Toady stood, flabbergasted.
On one of the fiery red copper pillars that seemed to be holding up the sky was a portrait of a handsome and charming man with flowy white hair, bright golden eyes, and a hint of a smile on his lips.
He exuded an aura that could engulf the sun and moon, and resting on the palm of his slender and fair hand was a golden coin with a square hole in the center and wings on both sides.
At first glance, the man was breathtakingly handsome.
But upon a closer look, one would sense an unabashed air of terrifying confidence and superiority!
“That’s the ancestor of our clan! There is absolutely no mistake!”
Toady trembled all over, still finding it hard to believe it.
Lin Xun and A’lu also fought to calm down.
This was a mysterious palace in the Supreme Realm that was suspected to be related to the Burning Immortal, but the image of the ancestor of the Three-Legged Golden Toad appeared here. What did that mean?
On the far wall stood a haughty and majestic figure with his back turned from all living beings. He had mentioned that the one hundred and eight divine generals had once fought alongside him in the nine heavens and ten earths.
Undoubtedly, the ancestor of the Three-Legged Golden Toad Clan was one of the one hundred and eight divine generals!
Based on this, the other divine generals had to have equally incredible origins, and were likely the ancestors of different sects and clans!
But this only highlighted the fact that the majestic figure with his back facing them was extraordinary.
Who was he?
What kind of power and ability did he have that could make the ancestors of one hundred and eight different clans and sects willingly fight alongside him?
The more they thought about it, the more frightened they felt!
“Toady, why are you still standing there? You are fated with the fortune!” A’lu clapped Toady on the shoulder with an envious look on his face.
Toady snapped awake, but it was very rare to see him show little excitement or joy. Instead, a complex look crossed his face as he mumbled, “In my memory, my ancestor has always been a mystery. There is almost no record of him in our clan. I never imagined to find traces of him here…”
His voice was low, laced with a mix of melancholy and delight.
Lin Xun said aloud, “You discovered this place the last time you entered the Supreme Realm and now, you are here again. This must be fate.”
Toady sighed, “Ahh, what fate? I am only leaching off the glory of my ancestor. If he hadn’t fought with the mighty figure in the past, then how would I have the opportunity to gain such fortune today?”
After a pause, he cast a glance at Lin Xun and A’lu. “Don’t be jealous. Others rely on their father’s wealth while I rely on my ancestor’s. Fortunately, my ancestor is not bad.”
As he reached the end of the sentence, he looked unbearably smug again.
A’lu rolled his eyes and looked at him contemptuously.
Lin Xun felt the urge to give him a violent beating again. His face was clouded with sorrow seconds ago, but in the blink of an eye, he looked so obnoxious and repulsive!
The ethereal voice sounded again, “Little Toad, you’re quite interesting.”
Following the voice, an illusory figure took shape.
The figure was dreamy and hazy as it was formed from the intertwining of light. They could only tell that the figure was tall, perfectly straight and majestic like a lone mountain peak towering into the sky.
The only clear feature was the eyes. When they were opened, there seemed to be billions of stars twinkling, rising, and tumbling within them, projecting grand visions of the changing universe and the birth and death of all things in the world!
When Lin Xun and the others met the gaze, they felt their spirit throb and tremble, and their hair stood on end. It was as though the penetrating gaze was able to see right through them.
But soon, the other party retracted their gaze and restored tranquility to their eyes. They were so calm that there wasn’t the slightest ripple within them as though they could reflect the heavens.
The hall fell utterly silent while Lin Xun and the others were frozen to the spot, feeling awed and suppressed.
“This is just a ray of power of order. You don’t need to be so nervous,” stated the illusory figure.
The voice instantly dispelled the oppressive atmosphere in the hall and brought a peacefulness that calmed everyone like they were being caressed by the spring breeze.
The change made everyone’s hearts churn in their chest again. It seemed as though, as long as the illusory figure wanted to, it could alter the emotions of all lives in the world according to his own!
It was like the real ruler of heaven and earth!
“The great age has come.”
The man’s eyes ran across the blood stains that marred the hall, and he couldn’t help but sigh. “Back when we left the Ancient Wasteland Domain, I was worried that we would run into danger on the trip so I left my legacy and fortunes here so that even if we died in a foreign land, the inheritance can be passed onto the next generation.”
“Your ancestor was a genius of his generation who followed and fought alongside me for a long time. Since you are a descendant of my old friend, the fortune also belongs to you.”
Toady stuttered, “Elder, my ancestor...”
The man shook his head. “You don’t need to ask. When you have the opportunity to leave the Ancient Wasteland Domain in the future, you will understand where they went.
“Go, the great age has come and the opportunity to become the supreme king has also opened up. We have never set foot onto that path but I hope you all...can walk further than us!”
As he was speaking, he flicked his sleeve, enveloped Toady in a wave of invisible power, and teleported him through the door on the wall.
From the beginning to the end, Toady did not even have the chance to refuse!
Lin Xun and A’lu were both dumbstruck, but they knew that was Toady’s fortune and so he should be in no danger.
“Elder, what do you think of my aptitude?” A’lu asked with a grin on his face.
The man said with the faintest smile, “You practice the Emperor Extreme World-Subduing Art and have no fate with me. If possible, I suggest you make a trip to the Ancient Land of All and perhaps you may gain something.”
“Ancient Land of All...” A’lu murmured, remembering the name.
Even Lin Xun lost his usual composure. He came to the Supreme Realm to become a supreme king.
But the Supreme Realm was so vast that it was divided into three thousand realms and the upper ninth realm and was littered with countless opportunities and fortunes.
Without any guidance, it was no different from looking for a needle in a haystack if one tried to seek an opportunity and fortune suitable for them!
“As for you…”
The man shifted his gaze onto Lin Xun.
Lin Xun’s heart leapt to his throat, full of expectation.
“Your path…”
An incomparably strange light shone in the man’s originally calm and emotionless eyes. He stared at Lin Xun and stopped talking.
He seemed to have encountered a problem.
He also seemed to be in deep thought.
Lin Xun felt uncomfortable and uneasy under the gaze
The atmosphere in the main hall also turned still. A’lu sensed the strangeness, but he managed to hold back the words that sprang to his lips.
It wasn’t until a long while that the man said aloud, “Your path…only you can walk it. We are not fated, and I can’t guide you.”
His words seemed to contain an imperceptible, deeper meaning.
Lin Xun, who was full of anticipation, was surprised at first, but then he bowed with a cupped fist salute. “Thank you, Elder.”
“Why did you thank me?”
“You guided me,” said Lin Xun seriously.
He was speaking sincerely. From very early on, he had been searching for the path of ultimate transformation, hoping to surpass the past and forge a new path that was completely different from the world!
The man suddenly burst into laughter, “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.”
Lin Xun smiled faintly. “I was very lucky to meet a golden cicada some time ago and chatted with it. It also said something similar.”
The man fell silent for a moment before he asked aloud, “It chatted with you?”
Lin Xun nodded.
He thought of what the golden cicada had said.
They chatted—they naturally chatted about the matter of heaven. The existence of heaven was like the incarnation of the great dao. It was too high to be touched and too far away to be reached.
“If one wants to embark on the road of cultivation, one must first understand and explore it.”
“Then did the golden cicada not tell you what price you have to pay to walk a unique path to the world?” the man asked.
Lin Xun thought before he 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.”
The man smiled. “I’m glad you know.”
He turned his gaze back onto Lin Xun. “Since ancient times, countless heroes have tried to blaze a new trail and walk a unique path like you, but only very few can actually succeed. Many suffered unpredictable blows, ranging from being possessed by demons to losing their lives, so, you must be careful.”
Lin Xun calmly stated, “Since I seek this path, I have no fear or regret.”
“Impressive!”
The man laughed. “I have underestimated the youngsters in the world. Not bad, the younger generation will always surpass the previous. As long as the fire has not extinguished, there is still hope of attaining the great dao. Little friend, can I ask for your name?”
“Lin Xun.”
The man nodded. “The world calls me Burning Immortal, but very few people know my true name. In the future, if you reach the Ancient Nebula Road and encounter trouble, you can throw out my name.
“Remember, my name is Chen Linkong!”
The man tilted his head back and laughed as he faded like a rain of light.
Chen Linkong!
The name seemed to contain domineering power, resounding throughout the hall and sending the one hundred and eight copper pillars buzzing and quivering as though resonating with it.
Burning Immortal Chen Linkong!
Lin Xun kept the name in mind and also the Ancient Nebula Road!
He remembered that Toady once said that if he wanted to enter the Kunlun Dominion, one of the four ancient dominions, he must pass through the Ancient Nebula Road.
“His surname is Chen?”
A’lu scratched his head. “I seem to recall the old man saying that this is an extremely ancient surname, but I can’t remember much even if I rack my brain."
Lin Xun couldn’t help asking, “Is the Chen bloodline amazing?”
A’lu shook his head. “I have only heard the old man mention it. Maybe it’s amazing. Didn’t you hear that the Burning Immortal just now has the surname Chen?”
While the two were talking, an invisible wave of power wrapped the two and carried them out of the hall.
The tightly closed door silently swung open.
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