The depths of the Spirit Burial Sea were mysterious and dangerous. Not only did the Return Dominion, one of the four great dao dominions exist there, but there was also the ominous Dao Burial Sea Mound.

Lin Xun had once wandered the Deva Secret Realm in the Return Dominion and met an old ape living dormant in the Five Elements Holy Island, who turned out to be a true Saint.

He also entered Fangchun and obtained a dao verse imbued with unfathomable mysteries and secrets. In addition, he also obtained a unique art of the Saint Path—the Sacred Combat Art!

He also had many ominous and bizarre encounters in the Dao Burial Sea Mound, such as the thousand-foot-long ancient corpse floating on the sea like an island.

He also met a blind monk enveloped in a terrifying aura as well as a woman shrouded in gray mist that blurred her appearance.

If his guess was correct, then the two had to be terrifying beings of the Saint Stage.

He thought of A’hu, the mysterious maiden in yellow clothes. She was the one who helped him escape while being chased by a group of Life Death Stage Kings when he returned from the Spirit Burial Sea.

Now that he thought about everything, he came to realize that the secrets hidden within each of the mysterious places, the Return Dominion, the Deva Secret Realm or the Dao Burial Sea Mound, were all absolutely beyond imagination while he had only explored the surface level.

The Mulberry Woodland located in the Blood Kill Battlefield was even more extraordinary. It was always enveloped in blood-colored mist and contained many Saint-level terrifying creatures. Once, he even saw the appearance of a dao temple that triggered a battle among Saint-level beings.

“Indeed, there are many incredible places in this lower domain world, and it is not as barren and simple as the people in the Ancient Wasteland Domain say it is,” Lin Xun said emotionally after a long period of silence.

He had witnessed it in person, so he was more aware of the extraordinariness of the lower-domain world than other people!

According to the emperor, the great secret hidden in the lower domain world could only be grasped and explored when he reached the absolute apex king stage.

“The old seer of the stargazing platform, the principal of Qinglu Academy, Lone Man of the Rotating Stars Hibernating Moon House and the old jiao-dragon hibernating on the shore of the East Sea of the Empire… How would they willingly lie dormant here if it is as barren as rumored?” The emperor’s gaze was unfathomable. The taller one stood, the farther they could see. He had long seen through the secrets of the world

“There’s also the many Brute Kings from the nine Magi Brute Tribes and the ancient clans in the depths of the Spirit Burial Sea…Aren’t they also waiting for the great opportunity buried in the lower domain world?”

The emperor suddenly shook his head. “But those secrets might be too distant to you now. You just need to remember that if you want to rise in the battle of the great age and set foot on the absolute apex king path, then only the Ancient Wasteland Domain can help you provide an opportunity to do so.”

“And when you set foot on the absolute apex king path, our lower domain world can also provide you with an opportunity to progress further on the path!”

The meaning of his words was very simple: “If you want to become an absolute apex king then go to the Ancient Wasteland Domain. And after you become an absolute apex king, return to the lower domain world if you want to reach an even higher level!”

Lin Xun understood.

The great emperor was guiding him forward!

The emperor suddenly said hesitantly, “The Ninth Prince was taken away by Gu Dongting of the Omega Sword Sect. If you two meet again, I hope, if possible, you will spare his life.”

At that moment, he lost a fraction of his superiority and majesty. Instead, he donned a complex expression like an elder of a family.

No matter what happened, the Ninth Prince Zhao Jingzhen was his son, his own flesh and blood. He was well aware of the deep enmity between Lin Xun and the Omega Sword Sect and knew that a conflict would inevitably break out if they met again.

“Okay,” Lin Xun agreed after some deliberation. “But, if he insists on being my enemy…”

“Then kill him!” The emperor had said each word with a noticeable pause, his expression indifferent and calm.

“If you run into any trouble in the Ancient Wasteland Domain, you can find Jingxuan. She has been training in the Ancient Wasteland Domain since she was a child, and she is under the care of experts. I think she will be happy if you go find her.” A strange expression flickered across the emperor’s eyes when he said those words, which made Lin Xun a little uncomfortable.

Is he encouraging me to get in touch with Zhao Jingxuan?

I…

Lin Xun didn’t know how to respond.

Buzz!

The emperor didn’t say anything else. With a flick of his sleeve, the five-colored altar in front of them rumbled and roared like it was waking up from a slumber. The wisps of colorful sacred light circulating the altar suddenly shot into the sky as beams of light before transforming into a magnificent and colorful path that stretched across the sky.

At that moment, the old monsters in many places of the Forbidden City were startled, and all cast their spirit sense to the depths of the palace.

There, dreamy and magnificent five-colored lights were rising into the sky.

“That kid Lin Xun is about to leave!”

The old monsters all understood that the passageway to the Ancient Wasteland Domain had been opened.

“If you come back even more impressive than you have now, then I will treat you to a meal!” Lone Man, the owner of the Rotating Stars Hibernating Moon House, straightened his thin back, and his turbid eyes shone brilliantly.

“The path of changing fate, defying heaven, destroying the dao, causing karma-associated calamities…Lu Boya took it for you back then. But now, it all depends on yourself…” the Heavenly Seer muttered on the stargazing platform, leaning against the railing.

In a thatched cottage at the bottom of Sky Stairs Mountain.

“Senior Brother, he is leaving.” The old man who had witnessed Lin Xun ascend the Sky Stairs had awoken from his usual drunken state.

The principal said with a leisurely smile, “The Omega Sword Sect, the Heaven Axis Holy Land, Spirit Treasure Holy Land, and revenge for Lu Boya…He has become linked with them before he reached the Ancient Wasteland Domain. He likely won’t be bored on this trip.”

“That little troublemaker is finally leaving!”

“Thank heavens!”

Meanwhile, the influential figures of the Zuo, Qin, and Chi Clans, who hated Lin Xun to the core, all breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if a weight had lifted off them.

Precious Laughter House.

In a large hall, a burst of impassioned and majestic music suddenly broke out.

All customers in the building stopped what they were doing and listened intently because they were no strangers to the musical piece.

“Streams and rivers emerged from the ground, gushing into the vast sea.

A dormant dragon leapt from the water, its scales and claws glistening in the air.

The tiger cub’s roar echoed through the valley, terrifying all creatures.

The hawk spread its wings, hovering in the wind.”

A clear and pleasant voice followed the impassioned music. Every word resounded like rumbles of thunder, resonating with the mountains and rivers and unleashing everyone’s emotions in their hearts.

“Time and space stretch endlessly. The future is limitless and the ocean is boundless.”

Throughout the Precious Laughter House, many cultivators couldn’t help picking up chopsticks, knocking on the dishes in front of them, and singing along.

The harmonizing of passionate voices had a soul-stirring power as it echoed between heaven and earth, sending people’s blood pulsing through their bodies.

This was the Heaven Pride Song.

At the Empress’ 300th birthday banquet, Liu Qingyan, who was known as the best art cultivator in the empire, amazed everyone with her lyrics and musical skills. She earned the praise of the empress, and her song was bestowed with the title Heaven Pride Song.

The entire world had since learned that Liu Qingyan was inspired by Lin Xun’s fame when she composed the widely-popular heroic song.

“The future is limitless and the ocean is boundless…” Some cultivators felt emotional as they thought of Lin Xun who was about to leave.

“It’s a pity that it’s not Miss Liu Qingyan singing this song. I heard she left a long time ago to train in the Ancient Wasteland Domain. We likely will never have the chance to hear her heavenly voice again in our lives,” someone sighed, thinking of the legendary best art cultivator in the empire.

……

Shua!

Lin Xun vanished from the five-colored altar as he stepped into a mysterious passage.

The passage seemed to be transporting him through time and space. Everywhere was a shower of colorful and magnificent light.

Occasionally, there seemed to be rainbows flickering in the air, giant stars shining brightly, and turbulent black clouds rising mysteriously. It was a stunning spectacle.

Swoosh!

Lin Xun activated the Hornless Ice Dragon Step and traveled at full speed, streaking across the passage like a stream of light.

“The great dao catastrophe is coming, and the boundary wall is unstable. Remember, don’t look back. Move forward as fast as you can!” This was the emperor’s final reminder for Lin Xun.

Of course, Lin Xun followed his advice.

However, before traveling for long, the passage started to crackle and a series of fractures cut across the passageway, which continued to spread and widen at a worrying speed.

Lin Xun gasped, and his expression turned grave. He madly dashed with all his strength. Snow-white ice dragon images flashed around his figure, pushing him to his full speed.

Boom!

The terrifying crackling and shattering behind him sounded as though the sky and the earth were about to collapse.

Lin Xun didn’t dare to look back, and worry started to fill his heart. This passage led to the Ancient Wasteland Domain, connecting two worlds. If it collapsed, then the power of the destruction would be enough to obliterate him in a split second. He wouldn’t even have the chance to struggle.

Chi!

A streak of rainbow brushed past his shoulder like a sharp blade, carrying a hazy aura of chaos.

His scalp instantly numbed, and he was chilled to the core. The feeling was too terrifying, as though the god of death had brushed past him.

What was that?

He still didn’t dare to turn back around, but he was certain that the streak of the rainbow had come from the collapsed passage behind him!

Rumble!

The void tunnel crumbled and collapsed at an increasingly terrifying speed. Bursts of explosions incessantly rang behind him while the air and light shower raged violently.

He bolted at full speed and, in the end, he had to summon the Grand Universe Ark and only barely avoided the dangers one after another despite advancing at lightning speed.

Not long after that, his pupils abruptly shrank. A tremendous beast stood on the other side of the passage in the distance. Enveloped in millions of stars, it charged across the boundless void, heading straight towards him.

Its eyes alone were as blood red as a pair of giant suns, shooting out rays of cold and merciless light!

Compared with its huge body, the stars were like inconspicuous pearls.

Hiss!

Lin Xun inhaled sharply. What the hell is that?!

But what chilled him the most was that the bizarre beast was running through the void tunnel in his direction!

If it got near him, then the consequences would be unimaginable!

Run!

He steered the Grand Universe Ark, circulating all his strength, and frantically fled.

How could he have imagined that, just as he stepped on the passage to the Ancient Wasteland Domain, such a huge and dangerous change would happen?

Rumble!

Cracks spread all across the void tunnel, light flew everywhere like waterfalls, and the air shook turbulently. The tunnel showed signs of collapsing.

Meanwhile, the bizarre beast was coming closer and closer…

It was so near that Lin Xun seemed to see silvery divine rune symbols blazing in the depths of its eyes. It was as obscure as it was chilling, as though it could engulf the human soul.

Boom!

His body shook violently. Before he knew it, the Grand Universe Ark shot out of the tunnel and into the vast chaos.

Then, the sky and earth quaked with terrifying collision noises, and a tremendous force swept across the surrounding area, crushing all the nearby rocks and trees to smithereens.

A huge crater was left in the ground with cracks stretching hundreds of feet all around it. It was akin to the destruction left by a meteorite.

At the bottom of the pit, the Grand Universe Ark was still violently swaying before it came to a stop, while Lin Xun was paralyzed in the cabin of the Grand Universe Ark. His face was pale and beaded with sweat and blood trickling down the corners of his lips while he panted heavily.

“Did I survive?”

After a good while, he finally recovered from the horror and panic and stumbled to his feet.

Only then did he realize that he was injured during the escape, and his strength was on the verge of exhaustion!

“Luckily I survived,” he said through gritted teeth and sat down cross-legged to tend to his injuries.

At the same time, he observed the area with his senses.

Instantly, the outside world was reflected in his mind. It was an unfamiliar world, full of spiritual energy and lush trees and plants. In the distance were magnificent mountains peeping through the divine mist and clouds.

This…

He opened his eyes wide. Could this be the Ancient Wasteland Domain? There isn’t such a strong and rich spiritual energy in the Ziyao Empire.

Even Mind Cleansing Peak, which is known as a place where spiritual veins are buried, seems barren when compared to the spiritual energy in this world.

“I succeeded!”

A gleam glowed in his black eyes. He vaguely felt an inexplicable power that was distributed between heaven and earth, invisible and intangible, but everywhere.

This was a complete order of the great dao. The great dao in the Ziyao Empire was incomplete and completely different from this place.

Lin Xun had previously traveled to the Ancient Spirit World through an assessment of the Omega Secret Realm, and so he was well aware of the difference in the world order!