sword-like mind proceeded to cut down the feeling of panic, dislocation, and despair.

However, in the body of an ant who was firmly pinched, his physical state showed signs of collapse, like he was about to drown in a deep ocean.

This was a complete suppression of will and mind!

“When the mind is blinded, all falsehoods are real,” rang the cauldron’s voice. “In this volitional world, I can, with a single thought in my mind, transform all things and manipulate life and death. What do you have…to defeat me now?”

These words drifted in the empty expanse, brimming with supreme majesty that allowed no doubt or denigration.

However, after hearing them, Lin Xun's eyes suddenly lit up.

All falsehoods are real?

No!

When falsehood seems real, real things seem false. When nothing has a place, it’s still nothing!

Boom!

In an instant, Lin Xun's mind and will erupted with great power. All the illusions in front of his eyes melted like snow meeting water and dissipated without a trace.

That gigantic hand was no longer there, while he returned from the ant shell to his original appearance, once again standing amidst the boundless world of nothingness.

His eyes were clear and ethereal. Standing straight with his arms folded, he exuded a transcendent aura.

He said, “True or false, reality or illusions, one thing I know for sure is that I am real. Your little trick cannot cloud my heart!”

The cauldron was quiet, seemingly astonished, and did not speak for a long time.

This was indeed out of its expectation.

In the countless eons following the end of the first Calamity of Ruin, Lin Xun was the first opponent who was able to fight back when trapped inside its volitional world!

The empty realm became deathly silent. Not the faintest sound could be heard.

Lin Xun no longer felt as grave as he had been at first.

He stood alone, but some marvelous memories of the past surfaced in his mind, putting him in a relaxed mood.